Summer may be coming to an end, but some of the best local events of the year are just getting started.
September and October bring fall fair season to Durham Region and the surrounding communities, with agricultural shows, midway rides, demolition derbies, local vendors, live entertainment, harvest celebrations and, of course, plenty of fall food.
If you're looking for things to do in Durham Region this fall, there are events happening almost every weekend. We've rounded up some of the 2026 fall fairs and festivals in Durham Region, along with a few destinations in Kawartha Lakes and nearby Brighton that are worth adding to your fall calendar.
Port Perry Fair
September 5–7, 2026 | Port Perry Fairgrounds
Labour Day weekend marks the return of one of Scugog's longstanding community traditions. The Port Perry Fair runs for three days at the Port Perry Fairgrounds and puts agriculture front and centre while still offering plenty for visitors who simply want a fun day at the fair.
The 2026 event includes agricultural competitions, heavy horses, a horse pulling competition and a vintage tractor display, along with baking competitions and other fair programming. Whether you come for the agricultural side of the fair or simply want to spend part of the long weekend exploring Port Perry, it is a strong start to fall fair season in Durham Region.
Port Perry Fair official website
Orono Fair
September 10–13, 2026 | Orono Fairgrounds
Just a few days later, fair season continues in Clarington with the Orono Fair.
Running from September 10 to 13, the 2026 theme is “Sow It, Grow It, Show It.” The Orono Fair has deep agricultural roots, and that remains a major part of the experience. Livestock, produce, homecraft and other competitions share the fairgrounds with midway attractions, food and entertainment.
For anyone looking for a classic Ontario fall fair close to Bowmanville, Courtice and Newcastle, this is one of the biggest weekends on the local September calendar.
Sunderland Fall Fair
September 15–16, 2026 | Sunderland
The Sunderland Fall Fair returns for its 173rd year with the 2026 theme “Holy Cow, It's Fair Time.”
This two-day event packs a surprising amount into the middle of the week. Families can visit Adventure Village, browse local vendors and see agricultural exhibits, while the show schedule includes beef and 4-H events, light and heavy horses, a carriage derby and more. The demolition derby is scheduled for Wednesday evening, September 16.
Homecraft competitions are also a major part of the fair, with entries ranging from baking and vegetables to quilts, photography and art.
Sunderland Fall Fair official website
Beaverton Fall Fair
September 18–19, 2026 | Beaverton
Head north in Durham Region for the 171st Beaverton Fall Fair, taking place September 18 and 19.
The 2026 schedule mixes traditional agricultural fair events with plenty of entertainment. Friday includes the fair parade, sheep show and Demo Cross, while Saturday features the Durham West 4-H Achievement Day, car show, horse-drawn wagon rides, beef and horse shows, community-stage entertainment and an evening demolition derby. Food, vendors and adult and junior homecraft displays run throughout the event.
For families who enjoy the agricultural side of fall fairs as much as the grandstand events, Beaverton offers a little bit of both.
Beaverton Fall Fair official website
Brooklin Harvest Festival
September 19, 2026 | Downtown Brooklin | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
If midway rides and demolition derbies aren't your thing, the Brooklin Harvest Festival offers a different kind of fall day in Durham Region.
Downtown Brooklin becomes the centre of the celebration, with local shopping, sidewalk sales, outdoor dining, pop-up food experiences, a farmers' market and local vendors. Families can also find inflatable activities, games, a rock wall, face painting and balloon artists, while live music and roaming performers add to the atmosphere throughout the day.
It is a good choice for anyone who wants to explore Brooklin on foot while supporting local businesses and enjoying the start of the fall season.
Brooklin Harvest Festival official website
Brighton Applefest
September 24–27, 2026 | Brighton
Ready for a fall road trip? Brighton Applefest takes place over four days from September 24 to 27 and celebrates one of the area's most recognizable crops.
Brighton sits among agricultural land and apple-growing country, making Applefest a natural fit for the community. The festival includes programming throughout the weekend, with major Saturday attractions including the street fair, Music in the Park, Children's Village and Applefest Car Show. The festival has also been recognized by Festivals & Events Ontario as a Top 100 Festival in Ontario for 2025 and 2026.
If you're looking to stretch your fall exploring beyond Durham Region, Brighton is an easy addition to the list.
Brighton Applefest official website
Kawartha Farmfest
October 3, 2026 | Kawartha Lakes | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
For something completely different from a traditional fairground, plan a Saturday drive through Kawartha Lakes for Kawartha Farmfest.
Farmfest is a self-guided driving tour that gives visitors the opportunity to explore participating farms and rural attractions across Kawartha Lakes. Nine farm families are participating in the 24th annual event in 2026.
What you experience depends on the stops you choose. The 2026 lineup includes opportunities to learn about maple production, watch sheep-herding and shearing demonstrations, pick apples and visit working farms. Some locations also offer wagon rides, corn mazes, pick-your-own activities and farm-grown food for an additional charge. Adult admission is $5, while children under 14 are free.
Instead of spending the day in one location, you can create your own route and see another side of Kawartha Lakes during fall colour season.
Kawartha Farmfest official website
Bowmanville Applefest
October 17, 2026 | Historic Downtown Bowmanville | 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Fall festival season comes back to Clarington in October with Bowmanville Applefest, one of Historic Downtown Bowmanville's biggest annual events.
Taking place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Applefest transforms four downtown blocks into a celebration of the local apple harvest. Expect local growers, fresh apples and plenty of apple-inspired food, including cider, pies, crisps, candy and caramel apples, cider donuts and hot apple fritters.
There is also an artisan and craft market with local vendors, while downtown Bowmanville businesses get involved with outdoor shopping and special offerings. Admission and parking are free, and the organizers plan to offer a free shuttle service approximately every 15 minutes from designated parking.
For anyone searching for fall events in Bowmanville or Clarington, this is an easy one to put on the calendar.
Bowmanville Applefest official website
Make the Most of Fall in Durham Region
From the first weekend of September through the middle of October, there is no shortage of fall fairs, festivals and family events in Durham Region and the surrounding area.
You can spend Labour Day weekend at the Port Perry Fair, catch back-to-back agricultural fairs in Orono, Sunderland and Beaverton, explore Downtown Brooklin during its Harvest Festival, take a fall drive to Brighton or Kawartha Lakes, and finish the season with apple fritters in Downtown Bowmanville.
Summer ending doesn't mean the local event calendar slows down. In many communities across Durham Region, fall is when some of their longest-running traditions take centre stage.
So grab a sweater, pick a few weekends and make the most of fall 2026 close to home.
Event schedules and programming can change. Check the official event website before heading out for the latest times, admission information, parking details and updates.
Posted by Dan Plowman on
Leave A Comment