Expect the unexpected at the outrageous festival, Amherstburg Uncommon in Southwest Ontario.

Visit Amherstburg
Get ready to embark on a whimsical journey from September 18th to 20th as the enchanting and utterly outrageous festival returns to downtown Amherstburg. It’s a weekend you won’t want to miss, where the worlds of steampunk and magic collide in the most delightful way possible.
Don your most imaginative wizardry or steampunk cosplay costume and prepare for a weekend filled with non-stop fun.
The best part? This extraordinary event is free, making it the perfect outing for the entire family.
What to Expect at Amherstburg Uncommon Festival
You will find a mix of free entertainment, hands-on activities, art, food and ticketed experiences throughout the weekend. Wacky Golf, Wizard Ball Throw, Button Making, Wizard Academy and Wizard Bingo are among the recurring attractions.
You can also explore the Pirate Encampment with Provincial Marine Amherstburg, browse Uncommon vendors and food trucks, or stop by The O for the Odd Art Exhibition and Odd Balls Gumball Machine. Some activities, including escape rooms and axe throwing, cost extra.
Friday Starts With Magic and a Balloon Ride
Friday’s activities begin at 5 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m. You can catch street artist David Zinn between 5 and 8 p.m., try Wicks & Whimsy candle making with Park House Museum, or visit Professor Peculiar’s Parlour of Wonder.
Jake in the Box performs at 6 p.m., followed by the Miles High Show at 7 p.m. and the Mysterion Mentalism Show at 8 p.m. PO3 Paranormal Investigation sessions run at 6:30 and 9 p.m. at Gibson Gallery for a fee.
RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Rides are also planned Friday at Amherstburg Waterfront Festival Plaza.
Saturday Brings the Biggest Schedule with Fireworks & More
Saturday gets underway with the Odd Art Expo Live Mural Painting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by the Art Collective Vendor Market at The O from 11 a.m.
You can catch Bubbleology at 1 and 6 p.m., Miles High at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Mysterion at 3 and 8 p.m. A Costume Contest begins at 5 p.m., followed by the Witches Dance at 7 p.m.
The evening wraps with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Paranormal Readings and Creative Experiences
If spooky entertainment is more your speed, PO3 Paranormal Gallery Reading and Investigation sessions take place Saturday at the Masonic Lodge at noon, 3 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. These sessions carry an additional cost.
You can also try Pink House Pottery, Butterbeer, Bad Axe Throwing and the festival’s escape rooms, all offered for a fee.
Sunday Keeps the Fun Going
Sunday runs from noon to 6 p.m., with many weekend favourites returning, including Wizard Academy, Wizard Bingo, the pirate encampment and Wacky Golf.
The Miles High Show starts at 12:15 p.m., Bubbleology performs at 1 and 4 p.m., Jake in the Box appears at 2 p.m., and Mysterion takes the stage at 3 p.m.
If you missed Saturday’s costume contest, you get another chance at 5 p.m.
More Things to Do:
Food, Sweets and Festival Snacks
All that wizarding may leave you hungry, and the festival has several food stops lined up. At King’s Navy Yard Park and the Amherstburg Waterfront Festival Plaza, you can find Sammy’s Q BBQ, Le Petit Citron Co. and Frate Street Food. Sammy’s Q specializes in Texas-style and craft barbecue.
Along Richmond, Dalhousie and Murray streets, Sweet Moments and Just Freeze It Sweets join the vendor lineup. Just Freeze It Sweets offers freeze-dried candy and fruit treats.
And because this is Amherstburg Uncommon, you can also pick up Butterbeer throughout the festival for an additional cost.
Make it a weekend getaway
If you want to add a little nature to your Amherstburg weekend, the Festival of Hawks also returns to Holiday Beach Conservation Area on the same weekend. You can watch thousands of birds of prey overhead, join free programs led by local experts and see live hawks up close with the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory.
It makes an easy companion outing to Amherstburg Uncommon, giving you a weekend that can move from wizards and steampunk downtown to one of the region’s striking natural spectacles.
Trip Planning – Amherstburg Uncommon
What: Dress in your favourite wizardry or steampunk cosplay and enjoy the Amherstburg Uncommon Weekend. Amherstburg Uncommon is filled with sights and activities, so you will want to visit all three days of the event.
When:
September 18, 2026 | 5- 10pm
September 19, 2026 | 12 pm – 10 pm; Fireworks: 9:15 pm
September 21, 2026 | 10 am – 6 pm
Where:
242 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg
How Much: Free, select activities – paid.









