10 Best Things to Do in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake has 126 upcoming events across 27 venues between October 26 and December 19, 2026 — and 66 of them are free. From wine cellar tours to ghost walks to world-class theatre, here are the ten best things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake right now.

1. Go wine tasting

Niagara-on-the-Lake is wine country, and the calendar reflects it. Shiny Apple Cider runs its Taste the Season Tasting Passport most weekends — often free — alongside FRESH Fridays | Half-Price Wine by the Glass + Flights at $30. Over at Konzelmann Estate Winery, the Taste the Season event on October 31 costs $75. Queenston Mile Vineyard pairs wine with live music at its weekly Corks & Chords nights ($40–$45, though some sessions are free). Niagara College Teaching Winery pours free at Friday Night Pints every Friday at 4:30 p.m. For something more intimate, the Wine Cellar Tour at Prince of Wales runs most Mondays at 4:30 p.m., and Peller Estates offers a Chef's Exclusive Pairing Experience: The Best of East and West at $198 on November 14.

2. Take a ghost walk

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Ghost Walks run nightly at 8:30 p.m. for $13–$17, making them one of the most affordable evening activities in town. For a theatrical twist on the spooky theme, Ghost Radio Theatre – Hauntings for Adult Ghouls at the Shaw Festival on October 29 at 9:00 p.m. costs $30.

3. Catch a show at Shaw Festival or Festival Theatre

The Shaw Festival is a cornerstone of NOTL's cultural scene. Beyond the ghost theatre event above, Mini Manners Matinees on November 14 ($5–$10) and the Mini Manners Matinees - Workshop and Children's Tea at Festival Theatre ($10) offer family-friendly programming. The Festival Theatre also stages Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella on November 8, with tickets ranging from $40 to $125. A Year with Frog and Toad at Court House Theatre on November 5 is just $10.

4. Explore the arts at Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre

The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre hosts 60 Years in a Large Landscape - A Photographic Retrospective by Ron Planche, a free exhibition open multiple days. On November 1 at 2:00 p.m., the gallery holds an Opening Reception- Unintentional City, Leslie Parker. Come December, the Pumphouse transforms for its Holiday Market on December 4 at 9:30 a.m. — free admission.

5. Unwind with wellness and spa experiences

Pillar and Post is a wellness hub, offering free Walking Garden Meditation on Sundays at 8:00 a.m., free Gentle Flow Yoga at 9:00 a.m., and Yoga/Yoga Nidra sessions on weekday evenings. For a deeper treat, the Spa at Q Full Moon Float on October 26 is $105, and Wellness Wednesdays at Spa at Q at 124 on Queen (Hotel & Spa) runs $100–$140. Twilight Tuesdays at Spa at Q offers a mid-week reset for $55.

6. Enjoy live music at The Irish Harp Pub

The Irish Harp Pub is NOTL's go-to spot for free live entertainment. Irish Traditional Sessions kick things off Monday nights at 7:30 p.m., followed by Music Trivia | Free to Play on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. Midweek brings history-meets-music with A Pint of History: Last Words and Epitaphs on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. and The War of 1812 – Wild & Wicked Weapons at 9:00 p.m. Live acts like Paddyman (Oct 29), Patsy & The Muscle (Oct 30), and Jack van Ginger (Oct 31) round out the week — all free.

7. Dive into local history

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum (Niagara Historical Society) offers Famous & Infamous talks on Mondays at 2:00 p.m. for $0–$10. The 3rd Annual Holiday Sip & Shop at Queenston Pottery Studio on November 14 and 21 combines local craft with a free shopping experience.

8. Learn mixology and whisky appreciation

Several NOTL hotels offer free beverage experiences. Mixology Class sessions at Queen's Landing (Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m.) and at Pillar and Post (alternating Tuesdays) teach cocktail craft at no charge. Whisky Wednesdays rotate between Pillar and Post, The Charles Hotel, and Queen's Landing — all free at 4:00 p.m. Tea Tasting at Prince of Wales on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. is another complimentary experience.

9. Join the Sunday Run Club

For active visitors, Palatine Hills Estate Winery hosts Sunday Run Club at 10:00 a.m. most weekends. It's $25 for some sessions and free for others — a great way to see the vineyard landscape on foot.

10. Celebrate the holiday season

December brings NOTL's festive calendar into full swing. The Candlelight Stroll on December 4 at 4:00 p.m. is free and quintessentially NOTL. The Holiday Market at the Pumphouse Arts Centre opens the same morning. The Inniskillin Holiday Kitchen Party at Inniskillin on November 20 ($150) and the 2026 Harvest Dinner at Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery on November 21 are standout ticketed dining events. For a more casual evening, Boos & Brews Banter Halloween Comedy Night at The Exchange Brewery on October 30 at 7:30 p.m. ($34) brings laughs to the brewery floor.

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Planning your visit

With 66 of 126 upcoming events being free, Niagara-on-the-Lake is remarkably accessible for budget-conscious visitors. Wine tastings, live music at The Irish Harp Pub, yoga and meditation at Pillar and Post, and history talks at the museum all cost nothing. The pricier experiences — Chef's Exclusive Pairing at Peller Estates ($198), the Inniskillin Holiday Kitchen Party ($150), and Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella ($40–$125) — are special-occasion splurges worth booking ahead.