Calgary 
Many of us are aware of the one single great reason to visit Taber, Alberta: for the best corn in Canada.
Credit: Town of Taber
The area produces amazing corn and other fresh produce because of one other reason you should visit: huge amounts of sunshine! The town sits on the banks of the Old Man River which provides a beautiful contrast to the seemingly endless farmlands surrounding Taber.
When you visit Taber in late summer or early fall, you can celebrate the corn, the sunshine, and the natural surroundings with the community through events like Cornfest or the Pheasant Festival, or by exploring on your own. The natural areas around Taber provide plenty of room for camping, boating, watersports, hiking, biking, or paddling, with a few Provincial Park areas nearby.
Located approximately 3 hours from Calgary, 75 minutes from Medicine Hat, and 40 minutes from Lethbridge, Taber makes for a great fall or summer day trip for the whole family.
1. Taber Cornfest
Celebrate this local crop with the town of Taber through their annual Cornfest. This family-friendly event includes a midway with fair rides and fair food, live music and entertainment, and kicks off with a fun run. The Cornfest schedule is live and official, with more details on smaller events like local barbecues, opening ceremonies, breakfasts, beer gardens, and the contests running over the weekend.
- 2026 Dates: August 27 to 30, 2026
2. Pheasant Festival
This annual event centres around a large pheasant hunt. However, the Taber Pheasant Festival has a lot more to offer for those who don’t hunt! Enjoy a Game to Gourmet Culinary event, a sausage-making evening, a Scotch night, a banquet, a silent auction, and more. Come celebrate an important tradition, local conservation efforts, and community.
- 2026 Dates: October 17 to 24, 2026
Alberta Conservation Association
3. Farmers’ Market
The Taber Farmers’ Market is part of the Cornfest celebrations but will be open beyond Cornfest. The remaining dates for the Market include every Thursday, 4 pm to 7 pm until September 10th. Shop rows of vendors for fresh produce, high-quality meats, handmade beauty products, home décor, sweets, and other goodies.
If you can make it to the area before the end of the month, you can also peek at the Vauxhall Farmers’ Market. Vauxhall is only a 25-minute drive north of Taber on Highway AB-36.
- Taber Farmers’ Market: Confederation Park, Taber
- Vauxhall Farmers’ Market: 417 4 St. N, Vauxhall
4. Riverfront Park
Taber is a short walk or a drive south of the Old Man River, with their municipal park on the river’s southern banks. Here you can fit in plenty of outdoor recreation before the colder weather hits: paddle the river, soak up the sun on the shores, take a dip, or enjoy an entire day at the park and make use of its firepits, washrooms, and tables.
5. Molnar’s Pumpkin Festival
During September, Molnar’s offers a fresh variety of homegrown vegetables that you can buy from the farm. This is a perfect opportunity to stock up on your Taber corn for the fall. And come October, Molnar’s celebrates fall with a month-long Pumpkin Festival. Head to their Barnwell farm to snap festive photos, pick your pumpkin, and learn a bit about growing corn and pumpkins over the summer.
- Fruit and Vegetable sales: September
- Pumpkin Festival: September 18
6. Water Sports – Travers Reservoir
For a more natural experience in the Taber area, the Travers Reservoir Provincial Recreational Area offers fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and first-come, first-served camping until October 10th. If you want more of a late-summer destination, the Little Bow PP on the west end of the Reservoir is home to a beach, swimming area, and food stand open until early September. Little Bow has camping, too, which must be reserved online and is open until October 12th. No matter where you park or rest your head for the night, the large Reservoir provides plenty of space for boating and water sports, with launches all around the shores.
7. Camping
The sunny weather and crisp fall that the Taber area offers allow southern Alberta camping trips to continue a bit longer into the fall season. The Travers Reservoir PRA and Little Bow PP are open for campers into mid-October. But several are within town limits if you’d rather be closer to town.
- Travers Reservoir PRA
- Little Bow PP
- Taber Municipal Park
- Taber RV Park
- Taber Trout Pond Campground
- Ken MacDonald Memorial Sports Complex
Credit: Alberta Parks
8. Coulee Trail System
The extensive path network west of town has three parking areas along the Old Man River and a selection of different difficulty levels for all kinds of hikers and bikers. It is also an exceptional mountain biking area, with volunteer-maintained bike trails featuring jumps and boardwalks. A good family hiking or biking option is the Trout Pond Loop, where you can chance spot waterfowl and wildlife. The Riverside Express can provide excellent exercise and views for a quick riverside walk.
9. Main Street Dining
The main highway running through Taber offers your general fast-food selection, but off the main drag are a number of highly rated, positively raved restaurants you will want to try. Rancho Viejo adds Mexican flair to your meal, and Wok & Roll is considered the best Chinese food in town.
10. Warming Coffees and Chilled Drinks
Whether Taber gets a warm or chilly fall, the local vendors in town include cafes and drink shops that can cover you for either. What is better than a tall glass of lemonade on a hotter day? The Dancing Lemons, a local family-owned food truck, will be at both the Taber Farmers’ Market and Cornfest with their refreshing lemonades to try. For more cold treats, try the Purple Cow on 51st Street; you won’t miss it as the bright purple food truck! For a wide selection of comfort food and cozy drinks, hit up Pasquale’s Pizza Café, which serves coffee, specialty coffee, tea, cappuccino, hot chocolate, and more.
