Carleton Place Fall mini-guide
2026
Why visit carleton place? There’s something magical about Carleton Place in the fall. As the leaves turn shades of red, orange and gold, the Mississippi River and our tree-lined streets provide a beautiful backdrop for exploring everything our town has to offer. Just a short drive from Ottawa, Carleton Place blends small-town charm with beautiful natural spaces, fascinating history, locally owned shops, great food and a calendar full of community events. Spend the day exploring, settle in for a weekend getaway, or simply slow down and enjoy an autumn escape. However you choose to experience Carleton Place this fall, there’s plenty waiting to be discovered.
Carleton Place Town Hall
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
The Grand Hotel
Follow us at @carletonplacetourism, Carleton Place Tourism, or check out visit.carletonplace.ca to start planning your getaway.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Don your orange shirts and gather at Riverside Park for the unveiling of the 4 Directions Stones and ceremony.
SEPTEMBER 30
Final Farmer’s Market & Thanksgiving
The final Farmers’ Market of the year takes place on October 10th - right before Thanksgiving. Stock up on all your local produce!
OCTOBER 10
Race around the place Race around Carleton Place with these 5K, 10K, and 21.1K routes! This event is a Lanark County Food Bank Fundraiser. OCTOBER 24 OCTOBER 24
Remembrance Day parade and ceremony Begins promptly at 10:50 AM with the parade forming up on Mill Street beside the Town Hall.
NOVEMBER 11
Seasonal Drinks on Atelier o p
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Blue S
eadly Ca D nd
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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!
offee Ba C r ry
Tea Cafe e th
everage B B d
Apple Caramel Crumble
Spiced Apple Tea Latte
Blend e
Rose + h
Spi ll
Caramel Apple Chai
No rt
Pear & Cardamom Maple Latte
ar
‘SINderella’ Iced Pumpkin Cheesecake Latte
Pumpkin Chai Chiller
Ottawa Valley Rail Trail
OUT & ABOUT Fall Walks Start with the Mississippi Riverwalk trail, a 1.7 km 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
Take the Backroads 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 see autumn colours on the river - make Carleton Place your home base as you explore the riverside from there.
Downtown at PumpkinFest
Walking 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
Pick a Pumpkin While visiting Carleton Place, stop at Olmstead Pumpkins in Beckwith or venture up to 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!
Pumpkin Patch
DASH & Discover OCT 24 8AM-1PM
& Discover
Race Around the Place is Carleton Place’s annual community race event, bringing runners together on October 24 to enjoy friendly competition, fresh air, and local pride, all in support of the Lanark County Food Bank. With 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 so unique.
Carleton Junction, Carleton Place, ON
Haunted histories of Moore House
Carleton PLACE
THE THE MOORE MOORE HOUSE 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 THE GRAND GRAND HOTEL HOTEL
Grand Hotel
Built in 1872, the Grand Hotel is considered one of Canada's most haunted places. Guests have reported hearing phantom footsteps and seeing unexplained apparitions. While many guests report an eerie, atmospheric vibe, others enjoy a peaceful stay with zero supernatural encounters. Dr’s House
THE THE DOCTORS DOCTORS HOUSE 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 Car leton Place
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Finding Joy in the Little Things
There are so many of those little things to be thankful for in Carleton Place! Love where you live, but also love where you visit!
fALL cOLOURS Fall puts on quite a show in Carleton Place. Fiery reds, brilliant oranges and golden yellows transform our parks, trails and streets, while the Mississippi River provides the perfect backdrop for an autumn adventure. Take a stroll through Hackberry Park, where its namesake trees turn soft shades of yellow along the river, or head to Riverside Park for beautiful views of the changing leaves reflected on the water. Local nature trails offer even more opportunities to get outside, slow down and enjoy the crisp air and colours of the season. Whether you’re searching for the perfect fall photo, planning a leisurely walk or simply looking for an excuse to get out and explore, autumn is one of the most beautiful times to discover Carleton Place.
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!
Credit: Daryl Lepine
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.
Whats happening this fall November September First Day of Fall | 22 Art House Music: CR5 Bluegrass | 5 | 7 Fall Watercolour Art Class | 26 | 1 - 2pm 9pm Final Score Drag Show | 26 | 7 - 10:30pm Holiday Market Weekend | 7 “Prescriptions of the Past” | 27 | 1 - 3pm Remembrance Day Parade & Ceremony Foundry Trivia Night | 29 | 6:30 - 9:30pm | 11 | 10 - 11am National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Fall Watercolour Art Class | 28 | 1 - 2pm | 30 | 11am - 2pm October PumpkinFest | 2, 3, 4 Lake Avenue West Wander | 2 | 6-8pm Birdwatching & Photo Walk | 3| 8:30am - 12pm Wylder Organics PumpkinFest Pop-Up (at Palomino) | 3 | 1 - 4pm Art House Music: David Leask - Art Jam | 8 | 7 - 9pm Farmer’s Market Thanksgiving | 10 | 8:30am - 12:30pm Drag Night Brunch at Foundry | 16 | Fall Watercolour Art Class | 17 | 1 - 2pm La Belle Fleur Grand Opening | 17 IODE Captain Hooper Annual Craft Fair | 24 | 10am - 3pm Race Around The Place | 24 | 8am-1pm Trick-or-Treating at Dark and Deadly Cafe | 31 | 6 - 8pm
Recurring Events Art Show - Technicolour: 10am-5pm daily, from Sept 28-Nov 15, Art Hub Gallery Festival of Small Halls: Oct 4, 8, 9, & 18 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 16Dec 27, Art Hub Gallery Ontario Culture Days: Sept 18-Oct 4
Foundry Coffee Bar Even MORE events...
k i n p F m est u P
’s iconic 3-day Fall fe e c a l P n stiva eto l r a l C
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