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…
Stratford Festival
When: Until October 27, 2024
The Stratford Festival returns with Shakespearean classics, musicals, comedies, dramas and family favourites, plus a kids ticket deal.
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
When: September 5-15, 2024
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 6-8, 2024
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 6-8, 2024
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 7-8, 2024
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 45th Annual Cabbagetown Festival!
The Junction Business Improvement Area (BIA): Taste of the Junction
When: September 7, 2024
The Taste of the Junction is an extraordinary food event that unites 21 exceptional local businesses in the vibrant neighbourhood of the Junction in Toronto’s west end, along with the official launch of The AR Laneway Project.
Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
When: September 7-8, 2024
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 7, 2024
The free Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival returns with educational activities for kids, including arts & crafts, games and entertainment.
Portugalo Fest
When: September 7, 2024
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 8, 2024
Kerrfest Kids is a one-day celebration in Oakville with appearances from cartoon characters, live music, kids activities, food and an outdoor market.
Toronto Ukrainian Festival
When: September 13-15, 2024
Discover a glorious culture and share the spirit at Toronto Ukrainian Festival, North America’s largest Ukrainian festival.
TO Live: UpFRONT Festival of Indigenous Arts, Music and Culture
When: September 13-15, 2024
TO Live hosts the UpFRONT Festival of Indigenous Arts, Music and Culture, an inspiring weekend filled with music, laughter and togetherness.
Brampton Latin Festival
When: September 14, 2024
Experience an unforgettable end-of-summer celebration of Latin culture through its cuisine music and dance at the 3rd Annual Brampton Latin Festival in Brampton.
Pape Village BIA: Pape Village Block Party
When: September 14-15, 2024
Pape Village BIA hosts the Pape Village Block Party, a free two-day festival to unite this east end community through family entertainment.
Roncesvalles Polish Festival
When: September 14-15, 2024
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 14-15, 2024
Celebrate the last weekend of summer with interactive on-land and on-water entertainment at the Toronto Waterfront Festival.
Canadian Pet Expo
When: September 14-15, 2024
The Canadian Pet Expo is a family-friendly event, returning to the International Centre in Mississauga. Your pets are invited to join in too!
TIFA Kids (Toronto International Festival of Authors)
When: September 21-22 & 28-29, 2024
TIFA Kids hosts 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 19-29, 2024
The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) presents a 11-day festival that gathers readers and writers from around the globe.
Ontario Culture Days
When: September 20 — October 13, 2024
Celebrate the diversity and arts of our great province with Ontario Culture Days’ events for all ages across the GTA and beyond.
Black Creek Pioneer Village: Fall Festival
When: September 21-22, 2024
Discover the joy of an old-fashioned autumn as Black Creek Pioneer Village celebrates the harvest season with their Fall Festival.
Toronto Biennial of Art
When: September 21 — December 1, 2024
The Toronto Biennial of Art returns with its third edition across Toronto and the GTA with free exhibitions, performances and learning opportunities.
Geary Art Crawl
When: September 21-22, 2024
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.
Queen West Art Crawl Festival
When: September 21-22, 2024
Queen West Art Crawl is an annual outdoor art exhibition and free festival with a kids zone, plus music and drag performances.
VegTO Fest
When: September 21-22, 2024
VegTO Fest returns, growing in size this year to its new Nathan Phillips Square location, and now filled with even more plant-based food, wares, and other vegan wonders!
Encounter Real Korea
When: September 21-22, 2024
As part of VegTO Fest, celebrate the best of sustainable Korean food, culture and tourism at Encounter Real Korea, bringing a thrilling Korean experience with four dedicated booth zones.
Mount Pleasant BIA: Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair
When: September 21, 2024
Mount Pleasant BIA hosts Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair to usher in the Fall season, so pull out your flannel and brush up on your pumpkin carving skills at this free family-friendly street fair, transforming midtown’s Mount Pleasant Road into an autumnal wonderland.
Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (LBNA): Long Branch Tree Fest
When: September 22, 2024
The Long Branch Tree Fest, at Marie Curtis Park in Etobicoke, is a family-friendly educational celebration of trees and nature with live music, local food, children’s activities, tree walks, and exhibitors.
Spadina Museum: Fall Festival
When: September 22, 2024
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!
Fall For Dance North
When: September 26 – October 6, 2024
This annual festival includes performances in a diverse range of choreographic voices and genres in venues across the city.
Fall Home Show
When: September 27-29, 2024
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!
The Word on the Street Festival
When: September 28-29, 2024
The Word On The Street Festival (WOTS) is a free open-air book and magazine festival, plus an outdoor marketplace showcasing over 100 exhibitors Canadian and Indigenous books, magazines, comics, and more for readers of all ages.
Fall Baby Show Toronto
When: September 28-29, 2024
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.
Tastes of South East Asia (SEA): Love Festival
When: September 28-29, 2024
Tastes of South East Asia (SEA) hosts the Love Festival at Celebration Square in Mississauga, featuring art, culture, and cuisine.
Markham Museum: AppleFest
When: September 28, 2024
Markham Museum presents AppleFest with local businesses, skilled artisans, and engaging activities for the whole family to enjoy, including fresh apple cider making.
Aga Khan Museum: EnlighTEN x Global Toronto Music Festival
When: September 28-29, 2024
Join the Aga Khan Museum for the EnlighTEN x Global Toronto Music Festival, a weekend of cultural festivities, family activities, music, food, and more.
Night Market Toronto: Harvest Festival
When: September 28 — October 13, 2024
Night Market Toronto hosts Mississauga’s 4th annual Harvest Fest, inviting families to enjoy some memorable Fall moments, with free admission.
Toronto Garlic Festival
When: September 29, 2024
Dupont by the Castle BIA hosts the Toronto Garlic Festival, a full-day celebration of this fabulously fragrant member of the onion family!
Nuit Blanche
When: October 5, 2024
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.
Historic Fort Willow Conservation Area: Festival at the Fort
When: October 5, 2024
The Historic Fort Willow Conservation Area, west of Barrie, lets families experience what life was like before and after European contact.
Ball’s Falls Conservation Area: Thanksgiving Festival
When: October 11-14, 2024
Enjoy the beauty of the Niagara Escarpment at Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival, with food and drink, kid’s entertainment and nature hikes.
PumpkinFest Toronto
When: October 11-14, 2024
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.
Bala Cranberry Festival
When: October 18-20, 2024
Located in the Muskoka region, the Bala Cranberry Festival celebrates Fall with a crafts show, entertainment and cranberry marsh visits.
Bayview Leaside BIA: Applefest
When: October 19, 2024
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.
Ontario’s Legislative: Queen’s Park Fall Festival
When: October 19, 2024
Ontario’s Legislative Building hosts the Queen’s Park Fall Festival, with self-guided tours, pumpkin patch, and fall-themed activities for kids.
Oktoberfest Muskoka
When: October 25-26, 2024
Immerse yourself in the tastes and sounds of the free Oktoberfest Muskoka festival with music, food and beer at participating breweries and restaurants across Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Lake of Bays and Muskoka Lakes.
The Kingsway BIA: Pumpkinfest
When: October 26, 2024
The Kingsway is celebrating Halloween with Pumpkinfest, with pumpkin decorating and costume contests, trick-or-treating, crafts and more.
Variety Village: Halloween Food Truck Festival
When: October 26-27, 2024
Variety Village hosts their annual Halloween Food Truck Festival, with food and drink, kid-friendly activities and live entertainment.
Bradley Museum: Halloween Harvest Festival
When: October 26-27, 2024
Bradley Museum in Mississauga invites families to put on costumes and participate in old-fashioned Halloween and harvest traditions with on-site activities.
Aga Khan Museum: Aga Khan Park Fall Fair
When: October 27, 2024
Aga Khan Museum hosts a Fall Fair with outdoor activities at the Aga Khan Park and indoors in the museum atrium, including face painting, hay bale photo station, outdoor board games, pop-up performances, arts and crafts, and more.
Markham Museum: ScaryFest
When: October 27, 2024
Join the Markham Museum for spooktacular Halloween fun to enjoy crafts, games, a Monster Mash dance party, and more!
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
When: November 1-10, 2024
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the largest indoor agricultural and equestrian event in the world, returning to Exhibition Place.
Evergreen Brickworks: Good Mourning Festival
When: November 2-3, 2024
Celebrate Día de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead), a Latin American holiday where people welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives, including an explosion of colour and activities for both children and adults, plus shopping and delicious food and drink.
FOLD Kids Book Fest
When: November 5-9, 2024
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.
Tkaronto Music Festival & Indigenous Vendor Market
When: November 7-9, 2024
Tkaronto Music Festival features concerts at the legendary Massey Hall in downtown Tkaronto, as well as the TKMF Vendor Market to support Indigenous artisans.
The National Women’s Show
When: November 8-10, 2024
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.
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
When: November 13-24, 2024
Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival, the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema.
Aga Khan Museum: Duende Flamenco Festival
When: November 14-17, 2024
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.
Mississauga Comic Expo (MCX)
When: November 15-16, 2024
Mississauga Comic Expo features an artist alley, exhibitors, workshops, panels, cosplay, tabletop board game demonstrations, video game free-play session, presentations and featured guests. All programs are first come first serve, plus admission is free!
Brampton Winter Lights Festival
When: November 15-16, 2024
The City of Brampton kicks off the holiday season with the Winter Lights Festival in Downtown Brampton, with free family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy!
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
When: Starts November 16, 2024
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights is Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival, so get your fill of sparkle and good cheer!
Native Earth Performing Arts: Weesageechak Begins to Dance
When: November 21 — December 1, 2024
Native Earth Performing Arts presents Weesageechak Begins to Dance, an annual development festival of Indigenous work, which brings creators from across Turtle Island together to showcase their art.
Burlington Festival of Lights
When: November 29, 2024 — January 8, 2025
An annual tradition, the free Burlington Festival of Lights brighten up Burlington’s waterfront once again this holiday season.
Regent Park Film Festival
When: November 28 — December 1, 2024
When: Toronto’s longest-running free film festival, the 22nd Annual Regent Park Film Festival strives to amplify marginalized communities and their stories.
Spooktacular Halloween Event Guide For Toronto and the GTA
Whatever your flavour, have a treat with our scare-ific, freak-alicious Spooktacular Halloween Event Guide for Toronto and the GTA.
Guide to the Best Neighbourhood and BIA Halloween Events in Toronto
Spend Halloween with pumpkin giveaways, parties, ghost walks and more in our list of Neighbourhood and BIA Halloween Events in Toronto.
Guide to the Best Diwali Events in Toronto and the GTA
Get ready for Diwali, the festival of lights! At events across the region, you can brighten the night with fireworks, music, food and vibrant colours, so celebrate with our Guide to the Best Diwali Events in Toronto and the GTA.
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.
Guide to the Best Oktoberfest Family Events in Southern Ontario
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 the Best Apple Picking Farms in Southern Ontario
Earn your apple pie while also having a fun outdoorsy day out by picking your own fruit with our Guide to the Best Apple Picking Farms in Southern Ontario.
Guide to the Best Sunflower Farms in Southern Ontario
Wander through sunflower fields to feel at one with nature and take plenty of selfies with our Guide to the Best Sunflower Farms in Southern Ontario.
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 Fall Craft Markets in Toronto and the GTA
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.
Celebrate life in the GTA with our full list of Festivals in Toronto and surrounding areas here!
