What To Do This Weekend in Durham Region (Sept-11-13, 2026)

Looking for things to do this weekend in Durham Region? The second weekend of the month is one of the biggest of the fall season. The Uxbridge Fall Fair takes over Elgin Park from Friday to Sunday, Pickering's free Cultural Fusion festival fills Saturday afternoon, and farmers markets open from Port Perry to Bowmanville. Here is your weekend guide for Friday, the 11th, through Sunday, the 13th.

Friday, Sept-11

Start the weekend with the fair's opening night, farmers markets and a relaxed evening.

Uxbridge Fall Fair Opening Night

The Uxbridge Fall Fair opens Friday from 5 PM to 11 PM at Elgin Park (180 Main St S) in the Uxbridge community. The tractors roll out for the Friday-night tractor pull starting around 7 PM, with the midway, livestock barns, homecraft exhibits and food vendors filling out the fairgrounds. Gates open at 5 PM, and admission is $15 for adults, $10 for kids 6 to 13, free for ages 5, and under, A family pass for two adults and two kids is $40. Arrive early to roam the barns before the pull starts.

Friday Farmers Markets

The Oshawa Centre Farmers' Market runs from 8 AM to 2 PM in the south parking lot of the Oshawa Centre, with fresh produce, meats, baked goods and artisan vendors. It runs weekly through late October. See the Oshawa Centre website for details.

The Bowmanville Farmers Market sets up at the Rickard Recreation Complex (2440 Durham Regional Highway 2) from 9 AM to 2 PM, offering local produce, flowers and prepared foods from area growers. It repeats Saturday in downtown Bowmanville, so there are plenty of chances to stock up for the weekend.

Saturday, Sept-12

Saturday is the biggest day of the weekend, with the fair, three farmers markets, Pickering's free festival and an indoor marketplace all on the go.

The Uxbridge Fall Fair, Demolition Derby Day

The Uxbridge Fall Fair opens at 8 AM Saturday and runs to around 11 PM. The day's headline is the demolition derby, along with livestock shows, a heavy horse pull, a cruise-in car show, homecraft and horticulture exhibits, motorsports exhibitions and live entertainment at the Rotary Club Bandshell. Weekend passes are $40 for adults and $25 for youth, and admission covers the derby, all shows and the midway. Check the Uxbridge Fair event schedule before you go, as some events run only once.

Port Perry Lakefront Farmers' Market

The Port Perry Lakefront Farmers' Market runs from 8 AM to 3 PM at the waterfront, at the base of Queen Street beside Palmer Park. It is one of the largest markets in Durham Region, with farm-fresh produce, meats, artisan baking, crafts, honey, maple syrup and live entertainment. Pick up early-fall apples and squash, then stroll the historic Queen Street shops or walk the Lake Scugog waterfront nearby. It is a great way to spend a morning in the Port Perry community. See the market's website for vendor news.

More Markets on Saturday

The North Oshawa Farmers' Market runs from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Delpark Homes Centre (1661 Harmony Road North. The Bowmanville Farmers Market moves to historic downtown Bowmanville (120 Wellington Street) at the same hours, 9 AM to 2 PM. Both are long-running weekly markets worth a stop. See the North Oshawa Farmers' Market site for the full vendor lineup.

The Oshawa Markets

If the weather turns, head to The Oshawa Markets at 555 Simcoe Street South, near Highway 401. It is Durham Region's largest indoor weekend marketplace with 200-plus vendors, open Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM. Expect everything from fresh produce and baked goods to antiques, crafts, clothing and collectibles. It is a reliable, weather-proof outing for the whole family. More on their website.

Cultural Fusion in Pickering

The City of Pickering hosts Cultural Fusion Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM at Dorsay Community and Heritage Centre (2365 Concession Rd 6). This free family celebration of the community's diversity features local food vendors, interactive activities, live entertainment, roaming performances and a vendor market. A free shuttle runs every 15 minutes from the 407 Commuter Lot at 3355 Brock Road. Learn more on the City of Pickering's Cultural Fusion page. If you are new to the area, our Pickering community guide covers what it is like to live there.

Afternoon Walk: Port Perry Waterfront Trail

For a slower pace, the Port Perry Waterfront Trail runs about 5 km along Lake Scugog from Highway 7A to Scugog Line 8, passing Palmer Park downtown, with picnic spots, a beach and views across the lake. It is one of the prettiest stretches of waterfront in North Durham, particularly as the leaves begin to turn. If the fair leaves you curious about moving to this lakeside town, our guide to moving to Port Perry is a good place to start. Trail details are on the Township of Scugog trails page.

Sunday, Sept-13

Close out the weekend with garlic, a final day at the fair, Newcastle's market and more trails.

Garlic Festival at the Uxbridge Farmers' Market

The Uxbridge Farmers' Market hosts its annual Garlic Festival Sunday from 9 AM to 2 PM at 14 Victoria Street, beside The Second Wedge Brewing Co. Expect fresh garlic, garlic-infused foods, local produce, artisan baking, crafts and live music from the market's 50-plus vendors. It is a perfect stop before or after the fair, and a chance to taste why we wrote a community spotlight on The Second Wedge. Event details are on the market's events page.

Final Day of the Uxbridge Fall Fair

The fair's closing day runs from 8 AM to 5 PM, with livestock shows, homecraft exhibits, motorsports exhibitions and entertainment at the bandshell wrapping up an afternoon. Sunday is also a good day for the family weekend pass, which holds its $40 price. Grab a final fair food bite before the gates close for another year at Elgin Park.

Clarington Farmers' Market in Newcastle

The Clarington Farmers' Market runs Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Newcastle Memorial Arena (103 Caroline St W. With local produce, meats, baked goods, crafts and prepared foods, it is a cheerful Sunday morning stop in the Clarington community. Follow the market on Facebook for weekly vendor updates.

Get Outside: Durham Regional Forest

Just north of downtown Uxbridge, the Durham Regional Forest spreads across 596 hectares atop the Oak Ridges Moraine, with hiking and mountain biking trails that connect to the long-distance Oak Ridges Moraine Trail network. Managed by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, it is known as the Trail Capital of Canada and a gorgeous place to spend a golden fall afternoon. If you are pondering whether country living near these trails fits your family, our honest guide to country living in Durham Region is worth a read.

Waterfront Walk in Whitby

In southern Durham, the Kiwanis Heydenshore Park waterfront at 589 Water Street in Whitby offers lakeside paths, green space and views across Lake Ontario, and a relaxed spot to end the weekend. It also hosts events through the fall, so check the Whitby community guide if you are thinking of making the city home.

Plan Your Weekend

Whether you are catching the tractor pull at the Uxbridge Fall Fair, celebrating at Cultural Fusion in Pickering, or stocking up at a farmers market, there is plenty to do across Durham Region this weekend. New to the area? Our Uxbridge community guide and Port Perry community guide are great introductions to the towns hosting the biggest events, and our Weekend Guide archive has every edition we have published so far.

Looking further ahead, the Beaverton Fall Fair in Brock Township returns the following weekend, the 18th and 19th, with midway rides, agricultural displays and homecraft classes, so the fair season is far from over. Find more about the Brock community on our site. Wherever your weekend takes you, we hope you have a safe and happy one in our beautiful Durham Region.