5 Activities To Try Around Nanaimo This Fall

For a city with less than 100,000 people, you might consider Nanaimo sleepy. But during the fall, Nanaimo is packed with activities that will leave you feeling warm, cozy, and maybe a little spooked. As Nanaimo is home to our advertising agency, we’re sharing our top five fall activities to add to your bucket list this season. 

1. Go for a hayride and pick a pumpkin at McNab’s Corn Maze and Produce Farm.

That’s right. Hayrides, a massive pumpkin patch, and a seven-acre corn maze are yours to discover at McNab’s Farm. The farm was established in the early 1960s, but since 2022, the corn maze has become an annual autumn landmark. If getting lost in a corn maze sounds creepy, go for a hayride to the pumpkin patch and grab yourself one to carve or bake into a pie. End your day with a bonfire and grab some farm-fresh produce to take home.   

2. Channel the paranormal on a haunted ghost tour.

Every fall, the Nanaimo Museum hosts the Haunted Nanaimo Lantern Tour. Walk the streets of downtown to haunted landmarks while listening to local stories of the strange and unexplained. Tickets sell out fast so if you missed your chance, don’t worry. Nanoose Bay hosts an annual Halloween Walk at Bumble Bees Farm. You can either get spooked on the all-ages walk or test your courage and go after dark. If you just want to do a solo ghost tour, be sure to check out these historical sites around Nanaimo and learn more about their haunted tales.

3. Follow the pumpkin spice trail and get a taste of Nanaimo.

We’re doing our own twist on the famous Nanaimo Bar Trail and dubbing it the Pumpkin Spice Trail. You can drop by any of these locations during the fall as you’ll be sure to find treats that celebrate the season. If you’re looking for something with a little more punch, go on a brewery tour to any of Nanaimo’s craft beer locations. Are wine or spirits more of your thing? Book a wine tour and visit one of the many vineyards around the city or drop by Arbutus Distillery and try one of their alchemical spirits. 

4. Venture into the surrounding woods and enjoy the fall colours.

If there’s one thing we love about Nanaimo, it’s how well-integrated our city is with nature. Twelve regional parks cover 2,072 hectares of land, 78 kilometers of trails, and over 200 community parks. Whether you want to explore parks along the ocean or high in the mountains, you’re never too far away from walking, biking, or hiking trails. Look for trees like broad-leaf maples, oak, poplar, dogwood, and alder. These trees will turn from green to brown, gold, orange, and a deep crimson red. 

5. Get a bountiful harvest from a local farm or farmer’s market.

Fall is the best time for fresh fruits and vegetables. Gardens are harvested, local farms stock their produce stands, and the Island Roots year-round farmer’s market switches over from its summer vendors to its winter lineup. Featuring Vancouver Island farmers, producers, and artisans, you’ll find plenty of handmade, hand-baked, and hand-grown goods. If you feel like going for a drive, drop by one of the many local farms in the area or visit Coombs Market before it closes its doors in December for the winter season. 

Be sure to wear the right gear for Nanaimo’s fall weather!

No matter which activity you try, be sure to gear up for the season. Nanaimo cools down significantly and gets pretty rainy as we move closer to winter. Hoodies, jackets, toques, and boots will be your best friend. Pro tip—if you own a business or work in sales, have an advertising agency create some cool branded fall swag. Our graphic design team created branded hoodies, hats, socks, and totes bags, that will keep us warm and stylish all season long. Be sure to reach out if you’d like us to design your team some too.