When to Visit

Experience The County Year-Round

Been here in the sunny summer months? Come see The County in a different light. The winter offers a slower pace, epic starry skies and cozy comforts. Check out our seasonal recommendations below for year-round inspiration. There’s never a bad time to visit: the wineries, craft breweries and cideries are open twelve months a year!

Spring

Put on your Spring boots and come to The County!

Eagerly awaited, each spring brings blooming lilac hedges as tall as houses, rare migratory birds stopping for a rest, the return of asparagus, wild leeks and spinach to local restaurant menus and our sweetest treat, maple syrup. Lake Ontario is warming up but it’s worth it to bundle up for beach days, hit the trails for trillium-filled forest hikes, get dancing at music festivals, do some art studio hopping, and explore popular spots without the crowds of summer.

Spring County events:

  • Spring Countylicious
  • Spring Birding Festival (May)
  • Terroir Wine Celebration (May)
  • Rotary Lilac Ride (May)
  • Terroir Run (End of May)
  • Farmers’ Market (May Start)

Summer

It’s not just about the beach…

Hot summer days are when you’ll find enough visitors to make up a small city at Sandbanks or North Beach Provincial Parks enjoying the clear shallow waters and running down the dunes. Campgrounds and popular spots are full, festivals are plentiful, boats and canoes are docked in the harbours and The County is bustling. Vacationers from Ontario, Quebec and across the ocean line up for the chance to sip and savour what The County has to offer.

Summer County events:

  • Festival Players of Prince Edward County (all summer)
  • Base31 - Summer Concert Series (all summer)
  • Comedy Country Series (all summer)
  • PEC Lavender Festival (July)
  • Art in The County (July)
  • PEC Yoga Festival (July)
  • PEC Jazz Festival (August)
  • PEC Chamber Music Festival (August)
  • BIGLAKE Festival (August)

Fall

Experience the bounty of The County during harvest season!

True to our agricultural roots as the former Garden County of Canada – when we were canning one third of the country’s tomatoes and pumpkins (no big deal) – fall is when warm days and cool nights prompt harvesting from fields and vineyards. There’s still plenty of sunshine to enjoy at the beach when escaping the city and the summer crowds. Check out the tractor pull at the local fair, hit the Farmers’ Markets for seasonal eats or perhaps get your hands dirty helping out at a winery picking party. Bring your bike or rent one here to explore the natural beauty of the island on two wheels.

Fall County events:

Winter

The County is magical in winter

Swimsuit weather is over but the icy lakeshores make for stunning sunsets and photography. Warm up at a local winery, brewery, cidery or restaurant – they often have bonfires and snowshoes on hand. Head downtown to peruse boutique shops and find that perfect County-made gift, or two, in case you eat one on the way home. Winter in The County feels nostalgic and vibrant, it’s when the winemaker is the one pouring your samples and you can tour like a local.

Tip: Call ahead. In the winter season, some businesses modify their hours to allow their staff to rest up from the busy summer season. It’s the perfect time for quiet, light travel.

Winter County events:

  • BIGLAKE Art - Winter Concerts
  • Élevage: Winter Wine Festival (February)
  • Barn Burner (February)
  • Flashback February (February)
  • Maple in The County (March)