Photo Credit: Town of Kentville
Fall is the absolute best time of the year to explore Nova Scotia. From the beauty of the vibrant autumn colours to amazing harvest celebrations, towns and cities become packed with things to see and do. So, spend this fall checking out the 25 fun things listed below and have a blast.
1. Visit the Pumpkin People
Pumpkin People are a fall staple in the Annapolis Valley and people come from all across the Maritimes to see them. See the many displays located all around the town of Kentville, and you can even build your own pumpkin person.
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2. Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Credit: RiverBreeze CornMaze
Test your maze solving skills in a huge corn maze this fall. Have an excellent time exploring the maze with some friends or your family.
- Riverbreeze Farm & Cornmaze, 660 Onslow Road, Truro
- Noggins Farm, 10009 Highway 1, Greenwich
Hank’s Farm Market, 581 Kings Grove Road, North Sydney
3. Go Apple Picking
Apple picking is a fall staple and a wonderful family activity. Visit an apple orchard with the family and make a day of it when you pick your favourite varieties of apples. Check out our list of Apple U-picks.
4. Pick the Perfect Pumpkin
Credit: Elderkin’s Farm Market, Bakery, & U-Pick
Thousands of pumpkins await you this fall. So, take a walk through the pumpkin patch and see if you can find your perfect pumpkin to carve into a Jack-o-Lantern.
- Rendells Farm, 95 Point Acorn Road, Millcreek
- Elderkins’ Farm , 10362 Highway 1, Wolfville
- Noggins Corner Farm Market, 10009 Nova Scotia Trunk 1, Wolfville
5. Scream in a Haunted Corn Maze
When night falls, the spirits, zombies and other monsters head into the corn maze. Do you dare to enter the maze and see if you can make your way to other side?
- Riverbreeze Fear Farm, 660 Onslow Road, Truro
6. Enter a Haunted House
Credit: Phantoms Freak Show
Get ready for some scares this fall when entering a haunted house. Entering is easy, and leaving is the challenge.
- Phantoms Freak Show, 325 Main Street, Kentville
- Noggins Corner Haunted House, 9969 Hwy #1, Greenwich
- Haunted Places and Ghost Walks in Nova Scotia
7. Take a Hike
Enjoy fall in all its breathtaking forms when you go hiking on the many trails in Nova Scotia.
Experience awesome fall colours, and depending on the area where you go hiking you may also find some water features and other interesting terrains. Check out our list of 25 fall hikes.
8. Visit a Farmer’s Market
Fall is the harvest season for most fruits and vegetables. Taste the fruits of the hard work at the Farmers Market across Nova Scotia.
- Cape Breton Farmers Market, 15 Falmouth Street, Sydney
- Halifax Brewery Farmers Market, 1496 Lower Water Street, Halifax
- New Glasgow Farmer Market, 261 Glasgow Street, New Glasgow
9. Go on a Ghost Walk
Every town has its own ghost stories and ghosts. Hear chilling stories about Nova Scotia’s dark past while you go behind the scenes to see the darker places.
10. Go to the Largest Culinary Film Festival
Devour! The Food Film Fest is an iconic fall film festival. Foodies love the festival since the films explore food and Wolfville is packed with amazing restaurants and wineries where they can dine during the festival.
11. Take a Wine Tour
See how different varieties of grapes go from vine to bottle on a wine tour. Explore the winery, taste the fruits of their labour and discover what makes Nova Scotian wines special.
- Wild Grape Tours, Wolfville
- Go North Tours, Halifax and Wolfville
- Magic Winery Bus, Wolfville
12. Warm up on the Chowder Trail
Seafood is a way of life in Nova Scotia. Chowder is the perfect way to warm up on a crisp fall day after playing in the leaves. There are lots of stops on the Nova Scotia Chowder Trail.
13. Drive the Cabot Trail
Thousands of people head to Nova Scotia yearly to drive the Cabot Trail in the Fall. Millions of trees showcase their breathtaking colours, and the blue ocean perfectly frames the scene. While you can drive the Cabot Trail in one day, it is best enjoyed with many stops along the way. Check out our list of Things to Do along Cabot Trail during the Fall.
Don’t miss the Celtic Colours International Festival.
14. Go Zip Lining
Get a birds-eye view of the breathtaking fall foliage while zipping through the crisp fall air.
- OnTree, 370 Ski Martock Road, Windsor
- Mountain Pine Adventures, 30039 Cabot Trail, Ingonish Beach
15. Stop along the Good Cheer Trail
Nova Scotia has many wonderful craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries. While you are going on your fall adventures, why not stop in and take a tour to find out what makes each one of them truly special?
Good Cheer Trail
16. Stay at a Resort
Credit: Fox Harb’r Resort
Take a staycation at one of Nova Scotia’s lovely resorts. Book a relaxing weekend at a luxurious resort and enjoy a break from the hustle and stress of the city.
17. Go on a Wagon/Carriage Ride
Climb a wagon and relax through valleys, fields, and past hills. It is a classic fall activity for a reason.
- Hatfield Farm1840 Hammonds Plains Rd, Hammonds Plains
- Trot in Time, Lunenburg
18. Hike to a Scenic Lookout
From the Halifax Regional Municipality to off the South Shore to the northern tip of Cape Breton, you’ll find hiking trails and lookouts for multiple points of interest to take in Fall colours.
19. Spend some time in a Cozy Cafe
Warm up on chilly fall days in a cozy cafe. Meet up with some friends and have great conversations over fantastic coffee. Most cafes will have the fall favourite, the pumpkin spice latte, on their menus.
- Steve-O-Reno’s Cafe, 1536 Brunswick Street, Halifax
- T.A.N Coffee, 378 Main Street, Wolfville
- Half Acres Cafe, 395 Main Street, Kentville
- Jimolly’s Bakery Cafe, 76 Inglis Place, Truro
20. Celebrate Oktoberfest
There will be delicious food, great music, and exceptional beer. Even if you can’t make it, you can still celebrate Oktoberfest with great food and beer at your home.
- Oktoberfest, Forties Community Centre, New Ross
- Southshore Oktoberfest
21. See the Fall Colors from the Water
Set sail with your mates to take in the spectacular view of beautiful fall colours on a boat. Make sure to dress warmly because it can be chilly on the water.
- Salty Dog Sea Tours, 36 Treasure Dr, Western Shore
- Fall Colours Sail on the Tall Ship Silva, 1751 Water Street, Halifax
22. Visit Some Gardens
Gardens are not just for spring and summer. They look fabulous in autumn, too, and are all adorned in fall colours.
- Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens
- Halifax Public Gardens
- Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum
- The K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens
23. Treat Yourself to a Spa Getaways
Take a break from the stress of your daily grind with a spa getaway. Whether it’s one relaxing day at the spa or a weekend with the girls, a spa getaway is the perfect way to spoil yourself this fall.
- Sensea Nordic Spa, 40 Sensea Road, Chester
- The Style Merchant, 46 Hawthorne Street, Yarmouth
- Nordic Spa at Oceanstone Resort
24. Go to the Zoo
Fall is one of the best times to go to the zoo. The animals are more active, and there are fewer crowds.
Nestled in 40 hectares, Shubenacadie Wildlife Park has delighted millions of visitors for over 60 years. Located off Highway 102, it’s just 40 minutes from Halifax and 30 minutes from Truro, offering a captivating wildlife experience.
- Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, 149 Creighton Rd, Shubenacadie
25. Explore Cliffs of Fundy GeoPark
Designated a UNESCO site this year, the Cliffs of Fundy GeoPark is where you can see the world’s highest tides, Canada’s oldest dinosaur, and thousands of glorious fall coloured trees.