The Ottawa Region is known for its spectacular nature and outdoor charm, as well as the magic of Canada’s capital. The museums, artistic events, restaurants, nightlife, and classic fall staples make the arrival of Fall more exciting as Ottawa locals and visitors look for ways to experience the beauty of the season. Here are 25+ fun things to do this fall season in the Ottawa region.
25 Fall Day Trips From Ottawa
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1. Autumn Tree Tour
Fall brings a new dimension to the trees at the Dominion Arboretum. Reds, yellows, purples and browns emerge as the green fades away and other pigments take over. Enjoy a Fall walk as some of these colours become more spectacular as the weather gets colder and stresses the trees, until frost comes and the wind takes the leaves away.
2. Pumpkins After Dark
Witness magnificent works of pumpkin artistry – 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins, creating more than 100 sculptures, displayed among a series of jack-o-lanterns all illuminated after dark. Pumpkins After Dark at Wesley Clover Parks promises to be a night of fun and enchantment for the whole family!
3. Taste of Wellington West
Discover the delights of the neighbourhoods of Hintonburg and Wellington West. TASTE of Wellington West showcases the best flavours and features of the area and includes foodie features, art night, cooking demonstrations and more!
For more things to do every week, see Things to do this week in Ottawa
4. Go apple picking
Go apple picking at the stunning Ottawa area Orchards, and choose from several varieties such as the Cortland Apple, McIntosh, Ambrosia, Golden Delicious and more, and complement your visit with a wagon ride, a walk through the corn maze, or a stroll on a forest trail.
5. Attend the Ottawa International Animation Festival
View some of the world’s most unique, cutting-edge, and quirky animation pieces at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, a place where big name and independent animation companies like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network come together.
6. Fall Fairs
After a year of hiatus, in-person agricultural fairs are back. Ride the midway, see demolition derby and more at Carp Fair and Metcalfe Fair.
7. Day of the Dead
Immerse yourself in Mexican culture in the midst of the historic ByWard Market neighbourhood as the community gathers to celebrate the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, festivals, and activities the dead enjoyed in their lifetime. With special programming including Mariachi performances, authentic Mexican cuisine, artisan market, folkloric dancers and much more, the Dead of the Dead Festival is an unforgettable experience.
8. Enjoy the Cranberry at Upper Canada Cranberries
Pick some juicy, nutritious cranberries at the only commercial cranberry grower in Eastern Ontario – Upper Canada Cranberries. This vitamin C-loaded fruit is used to make amazing frozen sliced cranberries, jams, and sauces, available on the farm. The farm is open most days during harvest time from mid-September to mid-November.
9. Hike to a Scenic Lookout
What better time to hike to a lookout than visiting a scenic lookout from where you can enjoy fabulous fall colours? Visit some of the lookouts in and around the Ottawa and Gatineau area where you can enjoy panoramic views and both hidden gems and well-known spots in the outdoors.
10. Pumpkin Fest
Bring a picnic and come join for a ghostly gathering in a country setting at Proulx Maple & Berry Farm, just a few minutes from Orleans and 30 minutes east of downtown Ottawa.
11. Ottawa Senators Fan Fest
Ottawa Senators take to the ice for another season, and this free marquee event will feature an exciting day of games and activities for the whole family.
12. Carleton University Butterfly Show
Every year the Carleton University Biology Department hosts its annual Butterfly Show. During the days leading into the Thanksgiving weekend, over 1300 live exotic butterflies are released into the Nesbitt Biology building greenhouses. Visit the greenhouse to enjoy a world of butterflies.
13. Carrot Fest
Visit Ottawa Farm Fresh for Carrot Fest, the ultimate celebration of the humble root vegetable! Enjoy carrot picking, live music, delicious food, a mobile book store, and u-pick pumpkins and be part of the community effort to harvest, wash, and store over 10,000lbs of carrots for the winter.
14. Zipline through Camp Fortune
Head to Camp Fortune and challenge your strength and endurance on the aerial courses and zip lines.
15. The Sawmill at Lansdowne
“The Sawmill at Lansdowne” will feature the largest, longest, most terrifying walking experience produced by Saunders Farm to date. Guests will be exposed to the latest in scare technology, over a dozen live actors, and street theatre performances before and after their visit all taking place on The Great Lawn, located on the south side of the historic (and spooky) Aberdeen Pavilion.
16. Fall Rhapsody
View the stunning change of fall colours through Gatineau Park. Pack for a picnic, take a walk through the woods, or enjoy a breezy bike ride along the beautiful landscape.
17. Celebrate Halloween season at Saunders’ Farm
A family tradition for a million guests, join the regulars at Saunders’ Farm and enjoy food, fun, and amazing memories whilst celebrating haunting season in the day and fright fest at night.
18. Go on an Ottawa Haunted Walk
Celebrating 20 years of haunted storytelling adventures in Ottawa, as well as Toronto and Kingston, the Haunted Walk tours guests around some of the most haunted spots around the city.
19. Relax at the Nordik Spa-Nature
Take some time for self-care at the Nordik Spa-Nature – a place “where everything can wait”, and relaxation is your primary purpose. Details
20. Flyover Gatineau Park with Ottawa Biplane Adventures
Take a seat in an open cockpit Biplane and fly across Ottawa to see fall colours from up above.
21. Performing Arts at NAC
From The Queen In Me to Jungle Book Reimagined, there are various concerts and live performances at Canada’s famous performing arts centre.
22. Signatures Handmade Market
Shop early for Christmas! Signatures is a uniquely Canadian handmade marketplace in Ottawa that features the works of over 150 artists, artisans, makers, and designers from coast-to-coast.
23. Go on a Haunted Hay Ride
sKreamers is a fundraising project of the Kiwanis Club of Orleans. This year sKreamers feature Haunted Hayride, Trail and a Corn Maze. Enjoy haunted hay ride through a terrifying corn maze.
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24. Go Pumpkin Picking.
Enjoy fall at Cannamore Orchards. Family Activity Weekends begin on the labour day weekend and continue until Thanksgiving weekend in early October. Activities include apple/pumpkin picking, family activities, and the famous Acres of Terror Halloween Haunts!
25. Bushels of Fun Down on the Farm
Visit Ottawa’s historic farm that was originally settled in 1854. You can walk through the original home of the Bradley’s and take in how they lived right here over 150 years ago! In addition, the corn maze will be open for those who want to try their skills at finding their way through the maze. There will be wagon rides, lots of friendly animals to see, feed and touch and the kid’s barn, three different hay play structures to climb and explore and more for a fun day with the kids at the farm.
26. Fall in Love with Maple
Visit Ottawa area maple farms to enjoy the fabulous colours of Fall as sugar maple trees change from green to vibrant yellows, blazing oranges and crimson reds.
27. Shop at One World Bazaar
Packed to the rafters with goods from all areas of the globe, it truly is a feast for the senses, and is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Come out for a fall afternoon and experience the beauty and uniqueness of handmade goods.
28. Sparks Street Poutinefest
Sparks Street will be sizzling with the city’s biggest poutine vendors for four delightful days in October. Ottawa’s top food trucks will be serving up their twist on Canada’s favourite treat. Enjoy traditional and exotic poutine, live music, street performers, patios, and more! Say cheese and join the fun!
29. Tagwàgi (Autumn) Festival
Reconnect with the land while learning about Indigenous traditions during this beautiful change of season. The annual Tagwàgi (Autumn) Festival promises authentic Indigenous programming an Indigenous Makers and Farmers Market interactive creative workshops culinary delights and a chance to meet the rare Ojibwe Spirit Ponies — fun for young and old. (2023 Dates TBA)