The Best Fall Fairs and Festivals Around the GTA
With the cooler temperatures and changing of the leaves also comes fall colours, flavours, and exciting events. With so many fairs and festivals taking place across the GTA celebrating cozy season, now is the perfect time to take a road trip, explore the beautiful scenery, and get in on the fall festivities.
We’ve rounded up the best fall fairs and festivals you need to check out around the GTA this year!
1. Woodbridge Fair
Photo Credit: Woodbridge Fair
When: October 9 - October 11
Where: 100 Porter Avenue, Woodbridge ON
Taking place Thanksgiving weekend, the Woodbridge Fair is a celebration of community. Delight your taste buds with culinary treats, such as pies, pastries, cakes, and custards or browse antiques, needlework, and crafts for a unique gift. You can also submit to the Virtual Prize Book Fair Competitions for a chance to win a prize.
2. Pumpkin Mania
Photo Credit: Pumpkin Mania
When: September 18 - October 31 Weekends
Where: 1922 County Rd 92, Elmvale, ON
Celebrate the fall season at Pumpkin Mania with over 22 activities, from tractor rides to a corn maze, and fun games. You can also have fun letting your competitive side out with a variety of games, like a pie eating contest and sack races. At Pumpkin Mania, you have the option to bring your own food or hit up the Cookhouse, which will be serving up hamburgers, hot dogs, fresh cut fries, poutine, hot and cold drinks, snacks, and treats. And don’t forget to check out the pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkin!
3. Apple Harvest Festival
Photo Credit: Blue Mountain Village
When: October 9 - October 11
Where: 156 Jozo Weider Blvd, The Blue Mountains, ON
Located in Ontario’s largest apple growing region, Blue Mountain’s Apple Harvest Festival is a celebration of gratitude for the lands we live on and the farmers that feed us. Enjoy festivities like live music on the Coca-Cola Floating Stage, family activities, fall colours hiking, apple pie eating contests, cider tasting, sidewalk sales, Agora Path of Light, and more.
4. Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show
Photo Credit: The Norfolk County Fair
When: October 5 - October 11
Where: 172 South Drive Simcoe
This excitement-filled carnival is one of the largest fairs in Ontario and the largest outdoor horse show in Canada! The Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show is dedicated to educating people about the need to preserve an agricultural way of life and helping ensure that Canadians have access to healthy, affordable food. Along with agricultural programs, this fair also features special events, such as pony classes and entertainment on stage at the Rec Centre. In true fair style, the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show also holds competitions in categories like equine, art, livestock, poultry, garden products with giant pumpkins, homecraft, and photography.
5. Erin Fair
Photo Credit: Erin Fair
When: October 8 - October 11
Where: Erin Fairgrounds. 184 Main St, Erin, ON
Operating since 1850, Erin Fair is a Thanksgiving tradition that previews the Royal Winter Fair. Enjoy a variety of activities and entertainment, including a pet show, homecraft exhibits, competitions, and food. The goal of the Erin Agricultural Society is to foster education about agriculture, farming, and country life.
6. Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival
Photo Credit: Ball's Falls Thanksgiving Festival
When: October 8 - October 11
Where: 3292 Sixth Avenue, ON
Enjoy the beauty of the Niagara Escarpment while celebrating and supporting local artisans, crafters, farmers, vendors and small businesses at the Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival. The festival will feature 50+ in-person craft and artisan vendors, delicious foods, craft beverages and wines, local farmers’ market vendors, live acoustic music and children’s entertainment, historical demonstrations, heritage tours, and nature hikes.
7. Bala Cranberry Festival
When: October 15 - October 17
Where: 3060 Muskoka District Road 169, Bala, ON
Featuring arts and crafts shows with hundreds of vendors, the Bala Cranberry Festival promises to be a fun-filled weekend for the entire family. This festival has everything from live music and entertainment to attractions and activities for kids, such as wagon tours. The main attraction though, is being able to pick fresh cranberries and shop homemade goods, locally sourced foods, art, and other hidden gems at the farmers’ market.
8. Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
Photo Credit: Oktoberfest
When: September 25 - October 11
Where: Multiple locations
The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is Canada’s largest Bavarian Festival. This year the festival will be holding a number of both virtual and live events, including small gatherings and special contests. You can catch bands and entertainment either live or streamed and discover Bavarian cuisine at one of the local participating restaurants.
9. Toronto Cider Festival
Photo Credit: Toronto Cider Festival
When: September 2 - October 11
Where: Multiple Locations
Cider is the taste of fall and the Toronto Cider Festival is serving it up to you with a unique experience. The Toronto Cider Festival is presenting curated road trips across Ontario with picnic experiences, from an authentic farm to table picnic experience in Caledon to a vineyard picnic experience in Niagara-on-the-Lake. With your experience you get an itinerary, road trip music created specially for you by DJ D Smooth - the official DJ of the Toronto Cider Festival, a gift bag, and a flight of premium ciders to pair with a charcuterie board. This festival is the perfect way to enjoy cider season while supporting local. Part of the proceeds are also going to feeding children.
10. Boo at the Zoo
When: October 8 - October 11
Where: 2821 Stevensville Rd. Stevensville, ON
Boo at the Zoo is a family-friendly event featuring local vendors, exhibits, and activities, like a scavenger hunt. You and the family can enter contests, including a costume contest, to win great prizes. You can also bring a non-perishable food donation that will go to six different non-profit organizations for a discounted rate.