Canadian fall festivals are something special. It could be the crisp air or the good food, perhaps something else entirely, but either way, fall festivals are so different here. We asked our readers which fall festivals are worth traveling for & here are ten of the top ones from this survey. Which of these do you want to go to?
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Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest (Kitchener, Ontario)
Quite a few readers mentioned Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest right away, mostly because it doesn’t feel like a single event. It feels like a mini season. Streets fill up with Bavarian music & tents pop up everywhere while the Thanksgiving parade runs through downtown. The “Willkommen Platz” section is rather busy, so you should try to catch it on the main weekend.
Celtic Colours International Festival (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia)
Other readers swore that going to Cape Breton in October feels almost unreal, thanks to the tiny music halls & winding drives. Celtic Colours runs for just over a week, and the shows move around the island, meaning it’s not the kind of festival where you stay put. No, you go on a road trip of sorts, with concerts waiting at each stop.
Devour! The Food Film Fest (Wolfville, Nova Scotia)
One reader mentioned that Wolfville is practically made for fall because of its small streets & crunchy leaves. That’s why you should visit Devour! The Food Film Fest. It mixes movies with food events, so one minute you’re watching a chef documentary & the next, you’re eating a dinner that matches the film. Everything’s close together, so it’s easy to go around.
Bala Cranberry Festival (Bala, Ontario)
Those who mentioned the Bala Cranberry Festival said they loved how specific it is. Bala times the festival right with the harvest, meaning you’ll see berries floating in bogs & wagon tours heading out all weekend. The streets fill up with craft stalls and bands, along with families holding bags of snacks. Why not join the crowd and buy some delicious treats yourself?
Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village (Morrisburg, Ontario)
Sure, not everyone who likes fall evenings likes big crowds, which is why some readers recommended Pumpkinferno. It’s a quiet walk lined with thousands of carved pumpkins lit up after dark, rather than rides or food tents. They run it on select nights & tickets are timed. But if you pick a weekday, you usually get slower foot traffic.
Jasper Dark Sky Festival (Jasper, Alberta)
The way our readers describe the Jasper Dark Sky Festival at night honestly made it sound magical. Apparently, the sky’s so clear you can spot constellations without a telescope, although they also have those set up for anyone who wants a closer look. The festival is spread over a week. It mixes science talks with casual stargazing, so you’re learning while enjoying yourself.
Cornucopia (Whistler, British Columbia)
Cornucopia is the one our food-loving readers kept circling back to. It runs later in the season, and Whistler’s village is small enough that you can walk around between tastings & pop into a seminar. Who knows, you might even end up at a late-night party without ever getting in a car. This is the kind of event where everyone has some kind of wine glass by hour three.
Vancouver International Film Festival (Vancouver, British Columbia)
For film buffs, the Vancouver International Film Festival is apparently their version of a fall tradition. The screenings happen all over the city, meaning you get to hop between neighbourhoods & theatres. There are concerts & industry sessions throughout the festival. However, plenty of people just get tickets and snacks to make a weekend out of it.
Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival (Banff, Alberta)
Many readers kept bringing up Banff’s festival because it packs a lot into just over a week. There are film premieres & author panels, as well as outdoor talks & pop-up exhibits, scattered around the Banff Centre. This fall, it’s celebrating 50 years, so they’ve added extra sessions. But there’s also a digital program running later if you miss anything.
Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival (Ball’s Falls, Ontario)
Apparently, Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival is a great festival because of its mix of food & crafts, according to our readers. It runs over Thanksgiving weekend, and the conservation area has rows of stalls selling handmade stuff. Some of our readers said they head straight for the food trucks. Others said they enjoyed looking at the old village buildings & hiking.
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