Things to Do in Ontario This September

September is the last official month of the summer, where the warm weather slowly fades and the fall breeze calls for sweaters and scarves. Don’t miss out on some fun outdoor events, parties, active events, and unique ways to spice up your month that you can participate in with loved ones, friends, or on your own to mark the end of the summer.

Photo Credit: Hike Haliburton Festival

This list compiles a list of events across Ontario, so you can go somewhere new, or find something to do in your area.

For more ideas:

Fall & Harvest Fairs

From Renfrew Fair to West Niagara Fair, there are more than 100 agricultural fairs held across Ontario during September.

Some of the biggest events are back this year, and these include:

Doors Open Ontario

Explore Ontario’s heritage treasures during Doors Open Ontario. During the event, unique buildings and museums in towns and cities are free to visit.

Belleville — September 13
Peterborough — September 13
Simcoe County — September 13
Aylmer and Area– September 20
Gravenhurst — September 20
Markham — September 20
Waterloo Region — September 20
London — September 20-21
Aurora — September 21
Mississippi Mills — September 28

You may like (Get Tickets):

Pumpkinferno: Places to See Enchanting Pumpkin Displays

Corn Mazes

Ontario corn mazes open in September for a fantastic fall experience. Visit your nearest farm for fall activities.

Children’s Fest – Windsor

Children’s Fest is one of the largest annual events of its kind in Essex County. Stage shows, bouncy castles, special activities and the opportunity to meet many of your children’s favourite characters are all included in the ticket price. September 13 & 14, 2025

Festival of Hawks -Amherstburg

Join visitors from across the globe to witness the migration spectacle! Identified by Audubon Magazine as one of the best sites in North America to view the raptor migration. Climb the viewing tower, participate in workshops, hikes and other programs. Adopt-a-Hawk to release back into the wild, see live hawks and owls up close! Shop for native plants binoculars and make a nature craft and much more. September 13 & 14, 2025

Amherstburg Uncommon Festival

Dress as a wizard or steampunk, and be prepared to play! Uncommon Festival returns to beautiful downtown Amherstburg, where guests meet odd and peculiar characters and engage in live performances. September 19 to 21, 2025

Discover the dark skies – Point Pelee National Park

Explore the park on your own after dark and experience the dark skies of Point Pelee. You will have the opportunity to stay late and see what goes on after dark when the park is open until midnight on September 20.

Airshow London Presents SkyDrive

Credit: RAF Red Arrows

This year’s drive-in Airshow features F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, Ghostwriter Airshows in addition to Canadian Forces Snowbirds and U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Demonstration Team, among others. Join Airshow London for a spectacular display of aviation power in the air and on the ground. September 5 to 7, 2025

BCKYRD London

Harris Park will transform into your newest electronic music playground for the debut of BCKYRD London. The two-day event features a powerhouse lineup including Knock2, Malaa vs Alter Ego, Twinsick, Diplo, Sidepiece, Frank Walker and many more! September 19 to 20, 2025

Ghost Tours at Fort George – Niagara-on-the-Lake

Thrill to stories of ghostly encounters, and the history of Fort George and the surrounding area in a 1.5-hour candlelit guided walking tour of haunted Fort George. This is not a haunted hayride experience. The stories and the ghosts are real. Sundays at 7:30pm in September

Niagara Grape & Wine Festival

Celebrate 73 years of Grape & Wine with musicians, dancers, entertainers, and floats that fill the streets of downtown St. Catharines. You can purchase a Grape & Wine Discovery Pass and enjoy touring and tasting at Niagara wineries. Your Discovery Pass entitles you to 6 wine and culinary experiences designed by winemakers and chefs to celebrate the flavours of Niagara, redeemable at participating wineries across Twenty Valley and Niagara-on-the-Lake. September 5 to 28, 2025.

St. George Apple Fest

Explore St. George and get apple-themed food and crafts from 30 local businesses and non-profit organizations. St. George Apple Fest is an affordable family outing. There is everything apple – homemade pies, fresh apples, apple dumplings, apple cider, and candied apples. Plus, local farm markets display an array of fresh produce and delicious preserves. September 20 & 21, 2025.

Go Apple Picking:

September is the best time to visit apple orchards near you to pick various varieties of apples.

Farm Crawl Hamilton

Get a behind-the-scenes peek at the operations of many of the farms in Hamilton and the surrounding area, meet your local farmers, get up close with some farm animals, and learn something new about farming!⠀September 13, 2025

Belmont Village Bestival

Join this music and arts festival celebrating local performers. They shut down the street and ramp up the fun every year, two days following Labour Day weekend, to celebrate the official closing of summer. September 12 & 13, 2025

Lumen Festival – Waterloo

The event features the work of artists as they explore the interplay of light, art, and technology in installations located throughout uptown Waterloo. September 20, 2025

Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest

Canada’s largest Bavarian Festival is back starting September 26. Don your Tracht, raise a stein, polka around, and enjoy delicious Bavarian cuisine from German Clubs and local restaurant partners! September 26 – October 18, 2025

Telling Tales Festival – Burlington

Join Canada’s finest children’s authors & illustrators, along with local artists, performers, and RBG Ambassadors who will engage with families in story readings, sculpture walks, creative workshops, music, and more. October 4 & 5, 2025

Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival – Mississauga

The three-day outdoor festival features three stages at Port Credit Memorial Park, presenting over 40 Canadian and International acts, along with performances from over 20 musical acts during its free Saturday afternoon street party. September 5 to 7, 2025

Just For Laughs Toronto

Get ready for 10 days of nonstop comedy featuring some of the best in the game. From comedy legends to viral sensations, local favourites to international stars, September’s shaping up to be the best month of the year. September 18 to 27, 2025

Toronto International Film Festival

The TIFF is a big-name public film festival for film premieres, unique films, galas, and schmoozing with stars in the industry. September 4 to 14, 2025

Buzzing Bees Adventure Farm – Brock

Buzzing Bees Adventure Farm is opening this fall for families to enjoy getting lost in their 9-acre corn maze. Within the maze you can play the Halloween monster game by finding the 8 hidden stations and solve the riddles to crack the code.

Applefest Markham

Have a full day of apple-themed entertainment and explore 25 acres of fun. Experience history in action and step into the past with live demos and hands-on activities like apple schnitzing at Markham Museum.

Uxbridge Art on the Fringe Festival

Check out the amazing lineup of over 30 artists at this year’s Uxbridge Art on the Fringe Festival plus great food from Gangster&Co, and live music in the Gazebo all day. Come out and enjoy the Museum Grounds and the artists. September 20 to 21, 2025

Explore Canada’s Only Guitar Trail – Blue Mountains

A mountain of music will carry you along the one-of-a-kind Guitar Trail. Follow the acoustic vibe and discover dozens of artists throughout the Blue Mountain Village and up the Village Way hiking trail from 1-4pm, followed by a FREE concert.

South Simcoe Railway Scenic Train Tour – Tottenham

Take in a scenic journey through the Beeton Creek Valley, in classic 1920s passenger coaches pulled by one of our historic locomotives.

Harvest Festival – Burk’s Falls

The rolling hills, waters, sculptures and forests of Midlothian Castle are once again the place to gather and celebrate the season’s change by the fire, under the stars and on the dance floor.

September 12-15, 2025

Peterborough VegFest

Peterborough VegFest returns to Millennium Park and is a local expression of a global movement, celebrating the health, environmental, and ethical benefits of a delicious plant-based lifestyle. September 14, 2025.

Sounds in Nature – Campbellford

Experience live music and nature on the wide open spaces of Westben’s 50-acre farm. Enjoy intimate Campfire concerts under colourful autumn sunsets, guided musical walks through the Mary West Nature Reserve, & joyful concerts for the whole family and more! September 27 to 28, 2025.

Moonlight Corn Maze – Greater Napanee

Bring your flashlight and complete the Wynn Farms corn maze in the dark! When you are done, grab a caramel apple or a cup of fresh, warm apple cider and warm up by the campfire.

Cultivate: A Festival of Local Food and Drink – Port Hope

Cultivate: A Festival of Food and Drink is a farm-to-festival experience of the very best of food, drink, live music and local culture. It’s like a big picnic. A music festival. A block party. A playground for all ages. An arts experience. September 26 – 28, 2025

PEC Studio Tour

This juried event features award-winning painters, sculptors, fibre and glass artists, woodturners and jewellery designers. Discover County artists this fall when over 40 artists open their studio doors to welcome you. September 19 to 21, 2025

Discover Lennox & Addington Ride

Enjoy the ride at the 2025 Discover L&A Ride! This 58-kilometre journey takes you along paved roads that overlook the water’s edge and authentic rural Eastern Ontario landscapes. Rest stops are at fascinating historic sites, beautiful parks, and award-winning wineries for a day of cycling you won’t soon forget. September 6, 2025

SweetWater Music Festival – Owen Sound, Meaford, and Leith

From Baroque and beyond, there’s something for everyone at this year’s festival. Step away from daily routines and immerse yourself in the rejuvenating power of music. In a beautiful, intimate setting surrounded by fellow music lovers, you’ll experience the wonder of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante up close. The festival also features the vibrant folk stylings of Moira Smiley and the dynamic jazz of the Hilario Duran Trio.

Appreciate the literary arts at the Kingston Writersfest

Head to the Kingston WritersFest and see exactly why Kingston is arguably Canada’s most literary town. Interact with authors, watch performances, and discover an array of events related to literature. September 16 to 21, 2025

Kingston Ribfest & Craft Beer Show

Savour the Flavour at this free event. Ribs, chicken, Ontario craft-brewed beer, live entertainment and more from Sept. 5 to 7, 2025,

Mysterious Lake and Scenic View of Bay of Quinte

Located just a ten-minute drive from Picton, above the Glenora ferry landing, the free admission provincial park, Lake on the Mountain, is a serene escape. This freshwater marvel, just over 1 sq km in size, rests 60 meters above the Bay of Quinte.

Hike Haliburton Festival

With 40 hikes throughout the scenic Haliburton Highlands, hikers of all ages and skill levels come to Canada’s largest hiking festival which incorporates the arts, heritage, food, and culture. September 18, to 21, 2025.

Pick Cranberries at the Cranberry Harvest – Bala

With 27 acres of cranberries, get ready to harvest cranberries – a native crop solely to North America, and enjoy bog to bottle tours, a wine tasting, and a sample of some cranberry goodies. September 20 to October 26, 2025.

Ottawa CityFolk

CityFolk is a celebration of music, dance, and community featuring an eclectic mix of musical performances on multiple stages. 2025 headliners include: Alex Warren, Melissa Etheridge & Indigo Girls, Morrissey, James, The Pogues, Down With Webster, and many more! September 10 to 14, 2025

Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival

Discover the annual festival of highly acclaimed Canadian and International films during Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival. September 13 to 21, 2025

Go glamping in the Northern Boreal Forest

Sleep under the stars in a beautiful prospector’s tent in the Northern Boreal Forest and do all the regular camping activities like roasting marshmallows over a campfire, hiking around the forest, and paddling to the falls.

Annual Blueberry Fall Festival – Wawa

The Annual Blueberry Fall Festival has something for everyone, including games, activities, farmers’ market, artisans, contests, BBQ, and blueberry-dedicated events like the blueberry dessert contest and blueberry picking. September 19 to 21, 2025

Wake the Giant Music Festival – Thunder Bay

Wake the Giant Music Festival returns to the Thunder Bay Waterfront this September with its most epic lineup yet with the Black Eyed Peas, Prozzäk, Neon Dreams, Crystal Shawanda, The Poets Tragically Hip Tribute Band presented the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, Wyatt C.Louis, and G DUBZ.

Details

The Biggest Little Bass Tournament – Crow Lake

The Crow Lake Classic is a fall bass tournament limited to under 50 teams. Come over to Crow Lake, near Nestor Falls and join in on the hunt for these fighters. September 13 to 14, 2025.

Bushplane Days in Sault Ste. Marie

See the CL 415 water bombing demonstration, special guests, train rides, carnival games and lots of celebrating at Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre. September 20, 2025.

Celebrate Culture during Ontario Culture Days

With many FREE activities scheduled in more than 170 communities across Ontario–day and weekend tripping has never looked so good!

Explore Ontario Jails

Ontario offers unusual yet memorable tours of the various jails within the province. From overnight accommodations to walking tours to day trips, indulge in the history of punishment and reform through these educational explorations.

Climb Some Ontario Towers

If you are looking for grand views of the province – whether of a birdseye view of famous cities or vast forests, there are plenty of great places to walk or hike up for a terrific view at the top.