Downsview Park: Fall & Winter Events

Downsview Park hosts numerous family-friendly events this Fall, from nature and pets to festivals and Halloween! Along with ongoing activities like their popular Nature Connection, Storytime at the Park, and Jr. Forest Explorers programs, many exciting special events are happening all season, and most are free.

Toronto Water Lantern Festival ($)
Date: September 18-20, 2026
Witness the inspiring beauty of many lit lanterns, with the lights reflecting on the water in this festival filled with fun, happiness and hope. Share this family-friendly event with your loved ones for a relaxing, peaceful, and memorable experience together.

Tree Planting with NDG
Date: September 20 & October 17, 2026
Join this Nikibii Dawadinna Giigwag (Anishinaabemowin for “flooded valley healing”) program that provides hands-on ecological learning opportunities. Its aim is to address a growing intergenerational gap in traditional environmental knowledge.

Accessible Birding
Date: September 26, 2026
At this free and accessible event, you can discover the joy of birding in the Fall, set at a leisurely pace. Designed for people with physical disabilities, the event focuses on mobility-friendly trails and raptor sightings.

Downsview Park: A Day of Monarch Magic!
Date: September 27, 2026
Downsview Park invites families to A Day of Monarch Magic, transforming the park’s south mound into a vibrant Monarch Mound, bursting with pollinator-friendly plants. Join their team for free guided pollinator walks to learn about the incredible pollinators that live in Downsview Park, plant Monarch-friendly plants, and participate in drop-in activities for all ages.

Downsview Park: Monarch Movie Night in the Hub
Date: October 1, 2026
Join organizers at Downsview Park for Monarch Movie Night in the Hub, showing Nick de Pencier’s documentary “Four Wings and Prayer”, which follows the remarkable migration journey of the Monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico. Along with the documentary screening (plus popcorn!), the event includes a discussion on how we can all help support the safe migration of monarchs and other butterflies.

Storytime At The Park
Date: October 17 — December 12, 2026
Designed for children aged 3-6 and 7-9 (though everyone is welcome), enjoy some free outdoor story time, connect with the natural world, and engage in activities related to the monthly theme.

PumpkinFest Toronto ($)
Date: October 9-12, 2026
PumpkinFest Toronto is the place to celebrate all things autumnal over Thanksgiving weekend! Attractions include midway rides and inflatables, live performances and stage shows, an inflatable corn maze, trackless train rides, and autumn-themed photo ops, all included with admission.

Downsview Park: Howl-o-ween Unleashed
Date: October 25, 2026
Have a fun-filled day at Downsview Park for their Howl-O-Ween Unleashed event! In collaboration with Toronto Dog Moms, there is a fang-tastic vendor market offering pup-friendly products and services, and you can show off your furry friends in their adorable costumes for some spook-tacular dog treats.

Nature Connection: Spooky Forest Fun
Date: October 25, 2026
In this edition of Downsview’s ongoing Nature Connection, Halloween costumes are welcome at this spooky fall program. Great for all ages, the group explores the forest and faces our insect fears, thinking about all the things that creep, crawl and scare us!

Nature Connection: Fall Photo Walk
Date: November 8, 2026
Take a moment to appreciate the park leaves as they change colour and the air turns crisp, and capture all the signs of fall with your camera, cell phone, or other photo-taking device.

Buckthorn Wreath-Making
Date: November 28, 2026
Create a stunning wreath using pre-cut buckthorn and other natural materials. Buckthorn is one of the most invasive shrubs in Ontario, so this workshop helps to transform these destructive plants into beautiful fall decorations!

Nature Connection: Bonfire Program – Food Around the Fire
Date: December 13, 2026
As you learn how to build fires, the group also roasts some snacks and enjoys some time in the forest.

Fire Building with Kory Snache
Date: January 23, 2027
Join Kory to learn about Anishnaabeg general understanding of fire and how to create a fire in all seasons. This is an indoor event, meant to gather materials and try different ways to start a fire.