Fall Events in Cottage Country You Don’t Want to Miss

It’s been an exciting summer in Ontario with festivals and events returning to the calendar in 2022. However, many would say that the fun is only just beginning because Fall is one of the best times to visit Cottage Country. There are tons of exciting events and activities coming up this Fall that you don’t want to miss!

From apple festivals, music events, and celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage, it’s time to mark your calendars for some of the best fall events in Ontario happening in 2022. Planning to stay for the weekend? We have many great Ontario cottage rentals.

Bracebridge Fall Fair & Horse Show – September 16-18, 2022

For more than 150 years, the Bracebridge Fall Fair has celebrated the farm season in Muskoka. It’s a family-friendly event featuring live entertainment, attractions, and food.

Witness unique animal talents — when they’re not hard at work — with events like livestock shows, the Super Dogs Wild Woof Show, and horse shows. Place friendly bets amongst each other for the Giant Vegetable Weigh-off. Wander past vendors hawking their latest harvest from the season. Kids will get hands-on fun with pony rides, a petting zoo, and thrilling hay wagon rides.

International Plowing Match & Rural Expo – September 20-24, 2022

The wait is over, and the International Plowing Match is finally back after its two-year shutdown. More than 75,000 agriculture and rural enthusiasts are expected to attend the largest outdoor Agri-Expo in North America happening in Kempville.

The multi-day event will feature live performances by bands such as Hunter Brothers on the Main Stage in Mutual Square, or head over to the RV Park Stage to rock out with Buckledown. Also, attend a rodeo showcase hosted by famed actress Amber Marshall and see local farmers compete in the headlining plowing competition.

Brighton Applefest – September 22-25, 2022

Applefest has been one of the most exciting events in Brighton since 1975. This annual event is back after two years to celebrate yet another successful harvest from the local apple orchards.

Join the celebration as the festival spotlights local apple farmers and other vendors. The last weekend in September is all about apples! Line the streets of Downtown Brighton for the Applefest Parade and take off at King Edward Park in a high-flying helicopter ride for an aerial view of the local orchards.

There will be plenty of freshly picked apples to go around, so stop by the friendly vendors to pick up apples and other apple-related treats.

Highway 401 Bluesfest – September 22-24, 2022

The sounds of melodic guitars, heart-throbbing drum kicks, and soothing bass licks ring throughout the Happy Green Acres Campground for the annual Highway 401 Bluesfest.

It’s a weekend-long fanfare of talented blues musicians taking the stage one after another to rock crowds of day visitors, overnight campers staying for multiple shows, and even pets. Featured acts include Sons of Rhythm, the FOG Blues & Brass Band, and Justin Saladino.

Attendees can get day passes to attend shows on a particular day or get a weekend pass for access to the entire festival!

Apples and Arts – September 24-25, 2022

The Apples and Art Studio Tour is in its 31st rendition and continues to get better every year! Visit Cornwall, Ontario as more than 80 local artists (up from 50 artists last year!) open their personal studios to showcase amazing works of art.

Cottage Country is full of artistic talent, and you’ll get to meet the very artists supporting the thriving art scene. You’re invited into their workspaces exhibiting paintings, woodwork, glass sculptures, pottery, and more.

It’s an excellent time to learn about the process of your favourite artist and even purchase some of their work to take home.

Pumpkinferno – September 30 – October 30, 2022

As the sun begins to set, Upper Canada Village and Fort Henry get illuminated with 7,000 candle-lit pumpkins for the annual Pumpkinferno event. This month-long outdoor art exhibition takes place in two locations, showcasing the artistic ingenuity of hand-carved pumpkins and art.

Pass beneath the giant pumpkin archway to kick off the magical journey through this award-winning showcase, where you’ll encounter life-sized dragons, trains, dinosaurs, and even famous artworks—all made from pumpkins! Don’t forget to dress warmly!

Screaming Heads Museum Halloween – Year-Round

Tip-toe the line between art and horror at the Screaming Heads Museum in Burk’s Falls. You’ll get chills while wandering the ground’s 310 acres, where you never know what creature or face you’ll encounter next.

Designed by Peter Camani, he’s a retired art teacher who put his lessons into practice by crafting more than 100 stone sculptures and growing every year. The famous two-headed dragon will greet you upon arriving, and the numerous wide-mouthed faces will surely spook you.

Fall is the best time to see the Halloween-themed outdoor sculpture exhibit, although it remains open throughout the year.

Haliburton Wolf Sanctuary – Year-Round

Wander in the dense Haliburton Forest, where you never know what might be lurking in the shadows. But fear not because the Haliburton Wolf Sanctuary is a family-friendly wildlife centre to get up close to these beasts this fall season.

Peer through the one-way glass in the observatory to spot members of the Western Timberwolves pack undisturbed in their natural environment. In addition, there’s tons of educational information shared by wolf experts, detailed exhibitions, and film screenings in the centre’s cinema.

It’s an activity that will indeed have you howling at the moon by the end of the night…

Thanksgiving – October 10, 2022

Mark your calendar for the second Monday in October for the annual Thanksgiving celebration. It’s time to give thanks for the harvest season with plenty of food fare for the entire table.

Thanksgiving is an excellent time to visit Cottage County. Your weekend will be filled with tons of exciting activities leading up to the Monday holiday. Spend time outdoors by checking out nearby fall foliage hotspots before returning back to your cottage rental to enjoy a feast to remember with your loved ones.

At CottageLINK Rental Management, we are committed to finding you the perfect cottage to make memories with family and friends that you will never forget! Looking to make a trip to Ontario Cottage Country this Fall or Winter and need a cottage rental? Check out our full list of rentals below or send us a message and our team is happy to provide suggestions!