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. So get inspired by our Guide to the Best Fall Festivals in Toronto and the GTA…
Ontario Place: SummerSeries
When: Until September 30, 2023
Ontario Place hosts an exciting season of programming with the SummerSeries in Trillium Park, with music, arts, wellness, and nature.
Stratford Festival
When: Until October 29, 2023
The Stratford Festival returns with Shakespearean classics, musicals, comedies, dramas and family favourites, plus a kids ticket deal.
Street Eats Market
When: Until November 25, 2023
Eat delicious global cuisine with the Eats Theme Park in Whitby, and Street Eats Market, and Holiday Street Market in Mississauga.
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
When: September 7-17, 2023
TIFF, one of the world’s leading film festivals returns to public screenings, hosting a street festival and events hosting the biggest names in movies.
Drive Festival
When: September 8-10, 2023
A racing festival at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, this is sure to get your little Lightning McQueen wannabes pumped up over fast cars.
Taste of the Kingsway
When: September 8-10, 2023
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
When: September 9-10, 2023
Taking over the intersection of Parliament and Carlton, the Cabbagetown Festival returns after three years with its biggest festival ever!
Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
When: September 9-10, 2023
Riverdale Farm hosts a free Fall Festival, including events based on all the farm activities such as animals, food and crafts.
Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival
When: September 9, 2023
The free Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival returns with educational activities for kids, including arts & crafts, games and entertainment.
Portugalo Fest
When: September 9, 2023
Portugalo Fest is a celebration of Portugal’s history, folklore and traditions, with family activities, cuisine and cultural entertainment.
Kerr Village BIA: Kerrfest Kids
When: September 10, 2023
Kerrfest Kids is a one-day celebration in Oakville with appearances from cartoon characters, live music, food and an outdoor market.
Tastes of South East Asia (SEA): Moonfest
When: September 16, 2023
Tastes of South East Asia (SEA) hosts Moonfest at Celebration Square in Mississauga, featuring art, culture, and the best crafted cuisine.
Toronto Ukrainian Festival
When: September 15-17, 2023
Discover a glorious culture and share the spirit at Toronto Ukrainian Festival, North America’s largest Ukrainian festival.
Pape Village BIA: Pape Village Block Party
When: September 16, 2023
Pape Village BIA hosts the Pape Village Block Party, a free one-day festival to unite this east end community through family entertainment.
Roncesvalles Polish Festival
When: September 16-17, 2023
Roncesvalles Polish Festival is a celebration of Polish food and community in Roncevalles Village, one of Toronto’s most vibrant communities.
Toronto Waterfront Festival
When: September 16-17, 2023
Celebrate the last weekend of summer with interactive on-land and on-water entertainment at the Toronto Waterfront Festival.
York-Durham Heritage Railway: Fall Festival
When: September 16-October 29, 2023
Ride the rails and enjoy family events like the Fall Festival, including amazing shows, hay maze, hay rides and petting zoo and a pumpkin patch!
Canadian Pet Expo
When: September 16-17, 2023
The Canadian Pet Expo is a family-friendly event, returning to the International Centre in Mississauga. Your pets are invited to join in too!
Regent Park OUT LOUD Block Party
When: September 17, 2023
The first Regent Park OUT LOUD Block Party celebrates inclusion with music, crafts, entertainers, children’s games, and more.
TIFA Kids (Toronto International Festival of Authors)
When: September 21-October 1, 2023
TIFA Kids has over 30 dynamic and engaging literary performances, workshops and presentations for children aged 3-18, many of which are free.
Toronto International Festival of Authors
When: September 21-October 1, 2023
With over 200 events held over 11 days, the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) features authors and artists from 30+ nations.
Ontario Culture Days
When: September 22-October 15, 2023
Celebrate the diversity and arts of our great province with Ontario Culture Days’ events for all ages across the GTA and beyond.
Ontario Garlic Week
When: September 22-October 1, 2023
Go on a flavourful journey during Ontario Garlic Week, where passionate farmers and renowned chefs celebrate the bountiful garlic harvest.
Just For Laughs Toronto: Street Festival
When: September 22-24, 2023
Just For Laughs Toronto presents the free Street Festival, an epic outdoor comedy and music celebration for everyone to enjoy.
Black Creek Pioneer Village: Fall Festival
When: September 23-24, 2023
Discover the joy of an old-fashioned autumn as Black Creek Pioneer Village celebrates the harvest season with their Fall Festival.
Geary Art Crawl
When: September 23-24, 2023
Geary Art Crawl is a free weekend arts celebration in the west end, with live music, DJs, art installations, pop-up bars, workshops and more.
Nuit Blanche
When: September 23, 2023
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.
Mount Pleasant BIA: Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair
When: September 23, 2023
The Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair is a free family-friendly street fair that transforms Midtown into an autumnal wonderland.
Queen West Art Crawl Festival
When: September 23-24, 2023
Queen West Art Crawl is an annual outdoor art exhibition and free festival with music performances, beer garden and kids zone.
Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (LBNA): Long Branch Tree Fest
When: September 24, 2023
The Long Branch Tree Fest, at Marie Curtis Park in Etobicoke, is a family-friendly educational celebration of trees and nature.
Fall For Dance North
When: September 26-October 7, 2023
This annual festival includes performances in a diverse range of choreographic voices and genres in venues across the city.
Fall Baby Show Toronto
When: September 30-October 1, 2023
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.
Friday Harbour Harbourfest
When: September 29-October 1, 2023
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.
Fall Home Show
When: September 29-October 1, 2023
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!
Historic Fort Willow Conservation Area: Festival at the Fort
When: September 30, 2023
The Historic Fort Willow Conservation Area, west of Barrie, lets families experience what life was like before and after European contact.
PumpkinFest Toronto
When: October 6-9, 2023
PumpkinFest Toronto is the place to celebrate all things autumnal over Thanksgiving weekend, including midway rides and inflatables, tractor-pulled hayrides, live performances, a PAW Patrol meet and greet, and more.
Ball’s Falls Conservation Area: Thanksgiving Festival
When: October 6-9, 2023
Enjoy the beauty of the Niagara Escarpment at Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival, with food and drink, kid’s entertainment and nature hikes.
Bayview Leaside BIA: Applefest
When: October 14, 2023
Bayview Leaside BIA hosts Applefest with great FREE entertainment and interactive activities, such as live music, hot beverages, and art installations, plus art tables and face painting for the kids.
Bala Cranberry Festival
When: October 13-15, 2023
Located in the Muskoka region, the Bala Cranberry Festival celebrates Fall with a crafts show, entertainment and cranberry marsh visits.
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
When: October 17-29, 2023
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is the world’s largest presenter of Indigenous screen content, with in-person and online events.
Canada One Family Network: The 8th Age of Literati Culture Festival
When: October 28 – November 5, 2023
Canada One Family Network presents the 8th Age of Literati Culture Festival, with performances, art exhibitions, workshops and more.
The Kingsway BIA: Pumpkinfest
When: October 28, 2023
The Kingsway is celebrating Halloween with Pumpkinfest, with pumpkin decorating and costume contests, trick-or-treating, crafts and more.
FOLD Kids Book Fest
When: November 1-5, 2023
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.
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
When: November 3-12, 2023
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the largest indoor agricultural and equestrian event in the world, returning to Exhibition Place.
Evergreen Brick Works: The Good Mourning Festival
When: November 4-5, 2023
Celebrate Día de Muertos (or Day of the Dead) at Evergreen Brick Works with food, music, live performances and family fun activities.
Native Earth Performing Arts: Weesageechak Begins to Dance
When: November 6-19, 2023
Native Earth Performing Arts presents Weesageechak Begins to Dance, an annual development festival of Indigenous work, which brings 22 Creators together from across Turtle Island to showcase their art.
National Women’s Show
When: November 10-12, 2023
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.
Aga Khan Museum: Duende Flamenco Festival
When: November 16-19, 2023
Explore the multi-disciplinary nature of flamenco as Aga Khan Museum presents the annual Duende Flamenco Festival, which celebrates its fiery world with film screenings, music, and live performances.
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
When: Starts November 18, 2023
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights is Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival, so get your fill of sparkle and good cheer!
Toronto International Dance Festival
When: November 19 & 26, 2023
The Toronto International Dance Festival unites all cultures through free dance performances by artists from various backgrounds.
Guide to the Best Thanksgiving Weekend Fairs in Southern Ontario
Small-town fairs are a traditional way to spend a Fall weekend in Southern Ontario, especially over the Thanksgiving long weekend.
Diwali Events in Toronto and the GTA
Brighten the night with joy, music and vibrant colours to celebrate the festival of lights with our list of Diwali Events in Toronto and the GTA.
Guide to the Best Fall Fairs and Farm Festivals Around the GTA
Fall is full of natural vibes and the best way to celebrate the season is by getting out of the city and stomping into our Guide to the Best Fall Fairs and Farm Festivals around the GTA.
Guide to the Best Oktoberfest Family Events in Southern Ontario
When: September – October
Feel the gemütlichkeit with our Oktoberfest Event Guide for Southern Ontario: dance a polka, eat a huge pretzel and raise your glass. Prost!
Guide to Fall Craft Markets in Toronto and the GTA
When: September – November
Our Guide to Fall Markets in Toronto and the GTA will inspire you to wander through outdoor markets or even get a head-start on Christmas.
Find more Special Events in Toronto and the GTA here!
