It’s already October! It’s time to prepare for Thanksgiving and Halloween, plus Ontario’s comfortable temperatures and brightly-coloured foliage are a sight to behold: you can go for a nice walk in nature (check out our list of Toronto’s hiking trails), go apple picking, and of course, go to a pumpkin patch and corn maze to find yourself the perfect jack-o-lantern canvas. So get plenty of ideas for autumnal activities with our October Event Guide for Toronto and the GTA.
(Click on each title for more information)
Pumpkins After Dark (Continuing until October 30)
Get ready for spooky family fun with Pumpkins After Dark, an award-winning outdoor Halloween experience returning to Milton’s Country Heritage Park, including over 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins, costumed actors and live carving demonstrations.
Halloween Nights of Lights (Continuing until October 31)
Halloween Nights of Lights is a thrilling, immersive walk-through Halloween experience, with animated lights and Pumpkinville sculptures.
Canada’s Wonderland: Camp Snoopy and Halloween Haunt (Continuing until November 2)
Canada’s Wonderland has fun for everyone this Halloween season at two separate all-outdoor and immersive events: Camp Spooky for family-friendly fun with the PEANUTS Gang, and Halloween Haunt for older kids that transforms the theme park into a “scream park”!
Markham Fair (October 3-6)
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, food and much more.
Casa Loma: Legends of Horror (October 3-30)
Spooks and surprises await as Casa Loma presents its annual Halloween installation, Legends of Horror, a self-guided tour of the historic building. Plus, families can arrive early for Family Hours, which are less scary, less dark and without live actors.
Nuit Blanche (October 5)
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.
City of Toronto History Museums: Halloween Events (October 5-31)
City of Toronto’s History Museums are free year-round and also host family-friendly Halloween events this year, including crafts, musical performances, historical tours and ghost stories! While some special events incur a fee, some activities are free or with a suggested donation.
PumpkinFest Toronto at Downsview Park (October 11-14)
PumpkinFest Toronto is the place to celebrate all things autumnal over Thanksgiving Weekend at Downsview Park, including midway rides and inflatables, tractor-pulled hayrides, live performances and much more.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Disney Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” Live in Concert to Film (October 18-19)
The TSO offers a special Halloween treat with the return of Disney Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, where Jack Skellington’s magical adventure unfolds on the big screen as Danny Elfman’s delightfully quirky score sweeps you away.
TO Live: The Wild Kratts LIVE! (October 19)
TO Live hosts the popular nature hosts The Wild Kratts in their new live stage show “Activate Creature Power!” that has kids across North America buzzing!
Fall Fun Bucket List for Toronto and the GTA
Take in a street festival, snack on farm treats, get active in the fresh air and take a hike with our Fall Fun Bucket List for Toronto and the GTA.
Guide to the Best Oktoberfest Family Events in Southern Ontario
Feel the gemütlichkeit (warm feelings) at Oktoberfest events across the GTA: dance to the polka, eat a huge pretzel and raise your glass. Prost!
Guide to Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes in Southern Ontario
Pumpkin patches are a fun way to get out of the city on a crisp Fall day, with family experiences such as wagon rides and play areas.
Guide to Apple Picking in Southern Ontario
Earn your apple pie while also having a fun outdoorsy day out by picking your own fruit with our Guide to Apple Picking in Southern Ontario.
But Wait… There’s More!
Want even more ideas for Family-Friendly Events in Toronto This Weekend? For a complete listing of all the best events around Toronto, click on our Calendar and stay tuned to all the best local family events through both our Facebook and Instagram pages. Plus, we’re now on TikTok and Threads!
If you are looking for tips on how to keep your kids occupied without attending in-person events, you can find our best ideas, activities and inspiration here!
Did you know you can submit your family-friendly event to us? Fill out the form with your event details, as well as a photo, and we’ll do our best to get your event added to our events calendar.
