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. 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:
- Labour Day Weekend in Ontario
- Toronto in September
- Ottawa in September
- Hamilton This Weekend
- KW-Region This Weekend
- London This Weekend
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 9, 2023
- Brampton: September 9, 2023
- Waterloo Region: Third Saturday in September — September 16, 2023
- Peterborough: September 16, 2023
- London: September 16-17, 2023
- Carleton Place: September 16-17, 2023
- St. Marys: September 23, 2023
- Woodstock: September 23, 2023
- Kingston: September 23, 2023
- St. Marys: September 23, 2023
RCMP Musical Ride
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride will be visiting towns and cities in Southern Ontario this month.
- September 9 & 10, 2023 @ Harry Lumley Arena, 1900 3rd Ave E, Owen Sound
- September 12 @ 172 South Dr, Simcoe
- September 15 to 16 @ Leamington Ag Society, 194 Erie St N, Leamington
- September 17 @ Essex Therapeutic Riding, 3323 N Malden Rd, Essex
- September 19, 21 @ Woodbine Mohawk Park, 9430 Guelph Line, Campbellville
- September 28 29, October 1 — Markham Fair @ Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd, Markham, Ontario
You may like (Get Tickets):
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.
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.
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.
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 16th.
Summer Harvest Festival – St. Thomas
St. Thomas Summer Harvest Festival combines live music entertainment with programming for children and seniors, multi-cultural presentations, wellness experiences, an open-air vendor’s market for businesses and artisans, a diverse selection of food trucks, a unique take on the traditional car show and interactive activities for families.
Airshow London Presents SkyDrive
This year’s drive-in Airshow features the F-22 Raptor Demo Team! Join Airshow London for a spectacular display of aviation power in the air and on the ground.
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.
Niagara Grape & Wine Festival
Celebrate 71 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.
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 and this year it will be an Adventure Tour. 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.
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!⠀
Belmont Village Bestival
Join for this music and arts festival celebrating local performers. They shut down the street and ramp up the fun every year two weeks following Labour Day weekend to celebrate the official closing of summer.
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.
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
Canada’s largest Bavarian Festival is back starting September 22nd. Don your Tracht, raise a stein, polka around, and enjoy delicious Bavarian cuisine from German Clubs and local restaurant partners!
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.
Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival – Mississauga
The Festival presents over 40 performances with artists from Canada, Europe & the United States on 3 stages (2 free) with each performing 45-75 minute sets.
Waterfront Festival Toronto
The Toronto Waterfront Festival will celebrate the last weekend of summer by featuring unique onland and on-water programs and the World’s Largest Rubber Duck.
Toronto International Film Festival
The TIFF is a big-name public film festival for film premiers, unique films, galas, and schmoozing with stars in the industry.
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.
Drive Festival – Bowmanville
Drive Festival is the ultimate dynamic event for auto enthusiasts in Canada. Showcasing all of the best in new car technology and unparalleled test drive opportunities on 3 test tracks. Plus, see and hear the best collections of exotic, manufacturer & classic cars roar up The Dream Car Speed Run, all weekend long.
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.
Meaford Scarecrow Invasion And Family Festival
The annual Meaford Scarecrow Invasion & Family Festival is celebrating its 26th Anniversary this year. Hundreds of scarecrows are on display in downtown Meaford, in Bognor. Leith, and Annan. Parade on Sykes Street followed by the family festival at harbour.
Harvest Festival – Burk’s Falls
The rolling hills, waters, sculptures and forests of Midlothian Castle are once again the place to gather and celebrate season’s change by the fire, under the stars and on the dance floor.
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.
Open Air Fall Fest – 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!
Millbrook Zucchini Festival
Along with the undeniably exciting Zucchini Boat Races in Baxter Creek, there will be prizes for the best Zuperhero Zucchini Decorating, and a host of Zuperhero-themed activities, utilizing the other-worldly powers of the Great Green One itself!
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 cup of fresh warm apple cider and warm up by the camp fire.
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.
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.
Discover Lennox & Addington Ride
Enjoy the ride at the 2023 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.
SweetWater Music Festival – Owen Sound, Meaford, and Leith
From Baroque and beyond, there’s something for everyone at this year’s festival. You’ll be treated to baroque chamber music at its finest performed by incredible historic music specialists all the way to an evening of jazz featuring Roberto Occhipinti.
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.
Kingston Ribfest & Craft Beer Show
Savour the Flavour at this free event. Ribs, chicken, Ontario craft-brewed beer, live entertainment and more during Sept. 8 to 10, 2023
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. Set 21 to 24, 2023
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.
Ottawa CityFolk
CityFolk is a celebration of music, dance, and community featuring an eclectic mix of musical performances on multiple stages. 2023 headliners include: Iggy Pop, Busty & The Bass, Arkells, Hozier and many more!
Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival
Discover the annual festival of highly acclaimed Canadian and International films during Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival.
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.
Vox Popular Media Arts Festival – Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay’s not-for-profit annual media arts festival is back for 2023 to present Canadian and International films, videos, and installation from all genres.
Annual Blueberry Fall Festival – Wawa
The Annual Blueberry Fall Festival has something for everyone, including games, activities, famers market, artisans, contests, BBQ, and blueberry dedicated events like the blueberry dessert contest and blueberry picking.
Wake the Giant Music Festival – Thunder Bay
The music festival is a celebration of all cultures with a specific focus on Indigenous people and promoting Indigenous musicians. Canadian DJ deadmau5, rock-pop band X Ambassadors and Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis are set to headline, joined by Ruby Waters, MattMac, Sagatay, Thunder Bay local Sara Kae and Thunder Spirit. Details
The Biggest Little Bass Tournament – Crow Lake
The Crow Lake Classic is a fall bass tournament limited to under 50 teams. Come on over to Crow Lake, near Nestor Falls and join in on the hunt for these fighters.
Bushplane Days in Sault Ste Marie
See the CL 415 water bombing demonstration (subject to availability), special guests, train rides, carnival games and lots of celebrating at Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.
Celebrate Culture during Ontario Culture Days
With over many FREE activities scheduled to take place in more than 170 communities across Ontario–day and weekend tripping has never looked so good!