👋Hey gang— this weekend is stacked. Pumpkin patches, Diwali celebrations, and Oktoberfest are taking over the weekend. Let’s go!

My Top 5 Picks This Week Around Durham

1. 🎃 Brock’s Fall Fest with pumpkin painting, crafts, games & outdoor double-feature movies – BROCK

2. 🍏 Ocala AppleFest with apple picking, live music & food vendors – SCUGOG

3. 🎪 Newcastle BIA Harvest Festival with crafters, kids activities, tractor displays & live music – CLARINGTON

4. 🛠️ RONA Kiddos Halloween Workshop – UXBRIDGE

5. 🎶 Community Champions Storytime featuring Oshawa Fire Services with stories & hands-on activities – OSHAWA

Things I’m Loving This Week:

🍂 Pingles Harvest Festival | CLARINGTON
Daily: Weekdays 9AM-6PM | Weekends 9AM-7PM
Location: 1805 Taunton Rd, Hampton
Cost: Thu/Fri $13, Sat/Sun $18 (+ HST & fees) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Wagon rides, corn maze, apple & pumpkin picking, fresh cider donuts. Playland access included with every ticket!

🍎 Watson Farms Pick-Your-Own Apples | CLARINGTON
Daily | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: 2287 Hwy 2, Bowmanville
Cost: Adults $5, Children $3, Kids 2 & under FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Tractor rides, corn maze, petting zoo, pick-your-own apples. Apples $2.75/lb or $40/25lb bag.

🍏 Maple Grove Orchards Pick-Your-Own Apples | CLARINGTON
Daily | 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Location: 3700 Maple Grove Rd, Bowmanville
Cost: FREE admission, $35/Half Bushel Bag | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Climb the tractor, race through corn stalk tunnels, jump in straw, photo ops at pumpkin house. Minimum 1 bag per 2 adults.

🍎 Archibald's Estate Winery Pick-Your-Own-Apples | CLARINGTON
Tue-Fri: 10AM-5PM | Sat-Sun: 9AM-5PM
Location: 6275 Liberty St. N, Bowmanville
Cost: FREE admission, minimum $45 per car | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Drive-in apple picking through 10,000 trees! Stay in your car at check-in, then park & walk in orchard.

🍏 Ocala AppleFest | SCUGOG
Friday, Sept 26: 12:00 PM–8:00 PM | Weekend: 12:00 PM–5:00 PM
Location: Ocala Winery & Orchards, 971 High Point Rd, Port Perry
Cost: Adults $5, Children $3, Kids under 4 FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Apple picking, live music, food vendors throughout the weekend. Festival runs until Oct 13, dogs allowed!

🍏 Nature's Bounty Farm Pick-Your-Own Apples | SCUGOG
Daily: Thursday-Sunday | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: 651 Scugog Line 2, Port Perry
Cost: Free admission, apple picking cost varies | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Pick apples, visit farm animals, climb straw pyramid, corn bin play, pumpkin picking. Open Wed-Sun until end of October.

🎶 Babies, Movement & Music | WHITBY
Thursday, Oct 2 | 10:00 AM–10:45 AM
Location: Whitby Public Library – Central Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: 0–12 months
🔗 Event Details
Bond with your baby through rhythm, music, and movement in this library-led drop-in class.

 🧩 Fairytale Corn Maze Crusade | SCUGOG
Friday, Oct 3 | 12:00 PM–5:00 PM
Location: Buzzing Bees Adventure Farm,
Cost: $9 per person | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Solve puzzles in a 10-acre maze and try to pull the sword from the stone.

🍿 Mommy Connections K-Pop Family Movie Night | OSHAWA
Friday, Oct 3 | 4:00 PM–8:00 PM
Location: Northview Community Centre
Cost: $15/adult, $10/child | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
PJs, karaoke, face painting, bouncy castle, and a big-screen K-Pop family movie.

🌳 Ajax Community Tree & Wildflower Planting | AJAX
Saturday, Oct 4 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Location: Kinsmen Park, Ajax
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Get your hands dirty for a great cause! Help plant trees and wildflowers while teaching kids about environmental stewardship.

🎃 Brock's Fall Fest | BROCK
Saturday, Oct 4 | 4:00 PM–10:00 PM
Location: Rick MacLeish Memorial Community Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Perfect autumn celebration for the whole family! Kids will love pumpkin painting and craft stations, plus games and live music throughout the evening. Stay for the outdoor double-feature movie screening under the stars. Food vendors on-site.

📚 Harvest Festival Book Sale | CLARINGTON
Saturday, Oct 4 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Newcastle Library
Cost: FREE (Fill a bag for $10) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Annual book sale with proceeds supporting CLMA.

🎪 Newcastle BIA Harvest Festival | CLARINGTON
Saturday, Oct 4 | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Downtown Newcastle (King Ave from Beaver to North St)
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Craft vendors, tractor displays, bouncy castles, and live music.

🚒 Community Champions Storytime (Fire Services) | OSHAWA
Saturday, Oct 4 | 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
Location: Jess Hann Branch Library
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Meet real firefighters through stories and activities.

🛍️ Fall Fest Vendor Market | OSHAWA
Saturday, Oct 4 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Parkwood Estate
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
60+ vendors, raffles, and family-friendly shopping.

🎃 Pumpkin Palooza | SCUGOG
Saturday, Oct 4 & Sunday, Oct 5 | 9:30 AM–4:00 PM (last entry 3 PM)
Location: Willowtree Farm
Cost: $12/person ages 2+ | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Classic fall farm experience perfect for Instagram-worthy family photos! Pick your perfect pumpkin from the patch, enjoy wagon rides around the farm, and let kids run wild with family-friendly games. Cash or card accepted. Free parking.

🎪 Harvest Festival at Forsythe Family Farms | UXBRIDGE
Saturday, Oct 4 & Sunday, Oct 5 | 9:30 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Forsythe Family Farms, Uxbridge
Cost: $15+HST (age 3+), under 2 FREE; Family of 5 online deal $68.31 | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Ultimate fall farm adventure! Navigate the giant corn maze, explore pumpkin patches, meet friendly farm animals, and enjoy scenic tractor wagon rides. Multiple walking trails perfect for families. Save money by booking the family package online. Snack bar and washrooms on-site. Wear comfortable shoes!

🛠️ RONA Kiddos Workshop: Bat-Shaped Lantern | UXBRIDGE
Saturday, Oct 4 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: RONA Uxbridge
Cost: FREE | Age: 5–12
🔗 Event Details
Perfect Halloween craft activity! Kids build and decorate their own bat-shaped lantern with step-by-step help from friendly RONA staff. All materials provided. Great for developing building skills and Halloween decor.

🎶 Taylor Swift "The Life of a Showgirl" Listening Party | CLARINGTON
Saturday, Oct 4 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Markets Ontario, Bowmanville
Cost: $10/person, $15 with DIY tote option | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Bracelet making, photo stations, trivia, prizes, and music.

🏛️ History in the Park | WHITBY
Saturday, Oct 4 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Lynde House Museum, Whitby
Cost: FREE (donations welcome) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Hands-on heritage activities, demos, and museum tours.

🍂 Fall Harvest Fundraiser | UXBRIDGE
Sunday, Oct 5 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Forsythe Family Farms, Uxbridge
Cost: $25 for produce bag + free family admission | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Buy a produce bag to support charity and enjoy full-day farm access.

👩‍👧 Mama Mingle Monday at Playville | SCUGOG
Monday, Oct 6 | 9:00 AM–6:00 PM (arrive 9–11 AM for 50% off)
Location: Playville Port Perry
Cost: $16.99/child 3+, $13.99 under 3; adults FREE with child | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Beat the Monday blues! Perfect for connecting with other moms while kids burn energy in the massive indoor playground. Huge discount if you arrive early (check their Instagram for the promo code). Clean facilities, café on-site for coffee and snacks. Socks required for play area.

🥕 Pickering Farmers' Market | PICKERING
Tuesday, Oct 7 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Last chance of the season! Stock up on fresh produce, homemade baked goods, and unique local crafts. Great atmosphere for families - kids love seeing all the vendors. Some vendors accept cash only, so bring small bills. Free parking at the recreation complex.

📚 Bedtime Bash | OSHAWA
Wednesday, Oct 8 | 6:15 PM–7:00 PM
Location: Oshawa Library – McLaughlin Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Stories, songs, and activities to help kids wind down.

🎶 Babies, Movement & Music | WHITBY
Wednesday, Oct 8 | 10:30 AM–11:00 AM
Location: Central Library, Whitby Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: 0–18 months
🔗 Event Details
Songs, rhymes, and movement activities for babies and caregivers.

🎵 Musical Babies with EarlyON | PICKERING
Wednesday, Oct 8 | 1:30 PM–2:30 PM
Location: George Ashe Library
Cost: FREE | Age: 0–15 months
🔗 Event Details
Interactive songs, nursery rhymes, and instruments for babies.

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