18 Fun Activities To Enjoy in Ontario This Fall (2025)

Autumn can be fleeting in Canada so it’s all the more important for us to get outdoors and enjoy the season. Winter will arrive before most of us are ready for it!

These 18 fun fall activities in Ontario will get you out of the house so you can enjoy the best of the season.

Updated October 2025

1. Take a Drive to See the Fall Colours

One of the best ways to enjoy fall is to hop into a car and head out on a fall foliage drive. Wherever you are in Ontario, you can head into the countryside and enjoy the scenic fall views as you drive winding country roads – with frequent stops to take photos of the stunning colours of course!

One of the best places in Canada to view fall colours is in the Muskoka Region north of Toronto. If you’re planning to take a drive there (or a short road trip) then consult Discover Muskoka’s Ontario Fall Colour Report first. The report provides an update on the changing leaves in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville/Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes, Township of Georgian Bay and Algonquin Park and suggestions of some of the best places to view the fall colours as well as fun ways to experience the fall colours.

Looking for a drive closer to Toronto? Consider Schomberg, Caledon, Crawford Lake Conservation Area or the Niagara area for beautiful fall colours closer to the city.

2. Pick a Bag of Apples (Or Two)

Picking apples is a fall tradition for many. It’s a fun activity plus you get to eat the fruits of your labour!

These are a few of the farms where you can pick your own or purchase apples:

• Chudleigh’s in Halton Hills – for the 2025 season, the orchard is open every day for apple picking. The farm has day specific tickets with a three hour time slot and tickets must be pre-purchased in advance online before arrival. Admission fee includes full access to the farm and activities including animals, children’s play area, nature trail, tractor wagon ride, and apple orchard. Check site for harvest calendar.
• Downey’s Farm in Caledon – no reservation required in 2025 – open daily 9:30-5:30. No entrance fee, however, you are requied to purchase a bag based on the number of people in your group. Guests have the choice of picking a 10 lb bag of apples for $26 (max 3 people per bag) or a 20 lb bag of apples for $42 (max 5 people per bag). Check site for harvest calendar.
• Pingle’s Farm Market in Hampton – Check website for dates and admission pricing. General admission tickets in 2025 include access to the pick-your-own fields and orchard, Pingle’s Playland, Harvest Festival activities and more. Tickets are discounted on weekdays and you also save by purchasing online in advance.
• The Apple Orchard in rural Hamilton – no reservations required in 2025 but check website for dates and admission pricing. Wagon rides, corn maze, walking trails, farm animals and sunflower fields. Pears, pumpkin and squash picking also available. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Carl Laidlaw Orchards in Brampton – Open every weekend in September and October as well as Labour Day Monday and Thanksgiving Monday – no reservations required but check website for dates and admission pricing for 2025.

3. Shop at a Farmer’s Market

Fall is harvest season in Ontario and a great time to check out the abundant fresh local produce to be purchased directly from growers at local farmer’s markets.

4. Appreciate Fall Leaves on a Nature Hike

The cooler weather of autumn makes it prime time for hiking and hitting the trails is another great way to appreciate the province’s colourful fall foliage. From Algonquin and provincial parks across the province to the Bruce Trail and Niagara Escarpment to local conservation areas, you can enjoy the canopy of spectacular colours while getting some exercise and fresh air.

• Algonquin Provincial Park – Fall Colour Report
• Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report – a map of all Ontario Provincial Parks showing the progress of fall colours so you will know when they are at their peak.

Read Fun Fall Hikes in Halton and Peel

5. Get Into the Spooky Spirit on a Lighted Pumpkin Trail

Enjoying a lighted pumpkin or Halloween-themed trail is a great way to spend a fall evening.

Examples of some of the lighted pumpkin trails in Ontario include:

• Pumpkins After Dark at Country Heritage Park in Milton – A one-of-a-kind walk-through experience featuring 10,000+ hand-carved pumpkins on a 1 km pumpkin-lit journey. Includes live pumpkin-carving demonstrations, roaming costumed performers, fall treats and sweets, Instagram-worthy photo ops and a new Dracula’s Castle Maze. Tickets are date and time specific and it is recommended to pre-purchase online as on-site sales are limited and subject to availability. September 27 until November 1, 2025.
• Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village – select evenings October 3 – November 1, 2025. An outdoor walk-through art exhibit featuring thousands of handcrafted pumpkins all lit at night along a kilometre long path in a picturesque 19th-century backdrop. Harvest dining, plus seasonal treats, shopping, an Interactive Zone and Sound and Light Show add to the experience. Tickets are sold exclusively online and capacity is limited.
• Halloween Nights of Lights at Sherway Gardens is back and has been completely re-imagined for 2025 – an immersive, walk-through Halloween experience that will feature more than 1.5 million LED and RGB lights animated and synchronized to your favourite Halloween tunes. Continue the fun inside of Pumpkinville, a fun fair featuring photo ops, installations, midway rides, carnival games and over 15,000 pumpkins. September 27 – November 1, 2025. Limited capacity so purchasing online in advance is recommended.
• Royal Botanical Gardens – The Great Pumpkin Trail – an evening walk through Hendrie Valley with the candlelit glow of hundreds of jack-o-lanterns guiding the way. Enjoy live entertainment, pumpkin themed activities and fall inspired treats. New this fall, 10,000 REAL pumpkins will be arranged in artistic displays and installations throughout Hendrie Park! Dressing up is optional but encouraged! Tickets must be pre-purchased online for an available time slot. October 16-19, 24-26, 2025 starting at 5:30 pm.

6. Tickle Your Taste Buds on a Culinary Trail

What could possibly be better than taking a leisurely drive (or walk) and enjoying a few delicious bites to eat along the way? If you’re nodding your head in agreement then add one of these Ontario culinary trails to your fall bucket list!

• Apple Pie Trail – Follow this trail in the Southern Georgian Bay region and  discover local orchards and breweries, apple-inspired art, seasonal menus, outdoor activities, and the history of apple country. There are several days worth of adventures and experiences so plan ahead using the website and download a pdf of the brochure with all the details.
• Butter Tart Tour – If you’re a fan of this classic Canadian pastry then the self-guided Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour should be on your bucket list! There are over 40 locations offering some of the best butter tarts in Ontario on this family-friendly tour.
• Prince Edward County – One of the best destinations in Ontario for foodies especially during fall harvest season. Named the Gastronomic Capital of Ontario by the Globe and Mail, you will find more than 40 wineries, a growing craft beer scene, farm stands and farmer’s markets, and seasonal menus to savour at the region’s restaurants.
• Savour Stratford Chocolate Trail – A self-guided tour that introduces you to Stratford’s world-famous confectioners and bakers. Purchase your trail pass at a designated location and choose six stops along the trail where you can enjoy a decadent treat. There is also a Bacon & Ale Trail and a Savour & Sip Trail available.

7. Celebrate the Cranberry Harvest

The Bala Cranberry Festival will take place October 17-19, 2025 (the weekend after Thanksgiving) and tickets are discounted if purchased online in advance. Single full day passes or 3 day passes are available. Admission includes an arts and craft show, a festival with live music, entertainers and attractions all weekend long, kids activities and attractions, use of in town shuttle buses, and many other activities. To participate in activities at the cranberry marsh, you must contact Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery in advance.

Daily activities at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery are available during the harvest season which starts September 20, 2025 and runs until late October (generally finished by October 31st). Wagon tours, wine tasting, trail walks and the popular Cranberry Plunge (hip waders supplied but don’t forget your camera) will all be taking place. Activities can be pre-booked online to avoid disappointment – check website for details. There is a fee for all activities – in 2025 the Cranberry Plunge is $22 per person booked in advance and $25 at the gate and an All Access Pass which also includes a wagon ride, farm and trail access and wine tasting is $65 per person booked in advance and $67 at the gate.

8. Experience Ontario Wine Country

Feeling stressed and need some couple time to decompress? Fall is the perfect time to enjoy a wine tour with your significant other in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Prince Edward County. Book a private tour and the two of you can sit back and relax while someone else does the driving or add some exercise to the outing by choosing a bicycle wine tour.

9. Enjoy an Urban Fall Walk

Can’t get out of the city this fall? You can still enjoy the season and the stunning fall foliage on display in city parks, ravines and gardens.

10. Enjoy a Fall Canoe Tour

Canoeing might seem like a summer activity but there’s no reason not to enjoy this quintessential Canadian pastime in the fall as well – in fact, paddling is a great way to see the changing leaves! If you own your own canoe or kayak then you can head out on any nearby waterway to enjoy the fall foliage but if you don’t then check out any guided tours or canoe/kayak rentals in your area.

The Royal Botanical Gardens offers a Paddling in Paradise fall canoe tour at the Arboretum in Dundas which takes participants on a 1-2 hour guided tour of Cootes Paradise Marsh. Select Saturdays and Sundays in September and October (September 6 – October 12, 2025) and the leaves should hopefully be colourful for the October dates. (Note: This isn’t a Learn to Canoe program so participants need to be confident in their canoe skills.) Pre-registration is required.

A canoe trip on the Grand River in southwestern Ontario is also a great way to enjoy the vibrant colours of fall. Companies such as Grand Experiences offer a variety of guided paddles on the river.

Algonquin Park Adventure Tours offers a 6 hour guided canoe day tour available until late September or early October on historic Canoe Lake. This would be a memorable way to see some of the best fall colours in the province. If you’re not up to a 6 hour paddle (May 31 – September 29, 2025), they also offer a 3 hour tour with motorized canoes for effortless leaf viewing.

11. Experience a Fall Fair

Fall fairs are a rural Canadian tradition that celebrate agriculture and the bounty of the harvest season. Where I grew up in Northern Ontario, 4-H was an important part of the community and fall fair was the time when members entered the livestock they raised, produce they had grown, craftwork they had created and baked goods they had made to be judged in competition.

There are fall fairs across the province with events including agriculture competitions, musical entertainment, carnival rides and games, food vendors and other activities. Find the one closest to you or check out several as a fun fall activity!

Destination Ontario has a list of some of the Fall Fairs in Ontario.

12. Indulge in Apple Cider Doughnuts

Apple Cider doughnuts are a sweet treat that is associated with fall just like everything pumpkin spice. The doughnuts are flavoured with sweet apple cider and coated with cinnamon and sugar – they are delicious!

You can find them at many farmer’s markets and farm shops across Ontario but the most famous ones are in Norfolk County which has declared the apple cider doughnut the official doughnut of the county. It’s worth the road trip to Simcoe to buy apple cider doughnuts (and fresh Norfolk apples) at The Apple Place which has been baking up the treats since the 1980s!

13. Visit a Pumpkin Patch

One of the best things to do during the fall season is visiting the pumpkin patch at a local farm to pick out a pumpkin or two or three to carve or display – even if you don’t have young children!

Wagon rides or hay rides, corn mazes and other activities are often included and there might even be a market shop selling baked goods, jams, preserves, honey, maple syrup and apple cider. It’s a charming way to spend a fall afternoon!

14. Enjoy the Fall Colours on a Lake Cruise

In Gravenhurst (a 2 hour drive north of Toronto), enjoy panoramic views of the changing leaves on a fall colour sightseeing cruise on the tranquil waters of Lake Muskoka with Muskoka Steamships. Cruises are aboard the Wenonah II – a modern interpretation of a traditional steamship named in honour of the first steamship to sail Lake Muskoka – and are one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the splendour of autumn.

Options include 1, 2 and 2.5 hour sightseeing cruises with high tea and lunch optional on the longer cruises. Walk-ins are accepted but reservations are highly recommended. (Until October 19, 2025)

15. Get Scared on a Ghost Walk

If your idea of fun is listening to spine-tingling tales then a historic walking tour that focuses on the supernatural is perfect for you! We have experienced haunted walks in both Toronto and Kingston and enjoyed them immensely – they are offered year-round but fall/Halloween season seems like the spookiest time to take one.

The Haunted Walk offers a variety of ghost tours and paranormal adventures in Toronto, Kingston and Ottawa.

The Oakville Historical Society offers one hour ghost walks through Old Oakville followed by light refreshments and discussions. Daily October October 14 – 30, 2025 (except Sundays) at 6:30 and 8pm. Advance reservations are required.

The Haunted Mississauga Heritage Tour – Costumed actors lead a 45 minute guided tour around spooky areas of the city. Pre-booking is recommended. Friday October 24, 2025 at St. Peter’s Anglican Church & Cemetery in Erindale. $5 for Adults.

Fort York After Dark – Lantern tours of Fort York and its historic surroundings. Advance tickets required – $25. October 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25 2025

16. Take a Scenic Train Ride

A scenic train ride is an excellent way to experience fall foliage because nobody needs to pay attention to the road – just sit back and enjoy the view out the window!

I recently had the opportunity to check off one of my bucket list items by riding the Agawa Canyon Tour Train to enjoy the incredible landscape and the fall leaves of Northern Ontario. The train departs from the depot in downtown Sault Ste. Marie on a 10 hour adventure that includes a stop in Agawa Canyon Park. Peak season is mid-September to mid-October so be sure to book in advance (last date in 2025 is October 19). Our trip was the first week of October and the leaves were at their peak and spectacular!

Fall Colour Excursions are also available on South Simcoe Railway‘s historic excursion train. The round trip through the rolling countryside of Beeton Creek Valley from the South Simcoe Railway station in Tottenham (50 minutes north of Toronto) to Beeton and back aboard a restored 1920s coach takes just under an hour. Advance reservations are recommended as fall is the most popular time of the year for this scenic railway trip and they sell out early (October 11-19, 2025).

17. Celebrate at the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest

Canada’s greatest Bavarian Festival takes place each year in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region of the province. The K-W Oktoberfest celebrates Bavarian heritage with  lively polkas, delicious Bavarian dishes and, of course, beer! Be sure to check the website’s event calendar for specific dates and times. September 26 to October 18, 2025

18. Sleep (or Try To!) at a Haunted Hotel

If you’re brave, then consider spending a night at one of the hotel’s in the province that are rumoured to be haunted. The ones that I have heard of include Hochelaga Inn in Kingston, the Ottawa Jail Hostel, The Royal York Hotel in Toronto, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, the Prince George Hotel in Kingston and the Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake. I have stayed at a couple of them and, unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!) there were no ghost sightings!