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 it be more exciting to watch them being harvested before your eyes?
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery is one of the farms in Ontario open to the public that grows berries native to North America.
Harvesting of Cranberries:
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 about 27 acres where cranberries are grown. Cranberries have a unique way of being grown and harvested. On the farm, they harvest cranberries 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 load the cranberries onto vehicles and take them to the packinghouse.
What to See & Do During Cranberry Harvest Season at Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery
During the Cranberry Harvest season running from September 26 to October 25 in 2026, the farm offers several enjoyable activities for the public, such as wagon tours, wine tasting, cranberry plunge, and hiking trails.
- Cranberry Plunge: Step into a ruby-red sea at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery’s Cranberry Plunge, a one-hour harvest experience. Wearing supplied chest waders, guests can wade among floating cranberries, snap unforgettable fall photos, and get a taste of life as a cranberry grower. Tickets cost $22 per person in advance, or $25 at the gate. Participants must be at least 4’6” tall, and arriving 30 minutes early is recommended for parking, check-in, and the walk.
- Wagon Tours: Climb aboard a tractor-pulled wagon and circle Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery’s 12-acre South Marsh while discovering how cranberries grow and are harvested. The guided tour lasts about 20 minutes, with open-sided seating and a canopy overhead. Advance tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children under 12; gate prices rise to $17 and $12. Arrive 15–20 minutes early, dress for the weather, and prepare for four steps aboard.
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery
- Tutored Wine Tasting: Taste Muskoka one glass at a time with a guided sampling of six wines, ranging from crisp dry styles to indulgent dessert pours. This 20 to 30-minute tutored tasting is available on harvest weekdays from September 28 to October 23, and guests must be 19 or older. Tickets cost $17 per adult in advance or $20 at the gate. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early for parking and check-in, then settle in for a flavourful introduction to local winemaking.
- Wine Garden: Sip your way through cranberry harvest season at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery’s outdoor Wine Garden, open on harvest weekends, plus Thanksgiving Monday, October 12, and Cranberry Festival Friday, October 16. For $22 per adult aged 19+, you’ll receive six sample tickets and a commemorative glass to take home while enjoying Muskoka wines, ciders, and spritzers beside the harvest. Extra sample tickets cost $3 each, making it easy to linger a little longer.
- Explore on Foot: Trade the tasting room for the trails and explore Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery on foot during cranberry harvest. For just $5 per person, with children under 2 free, your all-day pass unlocks 10+ km of hiking trails, 27 acres of cranberry bogs, self-guided tours, geocaches, tree carvings and quirky sights like the Bog Monster. Access runs daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weather permitting.
You can pack four harvest highlights into one unforgettable Muskoka outing with the All Access Pass, available on harvest weekends. For $65 per person in advance or $67 at the gate, guests 19+ get a scenic wagon tour, a cranberry plunge, full farm and trail access, plus the Wine Garden with six tasting tokens and a souvenir glass. Allow about 2.5 hours for scheduled activities, then linger on the trails and soak up cranberry season.
What to Keep in Mind During Your Visit
A little planning makes cranberry season even sweeter. Book ahead, as popular harvest activities can fill quickly and gate prices may be higher.
Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early for parking, check-in, and walking to your activity. Dress for Muskoka’s changeable fall weather and wear comfortable footwear, especially for the trails.
The Cranberry Plunge requires guests to be at least 4’6″ tall, while wine tastings and the Wine Garden are strictly 19+.
Wagon tours involve a few steps to board, and many experiences take place outdoors, so weather can affect availability. If you’re combining activities, allow extra time to wander the farm, explore the trails, take photos, and enjoy the harvest atmosphere without rushing.
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 North American experience during Cranberry Harvest! 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: $5 to $67
- Cranberry Plunge: $22 per person in advance, $25 at the gate.
- Wagon Tour: $15 adults in advance, $17 at the gate; $10 children under 12, $12 at the gate.
- Tutored Wine Tasting: $17 per adult in advance, $20 at the gate. Guests must be 19+.
- Wine Garden: $22 per adult (19+), including six sample tickets and a commemorative glass. Additional sample tickets are $3 each.
- Farm & Trail Access: $5 per person for all-day access. Children under 2 are free.
- All Access Pass: $65 per person in advance, $67 at the gate. It includes the Wagon Tour, Cranberry Plunge, Wine Garden and Farm & Trail Access.
When: September 26 – October 25, 2026 | 9 am to 5:30 pm
Wagon Tour: September 26 to October 26, daily
Wagon Tour: September 26 to October 25, 2026.
Tutored Wine Tasting: Weekends, September 28 to October 23
Wine Garden: Weekends from September 26 to October 25 plus Thanksgiving Monday, October 12, and Cranberry Festival Friday, October 16.
Farm & Trail Access: Weekdays, September 26 to October 25. Standalone access is intended for weekdays, as weekend trail access is available only through the All Access Pass.
All Access Pass: September 26, 27, October 3,4, 10 to 12, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25
Bala Cranberry Festival: Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18
