Free, Family-Friendly Fall Activities in Mississauga

Top Image Photo Credit: The Riverwood Conservancy

Food and living expenses continue to increase but you can enjoy the return of cooler weather this fall with these FREE activities in Mississauga! Whether it’s ongoing free activities you can sign up for, cultural festivals or events to celebrate the spooky season – we’ve compiled a list for you to explore the nature and diversity of Mississauga without spending anything (or very little).

 

Scheduled Weekly / Monthly Activities

Homegrown Mississauga Fall Season Garden Care and Maintenance Workshop

Learn food gardening basics at this free Fall Season Garden Care and Maintenance Workshop, suitable for all ages (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult). Walk-ins are welcome! The four-part series takes place on Monday, September 8 and Monday, September 22 (5:30 pm – 7 pm), Thursday, October 2 (6:00 pm – 7:30 pm), and Monday, October 20 (5:30 pm – 7 pm).

Community Rides

Saturdays this fall, you can hop on your bike for different community rides across the city! Join the Cooksville Community Ride on Saturday, September 27 and ride along the Queensway Trail. There’s also a nighttime Halloween Community Ride happening on Saturday, October 25, for all the witches, ghouls and goblins to explore Port Credit!

Play in the Park

The City of Mississauga hosts a free, supervised, outdoor program for children aged 6-12 years old at various parks across the city. These programs feature organized games, sports, crafts, and theme days. This drop-in program runs on a first-come-first-served basis, and each program location has a limited number of participant spots available each day. Check out this list to find participating parks.

Latin Arts & Crafts for Kids

On the last Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., kids ages 4-12 years old and their families are welcome to participate and learn about Latin American culture with fun arts and crafts activities! This event, put on by Spanish4You Canada, costs $10 per family (up to 4 kids per registration) and all materials are provided. You must register in advance for this monthly activity. The dates this fall are: September 27, October 25, and November 29.

$5 – $10 Riverwood Conservancy Programs

The Riverwood Conservancy offers inexpensive programs and activities for all ages! Enhance your strength and balance with Tai Chi Stick in Nature ($10) on October 2, witness the Salmon Run at Erindale Park ($10) on September 29 or October 6, enjoy the brightly coloured leaves on a fall walk ($5) on October 16 or October 21, stretch and connect with nature at a Yoga in Nature class ($10) or a Qi Gong in Nature class ($10) on October 18, marvel at the stars during one of their Astronomy Nights ($10) on September 30 or October 28.

The above events are free or discounted to those with a TRC membership, which range depending on age from $35 – $50.

Weekend Events & Festivals

Friday, September 26 – Saturday, September 27: 2nd Annual Arts of the Middle East Festival

Save the date for the second annual Arts of the Middle East Festival happening at Celebration Square! Attendees can enjoy live performances by local artists and from the Middle East, a dedicated kids’ area, exciting family activities, a bustling bazaar, and a diverse food corner offering authentic Middle Eastern flavours.

Saturday, September 27: 2025 Buntoberfest!

Calling all bunny lovers! Pumpkin’s Acres Rabbit Rescue is hosting Buntoberfest from 11 am – 4 pm on September 27 at Vic Johnston Community Centre! Come hang out with like-minded bunny people and meet adoptable rabbits, eat yummy vegan food and shop for yourself and your bunny!

Saturday, September 27: Gently Used Clothing Mart

From 9 am – 2 pm on Saturday, September 27, Eden United Church’s Mission and Outreach Hub will be hosting a cash-only Gently Used Clothing Mart! There will be clothing for all ages from infants to adults – plus shoes, bags, linens, and more. Items are priced from $1 – $5 and funds raised will support Eden’s Mission and Outreach work. This sale will take place at Eden United Church (3051 Battleford Road) – which, fun fact, is also the location of one of the food banks in our network of 60+ food programs across Mississauga! If you’d like to donate gently used clothing to the sale, you can do so starting on Monday, September 22.

Saturday, September 27: Port Credit BIA Historic Walking Tour

Explore Port Credit’s first suburb: Credit Grove! This free walking tour journeys back 100 years to explore the first generation country homes that still line the streets of Port Credit’s first suburban neighbourhood. The tour starts at 11 am at Forest Avenue Public School.

Sunday, September 28: Walking Together – A Journey for Reconciliation

The Indigenous Network presents a day of learning, storytelling, art, and walking together to honour truth, reconciliation, and shared healing at the Riverwood Conservancy. This free activity takes place from 11 am – 2 pm on Sunday, September 28. Register for this event here.

Tuesday, September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Bradley Museum

Visit the Bradley Museum to learn more about Truth and Reconciliation in Mississauga. Guided tours of the historic house and museum grounds will share the history of Indigenous peoples on the treaty lands now known as Mississauga. Visitors will also learn about the 94 Calls to Action and ways the City of Mississauga is moving toward reconciliation. Tours run every half-hour between 12 pm and 4 pm. Admission is free, and walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended to guarantee a spot. Register here.

Friday, October 3 – Sunday, October 5: Canada Literature Festival

Check out the very first Canada Literature Festival, a three-day celebration that promises to bring together the diverse and captivating multilingual voices of Global Literature. This free, family-friendly event will take place from October 3 – October 5 at Celebration Square.

Fund & Food Drives for Food Banks Mississauga

Volunteers from Food Banks Mississauga will be at grocery stores across Mississauga collecting donations for our Thanksgiving Drive! This activity will cost you something BUT it’s for a great cause: ensuring our neighbours experiencing food insecurity across Mississauga can gather around the table and enjoy this Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, togetherness, and healthy food. 🍂🥧

Saturday, October 4: 10 am – 4 pm
Thursday, October 9: 5 pm – 8 pm
Friday, October 10: 5 pm – 8 pm
Saturday, October 11: 10 am – 4 pm

Store locations will be confirmed soon, so please check back for details!

Saturday, October 4: Beginner Birding

Are you an aspiring bird watcher? If so, check out this beginner birding program at the Riverwood Conservancy! Suitable for all ages, this free program includes binoculars to borrow, a bird checklist, and map.

 

Friday, October 10 – Saturday, October 11: Tastes of South East Asia Lantern Festival

Head to Celebration Square from 12 pm – 10 pm on October 10 and 11 for a talent contest, authentic South East Asian cuisine, live music, fashion shows, and kids entertainment! This free event, celebrating the rich art, culture, and cuisine of South, East, and Southeast Asia, will also shine a light on a vital cause: fighting human trafficking and child exploitation. “Every lantern represents more than a wish — it’s a beacon of hope, symbolizing freedom, resilience, and our shared commitment to ending this injustice. Each flame carries the voices of those who can’t speak, proving that light will always conquer darkness.”

Wednesday, October 22: Streetsville Historic Walking Tour

Come out for an engaging walking tour that will acquaint you with the village and learn more about Streetsville’s fascinating history. This Historical Walking Tour runs for 1.5 hours, but you are welcome to come and go as you please. The tour is free and no pre-registration is required. The tours begin on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 pm at the clock in the Village Square (Queen St. S and Main St.).

Diwali Events

Saturday, October 4 – Sunday, October 5: Diwali RazzMatazz

Get ready to light it up at Diwali RazzMatazz happening at Celebration Square! This event is all about the Razzle and Dazzle around the festive celebrations of Diwali, also known as the festival of lights. The event will showcase dance performances and musical concerts, feature kids activities and a Diwali Bazaar, and offer lots of mouth-watering food flavours!

Sunday, October 5 and Sunday, October 12: Diwali Dhamaka

Get ready for the ultimate Diwali celebrations with vibrant cultural performances, delicious food stalls, fun activities for kids and stunning Diwali decorations! Plus, every child will receive a free gift! Bring your family and friends to Diwali Dhamaka 2025 to celebrate the festival of lights at Capitol Banquet Hall on Sunday, October 5 or Sunday, October 12 from 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

 

 

Halloween Events

Saturday, October 25: Streetsville Spooktacular

If you’re looking for an event to kick off Halloween, visit the Streetsville Spooktacular! It will be taking place on Saturday, October 25 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Come in costume, bring your treat bag, and get ready for a spooky good time!

Saturday, October 25: Halloween Community Ride

From 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 25, pedal through the trails and roads of Port Credit to explore the city at night while admiring some haunted locations. This free, family-friendly community ride is after dark, so make sure you have a working white front light and a red back light for your bike. Dressing up in spooky costumes is encouraged but optional!

Saturday, October 25: Halloween in the Village

It’s the return of spooky season so bring your family and put on your most boo-rific costumes for Halloween in the Village! There will be trick-or-treating, activities and more happening at Clarkson Village on Saturday, October 25 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

 

 

Ongoing Free Activities

To participate in the following ongoing free activities, you must sign up online or borrow a pass.

Visit the Peel Art Gallery

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can get a “PAMA Family General Admission Pass” that allows free admission to the Peel Art Gallery for you and your family (up to 2 adults and 5 children).

Explore Mississauga’s Natural Beauty

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can borrow a pass to visit the Credit Valley Conservation area or any Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) parks for free. TRCA Parks include the Black Creek Pioneer Village, Bruce’s Mills Conservation Park, Heart Lake Conservation Park, and more! You can also get an Ontario Parks Pass to access and visit over 100 provincial parks for free.

Volunteer at Food Banks Mississauga

Sign up to volunteer and support neighbours experiencing food insecurity!

Discover Egyptian History in Mississauga

Learn all about Egyptian history at the Egyptian Museum in Riverview, Mississauga. Families with children under six can visit the Egyptian Museum for free, while also taking advantage of the 50% discount for all other ages to enter with tickets at only $10.

Sauga At Play

Sauga At Play is a free, drop-in, after-school program offered during the school year for 10 to 18-year-olds. Find drop-in programs like badminton, basketball, volleyball, and soccer at various community centres across the city. Youth Memberships may be required, visit your local community centre to pick up your membership and view the drop-in program schedule!

This article is a part of a seasonal series, so check back this winter for a list of free, family-friendly activities for the winter months!