There are certain signs that autumn has officially arrived in Southwestern Ontario.

The first pumpkins appear.

The apples start showing up by the bushel.

Someone gets very excited about wearing a sweater.

And then, almost overnight, the fairgrounds come alive.

There are certain signs that fall has officially arrived in Southwestern Ontario.

The first pumpkins appear.

The apples start showing up by the bushel.

Someone gets very excited about wearing a sweater.

And then, almost overnight, the fairgrounds come alive.

If you're new to London, fall is one of the easiest and most enjoyable times to get out and discover your new home. From London's Western Fair to century-old agricultural fairs in the surrounding communities, the season is filled with midway rides, livestock, parades, live music, local vendors, homemade baking and enough fair food to make you forget that you were planning to eat sensibly.

Here are seven fall fairs in London and area worth putting on your calendar this September and October.

Western Fair — London

Let's start with the big one.

The 149th Western Fair takes over Western Fair District from September 11–20, bringing ten days of rides, food, music, animals and entertainment to London. It is, quite simply, one of those events that feels like part of the city's DNA.

If you're new to London, this is the obvious place to begin.

The Western Fair is big enough that you can spend an entire day there or pop in for a couple of hours and pretend you have self-control.

There are midway rides, food vendors, live entertainment, and plenty to see and do. But don't skip the Animal Barn. It is one of the fair's perennial favourites, and for many visitors it's the part that makes the Western Fair feel like an actual agricultural fair rather than simply a very large carnival.

This year, the barn will feature 13 breeds of livestock, including mini horses, beef and dairy cattle, pigs, water buffalo, sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas. You can get up close to the animals and see the farmers and agricultural exhibitors who are at the heart of the fair.

And there's something wonderfully delightful about watching children discover these farm animals for the first time, although adults seem to get just as excited.

The Western Fair also retains its agricultural and creative-arts roots, with competitions ranging from horticulture and culinary arts to photography, crafts and visual arts.

And, of course, there are the things you probably came expecting: midway rides, fair food, and a rather impressive collection of entertainment. This year even includes daily flying pig races, which seems like an excellent reminder that no one should ever underestimate what can happen at a fall fair.

For newcomers, the Western Fair is a perfect place to start. It's big, busy, and unmistakably London, but beneath all the lights, rides, and funnel cakes is the agricultural tradition that has been part of the fair since its beginnings.

In other words, you can ride the Ferris wheel and admire someone's prize-winning vegetables.

This is a judgment-free zone.

Embro Fall Fair

If Western Fair is the big city version of fall-fair season, the Embro Fall Fair is where things become considerably more small-town.

The fair runs September 18–20, and celebrates the talents, traditions and agricultural life of the surrounding rural community. There are homecraft exhibits, livestock, family activities, a community meal, a pumpkin prince and princess, vendors and plenty of opportunities to discover what happens when an entire community gets very enthusiastic about its fair.

And then there are the Farmer Olympics.

Yes, really.

Teams compete in a series of challenges that are designed to test strength, skill, and competitive spirit. The organizers are quick to point out that you don't actually have to be a farmer to participate.

Which is probably reassuring to those of us whose agricultural qualifications extend primarily to keeping a basil plant alive.

The fair also brings live entertainment to the weekend, along with all the wonderfully eclectic activities that make a country fair feel like a country fair.

This is the sort of event where you can wander around without a particularly ambitious plan and still end up having a surprisingly full day.

And that's rather the point.

Downtown Oktoberfest — St. Thomas

Meanwhile, just down the road, St. Thomas has decided that fall should involve a little more lederhosen.

Downtown Oktoberfest takes place Saturday, September 19, from 2–10 p.m. in downtown St. Thomas, centred around Talbot Street and Ross Street.

It's a family-friendly celebration with live music, food vendors, downtown shopping, seasonal activities, a beer garden and local vendors.

But the detail that caught our attention?

Free train rides.

The event includes rides on the L&PS train, along with pumpkin decorating, photo opportunities and other seasonal activities.

Free train rides at a fall festival.

You could spend the afternoon wandering downtown, listen to some music, grab something to eat, decorate a pumpkin and then hop aboard a train.

It's difficult to improve upon that itinerary.

And if you're new to London, it's also a lovely excuse to explore St. Thomas. It's close enough for an easy outing, but has its own distinct character and history.

Sometimes the best way to get to know the area around your new home is simply to go somewhere you've never been.

Preferably somewhere with a train.

Thorndale Fall Fair

By late September, things start getting properly rural.

The Thorndale Fall Fair runs September 25–27, and this is where you get the full traditional agricultural-fair experience: livestock, horses, agricultural exhibits, homecrafts, entertainment, vendors, a midway and the ever-popular demolition derby.

But if you've never been to a fair with heavy horses and Haflingers, make a note of Sunday morning.

The Heavy Horse Show begins at 10:30 a.m. on September 27, with numerous classes for heavy horses and Haflingers.

And yes, there are unicorn hitches.

Not mythical unicorns.

We checked.

A unicorn hitch is simply a particular horse hitch arrangement, but frankly, the name is far more exciting than the explanation.

Thorndale is also a good reminder that agricultural fairs aren't simply midway attractions. A tremendous amount of community effort happens behind the scenes: exhibitors, farmers, bakers, gardeners, craftspeople, volunteers, and competitors all bring something to the table.

Sometimes literally.

And then there's a demolition derby.

Balance is important.

Glencoe Fall Fair

Unfortunately, Southwestern Ontario has made a scheduling error.

The Thorndale Fall Fair and Glencoe Fall Fair happen on the same weekend.

You'll have to choose.

But 2026 gives us a great reason to make the trip to Glencoe: the Glencoe Agricultural Society is celebrating 150 years of the Glencoe Fair.

The fair runs September 25–26 and features agricultural and 4-H livestock shows, exhibits, a midway, entertainment, and plenty of traditional fair activities. Friday night brings the demolition derby, including a kids' Power Wheels class to get things rolling. Saturday brings the parade, and then at 11:30 a.m., the Heavy Horse Show takes centre stage.

There's something wonderfully old-fashioned about watching these enormous, powerful horses compete at a fall fair. And in a year when Glencoe is celebrating 150 years of its fair, it feels particularly fitting to see such a traditional part of agricultural life still drawing a crowd.

Add in the midway, children's activities, live music, fireworks and the outdoor fair dance, and you've got a pretty full Saturday.

That's really what makes Glencoe worth including in a newcomer guide.

You're not just attending an event.

You're stepping into something that has been part of the community for a century and a half.

And that's worth celebrating

Ilderton Fall Fair

October arrives, and with it the Ilderton Fall Fair running from October 2–4.

This may be the fair that most closely matches the picture many people have in their heads when they hear the words Ontario fall fair.

The Ilderton Agricultural Society describes it as one of the larger county fairs in Southern Ontario, with a large parade, vendors, midway, and competitions in homecraft, livestock, juniors, and 4-H.

And because Ilderton is only a short drive from London, it's an especially easy way for newcomers to get a taste of rural Ontario without having to make a full day of the journey.

The fair runs Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, with the midway, parade, competitions and plenty of traditional fair entertainment.

It's also where you can begin to appreciate the serious business of agricultural competition.

The flowers are serious.

The vegetables are serious.

The baking is very serious.

Somewhere, right now, someone's zucchini is preparing for the most important weekend of its life.

Dorchester Fair

And then, almost perfectly, the fall-fair season brings us to Thanksgiving weekend.

The Dorchester Fair runs October 9–12, making it the final stop on our little tour of autumn fairs around London.

And this year's parade theme is: Haunted Harvest.

Honestly, if there were ever a weekend for a haunted harvest, Thanksgiving seems appropriate.

The Dorchester Fair brings together agriculture, homecrafts, culinary arts, flowers, produce, photography, crafts, exhibits, entertainment, vendors, family activities, and the midway. The 2026 prize book confirms a wonderfully broad range of competitions, from vegetables and flowers to baking and creative work.

The fair's agricultural roots are on full display, but so is the community spirit that makes these smaller fairs so appealing.

And because it falls on Thanksgiving weekend, it feels like a fitting finale.

The leaves are changing.

The air has that unmistakable October crispness.

The fairgrounds are buzzing.

And somewhere nearby, someone is carrying a pumpkin that is considerably larger than anything they could possibly need.

Perfect.

Seven Fairs. One Very Good Autumn.

And there you have it.

Seven opportunities to experience a very particular part of life in Southwestern Ontario.

You can start with the big-city spectacle of the Western Fair, discover the small-town charm of Embro, head to St. Thomas for Oktoberfest and a free train ride, then spend the final weekends of September and early October exploring Thorndale, Glencoe and Ilderton before finishing with Dorchester's Thanksgiving weekend fair.

You don't have to go to all seven.

Although, obviously, we won't judge.

And if you're new to London, there's something especially nice about these events. They're not designed primarily for tourists. They're community traditions. People come back year after year, bringing their children, grandchildren, friends and neighbours.

You simply get to join in.

You don't need to understand the finer points of livestock judging.

You don't need to know what a Haflinger is.

Just show up.

Walk around.

Listen to the music.

Watch the parade.

Admire somebody's spectacular pumpkin.

Eat the thing you promised yourself you wouldn't eat.

And somewhere between the midway lights and the first really crisp evening of the season, you might discover that you're beginning to feel a little less like a newcomer.

Because perhaps that's the best thing about fall in London and the surrounding communities.

You don't have to wait until you feel at home to start enjoying the place.

You can start at the fair. 🍂

Fall Fair Season Has Arrived!