Sweater weather is here, and so are an abundance of activities to infuse us with light and laughter this fall. October is all about harvesting and Halloween, and November brings the beloved Firelight Lantern Festival and – at long last – the return of Picton’s and Bloomfield’s Santa Claus Parades!

We hope you enjoy this guide to a fun, family-friendly October and November in beautiful Prince Edward County. As always, I’ll be adding new events and details as I go, so check back frequently and feel free to send along any missing info to andrea@pecparents.ca.

And make sure to check out our Activities Pages for info about kids’ arts classes, sports and fitness activities, clubs, and more!

Image – A magical moment from The Department of Illumination’s 2022 Firelight Lantern Festival

Special events

OCTOBER

October 8th-9th – The Department of Illumination is hosting their annual Scarecrow Festival fundraiser from 11-5 each day – $40 will provide you with all you need to build your very own scarecrow and support this amazing local community arts organization!

October 8th+15th – Sunflower Fields Ice Cream Shoppe is hosting a Haunted Corn Maze this year! Due to the level of scariness, they suggest only bringing children “over the age of 10” (which I think means 10+?). October 8th and 15th from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person with partial proceeds going to the Loyalist Humane Society.

October 15th – The full-fun version of the Prince Edward County Pumpkinfest returns to Wellington in 2022! The parade is at 10:30 am followed by music in the park, a Kid’s Zone in the front of CML Snider, and a pumpkin weigh-off around noon at the Lehigh Arena.

October 22nd – Early ON PEC is hosting a Fall Festival from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Hub Child and Family Centre. There will be a food truck on site and a “Touch a Truck” extravaganza – with a fire truck, hydro truck, tractors, dirt bike, ambulance already confirmed!

October 22nd – The County Emporium is hosting a Halloween Trick or Treat event. The cost is $10/child. Halloween-themed yoga at 11 a.m., Lego competition at 12 p.m., and crafts and activities throughout the day. And sip and shop while the kids play! Email haileydecarie@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

October 22nd – Celebrate The Cookie Mama‘s one year anniversary at their Birthday Bash & Market at the Picton Town Hall from 11-4. Balloon twisting and free birthday “cake” cookie slices while quantities last! Entry is free but donations of diapers, wipes, formula, and non-perishable baby/kid food are welcome to benefit local foodbanks.

October 22nd-23rd – Terror at Macaulay is hosting a free preview event the weekend before their Halloween weekend event at Macaulay Heritage Park. The curious and more-faint-of-heart are invited to meet with the creators installing this year’s haunt, enjoy apple cider and other treats, and try a run through of the expanded walk, which includes a “corn field” fence maze – all without the scary.

October 28th-31st – An expanded haunted experience – Terror at Macaulay 2 – The Summoning – takes over Macaulay Heritage Park. The organizers describe it as a “PG-13 rated event. We advise all young children be accompanied by an adult at all times. The walk through of Macaulay’s house will be family-friendly, and “Scaredy cat” flags are also available for those wishing to enjoy the event without frights. Those looking for a more terrifying experience will be directed through the garden and orchard.” Early Bird tickets before Oct 1st are $5. Otherwise they are $8 in advance or $10 at the door (cash only). Children under 4 are free.

October 29th – The Ameliaburgh Rec Committee is hosting Haunting in the Hamlet, with events happening all day all around Consecon: costume contest, touch-a-truck/boat, magician, crafts and games, etc.!

October 29th – A special event for 9-13 year old kiddos hosted by the Sophiasburgh Recreation Committee! The Howler Dance will take place from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Sophiasburgh Town Hall. Music, costume contests, grab bags, snacks! Admission is $5 plus a non-perishable food item.

Thanksgiving weekend until October 31st – The 2022 Deadnersville Halloween walk-through will open on Thanksgiving Weekend, and run until October 31st. There will be a 140 foot decorated covered canopy with 70 animatronics and mannequins and more. On Halloween night only there will be volunteers “scaring” visitors – there is also a no-scare option. Free, but donations to benefit the Belleville General Hospital Foundation are welcome.

NOVEMBER – Save the dates, more info to come on all of these fun happenings!

November 4th-5th – The Department of Illumination is hosting its 10th annual Firelight Lantern Festival! Make your own lantern at an October workshop and stay tuned for more details.

November 18th-20th – The Holly Jolly Market at Base 31 will feature over 40 vendors, selfies with Santa, kids’ activities, and more. Kids 10 and younger get in free, otherwise $10 for reusable weekend ticket. Friday 4-8, Saturday 10-3, Sunday 10-3.

November 25th – The Bloomfield Nighttime Santa Claus Parade is back! Follow the Bloomfield Hallowell Recreation Committee for details – 6:30 p.m. start.

November 25th-27th – The Festival of Trees is back in person in 2022.

November 27th – The Picton Santa Claus Parade returns, kicking off at 1 p.m.

Harvest

Pick-your-own (PYO) Produce

Apple picking is in full swing at Campbell’s Orchards in Carrying Place. Say hello to the resident animals, hit the playground, and reward yourselves with apple fritters and other treats.

Burr Meadows (510 Burr Road) is offering PYO pumpkins at their Pumpkin Patch starting October 1st – Saturdays and Sundays from 9-3. Pumpkin prices range from $5-15 depending on size. There is a sandbox, farm hoppers, and bag toss to keep the littles entertained. On Saturdays only there will be food available for purchase – pancakes for breakfast, BBQ hamburgers and hotdogs, and other treats!

Farm experiences

Noble Beast Farms is offering a 1 hour alpaca experience on Saturdays at 10:30 this fall – the Bloomin’ Welly Little Trekk: starting with handcrafted local beverages and followed by a walk with your own alpaca through their fields, and alpaca feeding and play time! $79/person aged 16+, $49/child aged 6-15 years (5 and under are free).

LOHA farms also offers farm tours to meet their pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, and sheep; message them to book a time.

There are a few other farms where kids can interact (mostly from a distance) with farm animals:

• Hagerman Farms, just outside of Picton on the way to Bloomfield, is one of our favourite places to visit – enjoy a treat from Farmhouse Eats cafe (open seasonally), do your local produce shopping, and say hello to the animals hanging out in the outdoor pens.
• The petting zoo at Waupoos Estates Winery & Restaurant is currently closed, but you are welcome to walk up to the outdoor pens and say hello to some furry friends. It would be unwise to leave without sampling from the winery’s extensive array of chocolate, candy, and gelato treats across the street!
• Carson’s Garden & Market has a friendly goat herd on site!

Farmers’ markets

Stroll the stalls and sample the treats at the Wellington Farmers’ Market (Eddie Hotel & Farm, Saturdays 9-1 – last market day October 29th), Wellington Community Market (next to Wellington Park and the United Church, Saturdays 9-1 – last Market Day in 2022 is October 15th during Pumpkinfest) and the Picton Town Hall Farmers’ Market (Sundays 9-1 – last market day likely in October). Bonus – the latter two are both playground adjacent – Wellington Park and Benson Park respectively; and the Eddie Hotel & Farm offers lots of gorgeous nature to run around in.

More rainy day activities

Early ON PEC Playgroups happen from Monday – Saturday at both indoor and outdoor locations throughout the County including at Macaulay, Massassauga Point, and Beaver Meadow Conservation Areas, and at Bloomfield and Northport Parks. Check out the schedule and pre-register on their website.

There is Public Skating every day of the week except Saturday at the Prince Edward Community Centre (Picton Arena) and at the Wellington District Community Centre (Lehigh Arena) on Mon-Wed-Fri-Sun. Check out the schedule here.

The Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre’s public swims returned in July 2022 but the pool has been closed in September… Watch PEFAC‘s website for updates.

The PEC Public Library is running Saturday storytimes at the Picton, Wellington, and Bloomfield branches – check the Events calendar for details.

Three County Museums are open to the public from Wednesday-Saturday, 11-4 – Ameliasburgh Heritage Village, Macaulay Heritage Park (Wed-Sun 10-4), and Wellington Heritage Museum. Check their website for details.

More sunny day activities

Beaches are beautiful all year round! The facilities at Sandbanks (Outlet, Dunes, or Lakeshore Beach) close on November 1st and the facilities at North Beach close on October 3rd, but you can still access both on foot. Wellington Beach still has a $10 per person entry fee on October Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, but residents can obtain a free pass. Also check out our handy lists of County beaches and other outdoor recreation spots and playgrounds.

Enjoy art “en plein air” at the Oeno Gallery Sculpture Garden until October 31st. A new exhibition is installed each May, and the garden is open every day from dawn until dusk. Free, but donations welcome.

Escape Camp Picton is open Friday-Sunday (other days possible upon request), offering one outdoor adventure (Master Spy Academy) and two indoor escape adventures (A Spy’s Workshop and The Secret Guild). Check out the “Age Restrictions” section in the FAQ for more info on playing with kids.