Thanksgiving weekend is October 10 to 12 this year. Here is a selection of October events across Muskoka, the Kawarthas and Orillia. Dates and details are as published by each organizer at the time of writing, so check the organizer's page before you set out.
Looking for the early-October fairs? They are in the September events post.
Sandhill Nursery Fall Festival and Fall Forest of Light, Huntsville
Fall Festival: now to October 25, 1686 Aspdin Road. Free on weekdays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Advance tickets are required on weekends and Thanksgiving Monday, October 12 ($5 per person, children 12 and under free). Fall Festival tickets and hours →
Fall Forest of Light: now to October 31, Thursdays to Saturdays, 7 to 10 p.m. This is a separate evening event with its own advance tickets; a Fall Festival ticket does not include entry. Forest of Light tickets →
Cranberry Harvest at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, Bala
Now to October 25, daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 1074 Cranberry Road. The store is free to visit; the farm's activities, including wagon tours, wine tasting (19 and over) and the cranberry plunge, are paid, and the farm recommends booking online. It is a working farm, activities are booked in advance, and weekends often sell out, so plan ahead. Cranberry Harvest details and booking →
Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot Trail Race & Family Fun Run
Saturday, October 10, at Garnet Graham Beach Park on Cameron Lake, with a 1 km kids' run, a 5 km and a 10 km, starting at 10 a.m. Entry is online only, through the organizer's Race Roster page, and there is no race-day registration, so check the page for availability. Turkey Trot registration →
Bala Cranberry Festival
October 16 to 18, in Bala. Open Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Well-trained, leashed dogs are welcome in outdoor areas. Bala Cranberry Festival details →
Oktoberfest Muskoka
Events run through October. The OktoberBAUS BrewBus brewery tours run Saturday, October 24, with three departures. The tours are 19+. Tickets and pickup details are through the organizer. Oktoberfest Muskoka events and tickets →
Lightfoot Festival, Orillia and Coldwater
October 29 to 31, in tribute to Gordon Lightfoot. Thursday, October 29: the proclamation of Gordon Lightfoot Day at 7:25 p.m., followed by the Lightfoot Band concert at 7:30 p.m., both at the Orillia Opera House, 20 Mississaga Street West. Concert tickets are through the Opera House box office. Friday, October 30: a youth singing competition at 1 p.m. and Choir Revolution and Lightfoot Stories at 7 p.m., both at Creative Nomad Studios, 23 Mississaga Street West, Orillia. Saturday, October 31: a film screening at 2 p.m. and an all-day lineup of tribute performances at Quayle's Brewery, 4567 Line 12 North, Coldwater. Individual tickets and an all-events package are sold through the festival. Lightfoot Festival schedule and tickets → | Orillia Opera House →
Know of an October event in your town that belongs here? Send it my way and I will add it.
I have known this area my whole life and have been serving these waters since 2005. No agenda, just answers.
Bill Jackson, Sales Representative
Lake Country Real Estate Team | eXp Realty, Brokerage
Serving Simcoe County, Muskoka, Parry Sound, Kawartha Lakes & Haliburton
