Your ultimate guide to fall fun in the National Capital Region

It’s time to say so long to the sweltering days of summer and hello to fall’s golden leaves, strolls along the Rideau Canal and delicious pumpkin baked goods from Strawberry Blonde Bakery. To help you enjoy everything this season has to offer, we’ve curated a list of fun fall activities happening around the National Capital Region.  

From art exhibits to food festivals and outdoor adventures, with this guide in hand, every day can be as fun as jumping into a pile of freshly raked leaves (without the mess, of course).

Sing along at a concert 

• Dermot Kennedy | October 13 | Canadian Tire Centre – Soulful lyrics, golden vocals and an unforgettable sound—that's what you’re in for when Kennedy hits the stage to perform songs from his latest album, Sonder. ‍
• Bruce Springsteen | November 18 | Canadian Tire Centre – Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see “The Boss” perform his classic hits live on his first North American tour since 2016.   ‍
• KISS | November 21 | Canadian Tire Centre - If you want to rock and roll all night and party every day, make sure you have tickets to see these hard rock icons take the stage on their farewell tour.  ‍
• The Jonas Brothers | November 29 | Canadian Tire Centre – Join the Jonas Brothers for a memorable night in Ottawa, where they'll perform top hits spanning five albums.

Go to a CFL game  

In terms of fall faves, cheering on your local football team is right up there with pumpkin spice lattes. The crisp autumn air, fans bundled up in team colours and high-stakes games make for an unforgettable experience. Whether you're a football fanatic or just looking for a fun outing with friends, make sure you’re decked out in red and black to show your Redblacks pride. View the full schedule here.  

Attend a food festival 

• Oktoberfest | October 13 | ByWard Market – Get ready to celebrate the spirit of Oktoberfest with friends and family. Indulge in traditional German foods like mouthwatering bratwursts and pretzels while sipping on ice-cold beers.  
• Poutinefest on Sparks | Oct 12-15 | Sparks Street – Don’t miss the graviest, cheeziest weekend in Ottawa! Enjoy an array of unique toppings when you visit the biggest gathering of poutine vendors in the city.

Catch a laugh 

• CBC’s The Debaters | October 24 & 25 | Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe – Laugh along as this hit Canadian comedy radio show, where comics go toe-to-toe in a battle of laughs and logic, takes the stage for an engaging event that’s part stand-up, part quiz show, and part comedy competition, with the live audience picking the winners.   ‍
• Just for Laughs | November 7 | Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe – You’re guaranteed to have a good old-fashioned Canadian chuckle with host Roy Wood Jr. (The Daily Show) and an incredible line-up of hilarious comedians including Lebanese Canadian comedian Malik Elassal, Critics Choice Award nominee Joyelle Nicole Johnson and Just for Laughs Festival favourite Arthur Simeon.‍
• Letterkenny Presents: A Night of Stand-up Comedy | November 18 | Algonquin Commons Theatre – Enjoy a night of classic Canadian stand-up comedy featuring four comedians from the popular award-winning Crave and Hulu Original series Letterkenny.

Meet your favourite author 

• The Bone Hacker with Kathy Reichs | October 16 | St. John the Evangelist – You won’t want to miss seeing #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs discuss her twenty-second high-stakes thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.  ‍
• Between the Pages: An Evening with the Scotiabank Giller Prize Finalists | October 18 | National Gallery of Canada – Spend an evening with the Scotiabank Giller Prize Finalists as they share more about their creative lives. ‍
• Becoming a Matriarch with Helen Knott | October 25 | Christ Church Cathedral – Join this unforgettable conversation between Shelagh Rogers and Helen Knott as they discuss a range of Knott’s works, from her debut memoir, In My Own Moccasins, to her highly anticipated second book, Becoming a Matriarch.  ‍
• Moon of the Turning Leaves with Waubgeshig Rice | October 26 | Christ Church Cathedral – Join host, Carleton University’s Adrian Harewood for a conversation with author Waubgeshig Rice about his hotly anticipated new novel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, which returns readers to the world first explored in his breakout bestseller, Moon of the Crusted Snow.  

Enjoy an art exhibit  

• City in Flames: Ten Fires that (Re)shaped Ottawa | Until April 7, 2024 | Bytown Museum – Discover how fire has forged this city at this exhibit, which explores ten historic fires that influenced development, brought tragedy and changed lives in the National Capital Region.  
• Deanna Bowen: The Black Canadians (After Cookie) | Until August 2024 | National Gallery of Canada – Explore the complex history of colonialism, the trade of enslaved peoples and Black migration through the lens of Deanna Bowen’s own family’s experiences. This exhibit restores generations of voices in a thought-provoking commentary on the enduring impact of prevailing cultural norms.  

Delight in a theatre performance 

• The Best of Broadway with the NAC Orchestra | October 5-7 | National Arts Centre – Give your regards to Broadway at this special event. Sing along as Jack Everly and the NAC Orchestra bring up the lights on Broadway’s best music—all the “hot-cha” and jazz-hands hits from the greatest Broadway musicals.  ‍
• Hairspray | November 14-19 | National Arts Centre – Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon is back on tour! This is your chance to join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960’s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show.  ‍
• Marry Poppins the Broadway Musical | November 17-26 | Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe – Remember that “anything can happen” when this classic family-favourite story from P.L. Travers comes to life on the stage. Spend an autumn evening with the nanny who has charmed people across the world with her life lessons since 1934.

Spend time outdoors 

• Harvest Festival | October 8 | Watson’s Mill – Plan a day that’s fun for the whole family with tours of the grounds, a scavenger hunt, games, crafts and everyone’s favourite—horse and wagon rides!
• Pumpkin Fest | Until October 29 | Proulx Farm – Bring your ghouls and goblins (and a picnic!) for a day of festive fun at Proulx Farm, which has transformed into a giant Halloween playground.  
• Enjoy an autumnal hike at Pink Lake Trail – Head out for a brisk fall walk along Pink Lake—one of only twelve meromictic lakes in Canada (i.e., lakes whose layers of water don’t intermix). Walk along the three-season trail and stop at the lookout to take in this rare sight.  
• Take in the fall foliage from Foley Mountain – Get your fill of fall colours high atop a granite ridge overlooking the historic Upper Rideau waterway and Village of Westport. Enjoy the scenic lookout, hiking trails and picnic areas.

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