Toronto 
As the weather heats up across Ontario for spring, attractions open up, operating seasons begin, and many more Provincial or area parks become accessible. And as attractions or parks start to open across the province for hiking, camping, birding, biking, or boating, several spring celebrations also take place.
Traditional Victoria Day Fireworks/CNW Group/Canadian Tulip Festival
Whether the trip is for Spring Break, a spring holiday, maple season, or simply to enjoy the nature and weather, the many festivals and events in Ontario make it easy to celebrate all parts of spring.
There are, no doubt, several ways to plan a spring getaway in Ontario. And aside from the parks, attractions, or festivals to attend, these spring vacations could also be centred around destinations: small, rural towns in Ontario, the big cities like Toronto and Ottawa, or the several small cities of Ontario.
Explore a Sea of Tulips
No need to head all the way to the Netherlands for the picturesque and rainbow rows of tulips. These scenes can be found across Ontario this spring for u-pick, simple enjoyment, and photo opportunities. Plus, Ottawa is home to the country’s biggest celebrations of the colourful flowers.
- There are a couple of tulip festivals happening this spring across Ontario: the Canadian Tulip Festival (Ottawa, May 9-19, 2025), The Niagara TASC Tulip Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake, late April-mid May).
- The Berkelbloem Tulip Field and Farm operate a scenic flower farm in Simcoe. Join them each spring for tulip u-pick, the garden wholesale, or several photo opportunities.
- The tulip fields of Hat Trick Farms in Blenheim open in late April with various “tulip experiences.” There will be an art workshop, a Petal Party, and sessions for photographers. Otherwise, guests can purchase regular admission to the tulip field. Hat Trick Farms also harvests maple syrup in the spring with Sugar Bush experiences and tours.
- Head to wine country for your tulip experience with the JP Niagara Tulip Experience, home to over 2.5 million tulips!
- Eastern Ontario’s Vankleek Hill Tulip Farm will be open as of May for u-pick and tulip field photography.
Celebrate Spring Migration
The spring and fall bird migration seasons in Ontario are busy, no matter where in the province you want to take a spring trip! And with that, the busy migration season comes a handful of celebrations or festivals all about birding and the birds of Ontario.
- Kick off the season with the Festival of Birds at Point Pelee National Park on Lake Erie.
- Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory in Milford host the Spring Bird Festival.
- The 28th Huron Fringe Birding Festival takes place at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.
- The Dorion Birding Festival near Thunder Bay is a great opportunity to learn about the birds of northern Ontario, or those that migrate to Lake Superior.
Sugar Bush Season
The official Ontario Maple Weekend will be April 4 to 5, 2026. And while many maple and sugar bush events, festivals, or tours will take place that weekend, there are still different events popping up around Ontario throughout late March and into April.
- The Muskoka and Highlands regions of Ontario have much to offer when it comes to these sweet experiences. Central to it all is the Muskoka Maple Festival in Huntsville (April 25, 2026). Visit individual area farms for tours and maple tasting.
- Southern Ontario is a busy place for maple syrup season. Visit the Elliott Tree Farm in Hillsburgh for the Weekend Maple Experience, and for a visit to Ontario’s Maple Syrup Museum. More events include the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Maple Syrup Festival, Brooks Farms’ Maplefest, Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival, the Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival, and the Bronte Creek Provincial Park Maple Syrup Festival. Plus there are options to experience illuminated maple woods.
- Sightsee around the scenic Ottawa Valley and the region’s lush farmlands to find several maple experiences this spring. Travel the Lanark County Maple Trail, visit and shop Fulton’s Sugar Bush, get a true taste of it all at the Wheeler Pancake House, Sugar Camp, and Maple Museum, or help celebrate maple season with Sand Road Sugar Camp.
Train Rides
These train tour operators in Ontario will be open nice and early into the spring season. Choose from trips and excursions centred on holidays like St. Patrick’s and Easter, or Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. No matter the reason, each train ride is an excellent sightseeing opportunity around rural Ontario.
- Waterloo Central Railway has a full spring schedule ready, including the March Break Express, St. Patrick’s excursions, Easter excursions, and the Heritage Hopper Tour starting in April. The train route runs north of Waterloo through St. Jacobs and to Elmira.
- There are a few excursions to choose from with the southwestern Ontario’s Port Stanley Terminal Rail. There will be the Mother’s Day Special, Teddy Bear Train, and Music on the Rails in May. Then, in June, the railway will host a Father’s Day Special and a second Music on the Rails show.
- The Easter Express train excursion will be the first of the 2026 season for the South Simcoe Railway. The regular season for weekend train rides opens on May 17, 2026.
See Few Vibrant Towns
As the weather starts to warm, the need to explore will likely start to grow. Begin exploring around Ontario, no matter the region, with the province’s vibrant towns and smaller cities.
- Burlington offers a major reason to visit for witnessing gorgeous spring flower blooms through the city’s Royal Botanical Gardens. Additionally, the Mount Nemo Conservation offers a way to enjoy nature outside of the city. Within Burlington are several options for waterfront dining or accommodations, trails, and close access to Hamilton.
- Huntsville is busy this spring with events like the Festival of Music or the Muskoka Maple Festival. And as a picturesque town in the heart of the Muskoka region, Huntsville is also a great place for springtime recreation such as hiking, paddling and boating, or birding.
- Stratford is easily considered a year-round destination for dining with the Chocolate Trail, or Bacon & Ale Trail. And by spring, the arts scene in Stratford ramps up with the beginning of their famous theatre season, or Stratford Festival.
- Niagara-on-the-Lake’s local theatre also begins its season in April as the Shaw Festival. More reasons to visit this quieter side of the region include the annual Wine Festival, more arts, culture, and dining. Plus, the town is within a short drive from additional things to do and see in Niagara Falls, as well as Niagara wine country or tours.
- Explore history, arts, and culture in several different ways with a spring visit to northwestern Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie. This is where ships can navigate the Soo Locks to cross between Huron and Superior. Along with the history around town are many parks, natural areas, and trails for walking or biking. A trip to Soo offers relaxation, outdoor adventure, and sightseeing with unique attractions.
Trip to Ontario Parks
With several of Ontario’s Parks open year-round, there are many to choose from, whether you want to hike, get the last of the snowshoeing and skiing, watch for wildlife and birds, bike, or picnic.
- Bronte Creek Provincial Park is an especially busy park this spring. First up is the park’s annual Maple Syrup Festival, followed by Victorian Easter in April, Springtime on the Farm in May, and a knitting festival in June. The campground will be open as of May 8th, with additional spring activities like hiking, fishing, birding, biking, and disc golf.
- Inverhuron, Presqu’ile, Sandbank, Sauble Falls, and Craigleith Provincial Parks all open for spring camping as early as April. These all offer campsites for tents, RVs, and trailers, while Inverhuron, Sandbanks, and Presqu’ile all offer roofed accommodations, too.
- Sauble Falls, MacGregor Point, and Point Farms Provincial Parks are especially significant to visit in the spring for the wildflower blooms across the Bruce Peninsula. Along with the wildflowers, get amazing views of Lake Huron from a few cliffside trails. Keep your eyes open for Ontario’s Provincial flower, the trillium.
- Birding and nature photography are popular spring activities around Ontario’s parks. Northern and central Ontario parks, especially those around lakes or marshes, make for exceptional opportunities for spotting or photographing migratory birds, or mammals large and small. Notable parks include Algonquin Provincial Park, St. Joseph’s Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, and Killarney Provincial Park.
Explore Ontario Waterways
Ontario’s waterways create the perfect mode for sightseeing across the expansive province. Get a glimpse of some of the province’s most beautiful shorelines, waterways, islands, and aquatic wildlife through the numerous boat tours available in the spring season. Among the boat cruises will be different types of tours, such as sunset rides, dining experiences, and holiday cruises for Easter, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day.
Island Queen III /CNW Group/Kingston Destination Group
- Several city cruises and boat tours depart from the Toronto Harbour, including Toronto Harbour Tours, Toronto City Cruises (open Easter Sunday), and Tall Ship Cruises Toronto. Each offers a variety of cruise types, from sightseeing to dining. Plus, if you want a multiday cruise to see the East Coast or the Great Lakes, there are various options for that too.
- River cruises for tours of the Thousand Islands depart between Kingston and Gananoque with several different operator and cruise type options. A few options in the areas include 1000 Islands Cruises (Kingston), 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises (Brockville), Rockport Cruises, or City Cruises (Gananoque).
- Georgian Bay or the rest of Lake Huron are incredible places to explore by water with the Bruce Peninsula, shipwrecks, towering cliffs on the shores, lush forests, and over 30,000 islands. Take advantage of spring tours from Georgian Spirit Cruises, The Bruce Anchor (open May 3rd), Blue Heron Cruises, and the MS Chi-Cheemaun.
- The warmer southern Ontario waters of Lake Erie can be explored with the help of The Legends of Lake Erie (open May 24th).
- Aside from the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes, other picturesque areas also offer bot tours like the Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre (Gravenhurst), Niagara City Cruises, Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours Niagara, Ottawa Boat Cruise, or Grand River Cruises (Hamilton).
Famous Spring Festivals
In addition to Ottawa’s Tulip Festival, or the Sugar Bush and Maple Festivals this spring, there are many others to mark on the calendar. These spring festivals in Ontario celebrate numerous things, including the season, food and drink, or arts and culture.
Credit: Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny River Race
- Start off the spring festivals with Canada’s largest wine festival, the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival (April 10 to 19).
- The annual Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny (April 11, 2026) is a boat race and festival on the Ganaraska River in Port Hope. Teams are encouraged to build unique floaties or themed floaties with costumes, making the race entertaining for boaters and spectators.
- Eat & Drink Norfolk is brought to festivalgoers from the same group that organizes the annual Norfolk County Fair. This is a chance to taste around the region through beers, wines, liquors, and foods.
- Head to the city of Toronto in May or June to take in the sounds of Departure, or SING! The Toronto International Vocal Arts Festival. Concerts take place across a variety of venues.
- The 41st Annual Carassauga Festival will be held in Mississauga, near Toronto, to celebrate local arts, culture, food, and drink over two days.
Chase Waterfalls
Why add waterfall chasing to a spring getaway list? Because of those insane spring melts and run-off! Spring, especially after a snow-heavy winter, is the best time to view any waterfall in Canada at its most powerful. And for many, the spring weather will make the views a bit more convenient to access. There are different regions around Ontario that offer several waterfalls to see all within a day’s drive or trip.
- Those visiting in or around Sault Ste. Marie has three waterfalls to see near town: Crystal Falls, Robertson Creek Falls, and Beaver Falls.
- On the opposite side of Huron and in Grey County, on the south side of the Bruce Peninsula, is an opportunity for a spring waterfall tour. Visit parks like the Indian Falls Conservation Area, Jones Falls & Pottawatomi Conservation Area, Inglis Falls Conservation Area, and Eugenia Falls Conservation Area to view each of their main waterfall. More in the area include McGowan Falls at Durham Conservation Area and the Holstein Dam at the town’s Jubilee Park.
- Tour the Muskoka waterfalls around Bracebridge this spring and get yourself in the heart of much of Ontario’s spring fun, recreation, and celebrations. Waterfalls close to Bracebridge include High Falls, Wilson Falls, and Bracebridge Falls. All falls involve about 0.5 km to 1 km of walking for access and views.
- The western side of Lake Ontario, around Hamilton and Burlington, is home to several waterfalls to add to a day’s itinerary. There are 10 waterfalls alone within a short drive from Hamilton or within city limits. On the east side, visit the Devil’s Punchbowl, Felker’s Falls, and Albion Falls. More central to the city are the Hermitage Cascade, Sherman Falls, and Tiffany Falls. Then, to the northwest of Hamilton are the Webster’s Falls, Tews Falls, and Borer’s Falls!
