Are you feeling down because summer is over? Don’t be upset. There are many fun things to look forward to in fall!

First, the cooler weather makes it a perfect time to enjoy the beauty of nature. Everywhere you look, you will see trees and bushes changing their colors. They will become different shades of red, orange, brown, and bright yellow. This is such a pretty sight that many people love watching leaves. This activity is called “leaf-peeping.” It means going to different places to look at (and take photos of) the leaves in fall. This activity is so popular that there are even trips in Canada and the US for it.

Second, there are more things to look forward to. But, let’s keep going with the list:

Fall harvest

Did you start to grow plants in a garden this summer? If you did, it’s now the right time to gather what you have grown! In the fall season, you might have apples, corn, squashes, beets, Brussels sprouts and many other things. If you don’t enjoy gardening, you can still have fresh fruits and vegetables. You can buy them at farmer’s markets or at food shops. You can use these to make warm, nice food like soups and stews. You can also make pies and puddings. These foods are good for when the weather is cold.

Did you know that before we had electricity, farmers used the moon when it was time to gather crops? Farmers would wait for the full moon in September. The extra light from the moon allowed them to work late into the night to gather their crops. This is why the full moon that happens on the fall equinox is called the harvest moon.

Aurora Borealis

The best time to look at the northern lights is during the fall. Why is that? It’s because the longest hours of darkness in Canada start in this season. Also, have you heard that Manitoba is a good spot to see the northern lights? People often talk about Churchill, but you might also see this wonderful natural view on a clear night in Winnipeg.
 

Image by Robert Linsdell from Flickr, CC-BY.

Fall camping

Just because summer has ended, it doesn’t mean you have to stay in your room all the time. Going camping in the fall is a unique experience. It allows you to see the leaves changing colour very closely (by the way, do you know why leaves change colour in the fall?). If you’re lucky, you might even see the northern lights. In the evenings, you can start a fire to keep warm and sit near someone. End the experience with some s’mores and warm chocolate drink. Go to Manitoba Parks to find out when you can go camping in the fall and to reserve your spot.

Holidays

In Manitoba, fall season has four special days. We look forward to these days. They are: Labour day (it comes on the first Monday of September), Thanksgiving (it comes on the second Monday of October), Remembrance Day (it comes on November 11), and Halloween (it comes on October 31).

There is a new federal holiday. It is called Truth and Reconciliation Day (it comes on September 30th). It is a day to remember and think about the history of residential schools.

These special days are good times for you to have fun with the community. They also help you to learn more about Canada.

Fall festivals

Manitoba is a place where there is always a festival happening. We have about 15 festivals in September alone. This includes many different types of festivals.

One of these festivals is called ManyFest. There is also another one called the Manitoba Dragon Boat Festival. In the city of Winnipeg, there is the Manitoba Fibre Festival.

In Pembina Valley, there is a festival called the Honey, Garlic and Maple Syrup Festival. In Clearwater, you can find a festival called the Harvest Moon Festival. And in a part of Manitoba called the Interlake region, there is a festival called the Teulon Pumpkinfest.

So, you can enjoy the beauty of nature when the leaves change in the fall. Or, you can go on a trip or two with your family. You can do this before the cold winter starts.

No more bugs!

If you didn’t like mosquitos, wasps, ladybugs or even worms in the summer, you can now go outside and have fun without these pests! The cold weather makes most of these go away. They go to other places or sleep for a very long time.

DST ends

In November, you get to sleep for an extra hour! DST, or Daylight Saving Time, ends at 2:00 a.m. on November 5 in this year (2023). Remember to adjust your clocks. This will stop you from missing any meetings or feeling confused. Do you want to know more about DST? You can read: What is Daylight Saving Time?

 
Article updated August 24, 2023.
 
Sources: 10 facts about the fall season, CBC News; Where to see the best and brightest fall foliage in Canada, Cheryl Santa Maria, The Weather Network; All about fall harvest vegetables, Unlock Food.ca; and Festivals in Manitoba in September, To do Canada. All retrieved August 30, 2018.