50 Fun Things to Do This Fall in Southwestern Ontario

Ruthven Apple Festival

During the last weekend in September, Kingsville hosts the Ruthven Apple Festival, voted one of The Top 100 Festivals in Ontario multiple years in a row. Each year 100+ vendors and thousands of patrons flock to the festival grounds to enjoy live music, great food, games, and shopping. September 27 & 28, 2025

Thanksgiving Day

Join us for the Last Day of Fanshawe Pioneer Village’s Public Season on Monday, October 13, 2025! Explore heritage homes, learn about the fall harvest, watch baking demos, and see how early settlers prepared for winter.

Where: Fanshawe Pioneer Village, 1424 Clarke Road London

Windsor International Film Festival

WIFF, Canada’s largest volunteer-run film festival, showcases Canadian and international films, promoting the creative economy and enriching the community. Celebrating its 21st anniversary, WIFF presents over 180 films across 11 days in Windsor. October 23 – November 2, 2025

Where: 101 University Avenue West, Windsor

Festival of the Fountains

Festival of Fountains – The Night Garden will introduce guests to a highly visual immersive experience to indulge all their senses! This interpretive storytelling experience of music, water, and lighting invites guests to explore our scenic 22 acre multi-award winning botanical beauty before nightfall, enjoy on-site friendly food and beverage hospitality, and showcase local pop-up talent. Saturdays, August 23 – September 13, 2025

Where: Whistling Gardens, 698 Concession 3 Townsend, Wilsonville

Waterford Pumpkinfest

Waterford Lions Pumpkinfest is all about celebrating agricultural heritage and diversity. This multi-day family event features live music, a car show, soapbox derby, artist marketplace, fireworks, a parade, and more. October 17 – 19, 2025

Where: 32 Church St E,.Waterford

Scenic Train Ride

Enjoy a train ride on Port Stanley Railway during the Fall months. In October, in addition to regular scenic train rides, they offer pumpkin patch rides where you can ride from Port Stanley to Whites Park to pick pumpkins. October 25 & 26, 2025

Where: Port Stanley Terminal Rail, Bridge Street, Port Stanley

Family Fun Experience

Get ready to have Fall Fun on the Farm! Enjoy 20 attractions, including a petting zoo, playground tree fort and jumping pillows, pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze, wagon rides, and a new pedal cart track and mega slide.

Where: Snyder’s Family Farm, 936685 Blenheim Rd, Bright

Kingsville Migration Festival

Celebrate migration, heritage, nature conservation, and Jack Miner from October 16th to 19th.

Where: Various locations in Kingsville

Super Santa Walk

Join the Super Santa Walk/Run/Wheel this holiday season! Walk or run a 5k dressed as Santa, with a suit included to keep. Proceeds support Essex Region conservation projects. November 15, 2025

Where: Amherstburg

2. Activities in (and near) the City

This environmentally significant area offers a challenging 5.8 km long hike through an urban forest. The area remained rural unto the 1990s and was historically a logging and farming area for European settlers. Perfect for fall wild-life viewing, these woods are an important corridor for birds and animals, offering the chance to see Killdeer, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagles, Wild Turkey, White-Tailed Deer, Eastern Cottontail, Grey Tree Frogs, and even Yellow-Spotted Salamander.

Where: Located in west London near Kains Road, north of the Oxford Street West
bridge, along the Thames River.

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Fingal Wildlife Management Area

This historic World War 2 Air Force Training Base has been reclaimed into 724 acres of crown land, featuring cutting-edge conservation alongside historic relics from Canada’s past. The site has 395 acres of active farmland, 40 km of trails, and is home to over 200 species of wildlife. Walk beneath the leaf-canopied trail and keep track of all the wildlife you can see in this not-so-little retreat. Be sure to visit the website and take note of hunting days as small game hunting.

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Riberdy Farms

This 3rd-generation family farm has been growing cucumbers, raspberries, peaches, plums, zucchini, gladiolas, and fall mums since 1943. Open until Thanksgiving, this is the perfect stop to bring home the fall harvest for your Thanksgiving feast.

Where: 13049 Riverside Dr., Tecumseh

Meadowlilly Farm

In the middle of the Meadowlilly Woods Nature Preserve, in the heart of London is, Meadowlilly Farm. This bee-rescue and beekeeping farm is your one-stop shop for beeswax, syrup, and locally harvested, raw, all-natural, clover and wild flower, non-pasteurized honey. In the fall you’ll also find locally harvested black walnuts and free-range duck eggs.

Where: 25 Meadowlily Rd. S. London

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Lighthouse Conservation Area

Visit this single-hectare park at the mouth of the Thames River in Lake St. Clair to see a 200+ year old lighthouse – one of the three oldest on the Great Lakes! In addition to seeing a little piece of history, take advantage of the cooler weather to walk through the conservation area for a light hike and a picnic, but don’t forget your thermos!

Where: 19028 Harbour Drive, Lighthouse Cove

Long Point Eco-Adventures

Hiking through a colourful forest is an unforgettable experience! Experience the scenic beauty of the Carolian Forest during the fall season. Surround yourself with nature at Ontario’s ultimate wilderness experience! They are offering a number of packages for the fall, so take advantage of their off-season pricing and enjoy a great vacation.

Where: 1730 Front Rd, Port Rowan

 

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Explore the Outdoors

Enjoy hiking, photography, horseback riding, picnicking, and other outdoor activities in the Essex Region. Plan your activity for the day.

There’s No Place Like Home Antiques & Country Flea Market

Open weekends from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, this flea market is located in a renovated barn and holds more than 2500 square feet of antiques and collectibles. With new items every week, this the perfect weekend activity for treasure-hunters and bargain-busters alike.

Where: 1528 Deer Run Road, Leamington

Boler Mountain

This year-round, not-for-profit adventure extravaganza is not for the faint of the heart! Early in September, you can check out the Treetop Adventure Park which features zip lines, rope courses, swinging bridges, tarzan swings, and pirate nets, finishing with an 1100 foot zip line finish. If you miss this adventure, don’t worry – there are still plenty of mountain biking and fitness trails to feed your need for speed! Depending on weather conditions, you might also be able to take advantage of the skiing, snowboarding, and tubing trails.

Where: 689 Griffith Street, London

 

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Puck’s Plenty Foraging Tours

In today’s world, it seems everyone is trying to make healthier, more informed decisions that benefit their local community. Well, it can’t get more local than your own backyard! Meet with acclaimed novelist and naturalist Peter Bush, learn, explore, and forage the forests around southwestern Ontario. Bring along your children and your dog to learn new recipes, eat local and wild, and of course, get outdoors.

Port Franks Wetlands and Forested Dunes

This 5 km hike offers the chance to see an array of plants and animals found nowhere else in Canada. The Rare Oak Savanna ecosystem is designated as an important bird site because of its large concentration of rare and threatened species. Go for a hike this fall and you’ll also have the chance to various amphibians like the spotted turtle and the Eastern Hognose Snake.

Take a road trip along Lake Erie

Take a road trip from Amherstburg to Fort Erie this sweater weather season and enjoy cool weather, warm bites, and exciting activities.

Thames Valley Parkway

Sure, the emphasis is always on getting fit for a summer body, but we all know fitness is important year-round. The Thames Valley Parkway offers an excellent urban route with 40 km of multi-use pathways, linking all corners of London.

Pinery Provincial Park

Pinery Provincial Park offers 10 km of sandy beach on the shores of Lake Huron and 21 square km of rare and fragile ecosystems with over 800 plants and 300 bird species. Add to that, National Geographic ranked sunsets here among the “Top 10 Best in the World”, so you might as well make a weekend of it!

Where: 9526 Lakeshore Road RR2, Grand Bend

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Fanshawe Lake Trail

There’s no time quite like fall for an epic outdoor adventure. The Fanshawe Lake Trail offers 20km of biking and hiking trails around beautiful Fanshawe Lake. While you’re at it, rent a canoe or kayak and explore the conservation area by area. For the more experienced, test your hands at fishing the lake, and maybe you’ll bring home your own fall harvest.

Downtown Bike Loop

Fall brings to mind a warm hearth, good food, and time spent with the family – but you’ll have to get there! Leave the car at home and make the most of this mild season with downtown London’s 3km bike path. With access to local restaurants, entertainment, and connections to the larger Thames Valley Parkway, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try this before.

Rock Glen

See one of Ontario’s hidden treasures this fall. Featuring a magnificent cascading waterfall, tree-canopied pathways, and waterfront access, this will fully immerse you in the colors of Fall. Pack a warm lunch and have a picnic on the well-kept grounds – there’s even a playground for the kids!

Where: 8680 Rock Glen Road, Arkona

Joany’s Woods

After all the summer visitors have returned home, Fall is the perfect time to escape your day-to-day and venture off the beaten path. Joany’s Woods offers 367 acres of conservation area covered in hikes of varying difficulties. See wildlife and explore new landscapes on this path less travelled.

Where: West Williams Ward, Municipality of North Middlesex

Wheatley Provincial Park

Camping may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Fall, but it really is the perfect season. The rains of spring have passed, summer’s heat has subsided (along with the bugs!), and there’s nothing like waking up to crisp autumn air and multi-coloured leaves. Visit Wheatley Provincial Park for radio-free camping offered to small tents and camper vans. With biking, birding, canoeing, fishing, and hiking there’s something for everyone.

Where: 21116 Klondyke Road, Wheatley

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Korny Korners Farm

A favourite family destination during the fall, Korny Korners Farm attracts visitors with its playground, corn maze and petting farm. Before you leave, be sure to check out their food trailer for amazing eats and stock fresh produce.

Where: 6193 Blackwell Sideroad, Sarnia

Point Pelee National Park

As the southernmost point of the Canadian mainland, you can evade winter’s chill for just a little bit longer. Several events are planned at the park, so be sure to check their calendar before planning your trip.

Where: 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington

Delhi Rail Trail

This is a 13.8 km trail that travels through farmlands, farmhouses, and forests. The trails start from the outskirts of Delhi and connects to the Northfolk Sunrise Trail in Simcoe. There are various access points in the trail with benches and bike stands to take breaks along the route. This is an easy hiking and cycling trail with a fairly level surface.

Greenview Aviaries Park & Zoo

Make great memories at the Greenview Aviaries Park and Zoo. See zoo animals including lions, tigers, zebra, cougars, wolves, reptiles, birds, and much more. There is a splash pad as well as a large playground. The Zoo is open Daily 9 am to 8 pm, until Thanksgiving.

Where: 12734 Talbot Trail, Morpeth

Long Point Provincial Park

One of the oldest provincial parks in Ontario, Long Point Provincial Park offers 1.5km of sandy beach along Lake Erie, and is located within a designated world biosphere reserve. On top of that, it is one of the largest bird and waterfowl migration areas in North America. With over 300 migrating birds flying overhead, this will be a picnic to remember!

Where: 350 Erie Blvd, Port Rowan

Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens

Head to the Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens to enjoy the petting farm, mini-golf, and arcade room.

Where: Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, 1550 Road 3 East, Kingsville