While Ottawa is an incredible place to live all year round, the fall months bring a particular charm to the city and surrounding communities. From exploring the great outdoors to attending community events and other seasonal festivities, autumn in the Capital Region is full of life, culture and natural beauty.

Ottawa is our home. As proud locals, we love giving recommendations about the area! Here are a few of our fall-focused reasons why you should consider moving to the Capital Region. 

Scenic Lookouts

One of the best parts of fall in Ottawa is the scenery. As the leaves change, new colours bring life to the river valley, local neighbourhoods and surrounding landscape. Around the Capital Region, you’ll find some incredible lookouts to soak in the scenic fall atmosphere. Pinhey’s Point, Mer Bleue Conservation Area, Rideau Falls Park, and Watson’s Mill are all local favourites.  

Saunders Farm

Located in the cozy village of Munster, Saunders Farm is a 100-acre, family-run farm with plenty of seasonal activities. Their famous “Pumpkin Days” festival has been a local tradition for over 30 years! Festival highlights include the farm’s large pumpkin patch, fall parade, puppet shows, 5 hedge mazes, and much more! They also have scenic pumpkin patch hayrides and haunted hayrides featuring spooky ghost stories.

Saunders Farm also hosts the popular annual Fright Fest. Not for the faint of heart, Fright Fest features multiple haunted attractions, street theatre, and tasty food from local vendors.

Festival Franco-Ontarien

One of the largest francophone community celebrations in Canada, Festival Franco-Ontarien (FFO) is an annual fall event recognizing the unique cultural and historical contributions of french-speaking Ontarians. Hosted at Major’s Hill Park, the 3-day festival features a variety of culture-rich performances from musicians, DJs and magicians. For kids, FFO’s “School Morning” event is a fun and educational program that addresses topics of emotions, social adversity and conflict resolution. 

Looking for more local lifestyle recommendations? Check out these blog posts.  

• Shop Local: Manotick Gift Guide
• Our Favourite Ottawa Vegan Restaurants
• Enjoying Winter Like an Ottawa Local

Miller’s Farm

Nestled just south of Manotick, about 35 minutes from downtown Ottawa you’ll find Miller’s Farm – a quaint, family-run farm and market bustling with activities. During the fall months, visitors can enjoy tractor wagon rides, a corn maze, and the “pick your own” pumpkin patch! Miller’s is the perfect destination for a family outing or even an afternoon date! 

After enjoying the on-site activities, head over to their market where you can buy fresh, local produce grown right there on the farm! Admission is always free of charge and there is plenty of parking too! 

Manotick Harvest Festival 

As one of the Capital region’s most naturally scenic communities, fall in Manotick is something special. As the leaves change colour, simply taking a walk along the Rideau River can transport you into a stunning autumn paradise!

The Manotick Harvest Festival, which occurs on the first Saturday of October, is a fun-filled community celebration of the season. Located at the historic Watson’s Mill, the festival features local entertainment, pumpkin painting, artistic displays, and a variety of children’s activities. 

Thinking about relocating to the Capital Region? Explore these helpful resources from our blog first. 

• 5 Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent When Relocating
• Our Handy Relocation Checklist: Everything You Need For Your Move
• Real Estate in Ontario is Changing. Here’s What You Need to Know

Haunted Walks 

For fans of thrills (and chills!), fall in Ottawa has a variety of Halloween-themed walking tours and haunted experiences to enjoy. 

Created by the team at Saunders Farm, the Sawmill at Lansdowne is a one-of-a-kind haunted walk experience in which guests tour the site of an old sawmill, encountering live actors and spooky scenery. The walk concludes with a live outdoor theatre performance. This one is certainly not for the faint of heart, but can be lots of fun if that’s your kind of thing. 

Walking tours of historical “haunted Ottawa” is also a popular fall tradition with locals and tourists. Tours from The Haunted Walk visit a variety of historical sites in the city, sharing chilling stories and legends along the way. Of course, if you prefer traditional history, non-haunted tours of Canada’s political centre are available too. 

Considering a move to Ottawa? As experienced real estate agents who proudly call greater Ottawa our home, we can help! Contact us today.