Festivals galore – dragons, garlic, BBQs, films, apples, pumpkins and more!

We invite you to come and enjoy some of Stratford’s finer and funkier autumn festivals, from Dragon Boats, celebrations of food, stimulating history, farm events for the kids, garlic and Quilts. Stratford has a wonderful variety of festivals, events and special exhibitions for all ages.

• The Dragonboat Races, Saturday September 19th, transform the Avon River from the tranquil to the colourful and thrilling with competitors from throughout Ontario coming to test their skills. Come early, the crowds will be huge.
• SPLAT, a Slow Food tomato festival at McCully’s Hill Farms on September 12 and the Stratford Garlic Festival
• Fall in the county is the best place for kids to get in touch with their roots and would be incomplete without a celebration of the harvest scene. Starting September 19, and for every weekend in September and October, Birtch Farms and Estate Winery family fun rules with scarecrow making, hayrides, picking 15 varieties of apples and more.
• Art in the Park features the work of local Stratford artists displayed on the banks of the Avon every Sat; Sun and Wed until the end of September
• Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival, September 26-27 farmers market, BBQs, chefs, authors, music, artisans and tastings in the garden district.
• Heritage Stratford Festival, October 17 – 18, walks, tours, antique show, presentations on restoration and more.
• artrepreneurship at Factory 163 on October 20 gives the opportunity to Meet the Artists in your own backyard! Also, Creative Connections with keynote speakers Ian E Wilson and Bill Poole from the University of Waterloo.
• DocFest Stratford, October 22 – 25 international, thought provoking non-fiction films and lots more…