10 things to do in Kingston this fall

Whether you’re into frights, movie nights or apple picking, we’ve got you covered

Image by: Justice King
Queen's campus in the fall.

Autumn is, without a doubt, one of the best times to be in Kingston. Once October hits, sweater weather sets in, everything is pumpkin-spice flavoured and campus looks gorgeous. 

But more than that, Kingston has lots to offer in way of fun things to do during the season. We’ve compiled a list of 10 different ways you can make the most of the Kingston fall, whether it’s your first, your last or just another year in the limestone city. 

Check out Fort Fright at Fort Henry (October 1 – November 1) 

A popular Kingston event that rivals Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland, Fort Henry is annually transformed into a spooky, scary and multi-themed experience. There are different kinds of haunted houses to explore and yummy treats to munch on once you’re done. Fort Henry is accessible via bus, car or cab, and Fort Fright is definitely a highlight amidst this list. 

Apple picking 

While arguably one of the more “basic” activities on this list, going apple picking makes for a fun housemate bonding experience, or even a cute date idea. Bonus points if you use those apples to bake afterwards – the fall season means there’s no limit to how many apple tarts, pies, crumbles or apple ciders you can consume. 

Enjoy the beauty of Kingston fall 

This one’s easy: go for a walk, a run or a hike (I suggest the Rideau Trail) to see Kingston in all its autumn glory. Kingston’s aesthetic goes from a pretty summertime scene to a breathtaking fall season extremely quickly, and it’s good to take advantage of it before the snow sets in. Grab a friend, a book, a coffee, or all three, and go forth to enjoy the outdoors. 

Take a tour of the Kingston Penitentiary 

October means Halloween themed everything for a month, and taking a tour of the Kingston Penitentiary — now a public museum — is a guaranteed way to learn interesting and very creepy information about one of Kingston’s most notorious institutions. 

Venture into one of Kingston’s many unique coffee shops 

Fall time and coffee consumption go hand in hand — you can’t really have one without the other. So when you need your next caffeine fix (or Instagram prop), hit up one of Kingston’s many coffee shops that have all the charm and quality coffee you need. Try Northside if you want a place where you can socialize or read a good book. Crave is great for getting down to work with cinnamon buns aplenty. And Sipps is lovely for a specialty drink and great date spot. 

Go see a show

Kingston has lots of different shows and performances to check out this fall. There’s The Grand Theatre’s Symphonic Spooktacular on Halloween night, the revival of Almighty Voice and His Wife if you want something more substantial, and many other performance shows worth checking out this season. 

The Hawk Eye View exhibition (October 2-14) 

The Hawk Eye View is an art and visual exhibition at the Tett Centre this fall. It looks at the history of third-party surveillance in North America, by looking at NSA and CSIS sites using Google Earth. It attempts to reveal concealed spaces, and is a go-to item on this list if there ever was one. 

Wolfe Island Corn Maze

This activity is a popular one amongst Queen’s students. Head over to Wolfe Island and attempt to navigate the famous giant corn maze, enjoy the option for a BBQ dinner and a delicious apple crisp and play the various games offered on the farm. It’s a Kingston staple activity, and one that students enjoy year after year. 

Ghosts of the Fort at Midnight Kingston Haunted Walk (October 9 – 31) 

This haunted walk is a fun and spooky way to get to see more of Kingston. Whether you’re with friends, family or need a unique date idea, October is prime time to take advantage of fun fall and Halloween-themed events in the vicinity like Kingston’s Haunted Walk at Fort Henry.

Scare in the Square (October 26) 

The popular Kingston movie nights downtown are bringing a Halloween classic to the square this year — Roald Dahl’s classic film (and book) The Witches. Bring your own chair, dress up if you want to go the extra mile, and camp out to watch a film with whoever you choose or even fly solo for this spooky movie under the stars. Scare in the Square is a fun, entertaining and free way to spend a pleasant autumn evening. 

Tags

Fall, Kingston

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