Toronto 
Fall is around the corner, and there are plenty of fun things to do in Ontario, from Salmon Run and Pumpkinfernos to watching the marvellous fall colours of sugar maple trees.
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery
Perhaps one of the most unique activities during Ontario’s fall season is the touring of harvest-ready cranberry bogs.
The staple on the Thanksgiving dinner table, cranberries are delicious, nutritious fruits with a signature tart flavour. These fruits are typically harvested from mid-September through mid-October. While you can buy these flavorful berries at any store, wouldn’t watching these cranberries being harvested before your eyes be more exciting?
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery is one of the farms in Ontario that is open to the public and grows berries native to North America.
They start harvesting their cranberries two weekends before Canadian Thanksgiving. Harvesting is usually complete by Halloween. The harvest occurs annually and yields approximately 300,000 to 400,000 pounds of cranberries.
Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery in Bala has around 27 acres of land where cranberries are grown. Cranberries have a unique way of being grown and harvested. On the farm, they are harvested using three methods: dry rake, wet rake and beating. Watch how cranberries are dry-harvested without water in the early harvest season. During the mid-season, they pick the cranberries with a Getsinger retractor toothpick. In the late harvest season, the cranberries are beaten. After harvesting, they are loaded onto vehicles and taken to the packinghouse.
During the Cranberry Harvest season, there are several enjoyable activities for the public at the farm, such as wagon tours, wine tasting, cranberry plunge, and hiking trails.
You can step into a bog of cranberries for around 30 minutes during Cranberry Plunge and experience what it feels like to be a cranberry grower. During this time, you can take fantastic pictures surrounded by this sea of red. Chest waders will be given to you. Cranberry Plunge costs $20 per person. Those who are participating should be taller than 4′ 6″.
Wagon tours will take you around 12 acres of South Marsh. The wagon is pulled by a tractor. These guided wagon tours cost $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 12. The wagon tour is also available on the weekends in the late afternoon.
A weekend all-access pass (19+) gives you access to wagon tours, tutored wine tasting, Cranberry plunge, farm & trail access, and reserved parking. You will get 2.5 hours to complete these activities. This all-access pass costs $60.
On the weekdays, explore 10 km of farm & hiking trails with a trail access pass ($5), including the cranberry bog and the farm beyond the store/patio area. There are three self-guided tours: cranberry, sugarbush and eco.
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery
You can also join a tutored wine-tasting session during the weekdays, in which you will be taught wine-tasting using six wine samples. Each session takes 20-30 minutes and costs $15.
Remember to return in winter to enjoy the outdoor skating trail lit up at night.
Cranberry Harvest – Trip Planning
What: Visit Cranberry Marsh and take part in a unique experience in North America!! See how 27 acres of marsh that produce around 300,000-400,000 lbs of cranberries are harvested!
Where: Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, 1074 Cranberry Road, Bala
How Much: $15 to $60
When: September 20 – October 26, 2025 | 9 am to 6 pm
Bala Cranberry Festival: Friday, October 17 to Sunday, October 19, 2025
