15 Fall Activities in New Tecumseth (2023)

Looking for fall activities in New Tecumseth – Beeton, Alliston or Tottenham? You’re in the right place. With small communities surrounded by farmland and agriculture, there are a lot of indoor and outdoor fall activities in the New Tecumseth area.

From pumpkin patches to scenic hikes, and cozy harvest festivals – there’s something for everyone during fall in our little corner of Ontario. Some of the activities are fall harvest themed and family friendly, while others are on the spooky side and geared towards an older audience.

I enjoy taking part in outdoor and indoor fall activities in Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham every year and have compiled a list of all the 13 best things there are to do this fall 2023.

So let’s jump in – fall activities in New Tecumseth and surrounding areas!

15 Fall Activities in New Tecumseth

Here are the fall activities happening in Alliston, Beeton or Tottenham (or nearby)

1. Go on a Haunted Walk

Ghost Walks in New Tecumseth (Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham) are run by volunteers and have become very popular in the past couple years. Going on one of the Ghost Walks allows you learn about the history of the towns, and listen to some bone-chilling stories.

The ghost walks in New Tecumseth are free of charge, and run during the month of October.

Get into the Halloween spirit as you’re guided around town listening to old legends and tales and spooky stories about the towns.

All ages are welcome at the Ghost Walks, but some of the stories might be a bit scary for younger kids who are old enough to understand them.

In 2023, the ghost walks will be taking place on October 27, 28 and 29th in Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham. There are three different walks on each of these dates- 7pm, 9pm and midnight. No reservation required, simply show up!

For more details such as meeting locations, join the New Tecumseth Ghost Walks Facebook group

2. See a play at the South Simcoe Theatre

If you haven’t been to the South Simcoe Theatre in Cookstown, you’re missing out. The South Simcoe Theatre is a non-for profit community theatre that has been running since the 1960s in Cookstown’s Old Town Hall. Their plays feature talented actors who put on entertaining plays that are suitable for kids 5+.

This fall, the South Simcoe Theatre will be playing “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” from November 3-19th.

Grab your tickets for Charlie Brown and other upcoming shows on their website here

3. Visit Laura’s Farm Stand

Laura’s Farm Stand is one of the most festively fall places around. The owner, Laura transforms the beautiful sunflower fields from late August into a family fall set up starting in September.

You can buy pumpkins, do a corn maze, get cute family photos in front of the instagrammable photo ops that are set up in the field, and buy produce and candy corn from the market.

The Pumpkin Patch in 2023 will be open at Laura’s Farm Stand from September 15th – October 31st. There is no charge to visit the pumpkin patch, but there may be a small fee for the photo ops, and the corn maze.

Laura’s Farm Stand is located at 5590 Simcoe County Rd 27 in Cookstown, just 15 minutes from Alliston.

4. Pick a pumpkin at Murphy’s Fall Festival

Murphy’s, a family farm in Alliston, features a popular fall festival every year. You can browse their pumpkin patch to choose from a variety of multicoloured pumpkins of different sizes, take a wagon ride, and there’s usually a corn field maze. Be sure to grab one of their apple or pecan pies from the farm store- perfect for Thanksgiving!

Murphy’s Fall Festival 2023 will run from September 23rd to October 31st from 10am to 5 pm. There will be wagon rides until 4pm each day, a corn trail and pick your own pumpkin.

Families with small children can enjoy the playground on the farm fun yard. The farm store selling pies, cookies, soups and other good will be open the whole time that the festival is open.

Murphy’s is located at 5141 County Rd 10, just outside Alliston.

5. See a spooky movie at the Circle Theatre

The Circle Theatre is a single-screen movie theatre in the heart of Alliston that has been running since 1938. Every year, the Circle Theatre features A Rocky Horror Picture Show as a special before Halloween.

Rocky Horror Picture Show will be playing on Friday, October 27th, at 7:30pm. Tickets, when available, can be purchased on their website here.

6. Go apple picking

Apple picking is has become a family-favourite activity every fall, and is often available from August through to October, depending on the variety. Apples are nutritious, easy snacks for kid’s lunches, can be included in many fall recipes. Plus, by going to pick apples, you are supporting a family farm.

Unfortunately, there aren’t currently any apple picking orchards right in New Tecumseth that are open to the public, but if you’re willing to drive up to 30 minutes, there are a few different options for apple picking.

Here are the places closest to New Tecumseth that are known for providing good apple picking experiences.

• Albion Orchards Apple Farm & Country Market (23 minutes from Tottenham) Featured in Chateline magazine! Open from 10am – 6pm every day except Sundays. Pick your own is first come first served – no dogs allowed. A variety of apple varieties are available, depending on the month. Costs is $25 for 10 lb bags, or $45 for a 20 lb bag.
• Barrie Hill Farms (30 minutes from Alliston) There are a range of apple varieties depending on the time, as well as a market where you can buy other farm produce. The cost for pick your own apples is $1.99/lb.

7. Get photos in front of a spooky display

Tottenham and Beeton always have the most impressive fall displays. In previous years, these displays were at the corner of Main and Victoria street. The display is different every year, but almost always includes some festive Halloween decorations.

However, this year the displays have moved – you can find them at the fire hall in Tottenham, and at the library in Beeton.

There are usually places to sit built into the display, so people can sit in costumes and get photos with the display. It’s the perfect place for a homemade Halloween family photoshoot.

8. Ride the Halloween train

The South Simcoe Railway is a 1920s locomotive that makes a scenic round trip from Tottenham to Beeton. The railway runs special fall colours excursions from late September to the end of October, as well as a special Halloween train the weekend before Halloween.

The fall colours excursions are held on weekends between September 30th and October 22nd, and run four times per day at 10:30am, 12 pm 1pm and 3pm. Each ride is an hour long and allows you to ride in the old fashioned coach as you enjoy the colourful foliage of the landscape.

The weekend before Halloween, there is also usually family-oriented Halloween train ride where passengers are encouraged to dress in costume, and there are prizes for best children’s and adults’s costumes on each trip, as well as candy given out.

The Halloween train, unfortunately will not be running this year in 2023. Tickets for the fall excursion or for future events can be purchased from the South Simcoe Railway website here.

9. Trick or Treat the Monster Mash

Monster Mash, aside from the potato festival, is the only other time of year that Victoria street in Alliston is closed. It runs in conjunction with the Alliston Rurban Farmer’s Market. Adults can enjoy a leisurely walk and shopping on Victoria street and at the Farmer’s Market, while kids can wear their costumes and trick or treat at the local businesses.

The Monster Mash is held on the Saturday before Halloween each year. The expected date for 2023 will be Saturday, October 28th this year.

10. “Frightfully Fun” in Beeton and Tottenham

Local businesses in Beeton and Tottenham will be open for trick-or-treating on Saturday, October 28th from 12-4pm.

Get the kids into costume and have them visit businesses in the community – they’ll enjoy meeting staff around town and getting some early Halloween treats. We can’t wait to see all the little ones in their costumes!

11. A Day on the Farm Sheldon Creek Dairy

Sheldon Creek Dairy, just outside of Alliston, has been hosting “A Day on the Farm” events every few months for the past year which are a hit with local families.

There are vendors, games, a playground for young kids, a farm store to shop at, and plus – you can meet the cows. Best of all? Its free of charge!

There will be two “Day on the Farm” events happening at Sheldon Creek in October; one right before Thanksgiving and another right before Halloween. Here are the dates and times:

• Harvest Festival – October 7th, from 10am to 3pm
• Halloween Special – October 28th, from 10am to 3pm

If you want to attend either of the above, register for free on their website .

Tip: Based on our recent experience at Sheldon Creek, there is normally only 1-2 outhouses available and a lot of people. If you have young children, then I would bring a portable potty for them to use just in case!

12. Try a fall-themed drink

As the weather starts to cool, there’s nothing like cozying up with a cup of your favourite fall themed coffee. Aside from the most classic Pumpkin Spice latte, you can also find flavours like Caramel Apple, Maple Pecan, Toasted Marshmallow Mocha, and Gingerbread Latte during the fall months.

Most of us love our Timmies and Starbucks for their famous fall drinks, but why not give one of our locally-owned small businesses a try?

Check out Rebel Crumb and Northern Blush on Victoria st in Alliston for a delicious, warming fall-themed drink!

13. Have a meal with a view

Riverview restaurant at the restaurant at the Nottawasaga Inn is extra pretty in fall with the views of the colourful foliage in the golf course. (The food is pretty good as well!)

Afterwards, you can take a stroll through the wedding garden, which is extra colourful in fall and used for many fall wedding photoshoots.

As long as it’s not a weekend and booked for a wedding, then you are welcome to take a stroll to enjoy the vibrant fall colours in the wedding garden. There are benches to relax on, and a beautiful wooden wheel and stream flowing through it – very relaxing.

For more information about Riverview restaurant and to see the menu, click here.

14. Have a High Tea

What better way to warm up on a chilly fall day than to try a high tea with sandwiches, and traditional English desserts?

There are two places in New Tecumseth to have a traditional English high tea, both in Alliston.

• The Tea Corner in Alliston, open from 12-4pm each day. (Closed Monday.) Reservations are required.
• The Lady Sadie Tea Room at the British Shop in Alliston. Open from Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 and 3pm. Call for a reservation!

15. Beeton Fall Fair

The Beeton Fall Fair is one of the oldest agricultural fairs in Canada and has been running since 1857. There are rides, farm animals, and displays of artwork, baked goods that people have submitted for judging.

There are different events scheduled throughout the weekend, such as vendor markets, animal shows, baby content, a Zoo to You visit, tractor pull and movies in the park. The timing of events can be found here.

The Beeton Fall Fair for 2023 will be held on the weekend of September 15th – 17th, 2023. The admission cost is $8 per adults, with children 12 and under being free.

Final Thoughts on Fall Activities in New Tecumseth

I hope that this article has left you with lots of ideas for ways to enjoy fall in New Tecumseth. Aside from driving up north to Algonquin to experience fall, there’s so much to do in our area to embrace the season’s beauty.

Taking part in fall activities in New Tecumseth helps us get outdoors to enjoy the season of colourful leaves and crisp weather, support small business, and make memories with family and friends in the process.

Now that the fall season is wrapping up, we can start looking forward to the holiday and Christmas events in New Tecumseth during the months of November and December