By Natalie Tuesday, September 2, 2025

The fall season is the perfect time to explore farms, harvest festivals, and all the cozy activities that autumn brings. Planning a family outing or a weekend getaway? Here’s your guide to Ontario’s best fall experiences. From pumpkin patches and corn mazes to apple orchards and local markets, there are endless ways to soak in the magic of the season.

Best Fall Farms, Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards in Ontario

Nothing says fall like a visit to a pumpkin patch or apple orchard. Ontario has plenty of spots where you can pick your own produce and enjoy fun farm activities along the way.

• Downey’s Farm Market (Caledon): A family favourite with plenty of pumpkins and squash, plus a massive corn maze. Their annual Pumpkinfest features wagon rides, farm animals, and tasty seasonal treats.ou can enjoy wagon rides, farm animals, and a variety of delicious treats.
• Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm (Milton): Famous for its apple picking, Chudleigh’s also offers a pumpkin patch and a variety of fun activities for kids, including tractor rides and a petting zoo.
• Springridge Farm (Milton): Home to a lively Fall Festival that includes wagon rides, farm animals, and a giant corn trail—perfect for a full day of family fun.
• Brooks Farms (Mount Albert): Known for its Fall Fun Festival , Brooks Farms offers a full day of activities, including pumpkin picking, a corn maze, farm animals, and even a zip line. With weekend entertainment and delicious fall foods, it’s a popular spot for families.
• Applewood Farm Winery (Stouffville): Perfect for apple and pumpkin picking, Applewood Farm Winery also offers wagon rides and a play area for kids. Adults can sample the farm’s fruit wines and ciders, making it a fun destination for visitors of all ages.
• Rounds Ranch (Elmvale): A fall favourite offering wagon rides, a giant corn maze, and a pumpkin patch. Families can also enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, and plenty of Instagram-worthy photo spots.

Top Harvest Festivals in Ontario

Fall is the season of abundance, and Ontario’s harvest festivals are a celebration of the region’s rich agricultural heritage. These festivals are the perfect opportunity to sample local food, enjoy live music, and immerse yourself in the festive fall spirit.

• Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show (Simcoe): As one of Ontario’s oldest agricultural fairs, the Norfolk County Fair offers a wide range of activities, including horse shows, concerts, a midway, and plenty of food vendors serving up harvest-inspired dishes.
• Bala Cranberry Festival (Bala): This festival is a celebration of the cranberry harvest. You can tour the cranberry marshes, shop for unique cranberry products, and enjoy live entertainment. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the beautiful Muskoka region in the fall.
• Erin Fall Fair (Erin): With agricultural displays, a midway, a demolition derby, and lots of delicious local food, the Erin Fall Fair is a quintessential fall event. It’s perfect for families and anyone looking to experience a classic country fair.
• Bronte Creek Provincial Park Harvest Festival (Oakville): Held from Sept. 27-28th, this Victorian-style festival includes apple pressing, pumpkin carving, children’s playbarn and farm area complimentary wagon rides .  Admission is included with a park entry fee, making it an affordable fall day out.
• Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival (Lincoln): Running every Thanksgiving weekend for over 45 years, this Niagara tradition features local artisans, craft vendors, childrens activities, live entertainment, and delicious seasonal food, all set against the backdrop of the beautiful Ball’s Falls Conservation Area.

Ontario Corn Mazes and Haunted Farm Adventures

For those looking for a bit of adventure this fall, Ontario’s corn mazes and haunted farms provide the perfect mix of fun and fright.

• Saunders Farm (Ottawa): Famous for its Haunting Season, Saunders Farm offers a variety of spooky experiences, from haunted hayrides to frightening mazes. By day, it’s a family-friendly destination with a pumpkin patch and a variety of mazes for all ages.
• Fear Farm (Kitchener-Waterloo): For those seeking a true scare, Fear Farm offers haunted hayrides, terrifying mazes, and a haunted house. For families, there are also daytime activities that are less intense but equally fun.
• Kustermans Adventure Farm (Mount Brydges): With its giant corn maze, pumpkin patch, and a variety of farm activities, Kustermans Adventure Farm is a family favorite.
• Howell’s Fall Fest (Fonthill): Home to Niagara’s largest fall festival, Howell’s offers 35 attactions, games and shows.  Everything from pumpkin picking and wagon rides to a giant corn maze, jumping pillows, zombie paint ball and light shows. Families can enjoy live entertainment, bonfires, and even pumpkin-themed treats. At night, the farm transforms with haunted attractions and spooky fun, making it a destination for both daytime family outings and evening thrills.

Scenic Ontario Train Rides for Fall Colours

Fall is the perfect time to hop aboard a scenic train ride to witness Ontario’s stunning fall foliage. These train rides offer a unique way to experience the season’s colors while learning about the region’s history.

• Agawa Canyon Tour Train (Sault Ste. Marie): One of the most popular fall train tours in Ontario, this full-day adventure takes you through the rugged Canadian Shield and vibrant fall foliage of the Agawa Canyon. It’s a photographer’s dream!
• South Simcoe Railway (Tottenham): This scenic route winds through the picturesque Beeton Creek Valley. The vintage steam train ride takes passengers back to the golden age of rail travel, and during the fall weekends, they offers the Fall Colour Excursions, making it an easy and accessible way to experience the beauty of the season
• Waterfront Trail Train (Port Stanley Terminal Rail): This is a unique opportunity to ride along the north shore of Lake Erie, with spectacular views of the fall foliage along the Waterfront Trail. Enjoy fall-themed rides, including the popular Pumpkin Patch Express for families, which includes a stop at a pumpkin patch.
• Heritage Train Tours (Waterloo Central Railway): This railway offers seasonal fall train tours that provide a stunning view of the countryside blanketed in vibrant fall colors. The railway’s fall excursions include the Harvest Celebration Train, where passengers can enjoy the scenic beauty of the region and even make a stop at the famous St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market, for seasonal goodies. It’s a perfect way to combine a relaxing train ride with a visit to one of Ontario’s most popular markets.

Best Ontario Farmers’ Markets for Fall Harvest

Fall is the season of harvest, making it the ideal time to visit Ontario’s farmers’ markets. Here, you can sample and purchase fresh, local produce, artisanal products, and fall-themed treats.

• St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market (Waterloo Region): The largest year-round farmers’ market in Canada, St. Jacobs offers an array of seasonal produce, baked goods, and crafts. During the fall, you’ll find an abundance of pumpkins, squash, apples, and more.
• Merrickville’s Autumn Harvest Festival (Merrickville): This charming village hosts an annual harvest festival featuring local artisans, farmers, and food vendors. It’s a great spot to pick up fall decor, seasonal treats, and unique crafts.
• Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market (Toronto): Located in the heart of Toronto, Evergreen Brick Works hosts a weekly farmers’ market on Saturdays featuring local produce, baked goods, and handmade products. In the fall, the market is filled with seasonal offerings, making it a great spot for city dwellers to enjoy the harvest season.
• Muskoka Farmers’ Market (Bracebridge): Set against the backdrop of Muskoka’s stunning autumn scenery, this market is a fall favorite. Stock up on locally grown fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and handcrafted items, all while soaking in the vibrant colors of Muskoka’s fall foliage.
• Kingston Public Market (Kingston): One of Ontario’s oldest markets, located downtown. In the fall, it’s packed with pumpkins, squash, apples, and locally made harvest treats.

There are so many fall farms, harvest festivals, and autumn activities to choose from in Ontario! For a full list of upcoming events, visit our Event Calendar and search for a region near you.

Enjoy!

Natalie