Fall harvest season is an exciting time to live in Southern Ontario. Farmers are cutting their crops, apple orchards are picking the ripest apples of the season, and small towns everywhere are hosting fall fairs and harvest festivals to celebrate. Join the fun by attending one of these exciting events in October or November 2022 if you’re visiting Niagara, Toronto, or the Hamilton area.
10 Apple Harvest Festival, Blue Mountain Village
Blue Mountain Village in Collingwood, Ontario, is a couple of hours from Toronto, but it’s worth the drive for a chance to explore the charming ski town. While it’s popular during the winter months, visiting this October between the 8th-10th means enjoying the Apple Harvest Festival. The leaves will be at their most vibrant with gorgeous fall colors in Blue Mountains, Thornbury, and nearby Clarksburg. The festival includes live music, hiking, biking, driving tours, and free activities for the whole family to enjoy. There is also the Apple Pie Trail, a highlight of attending this festival.
9 Sugar Plum Fair Craft Show & Sale, Nottawasaga Inn Resort
Just an hour north of Toronto, in the quaint town of Alliston, travelers can attend the Sugar Plum Fair Craft Show & Sale on November 12th and 13th, 2022. The event is taking place at the prestigious Nottawasaga Inn Resort and is the perfect place to start Christmas shopping. Buying gifts for loved ones here is a chance to support local business owners and find unique, handmade crafts.
8 Hometown Harvest Festival, Saint-Marie Among The Hurons
The Hometown Harvest Festival Craft and Vendors Show 2022 is taking place at Saint-Marie Among The Hurons in Midland on October 8th and 9th, 2022. The event runs from 10 AM to 5 PM each day, with admission costing just $8 per person (and free for children under 5). There will be more than 40 vendors selling local products and crafts at this lively fall festival.
7 Elmvale Fall Fair, Springwater
Located in Springwater Township, the charming town of Elmvale is well known in Ontario for its iconic fall fair, which takes place annually. In 2022 the Elmvale Fall Fair is on October 7th and 8th at the Elmvale Fairgrounds. The host, The Flos Agricultural Society, is celebrating its 160th fair with this event. There will be parades, a truck and tractor pull, livestock displays, and more.
6 The Norwood Fair, The Kawarthas
The Norwood Fair is taking place in The Kawarthas, northeast of Toronto, on October 8-10, 2022. The theme for the fair this year is Autumn Treasures, which is in line with the gorgeous colors in the picturesque village of Norwood. The fair is from 9 AM to 5 PM each day, with the midway opening at 10:30 AM. There will be live music, horse shows, a tractor pull, antique car shows, a cowboy competition, and other family-friendly events.
5 Bala Cranberry Festival, Muskoka
The Bala Cranberry Festival takes place the weekend after Canadian Thanksgiving, this year falling on October 14-16. The festival is at the Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery. There will be a cranberry plunge, wine tasting, wagon tours, shopping opportunities, and a chance to try fresh Ontario cranberries.
4 Brigden Fair, Brigden
Travelers who find themselves driving across the border from the United States to Canada this fall via Detroit can stop along the way in the charming town of Brigden, Ontario. From October 7-10, 2022, the Brigden Fair is taking place in the town. There will be tractor pulls, livestock showings, lawnmower races, a guinea pig show for children, and a pie auction. It’s the perfect activity for Americans crossing the border into Canada when visiting family for Thanksgiving. It’s also conveniently close to Canadians living in London, Sarnia, or Port Stanley looking for a fun family day trip idea.
3 Norfolk County Fair, Norfolk County
The Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show takes place from October 4-10, 2022, and offers a variety of exciting events that the entire family can enjoy. There will be SuperDogs shows, horse shows, a craft market, live music, monster trucks, and a midway. The fair is just an hour south of Hamilton or 1.5 hours from St. Catharines.
2 Apple Festival, Stoney Creek
The Apple Festival in Stoney Creek takes place at the Battlefield House Museum & Park National Historic Site on October 8, 2022. The event includes a pancake breakfast, pumpkin decorating, and a bake-off competition. The festival runs from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM and is open to all ages.
1 The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the ultimate fall fair in the heart of downtown Toronto. The event takes place from November 4-13, 2022, at Exhibition Place. This is the 100th year of the festival and is sure to be the biggest celebration of agriculture in the province to date. Adult admission is $30 per person for the day, granting access to agricultural displays, horse shows, and more.