a man and woman dressed in cozy flannels and scarves walk their dog on the Laurentian Skill Hill in the autumn among vibrant trees and gold grasses.

Sweater Weather in North Bay: Things To Do in October and November

Ghost stories, cozy dinners and holiday markets—here's how to make the most of the cool-weather days in North Bay.

By Northern Ontario Bigger than Texas, wilder than the west, more welcoming than a campfire in October, Northern Ontario is like no place else.

October 23, 2026

After Thanksgiving, North Bay slips into sweater weather, and it wears it well. The last bursts of colour glow along the trails at Duchesnay Falls and Laurier Woods, Lake Nipissing sparkles under crisp blue skies, and leaves dance down Main Street. The farmers’ market moves indoors for the season, and in October, ghost stories come out to play after dark at the North Bay Museum. As the nights get cooler, the city only gets cozier, and by November, twinkling lights start to brighten downtown. Grab your favourite sweater and make a weekend of it!

Chasing colour instead? Start with our guide to fall in North Bay.

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What Is There To Do in North Bay in the Fall?

Fall in North Bay is packed with things to do. Catch the last of the colour on local trails, take a haunted hike or see a horror classic on stage around Halloween, and warm up at local restaurants and craft breweries. Saturdays bring the indoor farmers’ market, and in November, the Winter Outdoor Market and independent shops make it easy to get a head start on holiday gifts.

Where To Eat and Drink in North Bay This Fall

North Bay’s restaurants range from lakefront dining on Trout Lake to Italian, Thai and farm-to-table fare downtown. Through October, Tourism North Bay’s Taste the Bay Fall Harvest Experience adds three-course prix-fixe menus built around the season at Cecil’s, Average Joe’s, Farina, Marigolds Unique Flavours and The Block.

Cozy Restaurants in North Bay

Average Joe’s Eatery + Patio is North Bay’s only year-round lakefront restaurant, reachable by land or water. Settle in and watch Trout Lake change with the season.

Farina Ristorante, inside the Best Western on Lakeshore Drive, serves sit-down Italian dinners.

The Block Public House serves farm-to-table dishes in a historic downtown building that blends old character with new.

Dave’s Green Papaya brings downtown North Bay its Thai cooking from Simone and David Seetho, who have more than 20 years in the restaurant business. A hot bowl on a cold evening is hard to beat.

Churchill’s makes for an elegant night out, with extensive wine and scotch lists.

Crossroads Convenience, in the former DeMarco’s building on Algonquin Avenue, serves seasonal comfort food and house-made soups made with local bread and Ontario meats, and regulars love the meatloaf. Pair your meal with an Ontario craft beer or bottle of wine, or take some home.

North Bay Craft Breweries

Cecil’s, downtown on Wyld Street, brews its own beer in-house and pairs it with a full kitchen. It’s an easy add-on to a downtown afternoon.

Gateway City Brewery was started by a group of friends who wanted to give their hometown local craft beer and arcade games, so there’s something to play while you sip.

Planning a longer food crawl? See Where To Eat in North Bay: Your Local Food Hit List and our guide to craft beer in Northeastern Ontario.

North Bay Ghost Tours, Haunted History and Spooky Season Events

The North Bay Museum sits in the former Canadian Pacific Railway station, built in 1903, and some of the city’s best-known ghost stories begin inside its walls—including reported sightings in the building itself. On Friday evenings in October, the museum’s 60-minute Haunted Hike starts at the museum and heads downtown, past the old Arcadian Grill and along Main Street to the North Bay Courthouse, mixing ghost tales with true crime and local history. The tour is fully accessible with no stairs and is suited to ages 10 and up. Tours sell out, so book early, or contact the museum to ask about other dates.

Prefer your scares on stage? During Fright Week at the Capitol Centre, October 29–31, each night brings a different stand-alone horror classic: “Frankenstein,” “The Wolf Man” and “Dracula.”

For pumpkin patch fun before Halloween, head to Leisure Farms in nearby Sturgeon Falls, where ticketed weekend activities wrap up for the season on October 24, 25 and 31. The farm is also open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for pumpkin sales, and no ticket is needed for its bakery.

On Halloween itself, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Maker’s Market hosts its free, family-friendly Tricks & Treats Halloween Market, with vendor-to-vendor trick-or-treating, Halloween goodies, music, kids’ activities and a magic show. Costumes are encouraged.

For more of the city’s ghost stories, read Is Downtown North Bay Haunted? Find Out if You Dare… and Paranormal Places: Northeastern Ontario’s Haunted Hotspots.

When Is the North Bay Farmers’ Market Open in the Fall?

From October to May, the North Bay Farmers’ Market moves indoors to the Kennedy Building at 222 McIntyre Street West, open Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Expect seasonal food alongside handmade gifts from local artisans and crafters, including Leisure Farms, which joins the market for the winter. It’s a good place to stock up on snacks for the drive home and get a head start on your gift list.

Where To Shop Local in North Bay in November

By November, fall in North Bay starts leaning toward the holidays. On Saturday evenings, November 7, 14 and 21, from 4 to 8 p.m., the Winter Outdoor Market sets up at Jack Burrows Parkette in front of the North Bay Museum, with twinkling lights, warm drinks, seasonal treats and local makers. It wraps up with a finale during the Downtown Old Fashioned Christmas Walk on Friday, November 27, from 5 to 9 p.m. Pair it with a browse through local independent shops like The Farm, Joe’s Vintage, Talbot’s Throwbacks and The Annex for one-of-a-kind gifts.

For the full holiday picture, see 5 Reasons To Visit the North Bay Winter Outdoor Market This Year and Holiday Magic: 10 Festive Delights To Discover in North Bay.

How To Spend a Fall Weekend in North Bay

Friday evening: Settle in downtown with dinner and a pint at Cecil’s. In October, book the North Bay Museum’s 6 p.m. Haunted Hike first and head to dinner afterward.

Saturday: Start at the indoor farmers’ market, open 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., then spend the afternoon browsing local shops or exploring the museum’s Main Street, North Bay exhibit, open until 3 p.m. End the day with dinner at Average Joe’s Eatery + Patio, or, in November, at the Winter Outdoor Market.

Sunday: Take a slow morning walk at Laurier Woods or along Kate Pace Way before heading home.

Where To Stay for a Fall Weekend in North Bay

Staying the night? From a log cabin B&B to a lakeshore hotel, see our roundup of the 9 Best Places To Stay in North Bay, Ontario, or browse Tourism North Bay’s accommodation listings.

Plan Your Fall Trip to North Bay

North Bay is an easy drive north of Toronto on Highway 11, which makes it a natural pick for a weekend away as fall turns to winter. Event dates and hours shift with the season, so check ahead before you go, and find the latest events and travel tips at Tourism North Bay. See you soon!

Find more things to do and places to stay in North Bay!

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About Northern Ontario

Welcome to Northern Ontario, Canada! Bigger than Texas, wilder than the west, more welcoming than a campfire in October, Northern Ontario is like no place else. Sunset Country is famous for its spectacular fishing lakes, Superior Country has friendly towns and a superior coastline, Algoma Country has bucket list drives and epic outdoor adventure, and the Northeast provides excellent vacation destinations close to Toronto and other large urban centres in Southern Ontario.