2026 Fall Mini Guide

Carleton Place Fall mini-guide

2026

Why visit carleton place?

There is something magical about visiting Carleton Place in the fall. As the leaves turn shades of red, orange and gold, the Mississippi River provides a stunning backdrop to this community.

Carleton Place Town Hall

Located just a short drive from Ottawa, Carleton Place combines the warmth and character of a small town with beautiful natural spaces, fascinating history, shopping, great food and a calendar filled with community events. It’s the perfect destination for a day trip, weekend getaway, or leisurely autumn escape.

Our charming town has something special waiting for everyone!

Sunflower Field Outside Town

Heritage Sites Carleton Place Town Hall 175 Bridge Street c. 1895-1897 The Moore House 170 Bridge Street c. 1873 The Queens Hotel 142 Bridge Street c. 1870 Heritage Museum 267 Edmund Street c. 1872 Old Federal Building 79-81 Bridge Street c. 1891 The Grand Hotel 7 Bridge Street c. 1872

Follow us at @carletonplacetourism or check out visit.carletonplace.ca to start planning your getaway.

DON’T MISS THESE EVENTS! DON'T National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Don your orange shirts and gather at Riverside Park for the unveiling of the 4 Directions Stones and a ceremony.

SEPTEMBER 30

Final Farmer’s Market & Thanksgiving

The final farmers market of the year on October 10th - right before Thanksgiving. Get all your local goodies!

OCTOBER 10

Race around the place Race around Carleton Place with these 5K, 10K, and 21.1K routes!

Lanark County Food Bank Fundraiser

OCTOBER 24

OCTOBER 24

Rememberance Day parade and ceremony Cenotaph at Memorial Park Parade from Town Hall

NOVEMBER 11

Seasonal Drinks

Rose + h

Spi ll

Tea Cafe e th

Apple Caramel Crumble

Spiced Apple Tea Latte

Coffee Ba y r r

Caramel Apple Chai

everage B B d

ar

No rt

‘SINderella’ Iced Pumpkin Pear & Cardamom Maple Cheesecake Latte Latte

Foun d

on Atelier o p

Blend e

Blue S

eadly Ca D nd

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Dark a

Don’t miss these delicious seasonal drinks from our local cafes! Fall is the perfect time for a warm (or chilled) drink, so stop by a cozy cafe near you to try them!

Pumpkin Chai Chiller

OUT & ABOUT

Ottawa Valley Rail Trail

Fall Walks Start with the Mississippi Riverwalk trail, a 1.9km accessible trail following the river from Princess St. to Anthony Curro Park. Bridges, wetlands, and plenty of birdlife make this an easy fall fave.

Photo Credit: Daryl Lepine

Go Wilder For a quieter landscape, try O-Kee-Lee Nature Trail from Centennial Park, the Pond of Tranquility, or Sonnenburg Woods. Just outside town, Beckwith Nature Trail is another fantastic way to get out and see the season in all it’s glory.

Out of Town Appleton is a fantastic spot to explore autumn colours on the river - check out the Old Mill Manor for fantastic historic stays just a few minutes out of Carleton Place.

Shuttle Bus Downtown

Tours Lake Avenue West Wander with the Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum - October 2, 6-8pm Through the Lens: Photography & Birding Walk with Uplands Nature - October 3, 8:30am-12pm

Pumpkins Stop at Olmstead Pumpkins in Beckwith or venture further into Lanark County to Geobern Farm - The James for a complete, old-fashioned fall outing.

Saunders Farm is just up the road for one of the region’s biggest autumn events. And, of course, look forward to Carleton Place’s own PumpkinFest on October 2, 3, and 4!

PumpkinFest

RACE AROUND

The Place

The Place

Oct 24 8am-1pm

Race Around the Place, 2025 Race Around the Place is Carleton Place’s inaugural community race event, bringing runners and walkers together on October 24, 2026, to enjoy friendly competition, fresh air, and local pride, all in support of the Lanark County Food Bank. With chip-timed 5K, 10K, and half marathon options, the event welcomes everyone from serious athletes to casual participants. Scenic routes showcase our historic downtown, recreational pathways, and the Trans-Canada Trail, with the half marathon extending to the charming hamlet of Appleton. The celebration continues at the finish line, where participants are invited to explore the shops, restaurants, and cafés that make Carleton Place special.

Carleton Junction, Carleton Place, ON

Haunted histories of Moore House

Carleton Place THE MOORE HOUSE Many believe the spirit of Ida Louise Moore, who died at 21, still calls the Moore House home. Visitors report cold spots, moving objects, and doors opening on their own, while Ida is said to enjoy harmlessly pranking unsuspecting guests.

THE GRAND HOTEL

Grand Hotel

Built in 1872, the Grand Hotel is considered one of Canada's most haunted places. Guests have reported hearing phantom footsteps, seeing unexplained apparitions, and experiencing eerie activity, especially around Room 201, which was said to be haunted by a former entertainer.

Dr’s House

THE DOCTORS HOUSE Since 1902, the Doctor's House has earned a reputation for its friendly ghost. A short man in a long coat has reportedly been seen wandering the property, and even playing fetch with the family dog.

Want even more ghost stories?

Stay tuned for the full list and re-launch of the Haunted Heritage Walking Tour.

Coming 2027.

being thankful being thankful iinn

e c a l P n o t e C ar l Finding Joy in the Little Things

This Thanksgiving, there are many things to be thankful for. There are so many of those little things to enjoy in Carleton Place! Love where you live, but also love where you visit!

fALL cOLOURS Fall often brings in the most vibrant of hues: bright oranges, fiery reds, and golden yellows. This is the kind of scenery that people travel for, appreciate, and can only see during one season. Carleton Place’s Hackberry Park is home to many Hackberry trees that turn a soft yellow in autumn along the Mississippi River. Some of the best viewpoints in Carleton Place to see the colourful trees are the Mississippi River, Riverside Park, and along our various nature trails!

did you know?

The town trees of Carleton Place are Hackberry Trees!

Carleton Place is home to the largest and oldest Hackberry Tree forest in Eastern Ontario.

bIRDS AND wILDLIFE Carleton Place is full of many native but rare animals! This Thanksgiving, we would like to encourage you to seek them out and appreciate nature. Some of the birds that you can see in your neighbourhood are cardinals, blue jays, great blue herons, common loons, and if you’re lucky, trumpeter swans! Carleton Place’s other wildlife includes white tailed deer, red foxes, river otters, beavers, and black bears!

gATHERING pLACES Thanksgiving is the perfect time to delight in your finest riches: family and friends. Carleton Place is home to many spots where you and your favourite people can relax, unwind, and enjoy!

Black Tartan - Fine dining from a Michelin Star Chef!

Thruway Restaurant - A true local favourite for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Copper Still - Social house with live Music all throughout autumn!

Waterfront Gastropub - perfect patio view of Carleton Place’s prettiest spots: Town Hall and the Mississippi River.

Fall events September 22 First Day of Fall 27 1-3pm: Prescriptions of the Past 30 National Day for Truth & Reconciliation 11am-2pm: Prayer Circle & Drumming

October

November 5 7-9pm: Art House Music: CR5 Bluegrass 7 10am-1pm: Mini Maker Craft Fair 10am-2pm: St. Mary’s Christmas Craft Fair 10am-5pm: Candy Burner Gravel Cycling 10am-4pm: Rotary Women’s Fair 7-8 Rock the Town! Community Bonspiel 10am-4:30pm: Itty Bitty Show 11 Remembrance Day: Parade and Ceremony

2-4 PumpkinFest 21 4-8pm: WinterFest 2 6-8pm, Lake Avenue West Wander 28 5-6:30pm: Santa Claus Parade 3 8:30am-12pm, Birdwatching & Photo Walk 29 2-3:30pm: Carleton Place & District 8 7-9pm: Art House Music: David Leask Community Band: Winter Concert Art Jam 10 8:30am-12:30pm: Thanksgiving Farmers Market Closing Weekend 12 Thanksgiving 24 10am-3pm: IODE Captain Hooper Annual Craft Fair 8am-1pm: Race Around The Place 31 Halloween 6-8pm: Dark & Deadly Trick-Or-Treating

December TBD Dark & Deadly - Photos with Krampus 13 2:30pm: Carleton Place Singers Christmas Concert 15 7pm, Carleton Place Singers Christmas Concert

Recurring Events Art Show - Technicolour: 10am-5pm daily, from Sept 28Nov 15, Art Hub Gallery Rideau Guild of Porcelain Painters: from Oct 10-29, Carleton Place Gallery Guest Exhibit - Roy Brash: Oct 31-Nov 19, Carleton Place Gallery Art Show - Winter Whimsy: 10am-5pm daily, Nov 16-Dec 27, Art Hub Gallery Christmas Surprise - Group Show: Nov 21-Jan 6, Carleton Place Gallery Ontario Culture Days: Sept 18-Oct 4

Foundry Coffee Bar Even MORE events...

k i n p F m est u P

T h c i r n ee-day Fal o c i s ’ e c a l l fest P n o t e ival Carl Carleton Junction 42 Moore St

October 2-4 2nd 4-8pm | 3rd 10am-2pm | 4th 10am-2pm

Live Music Artisan Vendors Hands-On Activities Family-Friendly Programming Carleton Place’s Largest MultiDay Festival Agricultural Petting Zoo Pumpkin Carving Competitions Shuttle Bus

PumpkinFest weekend in Carleton Place is a three-day community festival that celebrates all things fall, with strong connections to local agricultural heritage, rural traditions, and community culture.

Set in a walkable downtown, it brings together seasonal activities and experiences that reflect the character and history of the region, inspired in part by an annual tradition of delivering a pumpkin to Carleton Place's sister city of Franklin, Tennessee.