Best of Fall in Charlottetown

Charlottetown offers many fantastic reasons to visit during the fall, where an array of yellows, oranges, and reds are splashed across the Island’s landscape. From the abundance of food-focused fall festivals to the variety of outdoor activities that are perfect in sweater weather temperatures, it’s all too easy to fall in love with the crisp days and cozy nights in Charlottetown.

1) CYCLE OR HIKE THE TRAILS
Whether you’re an avid mountain biker or a casual hiker, there’s no better place to witness the colours of the seasons than throughout the various wooded trails just beyond the city limits. For the thrill-seekers, check out Meridian63° MTB for a guided mountain biking adventure, or head to Brookvale, Bonshaw, or Winter River for some of the most stunning hiking trails on the Island. You can also hook onto the Confederation Trail from downtown Charlottetown, which features over 400km of cycling and walking trails spanning across the Island.

Check out The Island Walk, this 700km walking trail loops around PEI, taking you from tip to tip along the outer perimeter of the Island. It features a mix of inland and coastal sections, and intertwines through PEI’s two major cities, Charlottetown and Summerside.

2) FLAVOURS OF THE SEASON
Fall is the ultimate time to cozy up in restaurants across the city and enjoy the flavours of PEI’s harvest. Whether it’s a juicy tenderloin and garlic mashed potatoes, a freshly shucked plate of oysters, a selection of yummy sushi, or a piping hot dish of butter chicken curry, our chefs are primed and ready to rock your world with the freshest ingredients in the coolest spaces.

3) VIBRANT HERITAGE ROADS
Pack a picnic and plan to make an afternoon or a whole day of exploring the Island’s stunning red clay heritage roads, where breathtaking scenery greets you at every turn. Keep a lookout for local plants and flowers, as well as signs of the rural life that has shaped the Island’s character and culture. Old barns and golden hay bales also make for great photo ops and stunning red cliffs towering over the ocean are never far from view.

4) OUTDOOR MARKETS GALORE
Fall is the ideal time to hit up one of our many outdoor markets. Whether it’s the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the Downtown Farmers’ Market each Sunday, or Farm Day in the City (Oct 1), the Island’s largest outdoor market and street festival, nothing gives you a better sense of Island culture than meeting the people who make this place so special.

5) A PLETHORA OF FESTIVALS & EVENTS (2023)

PEI International Shellfish Festival – Taking place at the Charlottetown Event Grounds, this is a kitchen party of epic proportions you do not want to miss. Packed with culinary demos, celebrity chefs, delicious dining experiences, the best of the best seafood chowder, live music, oyster shucking competitions, and more. Sept 14 – 17

Charlottetown Scarecrow Festival– This annual festival decks the streets of downtown with hundreds of unique scarecrows installations & fall decor, live music, haunted ghost walks, psychic fairs, and many more festive (and spooky) events. Sept 29 – Oct 22

Fall Flavours Festival – If you enjoy incredible food, celebrity chefs and unique experiences, you’ll definitely want to come during the annual Fall Flavours Festival. This autumn celebration features numerous culinary festivals, events & foodie adventures from tip to tip across the Island. Sept – Oct

Farm Day In The City – Taking place on Queen Street in downtown Charlottetown, Farm Day is one of the most magical, fun and delicious days of the year. Join over 180 farmers, producers, hot food purveyors, crafters, and artisans from across Prince Edward Island for the Island’s largest outdoor market and street festival. Oct 1

Street Feast Block Party– A colourful two-day block party featuring special BBQ-themed food creations and quirkiness from some of the city’s favourite local hangouts. Kent Street comes alive with street food & local drinks, live music, comedy & drag shows, party games, dance performances, street art, and more. Oct 6 & 7

The PEI Marathon – Seasoned marathoners searching for a gorgeous Boston Marathon qualifier race, first-time 10kers looking for a new challenge, or even the enthusiastic cheerleaders will all love the PEI Marathon. It’s an exciting and invigorating way to discover the beauty of Charlottetown and the surrounding area while pursuing your personal best or cheering on the runners. Oct 13 – 15

The PEI Spirits Festival – The PEI Spirits Festival features exquisite liquors from near and far. You’ll have the chance to sample high-end whiskeys, rums, gins, tequilas, bourbons, and other spirits from around the world, along with delicious food pairings prepared by local chefs and tasty cocktails created right before your eyes. Nov 10

The PEI Beer Festival – The Prince Edward Island Beer Festival is a celebration of beers and ciders from the best breweries on the East Coast and beyond. Enjoy tasting sessions, live entertainment, local food pairings, a cask corner, and more. Dates TBD

And there you have it! Come make all your cozy fall dreams come true.

Need a place to stay? Check out our amazing selection of accommodations. Curious what else to do around Charlottetown? Don’t miss a beat over on our events page. And for everything else you need to know about Charlottetown, go to our “Need to Know” page!

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