What’s on in the Outaouais in October
October brings the peak of autumn colours, but it also includes a particularly magical event for young and old: Halloween. Enjoy the fall colours before they fade, get out your best costumes and enjoy a variety of treats!
Embrace the colours
Get out your walking sneakers or hiking boots and pack a ton of snacks, because autumn is the perfect time to get outside and play with your family. Take advantage of the cooler weather to admire nature’s beauty from new vantage points while introducing your kids to the joys of hiking. From short, impromptu outings to more organized adventures, the region is full of hiking trails that will satisfy your desire to spend time with the family outdoors.
Autumn is a magnificent season: the vibrant colors of the trees make you want to go wild and discover the region from a completely different angle. Treat yourself to a helicopter tour with Héli-Tremblant and admire the beauty of the Outaouais as the crow flies.
Observe the colors directly from the treetops with the Arbraska Laflèche aerial course. Make the most of the autumn colors as you stroll along the course, which combines suspension bridges, lianas, swings and zip lines.
After this adrenaline rush, head to Moulin Wakefield Mill Hôtel & Spa and take advantage of the Romantic Fall Getaway package to relax as a couple. Take a well-deserved break in the hot tubs, unwind in the sauna and share a bottle of sparkling wine and a plate of charcuterie before spending the night in a Heritage room. When you wake up, enjoy a gourmet breakfast at La Muse restaurant, available on reservation. A Holtz Spa in Nature credit is also included in this package.
Before you leave Wakefield, stop by L’eau du ruisseau farm and take a stroll through the orchard. Join an on-site guided tour to meet the animals, or bring a cozy blanket and concoct an autumn picnic. Before you leave, buy a few cuts of meat to cook on the grill for one last barbecue meal. You can also stock up on local meat to freeze and cook up comforting meals to give you the courage to face the cold that’s just around the corner.
Just for Halloween
On October 19, the Marché des sorcières Larose (Witches’ Market) returns to Larose Market. Take a tour of an artisans’ market where booths are decorated and exhibitors are dressed in costume. Discover your new favorite local products with an autumn theme. Rumor even has it that treats will be available on site for the kids.
On October 20, head to Parc Commémoratif and pick up decorations, sweets, crafts and more at the Aylmer Witches’ Market, an event organized by Aléo – Achat Local & Événement Outaouais. Kids are invited to come dressed up!
On October 26 and 27, visit La Ruelle des sorcières Canevas with your family. Over thirty witches will be on hand, eagerly awaiting your visit to their ephemeral stores. A story will be told to children, and little witches and wizards will be able to share a cup of tea during the event.
On October 31, come to Champboisé de L’Ange-Gardien to celebrate the tradition of the famous Halloween party! Discover the beauty of the site decorated for the occasion, take a stroll along the illuminated trail and, above all, collect a ton of sweets with your family at the 14 themed houses in a safe environment. Bring a candy contribution in lieu of admission. Don’t forget your flashlight!
Discover the haunted places of the Outaouais with friends. Stroll through gloomy corridors, hear terrifying tales or sleep in places where unexplained phenomena occur. Discover the legends of the region and learn more about the ghosts that never left. Here’s hoping you’re not afraid of the dark.
Climb aboard the Aventure Outaouais vehicle and join us on an all-inclusive haunted tour of the Ottawa Valley. Accompanied by a local storyteller, discover four historic villages known for their ghost stories, eat apple pie and drink hot cider. Chills guaranteed!
Discover who’s hiding in Ottawa’s buildings on a haunted walk of Canada’s capital. Break out in a cold sweat as you move through the cells of a former prison. Meet the ghosts of the Mackenzie King Estate.
Halloween means sweets. Stock up on chocolate and other delicacies at the ChocoMotive boutique. Take the opportunity to tour the economuseum and learn more about how chocolate is made and its history. Stock up for a sweet treat at home.
Take a trip back to childhood with Wakefield Confectionery‘s nostalgic candy section. Give your kids a taste of your old favorites, or give them as gifts to the friends you used to sneak them with when you were a kid. Don’t forget to try the fudge and sponge cake during your visit!
Fall under the spell of the colorful chocolate products that Rochef Chocolatier has created especially for Halloween: pumpkins, monsters, ghosts, owls, cats, skeletons and more. Order your gluten-free and peanut-free chocolates now! Limited quantities available.
Events not to be missed
October promises to be an eventful month at Parc de la Forêt-Boucher! Let yourself be transported to another universe during a theatrical performance in the forest, take part in a yoga session, enjoy an inclusive outing, attend a conference on well-being, discover wild foraging during a mycology activity, and much more. Consult the complete program for full details.
On October 2, step back in time for an evening and become one of Monsieur Papineau’s guests. Share a gourmet meal in an enchanting setting at the Manoir Papineau National Historic Site during Le Festin Chez Les Papineau. Organized in collaboration with Fairmont Le Château Montebello, the menu is inspired by the haute bourgeoisie of the 19th century. Relive history in all its splendor!
On October 4 and 5, head to Lac-Simon and take part in the Tanwen Pack open house. Meet the dogs, visit the kennels and learn more about the musher’s trade.
From October 4 to 6, celebrate the region’s German heritage at the traditional Oktoberfest Ladysmith. Enjoy a game of horseshoes with friends, watch the parade with your family and sample authentic German cuisine as a couple. Take part in the tractor and truck pulls, and enjoy the lively traditional music. Tickets available on site only. Limited wilderness camping sites are also available free of charge.
Join the Lumberjack Day on October 5 at Chutes Coulonge Adventure Park. Get a log and take it down the Coulonge Falls for a chance to win the grand prize of $1,000. Find your inner lumberjack by taking part in a variety of events, including chainsaw wood carving, a wooden log race and axe throwing. Dress up your kids and enter the costume contest.
On October 5, get out your bike and head to the Centre Vorlage to take part in the BikeFest festivities. Test your endurance in the ultra-fun triathlon, your flexibility in the extreme limbo and your daring in an obstacle course.
La Fête au Village returns to Parc Omega on October 5 and 6. In addition to access to traditional activities such as the car course, walking trails, First Nations trail and more, the daily ticket entitles you to attend the event. Support local artisans and producers as you pass through. Stock up on gourmet treats, pick up a knit or fall under the spell of a new work of art.
On October 5 and 6, chat with writers at the Festival du livre des Indépendants at Espace Canevas. Attend lectures, let yourself be transported into the imaginary world at a storytelling reading and take part in workshops.
On October 5 and 6, take part in the Chelsea-Wakefield Studio Tour. Enter the creative space of several multidisciplinary artists from Chelsea and Wakefield. Let them introduce you to their artistic universe and fall under the spell of their favorite works.
From October 11 to 13, discover watercolours at the Exposition automnale Guindon (Guindon fall exhibition). Admire over a hundred original watercolours featuring the magnificent autumn landscapes of the Petite-Nation. The works are displayed in several rustic cabins, allowing you to take an outdoor break between two exhibition rooms. Take a moment to relax in one of the Adirondack chairs scattered around the grounds, or chat with the artist at one of the many easels.
From October 11 to 13, don your favorite walking shoes and take part in the second edition of the Maple Leaf March, a world-class international walking festival to be held in the Gatineau-Ottawa region. See the region on foot at your own pace, following urban and rural itineraries ranging from 5 to 42 kilometers. The event is non-competitive, so make new friends while strolling through Canada’s capital. Get your tickets online!
From October 11 to 13, celebrate harvest time at Le Bal des citrouilles de Ripon (Ripon’s Pumpkin Ball). For the occasion, many activities will take place in the Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon, at the Community Centre and at the Coopérative Place du Marché. Take a family carriage ride, try your luck at axe throwing, visit the animals at the mini-farm, take part in the pumpkin contest, try your hand at Finnish bowling and much more. See the full program for locations and times of each activity.
On October 12, get out your quads and share your passion with many other quad riders during the traditional Randonnée des Couleurs organized by Club Quad Petite-Nation.
From October 12 to 14, bring the whole family to the Festival of colors event at Mont Ste-Marie. Climb aboard the chairlift and admire the vivid autumn colors. Enjoy the Euro-Bungee, musical performances, a crafts exhibition and a vintage car show.
On October 19 and 20, Galeries Aylmer hosts the second edition of Steampunk Capital Show. Be inspired by the 19th century and learn about the historical changes brought about by the use of steam power in industrialization. Discover talented artisans, fall under the spell of creative costumes and learn the story of legendary local figures. Take advantage of your visit to immortalize your portrait in a streampunk setting.
Until October 22, make the most of the NCC Fall Rhapsody by taking family outings on the region’s bike paths, enjoying a last picnic on the beach when the weather’s still mild, or donning your hiking boots for a hike on one of Gatineau Park‘s many trails.
The 17th edition of the Symposium Gatineau en Couleurs takes place from October 25 to 27 at the Château Cartier. Take part in the Outaouais’ largest visual arts gathering, free of charge, and discover the works of over 70 artists at this colorful exhibition.
For even more suggestions, see the complete program on our Events page.
More things to discover in the Outaouais
Descend 23 meters underground and visit the Diefenbunker : Canada’s Cold War Museum, a four-storey underground bunker built in secret during the Cold War to protect government officials in the event of a nuclear attack. Join a guided tour, explore the exhibits at your own pace with an audio guide, or try your hand at escaping from the world’s largest escape room.
Treat yourself to a moment of respite, alone or as a couple, in one of Circa Shawville‘s guest rooms. Stay in a brick heritage home in the heart of Pontiac and enjoy the property’s historic charm. Sip hot coffee by the piano, enjoy a breakfast of pastries and relax in style.
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Book an Experience Outaouais package and discover what the Outaouais has to offer in October.
