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Credit: Fogo Island Partridgeberry Harvest Festival
October is the month when autumn sight-seeing is at its best due to gorgeous foliage. Newfoundland and Labrador are breathtakingly beautiful provinces that it is hard to decide where to go and what to do first. There are activities for everyone, especially if you are willing to travel. Listed below you will find the best things to do this fall in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Trapline Marathon – Happy Valley to Goose Bay on October 13, 2019
The Trapline Marathon is a Boston qualifying marathon run that starts at the North West River and ends at Happy Valley. The breathtaking fall scenery makes this an unforgettable marathon and there are events available for all skill levels.
Wright’s Family Farm – Pasadena
Located right on Main Street, the Wright’s Family Farm offers a pumpkin u-pick and fresh produce at their farm market. They also offer farm tours, have a fantastic corn maze, have BBQ’s, and a corn boil that visitors are sure to love..
Green Valley Farm – Northern Arm
Green Valley Farm is a great place to go when you want to spend a day on the farm. They have a huge pumpkin patch, pony and wagon rides, farm animals, a corn maze and much more. On Saturday nights until Halloween, they have zombie paintball rides that offer players a tactical, live-action zombie shooting experience.
Fall in Love with Bay Roberts – Bay Roberts
The month of October is packed with fun things to do in the beautiful community of Bay Roberts. The Fall in Love with Bay Roberts celebrations include Thanksgiving and Halloween events that have family activities like cookie decorating, spooky stories and much more. Some of the local businesses even offer discounts during the month.
Festival of New Dance – St. John’s on October 1 to 12, 2019
The Festival of New Dance is a showcase of the contemporary dance talent in Newfoundland. Each day of the festival, local and international dancers perform and there are artistic collaborations. There are also professional development workshops offered during the festival.
Light Up The Lake – St. John’s on October 5, 2019
Take part in the 3rd Light Up the Lake 5K run/walk and help raise money for a good cause, Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society. It is a wonderful event for people of all ages and abilities. You will get to wear a headlamp and there will be medals for all participants and hot chocolate after the event.
The Fall Market – Lewisporte on October 5, 2019
A variety of local vendors will be going to Lewisporte for the Fall Market. This is a great opportunity to shop local for items you need, you may even get some Christmas shopping done early.
Eastport Peninsula Agricultural Exhibition – Eastport from October 11 to 14, 2019
During the Eastport Peninsula Agriculture Exhibition, attendees get to watch the re-enactments of exhibitions that were held in the 1930s and 1940s. There will be meals served by local organizations, as well as dinner theatres, crafts, artwork, and vegetables. There are lots of fun, interesting things to do at this exhibition, so people of all ages will definitely have a great time.
Fogo Island Partridgeberry Harvest Festival – Joe Batt’s Arm from October 11 to 13, 2019
Showcasing partridgeberries and other fresh produce from Fogo Island, the Fogo Island Partridge Harvest Festival is made up of a farmer’s market, crafts, talks on the benefits of partridgeberries and other demonstrations. There will also be a bake-off, harvest competitions, live music, dances, and many more activities for visitors to enjoy.
Autumn Market Harvest – Gander on October 12, 2019
Work off some of your Thanksgiving dinner by going to the Gander Arts & Culture Centre for the Autumn Market Harvest Market. There will be something for everyone, including bath products, hand-crafted items, jewellery, baked goods, fudge, and so much more.
Octoberfest Craft Fair – Mount Pearl on October 14, 2019
You can find fantastic gifts and unique home décor that is handcrafted at the Octoberfest Craft Fair. There is also a kiddie corner that will keep the kids entertained while you are shopping and checking out the vendor’s tables.
St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival – St. John’s from October 16 to 20, 2019
The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival is a five-day film festival that showcases films made by women for everyone. There are between 60 and 80 films that will be show-cased during this festival, as well as seminars, workshops, and meet and greets.
Cape to Cabot 20K Road Running Race – St. John’s on October 19 to 20, 2019
The Cape to Cabot 20K Road Running Race was first held in 2007 and is part of the Athletics NorthEAST Championship Series. The course is challenging for runners due to the steep hills and the ever-changing weather. There are beautiful vistas and places at Signal Hill where you can watch the race from.
NSO Hallowe’en Spooktacular – St. John’s on October 25, 2019
It’s the spookiest night of the year as the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra hosts its first ever Hallowe’en Spooktacular. It is sure to be a fun, spooky night for the whole family. The show will feature music from Harry Potter, classic Halloween movies and more spooky tunes.
Grand Falls – Windsor Red Maple Festival – Grand Falls – Windsor on October 25 to November 5, 2019
The Grand Falls – Windsor Red Maple Festival is a community fall festival that features hockey, swimming, ball hockey, dances, horse rides, and much more. The event ends with a huge bonfire and mini fireworks display that everyone will surely enjoy.
Discovery Trail – Bonavista Peninsula
The Discovery Trail is made up of seven wilderness paths that range from easy walks to challenging hikes. These trails will take you past stunning geographical wonders like high cliffs, rugged coastlines, and sea stacks.
The Old Store Cafe – Norris Point
The Old Store Cafe is the perfect place to grab a coffee and a snack during the fall. Just a short walk from the cafe are benches that overlook Bonne Bay, the Tablelands, and the autumn-colored forests.
Hike the East Coast Trail
Starting in St. John’s and connecting to the Great Trail, the East Coast Trail is a scenic 300-kilometre long trail that runs along scenic cliffs, sea stacks, headlands, and deep fjords. In the fall, you will see the amazing fall colors among the majestic evergreens.
Lester’s Farm – St. John’s
Head outside and find your pumpkin to make jack-o-lantern for Halloween at Lester’s Farm. They also have corn stalks and hay bale for you to decorate your home. The petting barn is also open for the fall, so you can meet the friendly farm animals.
Coastal Trail – Gros Morne National Park – Green Point
The Coastal Trail is an easy hike that takes between 1 and 2 hours to complete. It is a 6 km return trail from the Green Point. The trail is an old main road that takes you to a cobble beach, coastal tuckmore and small ponds. It is a lovely mixture of seaside and forest scenery.
Hungry Heart Cafe – St. John’s
Enjoy a cool autumn afternoon relaxing with a cup of delicious hot chocolate or coffee and a fresh baked good at the Hungry Heart Cafe. The Hungry Heart Cafe is a popular locally-owned cafe that employs people who face barriers to be successful.
North Head Trail – Signal Hill
The North Head Trail is the most popular and most difficult hiking trail at Signal Hill. Even though it is only a 1.7 km trail, it descends nearly 500 feet. The trail starts at the Signal Hill’s top parking lot, so it has amazing views of the St. John Harbour.
St. John’s Farmer’s Market – St. John’s on October 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2019
Dozens of farmers, hot and cold food vendors, bakers, artisans and crafters head to the St. John’s Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning. The market is open year-round and is the best place to be if you want to have a meal at the market, take home some scrumptious sweet treats or find a beautiful item made by one of the amazing artisans to give as a gift to that hard to buy for person in your life.
Labrador West Arts and Culture Centre – Labrador
The Labrador West Arts and Culture Centre is home to a proscenium theatre that both local and international artists take the stage on. There is also a gallery/exhibition space on-site. The centre is a popular spot for shows, so you should check their website to see what is coming up.
Labrador Pioneer Footpath
The Labrador Pioneer Footpath is the traditional footpath between L’Anse-au-Clair and Pinware. The footpath can be completed as a series of day hikes because there are several towns and bed-and-breakfasts along the trail. It is a great way to spend quality family time in nature during the fall.
