Believe it or not, Prince Edward County looks even more magical when the leaves begin to change. We want you to feel that special magic so we have put together a list of 11 fall activities you can take part in!
1. Harvest Season
Before the ground begins to freeze you may want to stock up on locally grown fruits and veggies, so we found a few of the best local county farms to help you fill your fridge for the colder months.
Campbells Orchards & Country Market – Rednersville, ON
This family-friendly farm is celebrating their 50th anniversary and offers a vast amount of sweet and savoury goodies including pick-your-own apples, pumpkins (all you can carry for $20), tomatoes and field veggies. Bring the family and your friends to enjoy some freshly baked goods, a run through the corn maze, lunch, hard cider, kids playground, animal petting area, wagon rides and more!
Danforth Acres – Hillier, ON
If solitude is more your style, you should take a peek at the Danforth Acres County farm stand. True to the farm life, you can take your pick of the fresh vegetables and fruit (including potatoes, peas, kale) and leave your cash in the box! This is the epitome of country living.
Honey Wagon Farms – Picton, ON
Organic, clean and fresh. Honey Wagon Farms puts their ripened squash and pumpkins on display for farm-goers to enjoy while offering their renowned maple syrup anytime of the year.
Laundry Farms – Picton, ON
You won’t find a more fall-themed farm then Laundry Farms, with apples, corn on the cob and scrumptious pumpkins ready for purchase all year round.
Creasy’s Apple Dabble Farm – Waupoos, ON
Pie, tarts, turnovers, squares, caramel covered, or just plan red – you can’t get enough of the apples over at Creasy’s Apple Farm. Pick-your-own batch or grab a bag of pre-plucked rubies!
Chetwyn Farms
This active working farm welcomes visitors from all over the world, while hosting tours, workshops and events. See alpacas in action – and explore the SHED at Chetwyn Farms, an on-site, pop-up shop housed in a former chicken coop, that has been lovingly and sustainably renovated into an upscale, unique shop. Find alpaca accessories, throws, locally-spun yarns and hand-made here – all while watching the alpacas in nearby paddocks. Watch here for wellness programming, unique experiences like picnic lunches, alpaca meet and greets, and even farm stays!
2. The Culinary Scene
Tempt your taste buds by celebrating local food during harvest time in Prince Edward County!
Relish the harvest with County events to experience the beauty in bounty first-hand. TASTE community grown is one of Prince Edward County’s most anticipated wine and culinary day-long festivals – as well as offering the best of local food and drink under one roof. Think farm stands meet comfort food; beer meets wine; live entertainment meets shopping – and more than 50 vendors meet hundreds of guests all taking place in the unique venue of an airplane hangar.
In addition, Fall Countylicious sees County chefs craft menus inspired by ingredients found in our own backyard. Each of the participating restaurants put together new menus featuring local ingredients!
3. Wineries Galore
Sip award-winning wines while relishing that last bit of warm sunshine that only fall can make you savour! From the novice wine enthusiast to the wine pro, Prince Edward County has an unforgettable experience for you. Discover the rich history, learn how the grapes grow here and delve deeper into the world of wine while you tour some of the best wineries in Prince Edward County. If you tour throughout the week from Monday to Thursday you can save big until Nov. 28 with PEC Wine Tours!
Immerse yourself into the beauty that is Prince Edward County this November by joining your best friends in a special weekend hosted by Closson Chase Vineyards and Rosehall Run Vineyards. First, check into your stunning room at the Huff Estates Inn, enjoy chef-prepared meals and finish your evening by enjoying incredible wines and listening to live country music.
READ ALSO: 28 Wineries In South Eastern Ontario
4. Beach Strolls
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Known in the summer for its beautiful sand and bright blue beach, Sandbanks Provincial Park isn’t just for the hot months. With two beautiful hiking trails, fantastic flora can be seen for miles as you adventure around the dunes. On the plus side, you won’t have to worry about the crowd as the beach is pretty empty at this time of year.
North Beach Provincial Park
Despite the lower temperature, many will agree that there is something romantic about autumn. We suggest taking your special someone on a one-kilometre walk that follows the shores of Lake Ontario as the sun sets at this stunning day-time beach. Watch the sunset over the chilling water and experience the beautiful orange, red and yellow hues that reflect from the dusk.
5. Fall Migration
Birders beware: this gem will leave you wanting to come back! Visiting the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory in fall is an exciting and hands-on County destination. A migration monitoring station that was established almost 25 years ago, the observatory is the caretaker for the Prince Edward County South Shore Important Bird Area. This banding site is located along a major migratory route and is a focus for passerines, waterfowl and raptors with yearly reports of rare and unusual species. The best part? The observatory is open to the public!
This season, the Observatory is offering guided bird walks and Saw-whet Owl Banding on certain nights throughout October. These owls are typically hard to spot; they’re tiny, with an oversized head and round, bright yellow eyes. But see them here during special night events and be a part of the banding! The events are free, but do require pre-registration.
6. Cycling
Bikers from around the world have raved about the delightful cycling tails in the Prince Edward County. From the beautiful hills to the lakeside trails, there’s so much beauty to take in!
The Millennium Trail
Forty-nine kilometers of forest, fields, creeks and a variety of wildlife. Starting in Carrying Place and ending in Picton, you can ride along and take in the vast landscapes including farmland, creeks, swamps and forests. In the fall-time, keep an eye out for burrowing animals and falling leaves as you pedal through this picture-perfect trail. The trail recently had a face-lift thanks to local volunteers – expect wider lanes, compact gravel and kilometer markers. Take a look at this blog post by our friends at Visit The County on everything you need to know about The Millennium Trail.
The County Wine Tours
Wine and cycling? Who would have thought? You can take a full-day, guided tour (by cycling or driving) through some of the top wineries in the Prince Edward County. Taste over 12 types of wine, stop at a Lavender farm and meet some alpaca’s while you “Sip & Cycle” with The County Wine Tours!
Here’s A Couple Places To Rent Bikes
PEDEGO: Electric bikes for rent right at the Millennium trail in Bloomfield:
County Bike Rentals: Drop off and pick up service anywhere in The County
7. Fall Colour Drives
We know you work hard, and sometimes you just want to get lost for a day and free your mind. Simplicity is best and nothing frees your mind and spirit like a relaxing road trip through a scenic route. We recommend taking a drive through Picton’s stunning route from The Loyalist Parkway, to Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park, through Waupoos, all the way into the South Shore over to Sandbanks Provincial Park. Or drive north through rural roads in Sophiasburgh and Ameliasburgh by orchards, the Bay of Quinte and stunning barns all the way over to Sandbanks Provincial Park.
Grab your camera and catch some great shots of the beautiful red and orange falling leaves with the stunning backdrop of Lake Ontario. If you get hungry or thirsty, stop at one of the many fantastic local eateries.
8. The Arts Of The County
Meet the artisans, take part in an in-studio workshop or browse the beautiful galleries. There is no shortage of art to explore in The County. Have a look at the general arts scene in The County which includes the art trails and studio tours.
9. Local Festivals
Join in on the fun at the twelfth annual Scarecrow Festival hosted by The Department of Illumination! Make your Thanksgiving weekend extra special by creating your own scarecrow. Whether you decide to create them to be sweet or scary, all your proceeds go towards fundraising for a more sustainable future in PEC.
The festivities are back in action with the Wellington Parade at the Prince Edward County Pumpkinfest, day of fun and activities and the big pumpkin and vegetable weigh-off!
10. A Night on the Town
Ladies, it’s your time to shine! Join your gal pals for a night of laughter at The Regent Theatre in The County. With a lineup of hilarious female comedians including CBC darlings, Jennine Profeta, Elvira Kurt and Karen Parker, you’ll be cry-laughing the night away.
11. Christmastime Magic
Get ready for the holidays before the rush! Enjoy free admission to the 12 Days of Christmas Market and Sale hosted by The Local Store in The County. You can shop ‘til you drop with over 120 local artists, farmers, foodies and plenty of unique gifts and decorations to choose from.
Who doesn’t enjoy holiday shopping? If you love a bit of Christmas spirit then mark your calendar for the last weekend of November in The County! With plenty of vendors to pursue you can find beautiful and unique decorations and gifts that will impress and inspire your family and friends this holiday season.
Edited & Updated By Rosanne Lake and Lindsay Medeiros
