CAN'T-MISS EVENTS IN THE BAY OF QUINTE: FALL 2025
Summer winding down and transitioning into fall doesn’t mean the fun stops. A change of seasons brings a new set of festivals and events taking place around the Bay of Quinte region. Celebrate the fall harvest, enjoy some of the best in local craft beverages, and take in lots of live music.
Written by Anna Fraiberg
Read time: 3 min
Belleville Downtown Blues Festival
September 5-6
The third annual Belleville Downtown Blues Festival will take over the downtown on September 5 and 6 with over a dozen performances and musician workshops. Admission to the festival is free with donations for Gleaners Food Bank.
The headlining act is the Shawn Dore Big Blues Band, who will kick off the festival at the Pinnacle Playhouse on Friday, September 5 at 7 pm.
Beautiful View Music Festival
September 13
Set in the heart of downtown Belleville, Beautiful View is a homegrown music festival founded by acclaimed artists Hannah Georgas and Ten Kills the Pack. With careful curation, this festival is rooted in a deep love for indie music and the power of songwriting, celebrating creative voices, where raw stories and authentic sound take shape.
Visit their site to claim your free day passes or purchase tickets for the limited-capacity headliner event featuring Julie Doiron, Hayden, and Bells Larsen.
Farms Open Quinte & Hastings
September 12-14
Farms Open is a celebration of our local farms, agritourism businesses and community in Belleville, Quinte West and Hastings. Visitors are invited to embark on a self-guided tour of participating locations, to meet the passionate growers, producers, and hosts behind the scenes. Learn about their unique offerings, products and hear firsthand why they love what they do. It’s a chance to connect with the people who make this industry thrive and experience the charm of our agricultural heritage.
Doors Open
Belleville: September 13
Quinte West: October 4
Doors Open is an annual heritage tourism event that gives a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most well-known landmarks and facilities. The cities of Belleville and Quinte West will each have over a dozen locations participating. Check the details for each community below.
Touch-a-Truck Family Fun Fest
September 13
The City of Belleville and Rotary Club of Belleville are bringing the Touch-a-Truck Family Fun Fest to West Zwick’s Park on Saturday, September 13, from 10 am to 3 pm. This family-friendly event gets you up close with trucks, tractors, buses and more for a day of excitement and engagement for all ages.
Guitars n' Cars
September 20
Head to downtown Napanee for a good ol’ fashioned car show on September 20. Spend your day shopping at local boutiques, listening to live music by Big Black Smoke and Full English, eating delicious BBQ, and browsing hundreds of classic cars and hot rods. Free admission—just bring your love of nostalgia!
Hops on the Water
September 20
The Hops on the Water Craft Beer Festival Finale, marking its final year after a decade, is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 11 am to 7 pm at the Front Street Farmers’ Market Pavilion in Trenton. Entry is a $10 flat rate at the door (cashless only), with no pre-sale tickets. Attendees can enjoy local craft breweries, food, live music by Mystic Highway, buskers, and games. Tokens are $2.50 each with a 10-token maximum purchase. The 2026 Quinte West Fusion Fest will be teased on-site.
Brighton Applefest
September 25-28
For over 50 years now, the Municipality of Brighton has been celebrating Applefest to highlight the height of apple harvesting season.
Events run from September 25-28, with Saturday the 27 being the big day not to miss out on. On that day, the street fair will fill Main St with over 150 local vendors and other events around town include helicopter rides, a car show, live music and a children’s village.
Porchfest Belleville
September 27
Wander the streets of Belleville’s Old East Hill and hop from porch to porch to hear live music from local talents. Things kick off at Glanmore National Historic Site at 12:45 pm and music goes from 1-4 pm.
Downtown Trenton Ladies' Night Out
October 2
Ladies’ Night Out 2025 is a Mrs. Roper Romp packed with fun activities, fabulous deals, and plenty of excitement in downtown Trenton!
Savour the Flavour
October 4
Similar to the annually anticipated Savour the Chill, Savour the Flavour is the perfect chance to take in the beautiful fall season while enjoying an ultimate comfort dish. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 12 to 3 pm. This tasting contest will see downtown restaurants compete for the People’s Choice Award, voted by the public, and the Judges’ Choice Award, voted by our judges. Bring your own spoon or fork to the event.
Art & Acres Fine Art Festival and Market
October 4-5
Celebrate creativity, craftsmanship, and community at Art & Acres: a vibrant two-day festival set against the backdrop of Ontario’s rich fall colours at the picturesque Brambleberry Farm in Wooler.
Discover an inspiring collection of juried fine art, emerging talent, and skilled artisan vendors from across the province. You can also stroll through open fields, meet the makers, and experience the beauty of art and harvest side by side.
Belleville Diwali x Canadian Food Expo
October 19
Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It’s the most widely celebrated holiday of the year in India, and the celebrations in Belleville grow every year in October. The event typically includes a wide array of vendors, professional dancers, DJs and a dance party. This year’s Diwali festival will take place in downtown Belleville along with the Saffron Hub Canadian Food Expo.
THAT'S NOT ALL!
In addition to these large-scale festivals and events, there’s always something going on around the BoQ like live music, markets, workshops and shows. Check our events calendar often so you don’t miss out! No more excuses for being bored.
