Fun in the Bay of Quinte doesn’t wrap up when summer ends. Fall brings crisp mornings, colourful leaves, and all things apple and pumpkin and October is one of the best times to explore the Bay of Quinte. There’s fall colours, apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, farmers’ markets and seasonal events happening across the region. Hit the trails for fall colours, take in some local history at a museum, or warm up at a cozy cafe. Our Fall Bucket List has 23 ways to make the season memorable, with things to do across Greater Napanee, Kenhtè:ke (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory), Belleville, Quinte West and Brighton.
Go Apple Picking at an Orchard
The Bay of Quinte region is full of apple orchards where you can get that crunchy, sweet fall fix. Many of them offer pick-your-own apples, just be sure to check in to see what’s available before your visit.
Pick the Perfect Pumpkin From the Patch
Speaking of pick-your-own fall festivities, BoQ also has some great pumpkin patches (catch the Charlie Brown reference?). The classic fall décor awaits you at one of these farms. Happy Carving!
Get Lost in a Corn Maze
You can’t visit one of these orchards without taking part in this favourite fall activity! Don’t miss the Australian Outback Adventure themed corn mazes at Wynn Farms this year (yes, two mazes with one at the main orchard and one at the flower farm down the road) with puzzles to solve along the way.
Festivals, Live Music and Events
From festivals to artisan markets, live music to cultural events and everything in between, our events calendar is your go-to guide for what’s happening in the BoQ all summer long. A few big standout events include:
- Brighton Applefest – September 24-27
- Porchfest Belleville – September 26
- Greater Napanee Connect’s Guitars N’ Cars – September 26
- Downtown Trenton’s Roper Romp – October 1
- Downtown Belleville’s Savour the Flavour
Click the button below to access our events calendar for a full listing.
Take a Hike to View Fall Colours
If you only get out to one this season, we recommend going to Sager Conservation Area in Quinte West for the ultimate panoramic view of the fall colours from the 30 foot-tall lookout tower, as pictured.
Shop for Locally Grown Produce at a Farmers’ Market
If you’re looking for some fresh fall produce or baked goods, you’re in the right region. Stock up on squash, sweet potato, and pumpkin to make some delish seasonal dishes or get busy making soup to last you through the winter. Please check individual market operating hours/season through the links below.
Go on a Guided Horseback Trail Ride
Go on a guided horseback trail ride through the forest at one of these locations in Quinte West. They can accommodate beginner and novice riders as they will take the time to get you comfortable with your horse and teach you how to start, stop and steer.
Farms Visits With Alpacas
Connect with these cozy, gentle animals and learn about how their wool is used. Fall foliage adds the picture-perfect backdrop to a farm visit.
Alpaca Ridge Farm in Belleville is open by appointment only until late November for farm tours and trail walks. Before you go, visit their farm store stocked with alpaca yarn, insoles, hats, mitts, socks, sweaters and blankets. Book by calling 705-928-6773.
Hickory Lane Alpacas in Greater Napanee is open for farm visits 11 am–3 pm, year-round from Wednesday to Sunday, by appointment only and by donation. They also have a whole crew of farm animals beyond the alpacas! Give them a call at 613-354-1480 to book your visit.
Observe the Fall Bird Migration at Presqu’ile Provincial Park
Presqu’ile Provincial Park in Brighton is one of Ontario’s birding hotspots, with over 330 species recorded. The park’s geography on the edge of Lake Ontario makes it an ideal resting spot for migration in the spring and fall. Fall migration can run from mid-August to mid-October for small birds and into early November for shorebirds and waterfowl.
Visitors to the park will have to pay the day-use fee if they don’t have an Ontario Parks pass.
Feed Goats on the Roof at Loyalist Trading Co.
Loyalist Trading Co. in Greater Napanee is a general store in a building dating back to the 1800s, selling gourmet food items, Canadian-made artisan items, ice cream and treats. Their resident goats are often roaming around on the rooftop to greet you as you enter. Just don’t forget to bring your quarters so you can buy food and send it up the feeding wheel to them.
Pro tip: Hickory Lane Alpacas, Spring Meadow Orchards, and Wynn Farms are all along the Loyalist Parkway, so you can add this spot to your fall drive!
Play a Round of Fall Golf
Fall brings some of the best golf weather with crisp sunny mornings, cooler days and changing leaves lining the fairways.
The region boasts 12 courses in total, including the “Big Four”: Black Bear Ridge (one of Score Golf’s Top 59 courses in Canada), Trillium Wood (a Golfer’s Choice top hidden gem), Timber Ridge (voted 10th best value course in Canada by Score Golf), and Bay of Quinte Golf Club, now expanded to 27 holes and also home to Nineteen Restaurant.
Learn Something New at a Museum
The return of fall inevitably leads to some cooler, rainier days that aren’t always as enjoyable outdoors. When the weather is dreary and we’re looking for something to do, we turn to one of our local museums for a day spent warm and dry learning new things.
Need more rainy day activities? Click here for our full guide.
Check Out Local Art Galleries
The BoQ is bursting with talented artists, and we’re lucky to be able to admire their work at local galleries, many of which change their exhibits seasonally. Presqu’ile Waddling Arts Centre even has regular workshops so you can create your own piece of art.
Cheer on a BoQ Hockey Team
Grab your favourite team jersey and get ready for a good ol’ hockey game when the season returns! Don’t miss the Belleville Senators Hockey Weekend in Quinte during the games on November 14 and 15, recognizing key members of the community who continue to grow the game in our region and highlighting big moments from past eras.
Explore the Bay of Quinte by Bike
The cooler mornings and warm, sunny days that come with fall are ideal for exploring the BoQ by bike. Take a leisurely cruise along waterfront trails within city limits, or get adventurous on gravel routes from bayofquinte.bike and mountain bike trails at Batawa Ski Hill.
Homestead Adventure Park
Homestead Adventure Park is located just off Highway 401 in Quinte West, offering a high ropes course, mini golf and remote control boats. Stop by Curley’s Fries and Ice Cream for a treat before you leave!
Try Geocaching: A Real-Life Treasure Hunt
Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt where you use GPS to find hidden containers, sign the logbook, and maybe swap a trinket. It’s a fun way to explore the Bay of Quinte—and we’ve added five new BoQ geocaches to the mix of plenty already hidden across the region.
Get Cozy at a Cafe
Our local cafes serve up a variety of hot beverages from drip coffee to herbal teas and pumpkin spices lattes to accompany the crisp chill in the air. Sweater weather, here we come!
Use our Digital Discovery Map and click on the “Cozy Cafes” itinerary under Bay of Quinte Recommends at the top.
Sample Local Craft Beer
Meyers Creek Brewing Company is a small-batch craft brewery just outside downtown Belleville with beers that pay homage to the local community. Sit outside on their spacious patio or in the cozy taproom.
Signal Brewery sits on the Moira River in Corbyville, a neighbourhood in the north end of Belleville. Watch the wildlife from their patio along the river on a nice day, or hang out inside the red brick building that was once the distillery for J.P. Wisers.
Signal has a full kitchen offering lunch and dinner, and both breweries them often have live music.
Visit a Prince Edward County Winery
When you stay in the Bay of Quinte, Prince Edward County’s wine region is within easy reach. In addition to their great wines, our PEC winery partners feature standout food, art, scenery, and architecture that make them all unique and well worth visiting. Later in November, don’t miss PEC Wines’ annual Wassail, a festive celebration of the harvest with wine, food, songs and good cheer.
Shop in an Actual Store!
In the era of online shopping being so easy, go to a store and interact with real community members and see the products IRL. Visit the downtowns across the BoQ, where historic buildings line the streets alongside a unique mix of locally owned shops and restaurants.
Or, visit the Quinte Mall in Belleville’s north end with 125 stores and services.
Best of the Bay
This year’s Best of the Bay winners highlight the standout businesses, makers, flavours, and experiences that make our region unforgettable. Explore the top picks across every community and discover the local legends worth celebrating, like Best Pizza in Belleville, Bourbon Street Pizza, Best Home Decor in Greater Napanee, Sweet William, or the Mohawk’s of the Bay of Quinte’s Best Gift Shop, Native Renaissance.
Categories include Food & Drink, Shop or Service, Art & Culture and Regionscape.
Read the BoQ Discovery Guide
Flip to pages 30-31 of our Bay of Quinte Discovery Guide 12th Edition to check out our Open Late in the BoQ feature, highlighting places to go for sit-down service after 11 pm and grab a late bite.
PS – Did you know we have 9 Discovery Guides you can read online? Click the link below to access our Discovery Guide library.
