Sunny days, crisp air, and gorgeous fall colours are here! October is a beautiful month to explore Durham Region’s many trails and farms, or experience exciting Durham-only events. There’s so much to celebrate this month, we couldn’t fit it all in! Be sure to check out
Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day on
October 5, and the
Durham International Film Festival from
October 3 to 5.
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Calling all book lovers! This event is for you. The Book Drunkard Festival runs from
October 17 to November 3.
Ten Uxbridge venues will host the festival, which captures the wonderment of the written word and its ability to intoxicate, transport and transform. Enjoy literary legends and musical masters in stellar venues; take in exceptional author events; let your creativity out at writing workshops; or enjoy fun foodie events.
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There’s a new cidery in town, and it’s 100 per cent Durham. Slabtown Cider Co. is a family owned and operated cidery and orchard, and they take their cider seriously. Crafted from estate-grown heritage Ontario apples, including those harvested from apple trees and rootstock transplanted from Siloam Orchards (previously located northwest of Durham Regional Road 8), the cidery offers several hard ciders inspired by the surrounding area. Their orchards boast an impressive 250 apple varieties, many of which came with the first settlers to the Uxbridge region in the early 1800s.
Located on the Oak Ridges Moraine, just south of Uxbridge, Slabtown is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of forest, trails and rolling fields. The cidery has revitalized over 90 acres of historic fields into one of Canada’s largest collections of unique heritage heirloom apple cider varieties. Even the name of the company has deep roots–the original settlement town of the Siloam hamlet of Randallville had just a few buildings, including a lumber mill. Because of the focus on the lumber and sawmill industries (and the piles of wood slabs stored around the mill), Randallville quickly became known as “Slab Town.” Slabtown Cider Co. has made it their mission to “preserve the history of Slab Town, Uxbridge and the historic orchards of Siloam now located on the property of Slabtown Cider Co.”
As their tasting room nears completion, the cidery is welcoming visitors to their farm store for fresh orchard produce, warm pies, or a slice and a cup of coffee. The cidery is also holding onsite tastings in this building, on weekends, until the full taproom is completed.
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Station Gallery
Holiday House Tour
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Gates Open: Find your flavour tour
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Eight Durham Region farms are opening their gates just for you on
October 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.! See what life on the farm is like; experience fun farm and family friendly activities; sample farm fresh products and treats created by farm families; and discover one of Durham’s largest industries through this unique self-guided tour. Visit Forget-Me-Not Alpacas; Gallery on the Farm; Graham Creek Farm; Lunar Rhythm Gardens; Nature’s Bounty; Ocala Winery; Willowtree Farm; and Wool 4 Ewe. Map out your own route and stop by as many farms as you like. Enjoy the scenic views and unique topography of the Greenbelt as you travel through Durham Region. You’ll learn about agriculture, build an appreciation for Durham’s bountiful local food, and meet the passionate, dedicated people who produce it.
Visitors will have the opportunity to take part in fun and educational activities including: livestock feeding demonstrations; face painting and wagon rides–just to name a few! Each farm will showcase the best they have to offer, sharing the passion and dedication they bring to farming and their commitment to local food. Remember to bring your shopping bags and coolers to bring home some delicious local farm fresh produce, baked goods, preserves, meats, plants and more (cash only).
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In 1980, a few local cyclists formed the
Oshawa Cycling Club
.
The club now has more than two hundred members from Durham Region and beyond! This recreational road cycling club offers 10 weekly rides catering to different riding levels. Most rides start at the Courtice Community Centre or in Brooklin, providing east and west ride starts. Interested in trying a few club rides? Visit the OCC website to find the next ride and waiver.
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Five frightfully fun ideas for a “Boo-tiful” Halloween
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The 2019
Cooper's Corn Maze is open throughout the month of October! Check out this Stan Lee-themed 10-acre corn maze, and don’t forget to stock up on some delicious seasonal produce or stop by the farm kitchen while you’re there!
Looking for a Halloween-themed activity to do this month? Get into the spirit at
Scugog Shores with “Adventures at the Boo-seum” on
October 19. Make creepy crafts, try out mystery boxes, and listen to spooky stories. This is a family friendly event, but there is some scary content.
Pumpkinville lands at Ajax Downs this year, on
October 19. This free fall event includes horse-drawn wagon rides, No Frill's Pumpkin Patch, inflatable rides, haunted experiences, children's activities, live entertainment and more. Parking is limited and guests are encouraged to take the "Pumpkinville Express," a free shuttle bus service with a direct route to all the thrills, chills and spooky fun.
Following all the harvest fun, circle
November 2 and 3 on your calendar for
Brooks Farms annual two-day Pumpkin Smash! Bring your pumpkin and get your smash on (admission fees apply). This is the last weekend to enjoy the farm’s Barnyard Playland!
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We’ve got acres of harvest fun
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The York-Durham Heritage Railway (YDHR) has some exciting and popular themed train trips planned for this fall–make sure you purchase your tickets early, as they often sell out!
Weekend Fall Train Trips run on
October 5 and 6, and 12 and 13. Enjoy the beautiful forests, bushes, and captivating fall colours, all depending on Mother Nature of course!
Then on
October 20, put on your costumes and join YDHR for a “Spooktacular” heritage train ride with on-board entertainment. Children 12 and under in costume ride the Halloween Train for only $3.99! A special adults-only Halloween trip is also available on
October 31.
The Wizards’ Festival will bring the wizarding world to life on
October 26 and 27. Enjoy interactive shows, potions classes, horcrux maze, magic shows, and workshops on how defending yourself against the Dark Enemy. Premium ticket holders will hop on the Hallows Express to help the Ministry of Magic determine how to foil the escape of two evil wizards. Costumes are optional.
On
November 3, the YDHR partners with the Young and the Restless for a very special event. The legendary Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) will be at YDHR to personally meet each guest. The party continues with a lunch buffet reception in a heated tent, featuring an award-winning executive chef and a live band playing in the background. Then it’s “all aboard” for a lovely one-hour train ride through some beautiful fall scenery.
Finally, Friday night train rides on The Polar Express™ begin
November 22 and run through to
December 20. This magical story comes to life starting in an enchanted Christmas tent with a magical tree lighting, followed by a one-hour round-trip train ride to the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, with singers and dancers, passengers will relive the magic of the story as they are whisked through a magical landscape.
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Happy trails in Durham Region
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Did you know that the Township of Uxbridge holds the title of
Trail Capital of Canada
? Or that some of our trails can be travelled by horseback? From the north to the south, and from east to west, Durham has a
trail or conservation area
for you. Whether you head out for a
mountain bike
ride in Uxbridge’s Durham Regional Forest; take a hike along the scenic Beaver River Wetland Conservation Area and Trail; or explore the Orono Crown Lands (in Clarington)–whatever route you take, you’ll find beauty and adventure along the way.
Make it a family affair and bring the whole gang along for some fall fun. Or, try something new, like geocaching-an outdoor treasure-hunting game where adventurers use a GPS to hide and seek treasure containers called geocaches. Stop off at one of the many farms, markets or orchards along the way, and pick up some fresh, healthy snacks for your trip! Download,
order
or pick up a copy of our
Durham Region Trails Guide
.
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The best of the best descend on Oshawa on
October 26
for the Global CyberLympics World Finals. The top two teams from each region will compete in-person at
Durham College
in Oshawa. In this online cyber security competition, teams compete in a series of challenges in the areas of Digital Forensics, Web Application Exploitation, Malware Analysis, and more! The final round of this international hacking competition sees one team awarded $1,500 USD and one EC-Council Course per team member.
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The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest indoor agricultural event, and it's at Toronto’s Exhibition Place from
November 1 to 10. Meet local farmers and learn more about our agri-tourism experiences at the York Durham Headwaters booth. See you there!
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For unique trip ideas or to plan your perfect day, visit
DurhamTourism.ca
, or call 1-800-413-0017. If this information is required in an accessible format, contact
Durham Tourism.
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