A Guide to Thunder Bay in the Fall

Combine brilliantly clear, blue-sky days and super photogenic colourful leaves with all kinds of fun events and you have got yourself a memorable fall in Thunder Bay and its surrounding rural areas. From harvest events and hikes to Halloween tours and parties, it’s a great time of year to check out this friendly small city at the very top of Lake Superior. 

Farms, Fairs & Fall Traditions in Thunder Bay

Fall in Thunder Bay wouldn’t be complete without its long-standing farm and fair traditions. Belluz Farms is a local favourite, and starting in late September they have Fall Wonderland events every weekend that are an annual tradition for many. Pick out your very own pumpkin, shop for fall décor like corn stalks and hay bales, visit the animals at the petting zoo, ride a pony, explore the two-acre corn maze and take a wagon tour of the farm. They host Pumpkin Mania too, an annual event by the Thunder Bay District Pumpkin Growers where you can view ginormous pumpkins and then see one dropped from a crane (yes this is weirdly fascinating!) You can also sign up for some of their harvest cooking lessons, such as chutney and relish making.

For a taste of small-town charm, head to The Hymers Fall Fair, a fall tradition since 1912. Check out this classic fair—livestock shows, antique engine displays, live acoustic music, vendors selling handmade knitting, fresh produce, baking and jams, good eats, prize ribbons for quilts and sunflowers—and soak up the authentic vibes. Another long-standing rural event is the Slate River Plowing Match with exhibits and competitions for traditional agricultural skills as well as an antique car show, a tractor parade and food booths. 

Markets, Local Flavours & Fall Road Trips Around Thunder Bay

If your idea of fall fun leans toward sampling local flavours and artisan goods, Thunder Bay delivers. For a fall road trip without a specific event in mind, tour the super-scenic farm country (against a backdrop of the Nor'Wester Mountains) in the Slate River Valley by bike or car. Make sure to check each location’s days and hours of operation first! In addition to Belluz Farms, there is award-winning gouda cheese and Dutch treats at the Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, local dairy goods (chocolate milk, yogurt, butter, milk) at the Slate River Dairy, apple-picking, ciders and jellies at Mountain Stream Orchard and over-the-top yummy pastries, sandwiches and entrees by the Bakeshop on Boundary(take-out for a picnic or dine at their picnic tables with an incredible valley view).

September also brings the full lineup of farmers markets: All three of the TBay-area farmers markets are open to showcase all the goodness of season. Check out the centrally located Thunder Bay Country Market (Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings), Thunder Bay Farmers Market at the north end and Kakabeka Falls Farmers Market in Kakabeka Falls (both on Saturdays). The Good Harvest Farmers Market, hosted by hip urban market Goods & Co. in the Waterfront District, is a free outdoor day-long event with a variety of local vendors, activities for the kids, a corn boil, apple cider, pumpkins and more. The Autumn Rendezvous in Neebing is a great opportunity to stroll and shop for hand-crafted goods (spoons, clothes, pottery and more) by local artisans in a gorgeous rural location.

For something a little different, check out a guided Foraging Walk at several different city locations to learn more about the edible wild plants in the region. Or consider casting a line for some urban or wilderness fall fishing.

And if you're a birder, be sure to consider the self-guided sandhill crane festival where you can hopefully spot these large, striking birds in local fields and record your observations as a citizen scientist.

Breath-taking Fall Scenery: Best Fall Hikes in Thunder Bay for Scenic Views

There are all kinds of hiking trails in and around Thunder Bay and fall is the perfect time to see beautifully coloured leaves, cool mushrooms, rolling hills, soaring cliffs and the deep blue of Lake Superior. Read about some popular trails here. Other local faves include the moderate 2.5-km Little Falls loop trail at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, a quiet riverside walk at Cedar Falls Conservation Area, a challenging and spectacular 10-km hike at Silver Falls and the scenic (and steep) 5.7-km loop at the Pearson Township Wetland Nature Trail.

Kamview Nordic Centre is another great destination for easy trails and stunning view—watch their social media for their Fall Colours Tour date or simply download the trail map and go anytime before the snow flies. 

It's Spooky Season All Month Long: Halloween & Spooky Events in Thunder Bay This Fall

The Hunger hosted by modern art gallery DefSup is the city’s premiere Halloween event. This 19+ party covers nine downtown venues for just $20, featuring 56 acts (like fire-eaters and aerial silk artists), 38 live bands and DJs and 275 musicians and performance artists. Needless to say, the costumes are epic too. Head to Scare on Cronk or The Trail of Purgatory for some seriously scary Halloween walk-throughs on outdoor rural properties throughout the month of October. The Thunder Bay Museum gets in on the spooky walk-through trend as well, hosting three haunted Phantoms of the Galleries nights in October, and so does the historic Alexander Henry icebreaker ship at Marina Park with multiple Haunted Harbour nights, plus one daytime family day, throughout the month.

Witches Walk, an annual fundraiser takes place at Belluz Farms in early October. Put on your best witchy outfit and tour a variety of vendors for an afternoon, and you can also catch the Witches Party Bus to get there in style! The second Witches Walk is a Gothic-glam evening event at Goods & Co. Market with spellbinding prizes, dancing and entertainment.

Like your spooky thrills with a side of real local history? Sign up for a walking tour with The Haunted Lakehead which offers regular tours in downtown Port Arthur.

Love you some scary movies? Terror in the Bay is your kind of film festival, serving up all kinds of horror flicks from around the world, as well as some local offerings, best costume prizes and Q&As with filmmakers, all in one creepy week in the Waterfront District. The Lake Superior Paranormal Convention is also happening mid-month, with workshops, vendors, readers, ghost stories by the fire, a guided Sasquatch expedition and more.

For family-friendly fun, look to the Halloween Hoot at Fort William Historical Park. For two weekends in October, the historic fort gets decked out with haunted houses, a spooky scavenger hunt, costume parade, crafts and more. 

Plan Your Fall Getaway to Thunder Bay

Put Thunder Bay on your fall destination list! From beautiful hikes to delicious bites to spooky events, there’s something for everyone. 

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.