-- The Magic of Lanterns, Sept. 9-Oct. 31: Few fall festivals have a higher visual "wow" factor than The Magic of Lanterns in Montreal. More than 700 traditional Chinese lanterns made of silk illuminate various areas of the Chinese Garden section of the Montreal Botanical Garden. The lanterns are designed in Montreal and handmade by craftsmen in Shanghai. The annual fall festival of lights marks the arrival of autumn. See tourism-montreal.org.
-- Prince Edward Island International Shellfish Festival, Sept. 15-18: Where can you gorge on lobster, crab and mussels, watch oyster-shucking competitions and culinary demonstrations, plus take in some live music all in one place? Try the International Shellfish Festival, which some have called Atlantic Canada's biggest kitchen party. The 16th-annual event, which takes place at the Historic Charlottetown Waterfront, also features celebrity chefs, the PEI Potato Seafood Chowder Championship and the International Chowder Championship. The event promises live music from some of the best acts in Atlantic Canada. Contact 1-866-955-2003 or peishellfish.com.
-- Niagara Wine Festival, Sept. 16-25: More than 100 fun-filled events are planned for the 60th-annual Niagara Wine Festival next month, and perhaps surprisingly, not all of them are wine focused. Along with winery tours, tastings and wine seminars, look for concerts each weekend, a focus on Niagara cuisine, and two parades: The Pied Piper Parade in St. Catharines on Sept. 17 (with the participation of children from the Niagara region), and the Grande Parade on Sept. 24. A celebrity luncheon on Sept. 14 will feature national affairs columnist Chantal Hebert. The festival hub is in historic Montebello Park in downtown St. Catharines. For more check newvintagefestival.com.
-- Fall Okanagan Wine Festival, Sept. 30-Oct. 9: Wine festivals are common but the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival is said to be the only one that occurs during harvest time. More than 100 wineries will participate in some of the 165 wine-related events throughout the valley over 10 days. One of the participants is Quails' Gate Winery, whose wine was served to William and Kate during their recent visit to the Northwest Territories. Events include WestJet Wine Tastings (one of the signature kick-off events) on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. More than 40 wineries will showcase 150 wines each evening. Tickets are $65 (for this event). Other events include wine-paired lunches and dinners at the wineries and educational seminars like an "All You Need Is Cheese & Wine" seminar at Manteo Resort. See thewinefestivals.com.
Visitors to the Okanagan can take in the region's cenic beauty on one of five new wine trails. KelownaWineTrails.com.
-- Celtic Colours International Festival, Oct. 7-15: This nine-day musical extravaganza throughout Cape Breton, N.S., has the added advantage of taking place when the region's trees are in full fall splendour. Cajun and Appalachian connections to Celtic music are this year's focus, with artists in residence Ron Bourgeois, a Cheticamp songwriter, and Bruce Molsky, an old time Appalachian fiddler and singer from the U.S.
Among the dozens of performers at this 15th-annual event are the Black Family from Ireland, BeauSoliel avec Michael Doucet from Louisiana, Ireland's Alan Kelly Quartet, and Scottish Gaelic singer Kathleen MacInnes. They'll join a host of the region's own favourites including Ashley MacIsaac, J.P. Cormier, the Elliot Brothers and Mary Jane Lamond. One of several "special projects" this year is The Barra MacNeils' Celtic Roots and Branches concert (Oct. 15) featuring the Barra MacNeils and other festival performers.
Along with the usual shows dedicated to Cape Breton fiddlers, piping, guitar, piano, Gaelic song and dancing, concerts will also celebrate the contribution of legendary Cape Breton composer Dan R. MacDonald, and pay tribute to Alice Freeman for hosting ceilidhs in Inverness for over 20 years.) See celtic-colours.com.
-- Prince Edward County (Ontario) Pumpkinfest, Oct. 15: This annual festival in Wellington got a boost by one of its citizens Bill Greer, a former Reeve of Wellington who, in 1996, grew one of the biggest pumpkins ever -- weighing in at 456 kilos! The 14th-annual Pumpkinfest begins with a pancake breakfast, followed by a Parade of the Giant Pumpkins, then contests, children's games and entertainment as well as craft tables, and food from noon until 4:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the
Prince Edward County Pumpkin Growers and the Prince Edward Country Pumpkinfest Committee. Check pec.on.ca/pumpkinfest.
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