Fall Festivals in Canada for kids of all ages

 Canada has many festivals to celebrate the best time of the year. Here are a few that children of all ages can enjoy. At the end of a humidity soaked summer, many Canadians love nothing more than to get out and celebrate the new crispness in the air at a fabulous fall festival. If you love to slip on a sweater and experience some autumn excitement, consider checking out one [or more!] of these top Canadian fall festivals.

Tremblant Symphony of Colours.
Quebec's Mont Tremblant comes alive in autumn with the sounds and excitement of the Tremblant Symphony of Colours. Set amid the glorious fall foliage of the Laurentian Mountain region, the festival runs Saturdays and Sundays in September through the first week of October and features fall concerts in the pedestrian village at Tremblant.

Numerous musical acts play free of charge. The other activities at Mont Tremblant, such as sports, hiking, shopping, and dining, are all available as part of the experience.

Kitchener/Waterloo Oktoberfest

Each October, Ontario boasts what is billed as 'Canada's Greatest Bavarian Festival.' The Kitchener/Waterloo Oktoberfest is a full nine days of German-themed fun boasting over 40 family and cultural events, including a Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Events range from live music, fashion, German culture, sports and family-oriented events [there are too many celebrations to list!]. Visit one of the 15 Festhallens to experience the music, dancing, traditional food (think sausage and schnitzel), and of course, beer! Roll out the barrel!

Niagara Wine Festival

The Niagara Wine Festival boasts over 100 events throughout its nine-day duration. On offer are tours of wineries, wine tasting (with culinary pairings!), seminars, concerts, live entertainment and even a big parade! The main site of the festival is historic Montebello Park in St. Catharines, Ont.

Those with a Discovery Pass will be able to experience the Niagara Wine Route, which includes stops at six Niagara wineries offering up VQA wine and culinary samples on the two weekends of the festival!

 Celtic Colours Festival

The Celtic Colours Festival is held for nine days in October on Cape Breton Island, N.S., in celebration of the area's living Celtic culture. Hundreds of Celtic musicians have performed at this festival since its inception in 1997. Throughout the festival, numerous concerts are held all over the island along with art exhibitions and workshops. Dancers, singers and storytellers descend on the Cape Breton area from all over the world.

Uniquely, the festival is spread throughout different communities on the island, so travellers move from place-to-place at the best time of the year for experiencing the blazing fall colours. Don't miss Festival Club, which is held each night after the evening concerts wind down. Artists come together, the bar stays open until 3 a.m., and the music continues until late in the morning!

 

Okanagan Wine Festival

The Okanagan Valley in British Columbia is - along with the Niagara Wine Region - one of the biggest producers of wine in Canada. For 10 days in early October, this region - with its scenic setting amongst lakes and mountains - celebrates the fall grape harvest with events focusing on wine, food and culture.

 

Pumpkinfest

Every October, the town of Wellington in Prince Edward County celebrates the fall season by seeking out the biggest pumpkin. Other highlights include a parade, contests, games, food and entertainment.

 

TASTE! A Celebration of Regional Cuisine

TASTE! is an annual one-day wine and culinary event in Prince Edward County , Ontario. This region's reputation as a producer of fine foods and wines has been growing steadily since the 1990's and TASTE! gives visitors a chance to see what all the fuss is about.

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest celebrations take place all over Canada - especially where there have been large German settlements - but the biggest Oktoberfest in North America takes place in Kitchener-Waterloo. This Bavarian event includes not just beer guzzling but dozens of family-friendly events, music and a Canadian Thanksgiving Day parade.

Nuit Blanche

Toronto joins in on the Nuit Blanche tradition in which cities across the globe stage all night cultural events. The Toronto Nuit Blanche sees over 150 engaging, amusing, thought provoking or downright wacky contemporary art projects installed across the city. Toronto Nuit Blanche takes place from dusk till dawn on either the last Saturday of September or the first one in October.

Maritime Fall Fair, Halifax:

The Maritime Fall Fair is open at Exhibition Park in Halifax from Oct. 6 to 10, attracting residents from across eastern Canada and promoting regional agriculture through a variety of exhibitions, a rodeo, equestrian events, arts and crafts, and horse pulls. (courtesy Maritime Fall Fair)

Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival

From August 31st to September 3rd, colourful balloons fill the Gatineau sky. Over 80 hot air balloons in a variety of shapes and sizes invite guests to view the region from a unique vantage point. Apart from balloon competitions, visit the local artisan market, attend a kite show, enjoy musical entertainment and don’t miss the night show when illuminated balloons light up the sky in an amazing musically choreographed performance.