Have A Wickedly Wonderful Autumn in Oakville

Colourful trails, cozy cafes, local shopping, crisp walks by the lake and just enough ghosts and ghouls to make things interesting. Autumn has officially arrived and is a pretty amazing time to explore Oakville. Spend two days discovering scenic trails, charming neighbourhoods, local restaurants, art, history and a few spooky surprises along the way. Here’s your guide to a wickedly wonderful autumn getaway in Oakville as we uncover some of the best things to see, do, and eat this fall – no tricks, only treats!

DAY ONE:

Fall Foliage, Local Finds, and Halloween Frights

Start your day hiking in Bronte Creek Provincial Park. This park is home to five trails that capture the beauty of the changing fall leaves. Be sure to visit the Spruce Lane Farmhouse, where you will be greeted by farm animals. Make your way to the Nature Centre located close by, and you may get lucky and see turtles swimming in the ravine.

Fun Fact: The Spruce Lane Farm was featured in two episodes of YTV’s Ghost Trackers.

After you are done exploring Bronte Creek Provincial Park, make your way to Bronte Village for lunch. Take a stroll along the waterfront before settling in for a bite at Plank, a chef-inspired Resto Bar that focuses on locally sourced, in-season ingredients on a rotating menu.

Next, head to Kerr Village to enjoy a sweet treat and local shopping. Pick up a baked good at the Sweetest Thing to enjoy as you peruse the stores in Kerr Village. Notable stores to visit include Silk & Stone, My Back Shed, The Kind Matter Company, and Farmhouse Artisan Cheese.

After you are done shopping, take a few minutes to wander toward the waterfront and see one of Oakville’s most recognizable landmarks – the Oakville Lighthouse from Tannery Park. Next, get in the Halloween spirit at Film.Ca Cinemas. This independent movie theatre is showing heart-racing thrillers like Whalefall and cult classics like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Visit here to see their full lineup and showtimes.

After your movie, head to Downtown Oakville for dinner at Tabule. Enjoy Middle Eastern flavours in the heart of Downtown Oakville.

End your day at the Oakville Museum for their Haunted Happenings Candle Light Tour event. Book your tickets in advance to enjoy a guided tour of the Oakville Museum where things take a spooky turn. Step inside the historic Erchless Estate for Haunted Happenings, where Victorian Halloween traditions, ghostly superstitions, fortune-telling, and a themed scavenger hunt bring the historic home to life. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden clues and a special Halloween treat at the end. This tour is kid-friendly for those seven years or older.

DAY TWO:

Cozy Mornings, Autumn Art, and Ghostly Tales

Start your day with a Persian-style brunch at Narenj in Kerr Village before hitting the streets of Downtown Oakville.

Downtown Oakville is home to a wide variety of shops, including Sway Oakville, Lemonwood, The Latest Scoop, and The Witch’s Fix, a must-visit for those looking to get into the spooky season. Grab a warm drink at Velvet Moo to enjoy as you window shop the many boutique stores throughout the Downtown Oakville area.  

After you have explored Downtown Oakville, take a walk through Lions Valley Park. This trail is a favourite amongst locals and visitors and is one of the best locations to enjoy the fall leaves. Visit our Best Fall Hiking Trails blog to discover more tips on the best places to see colourful leaves in Oakville.

After your walk, head to the Oakville Galleries located in Gairloch Gardens. The Garden is positioned on Lake Ontario and is home to a rose garden, pond, and water feature. Enjoy the garden before making your way inside the Oakville Galleries. Beginning October 24th, The Oakville Galleries presents Aideen Barry: Silent Songs, Aideen Barry’s inaugural solo exhibition in Canada. The exhibit presents a mythical world through film, animation, and drawing.

After you are done at Gairloch Gardens, have an early dinner in Downtown Oakville. Oakville is home to a wide range of diverse cuisine, including Spanish restaurants Bar Catalina and Café De Madrid. Both restaurants are sure to impress with their vibrant flavours and authentic cuisine.

End your evening with a ghost walk with the Oakville Historical Society, where ghostly characters from the 1800s bring Oakville’s history to life. The Oakville Historical Society was the recipient of Visit Oakville’s Talk of the Town award for Best Tour Experience. Ghost walks run at 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. from October 13-30, excluding Sundays. Book your tickets in advance here and discover the mysterious world of Old Oakville.

Want even more spooky? Enjoy an evening of Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics on October 30 at Knox Presbyterian Church, featuring music from The Addams Family, Beetlejuice, Stranger Things, Ghostbusters and more.

Ready for your own wickedly wonderful autumn in Oakville? Oakville is the perfect place to make the most of fall. Check out our accommodations here. Tag @visitoakville on social media to share your autumn adventures and your favourite Oakville moments with us.

Come back in November…

Planning another Oakville getaway?  Catch some of hockey’s rising stars on the ice and make a weekend of it in Oakville. From November 1-7, the Sixteen Mile Sport Complex will welcome elite U17 hockey teams from Canada and around the world for the 2026 U17 World Challenge. Visit here for more information.

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The post Have A Wickedly Wonderful Autumn in Oakville appeared first on Visit Oakville.