Monday morning welcomed in the fall season by offering a cooler week for all those in the GTA. As sweater weather is officially upon us, it’s time to indulge in all the exciting events and opportunities happening in and around Toronto for the upcoming autumn stretch. Below is a breakdown of what’s happening this fall, and every happening you won’t want to miss!

 

Trinity Bellwoods Farmers Market: Now – October 29

Bring home the harvest! Trinity Bellwoods Farmers Market runs every Tuesday from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM until October 29^th rain or shine. Head to 790 Queen St West to purchase fresh, sustainable, naturally grown and certified organic agriculture grown locally. 

The Toronto Biennial of Art: September 21—December 1

A major (and free) public art exhibition featuring more than 90 participants from over 40 places of origin. The majority of the exhibitions and programs will take place across 10 sites on or near Toronto's Waterfront, between Etobicoke Creek and Ashbridges Bay.   

Toronto Oktoberfest 2019: September 26 – 28

Join thousands dressed in lederhosen and dirndls under a massive Bavarian-style Festhalle tent as they celebrate German culture. Food, beer, music, and a fun fair will be modelled after the original Munich event. Ontario Place 955 Lake Shore Blvd W from 6:00 pm – 11:30 pm. Tickets start at $20 and are available here.  

29Rooms Toronto: September 26 – October 6

Refinery29 is bringing its iconic 29Rooms immersive, pop-up event to Toronto for the first time, as part of a five-city tour. Head to Exhibition Place at 100 Princes’ Blvd anytime from 10:00 am – 11:00 pm to get in on this unique event. Tickets start at $30 and are available here. 

Halloween Haunt: September 27 - October 27

Toronto’s largest Halloween event starts off tonight at Canada's Wonderland! Experience the thrills of your favourite rides at night and the frights awaiting you in the terrifying haunted attractions and shows. The event takes place on select nights this fall. Don’t miss the fright of your life! Tickets start at $31.99 and can be purchased here. 

Milton Fall Fair: September 27 - 29

Milton Fall Fair is a celebration of rural life and you’re invited to the party. This year’s fair takes place from September 27 – 29 at 136 Robert St in Milton Ontario. The fair features competitions like equestrian events, kids’ pet show, baby contest, truck and tractor pulls and the smashing demolition derby. This year’s fair will also feature live bands Friday and Saturday evenings, a classic car show, commercial exhibits, vendors and more. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.

ProtoTO September 27 – 29

Toronto’s tabletop game design convention is an annual, weekend-long event which offers new and established designers of card, board and role-playing games with a chance to playtest their designs at an accelerated pace. Head to the 2nd floor of the Holiday Inn in Downtown Toronto (30 Carlton Street) to check out this cool event. Tickets start at $10 and are available here.

Ontario Culture Days: September 27 – 29

Ontario Culture Days announces 10th anniversary edition with kaleidoscope of free cultural activities and events across the province from September 27–29, 2019. Multiple venues host this 9 – 5 event. Find out more on their website! 

Legends of Horror: September 27 - October 31

This October, the grounds of Casa Loma are transformed into an immersive theatrical experience where you can walk yourself through the trail in the lower gardens of Casa Loma, winding its way through the castle’s tunnels and darkest spaces never before open to the public. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased here.

The Fried Chicken Fest: September 28 – 29

This massive fried chicken festival is coming to the Toronto this weekend, bringing together twenty of the most skilled bird bosses to take you on a culinary adventure into a world of sizzling, bubbling, hot, spicy crunchiness. The event runs from 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm at the Small Arms Inspection Building at 1352 Lakeshore Rd. E. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. 

Witchstock 2019: September 28

The third annual celebration of friends and beer at Bellwoods Hafis Road brewery allows visitors to roam around the brewery, meet people who make amazing beer, and celebrate the Toronto beer community. Tickets start at $48.05 and can be found here.

World Press Photo 2019: October 1 – 23

Visit the World Press Photo Exhibition on its world-wide tour, showcasing the stories that matter with photography from the 62nd annual World Press Photo contest. The winners were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed more than 78,801 photographs entered by 4,738 photographers from 129 countries. Join this free event from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm At Brookfield Place on 181 Bay St. 

Markham Fall fair: October 3 – 6

Join the expected 60,000 guests at one of Canada's oldest fairs this fall! Tickets start at $20 and are available here.

Buffer Festival: October 4 – 6

Buffer Festival is the world's largest international digital-first film festival. Curating and celebrating video premieres from today's acclaimed digital creators. Featuring theatrical screenings, red carpets, educational keynotes, and awards. Creators from all over the world come to Buffer Festival. See your favourite creators in the screenings, engage with Q&As, and say hello to them after the screenings on the red-carpet meet ups. Laugh, cry, get inspired, and experience YouTube live alongside friends and creators. Each creator comes with a brand-new video to showcase. Screenings are grouped by genre for easy selection. Sit back, laugh, and enjoy the show! The festival will take place from October 4-6, 2019 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5. Tickets start at $27.20 and are available here.

Toronto's Horror Hallways: October 4 - October 31

Enter the depths of hell and explore this terrifying, seemingly never-ending maze of horror. This haunted maze is open from October 4th to October 31st, 2019 and features a wide range of spooky horrors that’ll get the hairs on the back of your neck standing! Tickets are $15 each and cash only at the door. 37 Stoffel Dr Etobicoke, ON.

Nuit Blanche 2019: October 5 – 6

For one sleepless night, experience Toronto transformed by hundreds of artists and nearly 90 art projects. This year's program responds to one event-wide curatorial theme of Continuum. The theme follows many paths during the event – set against a backdrop of the ever-present renewal of night into day, a continuum of experience and ideas is brought to light by the participating artists. A series of Nuit Talks will take place before and after the all-night art event and nine extended art projects will remain on display through October 14.

Erin Fall Fair: October 10 – 14

This community agricultural event boasts one of the very best fairs around, and you can't miss it! Head to 184 Main St Erin, ON for this all ages celebration. Day long Tickets are $12 and can be found here.

Screemers: October 11 - November 2

Screemers is Toronto’s original and best haunted attraction, celebrating their 26th year of guests living the fear in 2019. Screemers is a pay one price event, and the price includes admission, all 7 haunted walks through themed horror mazes featuring over 120 live scare actors, unlimited rides on the Midway of Horrors, and the terrifying pleasure of viewing their new illusion act The Kill Show. Screemers is Located in the Better Dead Centre, at 195 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto. The average visit to Screemers lasts approximately an hour and half to two hours, but guests are free to stay for as long as they like. There is food available for purchase on site, including Pizza Pizza, and some sweet treats. The Vampire Lounge is open on site serving up some adult beverages and bloody good drinks! Tickets are $34.95 and are available here.

Woodbridge Fall Fair: October 12 – 14

Join the Annual Woodbridge Fall Fair this Thanksgiving Weekend! Exotic Car Show, Exhibits & Competitions, Midway Rides, Games, Horse and Wagon Ride, Live Entertainment, Kids zone, Petting zoo, Pioneer area, Great Food and fun! Make Thanksgiving weekend even more special by visiting this Fall Fair!  Join in the tradition of celebrating our community together with old-fashioned fun - it's a taste of the country, right in the City! Tickets are $10 and are available here.

Toronto's Pumpkin Fest: October 12 – 14

If you’re looking for something fun to do Thanksgiving weekend, this is it! Toronto and Richmond Hill Pumpkinfest has something for all ages. Come experience this family event over 3 days with great food, vendors, entertainment and loads of pumpkins! Guests are welcomed to enjoy all things Autumn. Downsview Park, 70 Canuck Ave, North York, admissions are free so don't miss your chance to see the biggest pumpkin around!

Red Bull Music Festival: October 16 – 21

Red Bull Music Festival returns to Montréal and Toronto this fall to explore the minds and scenes shaping music. You can expect programming that spotlights rising local musicians, producers and DJs while presenting exciting collaborations with ground-breaking artists, bringing their boundary-pushing visions to the stage. Tickets are available here.

Reelworld Film Festival: October 17 – 21

The 19th Annual Reelworld Film Festival takes audiences on journeys that deeply explore the world’s most pressing social issues from the perspectives of diverse filmmakers. Join us for six days of films that raise awareness, spark conversation, and create greater understanding of the world around us. Through socially relevant films, Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, and conversation, Reelworld uses storytelling as a tool for social change. Learn more here.

Toronto After Dark Film Festival: October 17 – 25

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival is an annual event celebrating Horror, Sci-fi, Action and Cult movies! This 14th edition will run Oct 17 - 25, 2019 at Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre on 259 Richmond St W from 7:00 PM – 12:00 am. Tickets are available here.

imagineNATIVE 2019: October 22 – 27

The global hub for Indigenous-made media arts. Each year, imagineNATIVE presents a selection of film, video, audio, digital media, and exhibitions each created by Indigenous artists from Canada and around the world, in addition to a series of panels and workshops. Learn more here! 

Toronto International Festival of Authors: October 24 – November 3

The Toronto International Festival of Authors is an 11-day celebration of words and ideas for curious readers of every kind. The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) is a charitable, cultural organization mandated to cultivate and advance the art of literature. We celebrate words and ideas by connecting curious readers of every kind with leading international authors and providing a forum to showcase Canadian talent to the world. Since 1974, TIFA has welcomed over 9,000 authors from more than 100 countries, including 22 Nobel Laureates and countless other award winners. This year will be the 40th anniversary edition of the Festival, taking place October 24–November 3, 2019 at Harbourfront Centre. Visit their website for more info! 

Art Toronto: October 25 – 27

Founded in 2000, Art Toronto is Canada’s international contemporary and modern art fair, located at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in the city’s downtown core. Providing unique access to the Canadian art market, the fair is one of the most important annual art events in Canada. Now in its 20th year, Art Toronto presents important artwork from leading Canadian and international galleries combined with PLATFORM, our engaging series of lectures and panel discussions from prominent art world figures, curated projects, an extensive VIP Program, and top-tier cultural offerings throughout the city. This year’s event is hosted at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building on 255 Front St W, Toronto, ON. Tickets found on their website.

AGO All Hours: October 26

AGO All Hours returns on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, inviting visitors and local artists of all ages to explore the creative, cultural and historical phenomenon of gaming from the 1980s to the present. From 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., the museum comes alive with new art projects and playful moments designed to bring artists, performers, curators, artworks and visitors together to create, think, explore and play. Channeling an intergenerational vibe, this seasonal event offers something for everyone, from engaging and interactive special installations and art-making activities to artist projects, marquee performances and more. Free with admission to the gallery!

TEDxToronto 2019: October 26

TEDxToronto 2019 conference asks what it will take for us as a society to RISE together. TEDxToronto will celebrate its 11th year on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Toronto’s Evergreen Brick Works on 550 Bayview Avenue from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM. TEDxToronto is Canada’s largest TEDx event, a platform for exceptional ideas, and a catalyst for profound change since 2009.

Night of Dread: October 26

Clay & Paper Theatre presents the 20th annual night of dread, an evening of fearful pageantry, revels and mockery on Saturday, October 26th in Dufferin Grove Park from 4 – 6 pm. At this much loved, family-friendly, community event, Torontonians are invited to call on, mock and banish their private and collective fears through parade and pageantry, music and masquerade, dance and a devilishly good party. Dress code: black & white & dreadful, admission: $10 / 15 / $20 (Pay-What-You-Are-Able)

Dr. Seuss Experience Toronto: Opens October 26

The Dr. Seuss Experience is an imaginative and interactive immersion into the wondrous world of Dr. Seuss! This sensory spectacle takes you on an awe-inspiring journey through nine different, visually stunning Dr. Seuss worlds. You can swing among Truffula Trees from The Lorax, make your way through a brilliant balloon-filled maze from Oh, the Places You’ll go!, stroll through towering clovers listening for a Who from Horton Hears a Who!, and become a circus ringmaster from If I Ran the Circus!. Join and meet the characters, live the stories, and experience Dr. Seuss like never before in this once in a lifetime experience not to be missed! Located at Square One Mall 100 City Centre Dr. Tickets available here! 

AGO New Shows 

Escape the cold weather and visit the Art gallery of Ontario with their new shows opening up through October.

Early Rubens: October 12 – January 5, 2020

Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) in a new exhibition featuring the North American debut of some of his most ambitious works. Rubens is one of the most revered painters in Western art – widely recognized for his riveting, dynamic and even cinematic style, known as the Baroque. See his amazing work opening October 12^th!

Hito Steyerl: This Is the Future: October 24 - February 23, 2020

Hito Steyerl is an artist, theorist and acute observer of our contemporary world. This survey exhibition, the largest of its kind in Canada, brings together a significant number of her works from the last 15 years.

Margaret Priest: The Construction Series and Other Concrete Matters: October 25 - April 26, 2020

Toronto artist Margaret Priest engages with the seductive, ornamental patterns of building materials like marble and concrete and the individual construction methods involved in working with each substance. Her drawings, sculptures, paintings and prints explore the spatial and material qualities of modern structures, reflecting her commitment to insightful observation, personal memory and feminist philosophy. 

Halloween on Church: October 31

Canada’s biggest and BEST Halloween block party is back! Watch as The Village transforms into the city’s most wicked street party on Halloween night, Thursday October 31st. The pedestrian-only boulevard opens up at 6:30PM and, almost instantly, the wave of Halloween-dressed revelers begins. Expect thousands of people filling up six blocks along Church Street (Wood Street to Gloucester Street). Grab your friends, grab your costume and grab a spot in the action. The Village’s shops, cafés and bars will be bumping all night long. 

Pumpkin Parades: November 1

Slink out of the Halloween season and say goodbye to your gourds by visiting a pumpkin parade in select Toronto parks! Sorauren Avenue Park, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Mimico Square, St. James Park, Wychwood Park, Vine Avenue Parkette, Earlscourt Park and McCormick Park all offer this all ages event filled with thousands of lit jack o'lanterns and some creative gourd art. Some of these events even include pumpkin tosses, free hot chocolate and apple cider, and prizes too!

Toronto Halloween Hangover Booze Cruise: November 2

If you're not done partying after Halloween night, you can go for round two and take a boat cruise on the Empress of Canada. From 9:30 to 2 am, travel on Lake Ontario by the shores see the sights from around the Toronto Islands. Tickets start at $20 and are available here. 

Indie Week: November 13 – 17

Indie Week is one of Canada’s top emerging artist festivals. Indie Week puts industry and artists together with 150+ Acts and 20+ Venues over 5 Nights of fun. The week will include an Indie101 Industry and Tech Conference, a Health & Wellness Day, Industry mixers, Demo listening Sessions, Industry Panels, Mentorships and More! Tickets start at $60 and are available here.

Evening at the Market: November 14

Evening at the Market is back for another night of food, drink and entertainment in the historic St. Lawrence Market! On Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 7pm-10pm, guests will be treated to a culinary adventure featuring the unique food dishes of South Market merchants, drinks, fun and a few special surprises. Tickets include all food and drink for the event. All 63 St. Lawrence Market merchants will prepare a feast for the senses, bringing back the food event experience of the season. Tickets start at $90 and are available here.

As the leaves start to fall, you’ll want to hit some of the local’s favourite trails to soak up the crisp air and beautiful changing colours of Ontario’s coniferous woods. In and around the City there are countless beautiful spots for your next hiking destination. Here are 3 of our favourites:

Dundas Peak via Bruce Trail and BT Side Trail

The 3 kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail located near Hamilton, featuring beautiful sights and promises to make you sweat! Dundas Peak is a popular trail through a forested area with waterfalls and gorgeous views. The trailhead is at the end of Falls View Road off of Harvest Road. This trail offers two waterfalls, Tews Falls, and Webster's Falls, and a stunning peak that looks out to Hamilton.

Mount Nemo

Mount Nemo is a favourite among hikers in Halton Parks. Away from the crowds and the hustle bustle of the city, Mount Nemo is a peaceful sanctuary for nature walks. Pack a lunch and watch the Turkey Vultures float on the thermals while you take in the panoramic view of the escarpment. On a clear day you can see a picture-perfect view of the CN Tower! Nemo is teeming with biodiversity. The escarpment blazes with fall colours beginning in early October. Mount Nemo is so easy and convenient to get to from the highway; stop here on your day trip and hike the five kilometres of trails. The length of the trails are deceptive: there are still roots and rocks to challenge the keen hiker!

Beamer Memorial Conservation Area

Renowned as the best vantage point in the Niagara Peninsula to observe the annual spring hawk migration, and part of the internationally designated Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, Beamer Memorial Conservation Area offers one of Niagara’s most breath-taking and panoramic views of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. Take a walk along the scenic Lookout and Bruce Trails and soak up the picturesque views of the 40 Mile Creek Valley, the Lake Ontario shoreline and the escarpment ridge from one of our viewing points.

Fall fanatics know that with autumn comes the obligatory seasonal visits to pumpkin patches and apple orchards. Luckily the GTA has an amazing number of farms to visit which sell hundreds of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes and many even offer pig races, pumpkin cannon shows, wagon rides and guided tours! corn mazes, hay climbs and farm animal visits will top off your day, complete with fall-inspired treats! Albion Orchards, Brooks Farms, Andrew's Scenic Acres, Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze, Downey's Farm Market, Pingle's Farm Market, Reesor's Farm Market, Springridge Farm, Forsythe Family Farms, Hutchinson Farm, and Snyder's Family Farm promise to offer the perfect pumpkin for your front porch!

Is this rain making you want to stay in and bake up a pie? Have no fear! Southern Ontario is home to some of the best apple orchards in Canada! Chudleigh's, Pingle's Farm Market, Downey's, Big'r Apple Farm, Pine Farms Orchard, JC Agri Orchards, Albion Orchards, and Carl Laidlaw Orchards all make the perfect destination for a DIY harvest. These beautiful spots grow dozens of varieties of apples to pick in their orchards, with some even complete with their own bakery just down the road. pick up some fall berries, root vegetables and pumpkins while you’re at it and carry back your load in a rustic wagon while perusing views of the sunflower fields. For a more adult-oriented apple-picking adventure, check out  Archibald's Orchard & Estate Winery, and Applewood Farm Winery to pick up cider and apple wine in addition to picking your own.

Want to go all in? Two hours north of Toronto is the home of Johnston's Cranberry Farm, a spot which offers an array of fall activities including the cranberry plunge, which takes visitors waist deep into a marsh specifically made for the perfect fall photo-op.

For a more relaxing autumnal opportunity, hop on a one-day rail adventure into the heart of the Canadian wilderness with the Agawa Canyon Train Tour. This is an amazing way to see fall colours in Ontario. This one-day wilderness excursion will transport you 114 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, over towering trestles, alongside pristine northern lakes and rivers and through the awesome granite rock formations and vast mixed forests of the Canadian Shield. Book your ticket here! 

What’s your first move? This fall is buzzing with exciting opportunities and new experiences. Good luck trying to hit them all!