What To Do This Weekend in Trent Hills: Oct 23-25, 2026

This is the last full weekend before Halloween, and the town leans into it. The fairgrounds light up for a family pumpkin festival, the market is still in full harvest mode, and the bridges and trails are wearing their final gold. There is enough here for a full three days without leaving the municipality. Here is how to spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Friday, October 23: Pumpkinfest at the Fairgrounds

The headline event is Pumpkinfest, the family Halloween fundraiser for the Campbellford Fair, running Friday evening from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Campbellford Fairgrounds at 315 County Road 38. Expect pumpkin carving and decorating, a costume parade and contest, games and candy, and a silent auction, all run by the Campbellford-Seymour Agricultural Society. It is the kind of low-key, local night that makes a small town feel like home. Check the fair's site or the Trent Hills tourism weekend page to confirm the evening's lineup.

Before that, ease into the day at the Campbellford branch of the Trent Hills Public Library at 98 Bridge St. East, open Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Later, Church-Key Brewing Company at 1678 County Road 38 is open from 10 a.m. to dusk for a pint and a growler fill.

For dinner before the festival, downtown Campbellford has solid options: The Dockside Bistro on Queen Street serves fresh, locally minded plates, Tap & Tonic at 18 Bridge Street West is a friendly pub with a full menu, and Antonia's Bistro at 28 Doxsee Ave. South is a relaxed spot for a meal. Our Campbellford neighbourhood guide walks through the downtown dining and shopping scene if you want a fuller picture.

Saturday, October 24: Market Morning, a Gorge Crossing, and a Brewery

Start Saturday at the Campbellford Farmers' Market, open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot at the corner of River and Front Street South, across from TD Bank. The market runs every Saturday through the end of October, and Oct 24 is one of its last Saturdays: pumpkins, squash, apples, honey, meats, and baked goods are all at their best. The Campbellford branch of the library is also open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

After the market, drive over to the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge. Ferris Provincial Park's main entrance closed for the season on Oct 18, but the 300-foot bridge over the Trent River is free and open year-round. Park free in the lot at 15 Trent Drive beside Locks 11 and 12 of the Trent-Severn Waterway, then follow the short trail to the bridge. With the last gold leaves still holding, it is the best photo stop of the weekend.

In the afternoon, drive out County Road 38 to Church-Key Brewing Company at 1678 County Road 38 in Campbellford. The tasting room in the converted 1878 church is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to dusk, a warm spot for a pint after a cold walk across the gorge.

Wrap the evening downtown. The Aron Theatre Co-op in the heart of downtown Campbellford runs a first-run film Saturday night, with showtimes posted on its site. The World's Largest Toonie in Old Mill Park on Grand Road is a free photo stop along the Trent River, honouring local wildlife artist Brent Townsend. Our downtown Campbellford buyer's guide covers the shops and landmarks if you want the full tour.

Sunday, October 25: Trail Walks, a Warkworth Run, and a Slow Afternoon

Sunday is for fresh air. The Seymour Conservation Area on County Road 30 offers an easy woodland loop, and the Rotary Trail runs about six kilometres along the Trent-Severn Waterway, connecting the locks toward downtown Campbellford. Both are open from sunrise to sunset, and the late-October light on the river is worth the walk.

In the afternoon, head to Warkworth. Robin's Nest Farm Market at 14260 County Road 29 is open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with farm-fresh beef, pork, chicken, lamb, preserves, honey, maple syrup, and homemade baking. Warkworth's Main Street and the historic Town Hall Centre for the Arts at 40 Main Street make a pleasant autumn stroll, and our buyer's guide to Hastings and Warkworth walks through both villages.

Back in Campbellford, The Trent at 63 Front St. North is a downtown option for coffee and brunch, and Church-Key Brewing is open Sunday from 10 a.m. to dusk if you want a relaxed tasting-room afternoon.

That is your weekend in Trent Hills. A pumpkin festival, a harvest market, a free walk across the gorge, and the town cinema: late October in a small river town, done right. Check the Trent Hills events calendar before you head out, catch last weekend's plans in the archived Oct 16-18 guide, browse the Weekend Guide archive for past editions, and for a closer look at why people settle here, read what makes Campbellford special for home buyers or browse the full blog.