What to Do in Québec in October
October 2026 in Québec by RV: colours, one last weekend, and the season winding down
After a September packed with festivals, October changes tone. It's the month when fall colours peak, when the last big camping weekend of the year happens — Thanksgiving, October 12 — and when most campgrounds quietly close for the season toward the end of the month. Fewer festivals than September, but just as good a reason to hit the road: it's the month Québec looks its best.
Why October is still a good month to RV in Québec
- The colours peak. Early October up north and at higher elevation (Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Charlevoix, the Laurentians, the Eastern Townships), late September to mid-October farther south and along the river — plan around the region you're aiming for.
- The last long weekend of the season. Thanksgiving falls on Monday, October 12, 2026 — often the last real rush at campgrounds before several of them close.
- Off-season rates kick in right after. At Sépaq, October 12 marks the end of high season: from the 13th on, the low-season discount (roughly 30%) applies, on top of the 60-and-over discount (Sunday to Thursday, through October 31) and a 15% discount on the 3rd night and beyond for ready-to-camp stays.
- But the window closes fast. Most campgrounds, public and private alike, close for the season by the end of October — always confirm the exact dates for the specific campground you're headed to rather than assuming it's still open.
- Nights get noticeably colder. Expect temperatures near or below freezing in several regions by mid-October — a good real-world test of the RV's heating before winterizing.
Québec City (Capitale-Nationale)
Québec en toutes lettres — October 15–25, 2026
A literary festival held across several cultural venues in downtown Québec City: readings, performances and talks, with many free activities both indoors and outdoors.
L'OFF JAZZ — October 6–15, 2026
Jazz and contemporary music at Lion d'Or and Salle Bourgie, in a more intimate format than the big summer festivals.
Sentiers insolites — through October 12, 2026
A public art trail through Québec City's parks (EXMURO), with installations woven into the landscape — notably at Parc des Saules and the Sainte-Foy outdoor recreation centre. A nice way to combine a walk in nature with some culture before it wraps up.
Montréal and Laval
Same strategy as September for an RV: camp on the outskirts (South Shore, Laval, north crown) and take transit into the city.
Festival Flux — October 4–10, 2026
Electronic and contemporary music across several Montréal venues.
Fête des Citrouilles — La Ronde, October 3–25, 2026
La Ronde goes full Halloween: games, shows and family activities on a pumpkin theme, every weekend in October.
TEMPÉO — October 15–17, 2026
A dance and music festival in the Quartier des spectacles.
Festival Phénomena — October 23, 2026
Electronic music, with Marie Davidson among the acts.
Montreal Burlesque Festival — throughout October 2026
Burlesque shows across several Montréal venues all month long.
Lumifest — Vieux-Longueuil, October 26–28, 2026
Light installations in Vieux-Longueuil, a short RV ride from Montréal over the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.
Montérégie
Ferme Reid, in Sabrevois, opens its fields for pick-your-own pumpkins and squash on weekends through the end of October — an easy stop for an RV heading through the Montérégie or coming back up from the U.S. through the nearby border crossing.
Eastern Townships (Estrie)
Les Comptonales — October 11–12, 2026
A food and drink tour spread across several spots in Compton: Parc des lions, l'Érablière du village, Domaine Ives Hill, Verger Le Gros Pierre and Fromagerie La Station.
La Flambée des couleurs — weekends, September 18 to October 17, 2026
Fall-colour-themed activities across the region, every weekend into mid-October.
Sutton Fall Festival — weekends, through October 11, 2026
Hikes, kids' activities and local food against a backdrop of mountains in colour.
Granby Zoo
The zoo stays open through the fall colours, with the L'Orient Express aerial train for a bird's-eye view of its 1,500 residents.
The Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route (160 km, 24 vineyards, including Domaine des Côtes d'Ardoise and l'Orpailleur) also stays active in October, though the harvest itself peaks mostly in September.
Laurentians and Basses-Laurentides
Argenteuil Pumpkin Festival — Saturday, October 10, 2026
At Parc Carillon in Saint-André-d'Argenteuil, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.: a mini-farm, a carousel, inflatable games, fire truck rides, and a giant-vegetable contest with some seriously impressive pumpkins.
Pick-your-own pumpkins and squash
Several orchards in the Basses-Laurentides, including À la croisée des pommes in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, open their fields for pick-your-own with play areas and a mini-farm for families.
Lanaudière
Ferme Cormier, in L'Assomption, also opens its fields for pick-your-own squash and pumpkins in the fall — worth pairing with a stop in the neighbouring Laurentians.
Mauricie
Beer and spirits festival — October 9–12, 2026, Trois-Rivières
At Esplanade de l'Amphithéâtre Cogeco: over 80 exhibitors, including several microbreweries and distilleries, with tastings and family activities. Daily admission $5, or a 4-day pass for $15.
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
Salon du livre du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean — October 1–4, 2026
The 62nd edition of the region's book fair — a solid backup plan if the weather turns rainy during a stay in the area.
This is also one of the regions where fall colours arrive earliest in Québec, often as early as the very end of September at higher elevations — worth watching for photographers.
Gaspésie
Marathon Gaspesia — October 24, 2026, Percé
A race across several locations in eastern Gaspésie, with Percé Rock as the backdrop for part of the course.
The Jardin de Métis, in Grand-Métis, stays open through October 4, 2026 for the final stretch of its season.
Halloween: one last family outing before winter
For an RV wrapping up its season in late October, a few family-friendly Halloween options:
- Verger Labonté — an evening Halloween maze (October 3, 4, 5, 9 and 16, 6 to 10 p.m.), with a lit-up, musical pumpkin trail.
- Fête des Citrouilles at La Ronde (Montréal) — see above.
- Argenteuil Pumpkin Festival (Laurentians) — see above.
Before you go: the October checklist
- Confirm the closing date of the campground you're headed to — many close by the end of October, some right after Thanksgiving.
- Check the overnight forecast for your destination — freezing temperatures aren't unusual by mid-October, especially at elevation or up north.
- Book early for Thanksgiving (October 12) — it's often the last fully-booked weekend before things quiet down.
- Take advantage of Sépaq's low-season discount starting October 13, right after the long weekend.
| Dates | Event | Region |
| Oct 1–4 | Salon du livre du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean | Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean |
| Oct 3–25 | Fête des Citrouilles — La Ronde | Montréal |
| Oct 3, 4, 5, 9, 16 | Halloween maze — Verger Labonté | Montérégie/Laurentians |
| Oct 4–10 | Festival Flux | Montréal |
| through Oct 4 | Jardin de Métis (season closing) | Gaspésie |
| Oct 6–15 | L'OFF JAZZ | Québec City / Montréal |
| Oct 9–12 | Beer and spirits festival | Mauricie (Trois-Rivières) |
| Oct 10 | Argenteuil Pumpkin Festival | Laurentians |
| Oct 11–12 | Les Comptonales | Eastern Townships |
| Oct 12 | Thanksgiving (statutory holiday) | All of Québec |
| through Oct 12 | Sentiers insolites | Québec City |
| through Oct 17 | La Flambée des couleurs | Eastern Townships |
| Oct 15–17 | TEMPÉO | Montréal |
| Oct 15–25 | Québec en toutes lettres | Québec City |
| Oct 23 | Festival Phénomena | Montréal |
| Oct 24 | Marathon Gaspesia | Gaspésie (Percé) |
| Oct 26–28 | Lumifest | Vieux-Longueuil (Montérégie) |
| all October | Montreal Burlesque Festival | Montréal |
| weekends, through late Oct | Pick-your-own pumpkins/squash (Ferme Reid, Ferme Cormier, Laurentians orchards) | Montérégie / Lanaudière / Laurentians |
Dates and details verified through online research at the time of writing — as with any event, plans can change or be cancelled, so always confirm with the organizer's official site before heading out. Campground closing dates vary by location: check directly with your destination.
