🔔 Seasons Change, and Fall Is Here!

👋 This Week in NOTL

Here’s what’s on tap:

• Sweet Tooth Stops 🍰

• Fall Pottery Harvest 🌾 

• Oktoberfest at Ironwood 🍻 

• Grape & Wine Festival 🍇 

• Ontario Culture days 🎭

Let’s dive in!

Sweet Tooth Stops

• Cows – Born in Prince Edward Island and now a Niagara favourite, this creamery is famous for its rich ice cream and playful flavours.

• Fritters-on-the-Lake – Home of the legendary apple fritters, made hot and fresh while you wait — a true Niagara-on-the-Lake treat.

• Pistacchio Gelateria – Serving authentic Italian gelato with silky texture and bold flavours, right in the heart of Old Town.

• Craig’s Cookies – Small but mighty, this shop bakes gooey, over-the-top cookies packed with nostalgic fillings.

• Niagara Home Bakery – A local staple since 1930, known for its classic butter tarts and other timeless baked goods.

Sponsored by Flax & Fire, Queenston Pottery, & Lakeside Pottery

🍂 Fall Pottery Harvest

This fall, three beloved local studios are teaming up to host a special weekend of creativity, community, and collaboration. The Fall Pottery Harvest runs October 4–5, 10 AM to 5 PM, and invites you to discover the artistry of Niagara’s pottery scene while enjoying prizes and refreshments along the way.

Start your journey at Flax & Fire, tucked along 853 Lakeshore Rd in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where you can pick up your event pass and your first stamp. From there, it’s just a short drive to Lakeside Pottery on 755 Lakeshore Rd, a favourite stop for locals and visitors alike. Round out the loop with a visit to Queenston Pottery at 1648 York Rd, a studio known for welcoming guests into the creative process.

Along the way, guests can enjoy light refreshments, meet the artists, and see what’s new in each space. Collect stamps from all three studios, and you’ll be entered into a special end-of-weekend prize draw — with one unique piece from each studio up for grabs.

To follow along before you visit, check out Instagram and see what Flax & Fire, Lakeside Pottery’s, and Queenston Pottery are all up to ahead of the Fall Harvest!

✨ A fall afternoon spent discovering local artistry, supporting Niagara makers, and maybe even finding that perfect one-of-a-kind piece — that’s what the Fall Pottery Harvest is all about.

Events

🍻 Oktoberfest at Ironwood

This Saturday, Ironwood Cider House is transforming into a Bavarian-style celebration for Oktoberfest 25. From 12 PM to 9 PM, expect a full day of craft beer, cider, wine, and hearty Oktoberfest eats, all paired with live music and that signature oompah energy.

The outdoor space at 1425 Lakeshore Rd makes the perfect backdrop for long tables, steins in hand, and a lively festival vibe. Entertainment runs throughout the day, with Power Haus on stage from 12–3 PM, and John Claus closing things out from 5–8 PM.

Whether you’re in it for the music, the food, or just an afternoon of good company, Ironwood’s Oktoberfest is a fall tradition worth raising a glass to.

🍂 Prost to local flavours and a weekend done right in NOTL!

🍇 Niagara Grape & Wine Festival – This Weekend

One of Niagara’s signature celebrations is here — the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival takes over St. Catharines this weekend, September 26–28. From the Grand Parade to Montebello Park’s wine and culinary experience, the festival is a showcase of the region’s vineyards, food, and music.

Locals can sip their way through dozens of Niagara wineries, enjoy live entertainment, and take in the vibrant energy that has made this Canada’s largest wine festival. Highlights include the Grande Parade on Saturday, family-friendly programming in the park, and, of course, the chance to sample the very best from across Wine Country.

For those in Niagara-on-the-Lake, it’s a perfect excuse to spend the day in St. Catharines and celebrate the harvest that puts our region on the map.

🍷 Find full details, schedules, and ticket information on the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival website.

🎨 Ontario Culture Days in Niagara

Ontario Culture Days is underway, and Niagara is right in the centre of the action. From open studios to performances and gallery tours, the festival shines a light on the local artists, venues, and cultural spaces that make our region unique.

One example this weekend is the Shaw Festival’s free Backstage Tours (Sept. 26–28), offering a rare peek behind the curtain at the Festival Theatre. Guests can explore dressing rooms, the wardrobe shop, and other behind-the-scenes spaces that bring productions to life — a perfect glimpse of the kind of experiences Culture Days is all about.

With just a couple of weeks left in the festival, now is the time to get involved. Whether it’s theatre, art, music, or hands-on workshops, Niagara is full of opportunities to connect with culture before the season winds down.

🍂 Don’t miss out — discover the schedule of Ontario Culture Days events and plan your stops while there’s still time.

NOTL News Partners are local businesses and organizations committed to growing alongside us here in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Together, we’re building connections, celebrating community, and sharing the stories that make this town special.

If you’re interested in what it looks like to be a NOTL News Partner, let’s connect.