Ah, autumn: a season that in Alberta and BC brings with it apple picking, fall fairs, Thanksgiving feasts, colourful aspen hikes, fun Halloween costume parties, and yes, pumpkin spice lattes.
It also brings festivals dedicated to celebrating the arts, Indigenous heritage, food, nature and outdoor adventure.
So put aside the PSL, grab a dance partner and embrace sweater weather, friends.
Catch the autumn vibes with these great fall events in Western Canada, featuring music festivals, art crawls, food festivals and outdoor events across Alberta and BC.
Western Canada revs up the entertainment for fall, featuring films, music and arts crawls to get your autumn cooking.
Sept 20-Oct 13 BC Culture Days / various locations, BC
BC celebrates the province’s arts and culture with arts classes, live music and theatre, artist panels and demonstrations, in towns and cities across the province, from Abbostford to Vernon to Quesnel, Vancouver, Victoria, Smithers, Kamloops and more!
Sept 20-21 Sundog Festival / Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon's festival of music and arts promises a stellar end to summer with two days of festivities in Polson Park, Vernon.
Sept 21 - Oct 1 Edmonton International Film Festival / Edmonton, AB
Edmonton’s version of its annual film fest emphasizes indie film-making, something the city has earned a reputation for over the years.
Sept 21 - Oct 1 Calgary International Film Festival / Calgary, AB
Hit the red carpet and choose from over 200 films to watch, over 11 days in Calgary, at this premiere Canadian film event—one of only several qualifiers for Oscar-aspiring short films!
Sept 30 Orange Shirt Day (nation wide)
Attend an Orange Shirt Day event in your community, and walk the path of reconciliation through learning and cultural appreciation.
Sept 29-Oct 31 Field of Screams / Vernon, BC
Set on large farmlands with multiple themed Halloween walks, Field of Screams is consistently one of the most bone-chilling, hair raising events the Okanagan has ever seen!
October-long Pumpkins After Dark / AB, BC
Multiple locations for 2024 include Calgary, Edmonton and Burnaby. Explore the magical pathway of lit pumpkin sculptures and displays, with music, sounds and special effects. With classic Halloween characters, dinosaurs and dragons, movie and pop culture icons, this family-friendly event has something for everyone.
Oct 12-14 Thanksgiving Studio Tour / Gabriola Island, British Columbia
The artistic enclave of Gabriola Island on the west coast opens its doors, so you can wander from one arts show to the next, meet the artists and come home with new favourite pieces.
Oct 18-20 Sunshine Coast Art Crawl / Gibsons, BC
From one arts fest to another. Find over 240 artists across the 80 kilometres from Langford to Earl's Cove.
Go beyond the PSL to find all the flavours of fall, fresh from the harvest in Alberta and BC.
Sept 7-8 SilverStar Beer & Cider Fest / SilverStar Mountain, BC
Enjoy the high mountain air and tasty bevs of the Okanagan, up at SilverStar Mountain Resort.
Sept 6-8 / 13-14 CulinART / Sylvan Lake, AB
Growing to two weekends this year, Sylvan Lake's CulinART brings together the celebration of food and art in one great festival. Food crawls, art shows, live entertainment, all by the lake.
Oct 1-29 Pumpkin Picking Festival / Vernon, BC
Head to Davison Orchards Wednesdays through Sundays throughout October and pick pumpkins with your loved ones, indulge in the endless pumpkin treats, and even take a tractor tour through the beautiful fields of Davison Orchards located just 10 minutes outside of Vernon.
Oct 14 Stein & Dine, Victoria's 7th Annual Oktoberfest, Victoria, BC
Stein and Dine will offer a fantastic selection of BC craft beer to wet the appetite, from Germanic staples to classic West Coast styles. In the tradition of the classic Oktoberfest style, Roast Meat & Sandwich Shop will be preparing popular Germanic favourites for your enjoyment.
Oct 18-19 Rocky Mountain Food & Wine Festival / Calgary, AB
Explore an incredible array of dynamic wines, smooth spirits, and downright delicious beers from around the globe, all under one roof at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park. Cap it all off with tantalizing bites from some of Calgary’s best restaurants and food purveyors, and you’ve got a can’t-miss event.
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You can sit and watch the leaves fall, or you can blow right by on a long distance run. But when nightfall comes, it's time to look up at the stars, because fall is classic skygazing season.
Oct 11-13 Royal Victoria Marathon / Victoria, BC
Head to Vancouver Island for the marathon, half marathon, 8K and Thrifty Foods Kids Run in Victoria, BC. With wonderful Canadian hospitality, incredible courses that loop through Beacon Hill Park and along the ocean waterfront, and a start and finish line in the Inner Harbour with the Parliament Buildings in the background, you will enjoy every aspect of your Royal Victoria Marathon experience.
Oct 12-13 Grizzly Ultra Marathon / Canmore, AB
Head to the beautiful, mountainous town of Canmore and take on either the 50km solo marathon or team up for the two or five person relay races.
Oct 18-Nov 3 Jasper Dark Sky Festival / Jasper, AB
October is Dark Sky month in Jasper. Home to the world’s largest accessible Dark Sky preserve, Jasper by day offers a universe of outdoor fun in a wilderness playground and at night is a stunning wilderness of stars. Special programs run through the two weeks of the festival, including the Symphony Under the Stars, a Drone Light Spectacle, SkyTram star sessions and Indigenous experiences.
Check out our FestivalSeekers event calendar for more events in Alberta and BC this fall.
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