Fall may bring cooler temperatures, but Niagara’s festival and event scene heats up thanks to multiple autumn weekends filled with culture, music, wine, food, and fun in St. Catharines. Here are five can’t-miss autumn festivals and special events you’ll absolutely want to plan a Niagara getaway around.
Join us in St. Catharines for:
Niagara Grape & Wine Festival
When
September 8 – 10, 15 – 17, and 22 – 24
What To Expect
While the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival occurs throughout Niagara Wine Country, St. Catharines is the hub city for Canada’s oldest and largest wine festival, with two weekends of wine, food, live music and fun in historic Montebello Park. The Montebello Park Wine & Culinary Village features Niagara wineries pouring VQA wines, a diverse selection of food truck fare, VIP wine cabanas, a premium seating and service Harvest Lounge, wine and cooking seminars hosted by Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute, the In Good Spirits Cocktail Lounge, a family fun zone and more. The family-focused Pied Piper Parade will take place on September 16, and the Grand Parade will roll through the streets of Downtown St. Catharines on September 23.
Dozens of area wineries will also roll out the red carpet to visitors and share wine and food pairings during the Discovery Pass Touring Program. Tasty stops to build your touring itinerary around include:
- 13th Street Winery for a BLT Bowl served with a 2021 Gamay
- Henry of Pelham Family Estate for Overnight Brisket and Mac and Cheese, served with Old Vines Baco Noir
- King’s Court Estate Winery for gourmet pizza, served with Pinot Noir or Merlot
The Discovery Pass program, which will run on September 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24, allows pass holders to enjoy their choice of six wine and food experiences available at 27 different Niagara-area wineries.
Celebration of Nations
When
September 8, 9, 10
What To Expect
Celebrations of Nations, Niagara’s annual gathering of Indigenous arts, culture and tradition, showcases a diverse roster of Indigenous arts and artists at virtual and in-person events, including concerts, dance performances, film screenings, creative workshops, informative teachings and hands-on activities for children and adults. This year’s gathering features two marquee performances: Homelands, a multimedia performance created by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and Border Crossing, a blues event bringing together two celebrated Indigenous bands, Digging Roots from within Canada and The Ripcords from within the United States.
Culture Days
When
Assorted dates through September and October
What To Expect
From hands-on printmaking and felting workshops to classical music performances and an outdoor theatre promenade through the park, St. Catharines is hosting an interesting assortment of free cultural experiences as part of Ontario’s Culture Days this fall, including:
- Puppet Workshop with Waterwood Theatre on September 23
- The Drama Garden with Carousel Players on September 23
- Splatter Monster Art with Rhiannon Barry on October 6
- Visual Arts: Print It! Family Workshop on October 6 and 7
- Visual Arts: Printmaking Exploration Adult Workshop on October 7
- Beginning Wet Felted Pod Workshop on October 7
- Piano Music Master Composers with Luis Molina on October 10
- Classical Guitar: A History of Diversity in Music with Jelica Mijanovic on October 14
- Woven Paper Paintings with Janice Low on October 15
Cicada Music & Arts Festival
When
September 30 and October 1
What To Expect
Port Dalhousie’s Henley Island doesn’t just attract world-class rowing crews! This fall’s Cicada Music and Arts Festival brings an incredible lineup of musicians to the shores of the renowned rowing course, including July Talk, The Sheepdogs, Sloan, and many more. The music is served alongside a selection of Ontario craft beverages, local food vendors, live art installations and a vendor market. Single-day and weekend passes are available, as well as VIP Experience passes, which include exclusive access to the VIP Lounge, Dillon’s Cocktail and Tasting Bar, indoor washroom facilities, Cicada Festival swag and more.
Locktoberfest
When
October 13-15
What To Expect
Roll out the barrel Port Dalhousie-style at Lock Street Brewing Co.’s annual Locktoberfest. From special-edition German-style brews to live music and delicious Bavarian fare, this craft brewer’s friendly outdoor biergarten scene will make you feel like you’ve escaped to Germany for a few hours of fall fun!
