Guide to the Best Fall Festivals in Toronto and the GTA

Toronto is renowned for its plethora of summer festivals, but the party doesn’t need to stop there! Autumn is a gorgeous time of year here and on weekends, families across the province take a break from school and work to explore festivals, both indoors and outdoors. These include neighbourhood fairs, craft markets, and festivals celebrating food, culture, nature and much more. Get inspired by our Guide to the Best Fall Festivals in Toronto and the GTA…

Ashkenaz Festival
Date: Until September 6, 2026
The biennial Ashkenaz Festival returns to bring North America’s largest celebration of Jewish music, arts and culture to new venues and communities this year.

Stratford Festival
Date: Until October 31, 2026
The Stratford Festival returns with Shakespearean classics, musicals, comedies, dramas and family favourites, plus a kids ticket deal.

Fall Festivals — September

⭐️ Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy & Bark in the Park TO
Date: September 4-7, 2026
Whether you are an adrenaline junkie, animal lover, music fan, food fanatic, or comedy connoisseur, you can find captivating curiosities hiding around every corner at the Toronto International BuskerFest, plus Bark in the Park TO!

Canada’s Largest Ribfest
Date: September 4-7, 2026
Head to Burlington for Canada’s Largest Ribfest to chow down on world-class BBQ food, enjoy live music and family-friendly activities with a festival atmosphere.

Toronto Dragon Festival
Date: September 4-6, 2026
The free and family-friendly Toronto Dragon Festival returns to Nathan Phillips Square with lion and dragon dances, a light and water show, plus food and vendors.

T.U. Jazz Fest
Date: September 4-6, 2026
Swing to the rhythm of the T.U. Jazz Fest, a free and family-friendly event with music on two outdoor stages, plus an on-site Kids’ Zone.

Friday Harbour Resort: Labour Day Long Weekend
Date: September 4-7, 2026
Join Friday Harbour Resort on the shores of Lake Simcoe for Labour Day Long Weekend activities to soak up every last bit of summer!

Scarborough Community Multicultural Festival
Date: September 5-6, 2026
The Scarborough Community Multicultural Festival showcases the cultural, artistic, and culinary heritage of communities from around the world.

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
Date: September 10-20, 2026
TIFF, one of the world’s leading film festivals, returns for another exciting year of public screenings and special events. Along with featuring the biggest names in movies, the festival also hosts a free street festival along King Street West.

Bloor-Yorkville: TIFF Rogers Red Carpet
Date: September 10-13, 2026
Bloor-Yorkville becomes a free TIFF hub with the Rogers Red Carpet, where festival-goers can immerse themselves in film culture with free outdoor screenings, live musical performances, shareable photo moments, and interactive activities.

Asialicious Carnival
Date: September 11-13, 2026
Asialicious Carnival is a three-day weekend food festival held at Woodside Square in Scarborough North, celebrating our community’s diverse Asian cultures through food and the performing arts.

Taste of the Kingsway
Date: September 11-13, 2026
The Taste of the Kingsway closes down a stretch of Bloor West with three days of entertainment, international cuisine and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

⭐️ Cabbagetown Festival
Date: September 12-13, 2026
One of the city’s longest-running and most beloved free festivals, celebrate in the streets of one of Toronto’s family-friendly neighbourhoods at the 46th Annual Cabbagetown Festival!

Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
Date: September 12-13, 2026
Riverdale Farm hosts a free Fall Festival with events based on farm activities, including animals, food, and crafts.

Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival
Date: September 12, 2026
The free Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival returns with educational activities for kids, including arts & crafts, games and entertainment.

St. James Town Festival
Date: September 12, 2026
The St. James Town Festival celebrates the incredible diversity, creativity, and spirit of this multicultural community on the east side of downtown Toronto.

Brooks Farms: Fall Fun Festival
Date: September 12 — November 1, 2026
Brooks Farms’ Fall Fun Festival returns with family attractions including farm animals, wagon rides, corn maze, zip line, swings and slides, playground structures, Junior Farmers Village, and much more.

K-Travel Fest
Date: September 12–13, 2026
K-Travel Fest is Toronto’s largest Korean culture experience, including live performances, authentic street food, K-Beauty experts, and more.

Kerr Village BIA: Kerrfest Kids
Date: September 13, 2026
Kerrfest Kids is a free one-day celebration in Oakville with appearances from cartoon characters, live music and dance performances, kids’ activities, food and an outdoor market.

Toronto Ukrainian Festival
Date: September 18-20, 2026
Discover a glorious culture and share the spirit at Toronto Ukrainian Festival, North America’s largest Ukrainian festival.

Ontario Culture Days
Date: September 18 — October 4, 2026
Celebrate the diversity and arts of our great province with Ontario Culture Days’ events for all ages across the GTA and beyond.

Public Pier
Date: September 18 — October 3, 2026
Public Pier is a new free-to-attend cultural destination that brings the arts, food, music, and dance to Toronto’s waterfront this Fall!

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.

Roncesvalles Polish Festival
Date: September 19-20, 2026
Roncesvalles Polish Festival is a celebration of Polish food and community in Roncevalles Village, one of Toronto’s most vibrant communities.

Canadian Pet Expo
Date: September 19-20, 2026
The Canadian Pet Expo is a family-friendly event, returning to the International Centre in Mississauga. Your pets are invited to join in too!

Pape Village BIA: Pape Village Block Party
Date: September 19-20, 2026
Pape Village BIA hosts the Pape Village Block Party, a free two-day festival to unite this east end community through family entertainment.

Village at Black Creek: Fall Festival
Date: September 19-20, 2026
Discover the joy of an old-fashioned autumn as Village at Black Creek celebrates the harvest season with their Fall Festival.

Smoke-a-Palooza Poutine Festival
Date: September 19, 2026
The Smoke-A-Palooza Poutine Festival celebrates our most patriotic dish as a free full-day event with free poutine, shows and an eating competition.

Mount Pleasant BIA: Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair
Date: September 19, 2026
Mount Pleasant BIA hosts Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair to usher in the Fall season, so pull out your flannel for this free family-friendly street fair, where Midtown’s Mount Pleasant Road transforms into an autumnal wonderland.

Markham Museum: AppleFest
Date: September 19, 2026
Markham Museum presents AppleFest with local businesses, skilled artisans, and engaging activities for the whole family to enjoy, including fresh apple cider making.

Sound on Geary Music Festival 🆓
Date: September 19, 2026
Taking over a vibrant stretch of Geary Avenue for one night only, Sound On Geary is a large-scale music festival that is free to the public, complete with live street art installations and food and beverages by local businesses.

Queen West Art Crawl Festival
Date: September 19-20, 2026
Queen West Art Crawl is an annual outdoor art exhibition and free festival with a kids zone, plus music and drag performances.

Brampton Latin Festival 🆓
Date: September 19, 2026
Experience an unforgettable autumnal celebration of Latin culture through its cuisine, music and dance at the annual Brampton Latin Festival.

Portugalo Fest 🆓
Date: September 19, 2026
Portugalo Fest is a celebration of Portugal’s history, folklore and traditions, with family activities, cuisine and cultural entertainment.

Friday Harbour: Harbourfest 🆓
Date: September 19-20, 2026
Celebrate Harbourfest at Friday Harbour on the shores of Lake Simcoe, surrounded by the beautiful colours of Fall with the tastes and sounds of Germany.

Aga Khan Park Fall Fair
Date: September 20, 2026
Aga Khan Park returns with its free-to-attend Fall Fair for families to enjoy a full day of festivities! Attractions include live performances, mini golf, face painting and balloon animals, inflatables, arts and crafts, yoga, food trucks, and more.

Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (LBNA): Long Branch Tree Fest
Date: September 20, 2026
The Long Branch Tree Fest, at Marie Curtis Park in Etobicoke, is a family-friendly and free educational celebration of trees and nature with live music, local food, children’s activities, tree walks, and exhibitors.

Montgomery’s Inn: Fall Festival
Date: September 23, 2026
Montgomery’s Inn hosts a Fall Festival, with its regular weekly Farmers’ Market filled with fresh and local goods, local artisan vendors, plus a corn roast and live music.

Francophonie en fête
Date: September 25-27, 2026
Francophonie en fête hosts a free-to-attend festival at The Bentway, including 25 live performances and family-friendly programming.

The Word on the Street Festival
Date: September 26-27, 2026
The Word On The Street Festival (WOTS) is a free open-air book and magazine festival, plus an outdoor marketplace showcasing over 100 exhibitors, magazines, comics, and more for readers of all ages.

Hispanic Canadian Heritage Council (HCHC): Latin Parade & Hispanic Fiesta
Date: September 26, 2026
The Hispanic Canadian Heritage Council (HCHC) hosts its annual Latin Parade & Hispanic Fiesta, filled with traditional culture and music.

Oktoberfest Muskoka
Date: September 26 — October 24, 2026
Immerse yourself in the tastes and sounds of the Oktoberfest Muskoka festival with music, food and beer at local breweries and restaurants.

Spadina Museum: Fall Festival
Date: September 27, 2026
Spadina Museum, one of Toronto’s History Museums that offer permanently free admission, hosts a Fall Festival full of fun Autumn-themed activities for the entire family!

Toronto Garlic Festival
Date: September 27, 2026
The Toronto Garlic Festival is a free full-day celebration honouring this fabulously fragrant member of the onion family, moving to a new downtown location at Allan Gardens!

Fall Festivals — October

Markham Fair
Date: October 1-4, 2026
The Markham Fair is one of Canada’s longest-running county fairs (since 1844!) with children’s activities and entertainment, home craft and agricultural shows, carnival food, and much more.

Toronto Sauna Festival
Date: October 2-4, 2026
Toronto Sauna Festival returns to Evergreen Brick Works for three days of social wellness and relaxation, plus food and community.

Fall Baby Show Toronto
Date: October 2-4, 2026
This one-stop destination for all things baby-related brings Ontarians the resources and tools they need to feel confident on their journey into parenthood.

Fall Home Show
Date: October 2-4, 2026
The Fall Home Show brings together over 250 home and lifestyle vendors so you can plan your next renovation and learn from the experts, all in one place!

Nuit Blanche
Date: October 3, 2026
Nuit Blanche, Toronto’s highly anticipated annual cultural event, is a free all-night contemporary art party featuring ground-breaking artworks by local, national and international artists.

Toronto Botanical Garden: Fall Ravine Festival
Date: October 3, 2026
Toronto Botanical Garden hosts its annual Fall Ravine Festival, a free autumnal afternoon of music, adventure, and learning, with live performances, a scavenger hunt, educational pop-up stations, and more.

Diwali RazzMatazz Mississauga
Date: October 9-11, 2026
Diwali RazzMatazz Mississauga features authentic food flavours, plus stage programming, shopping, and kids’ rides.

Ball’s Falls Conservation Area: Thanksgiving Festival
Date: October 9-12, 2026
Enjoy the beauty of the Niagara Escarpment at Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival, with food and drink, kid’s entertainment, as well as nature hikes and education opportunities for the whole family
to enjoy.

PumpkinFest Toronto
Date: October 9-12, 2026
PumpkinFest Toronto is the place to celebrate all things autumnal over Thanksgiving weekend, including midway rides and inflatables, live performances, and trackless train rides.

Fall For Dance North Festival
Date: October 15-25, 2026
Fall For Dance North Festival, Toronto’s premier international dance festival, includes performances in a diverse range of local, national and international choreographic voices and genres in venues across the city.

Ontario’s Legislative: Queen’s Park Fall Festival
Date: October 17, 2026
Ontario’s Legislative Building hosts the Queen’s Park Fall Festival, with self-guided tours, a pumpkin patch, an inflatable corn maze, and fall-themed activities for kids.

Bayview Leaside BIA: Applefest
Date: October 17, 2026
Bayview Leaside BIA hosts Applefest with lots of FREE activities, including live music, family-friendly entertainment, pet-friendly fun, plus local shop deals.

Bradley Museum: Halloween Harvest Festival
Date: October 17-18, 2026
Bradley Museum in Mississauga invites families to participate in old-fashioned Halloween and harvest traditions with on-site activities and food.

North York Diwali Festival
Date: October 23-25, 2026
North York Diwali Festival brings communities together to experience the joy of Diwali with lights, music, food, and culture.

Legacy Jam
Date: October 23–25, 2026
Legacy Jam is a new family-friendly breakdancing event, featuring six purpose-driven experiences across three venues in a single weekend.

Evergreen Brickworks: Good Mourning Festival
Date: October 24-25, 2026
Celebrate Día de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead), a free, family-friendly festival with food, music, live performances and family activities, featuring multicultural traditions about death, grief and mourning.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC): Halloween Fest
Date: October 24-25, 2026
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) returns with its Halloween Fest for families at the new location at Danforth Garage near Coxwell Station, where families can brave the haunted bus bay, go trick-or-treating, and enjoy fang-tastic kids’ activities, a bounce house, a maze and more.

Pickering Museum Village: Halloween Fest
Date: October 24-25, 2026
Pickering Museum Village hosts a one-of-a-kind Halloween experience, where families spend time outside in nature, sample sweets, enjoy fun-filled activities, create boo-tiful crafts, and learn about Halloween celebrations of the past.

Toronto International Festival of Authors
Date: October 28 – November 1, 2026
The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) presents its annual festival, gathering readers and writers from around the globe.

The Kingsway BIA: Pumpkinfest
Date: October 31, 2026
The Kingsway is celebrating Halloween with Pumpkinfest, with a costume contest, live entertainment, trick-or-treating, crafts, and more.

Fall Festivals — November

FOLD Kids Book Fest
Date: November 3-8, 2026
FOLD Kids Book Fest returns with online and in-person events in Brampton to engage young diverse readers with events by children’s book authors.

The National Women’s Show
Date: November 6-8, 2026
The National Women’s Show is the perfect opportunity to shop, sample food and wine, and indulge in free mini-makeovers with your gal pals.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Date: November 6-15, 2026
One of Toronto’s favourite annual events, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returns to Exhibition Place for a barn-full of agricultural fun!

Mississauga Comic Expo (MCX)
Date: November 6-7, 2026
Mississauga Comic Expo features an artist alley, exhibitors, workshops, panels, cosplay, tabletop board game demonstrations, video game free-play session, and more. Plus, admission is free!

Gerrard India Bazaar BIA: Diwali Mela Festival of Lights
Date: November 7, 2026
Head down to the Gerrard India Bazaar for Diwali Mela, a free neighbourhood party including a live DJ, sparklers, tasty food, dance performances, sidewalk sales, and more!

Dance Immersion: Immersion Festival & NEXT GEN Presentation
Date: November 8-22, 2026 (NEXT GEN Presentation: November 14-15)
Dance Immersion presents the Immersion Festival, a celebration of Canadian cultural life, including the Next Gen Youth Presentation with 10 diverse performances created by Black-led groups and choreographers.

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival & Wee Asian
Date: November 11-21, 2026
The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is a showcase of contemporary Asian cinema, including the one-day Wee Asian program for families.

Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
Date: November 14, 2026 — January 10, 2027
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights is Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival, so get your fill of sparkle and good cheer!

Aga Khan Museum: Duende Flamenco Festival
Date: November 18-22, 2026
Aga Khan Museum presents the Duende International Flamenco Festival, which celebrates the multidisciplinary nature of flamenco with masterclasses, a film screening and live dance shows.

Native Earth Performing Arts: Weesageechak Begins to Dance
Date: November 19-29, 2026
Native Earth Performing Arts presents Weesageechak Begins to Dance, an annual development festival of Indigenous performing arts.