Fall harvest activities in and around Montréal
Fall has landed in Montréal, with its crisp light, shorter days and cooler temperatures. Fall is one of the most exciting seasons for its harvest. Dozens of fruit and vegetables mature in the early days of autumn and there’s nothing we love more than spending a day in the country picking our own produce to consume or conserve or hunting down the best spots to enjoy fall’s bounty in Montréal.
Gardens of Light
This fall, the Montréal Botanical Garden is bringing back their Gardens of Light event. Let yourself be guided by the moonlight through the Japanese, First Nations and Chinese gardens with this new immersive and sensory.
From September 1 to October 31, 2023.
To market!
If you don’t have the chance to get out of town this fall, just head to one of Montréal’s public markets for a visual feast this harvest season. Stalls stacked high with jeweled-toned tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, berries, pumpkins, apples, onions, and more are a joy to admire and, of course, taste. Both the Atwater and Jean-Talon markets are holding Oktoberfest festivities that include a hundred or so craft beers, great food, music, workshops and activities for the entire family. Check the markets’ website for more information.
Atwater Market, September 31 and October 1, 2023
Jean-Talon Market, October 8, 2023.
Labonté de la Pomme - Verger & Miellerie
From apples and pears to pumpkins and cabbage, pick your own fruit and vegetables at this family-friendly farm. Labonté de la Pomme - Verger & Miellerie is in the beautiful Oka valley about 45 minutes from downtown Montréal. Several children activities, including a corn maze, tractor rides and a petting zoo are available. The grown-ups can take a helicopter ride (!) around the grounds, go for a hike or do a tasting of some of their very first ciders. There’s a new terrasse from which you can admire the orchard while enjoying a snack. You can also book a table at their gourmet apple shack, enjoy a meal in their bistro or purchase a picnic to savour on site. You can book one of several packages or a customized group package to make your perfect day trip this fall even better.
Cabane à pommes Domaine Labranche
Domaine Labranche offers several activities for the entire family: a mini-farm and play modules for the kids, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, hiking trails, a gourmet shop and a picnic area on site. Tastings of their liquors made with their very own fruit as well as their wines and ciders are also available for a real taste of terroir.
From September 2 to October 9, 2023. Saturdays and Sundays and holiday Mondays only.
Verger Labonté
Located only 25 minutes from Montréal on Notre-Dame-de-L’île-Perrot, Verger Labonté specializes in apples, pears, pumpkins and squashes. It works with an ecological harvest vision and respect for the environment. On site are several activities, including a playground and a farmyard for the little ones and gigantic corn mazes adapted for different age groups that challenge the participants to complete a mission.
Discover the mountain
Can’t get away from the city for a little nature break this fall? No problem! We’ve got an entire mountain to discover right here in the middle of Montréal. Sign up for one of several nature walks such as a sunset summit walk or a Shirin Yoku one, that will take you on a fiery stroll to see the fall colours on our very own Mount Royal.
La Fille du Roy
A six-generation family farm in the Montérégie region, La Fille du Roy has a multitude of products for you to pick, from artichokes to ground cherries and a great variety of pumpkins and squashes. There are also many activities on the farm, including a corn maze and a wood-burning pizza oven cooking delicious pies on weekends. Only groups need to reserve ahead.
Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. / Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cranberry picking
Photos of flooded bright crimson cranberry bogs against a limpid blue sky are some of the prettiest harvest images you’ll ever see. Québec is one of the largest producers of the beloved red berry in the world, which you can help harvest until about mid-October. Check out the Notre Canneberge website to find a cranberry-themed activity near you.
Morgan Arboretum
A 30-minute drive to the western tip of the island takes you to the Morgan Arboretum, a 245-hectare stunning forest reserve with several trails zigzagging through it. It is an absolute joy to walk around the dense forest trails of the arboretum any time of year but most especially in autumn when you can stroll on a bed of leaves and admire the changing colours. The Arboretum is open every day from 9am to 4pm.
La Grande Roue de Montréal
There’s no better time to ride the Old Montréal Ferris wheel than in the fall, when you can admire the view of the city, the river, and the Mount-Royal from 60 meters in the air. We recommend waiting until the fall colours have peeked before climbing aboard one of La Grande Roue de Montréal’s heated gondolas to admire the panoramic view.
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.