What to do in Quebec in September
September might be the best-kept secret on the Quebec RV calendar. The campgrounds empty out, rates drop, the mosquitoes are gone, the first colours light up in the north — and yet the festival calendar stays surprisingly full. Here's a tour of the province, region by region, to help you plan a busy September on the road.
Why September Is the Best Month to RV in Quebec
- No more bugs. Black flies and mosquitoes are all but gone after mid-August, which makes evenings outside pleasant again.
- Sites are available. After Labour Day, campgrounds free up overnight. You can often book last-minute, even in popular parks.
- Off-season rates. Sépaq applies off-season discounts to several of its campgrounds and accommodations, and many private campgrounds do the same in September.
- Comfortable weather. In Montreal, highs slide from about 23 °C early in the month to 17 °C by the end, with lows dropping from 15 °C to 9 °C. The further north and east you go, the cooler the nights.
- The colours begin. The first tints show up as early as late August at higher elevations and in northern regions — Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord, Charlevoix and Mont-Mégantic.
Outaouais
Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau (Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival) — September 2–6, 2026
The 39th edition opens the month in style at Parc de la Baie in Gatineau: morning and evening balloon launches, concerts and a midway. It's the busiest event in the Outaouais — book your campsite well ahead.
montgolfieresgatineau.com
Riverside Festival — September 11–13, 2026
Electronic music on the banks of the Ottawa River, on the grounds of the Canadian Museum of History. International headliners, 16+. One- to three-day passes available.
festivalriverside.ca
Montreal and Laval
RVing in Montreal takes a bit of strategy: base yourself at a campground on the outskirts (South Shore, Laval, north suburbs) and head downtown by public transit. September 2026 is an especially busy month here.
Taco Fest MTL — September 5–7, 2026
More than 125 kinds of tacos, plus tequila and mezcal, at the Clock Tower Quay in the Old Port. 18+ on the 5th and 6th, family day on the 7th. Tickets from about $17.50.
thetacofest.com
Jackalope — September 11–13, 2026
Canada's biggest action sports festival: skateboarding, BMX, freestyle motocross, concerts and DJs at Jacques-Cartier Quay. Free admission for spectators.
jackalope.co
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal — September 13, 2026
A UCI WorldTour race on the Mount Royal circuit, free to watch from the roadside. Two days earlier, on September 11, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec runs in Quebec City.
gpcqm.ca
UCI Road World Championships — September 20–27, 2026
The event of the year: Montreal hosts the world road cycling championships, with courses reaching out to Brossard and Chambly. Expect major road closures and a serious accommodation crunch across Greater Montreal — book your campsite now if you plan to be there.
Tourisme Montréal info
POP Montreal — September 23–27, 2026
The 25th edition of the city's great independent music gathering, spread across roughly twenty venues in Mile End and the Plateau.
popmontreal.com
Festival Quartiers Danses — September 10–20, 2026
Contemporary dance indoors and out, with much of the outdoor programming free.
quartiersdanses.com
Laval en Folie — September 17–20, 2026
Four days of concerts, cultural activities and food kiosks in Laval, easily reached from campgrounds on the north shore.
lavalenfolie.com
Montérégie
Bières et Saveurs de Chambly — September 4–7, 2026
Quebec's largest craft beer festival, set against Fort Chambly on the edge of the basin. Microbreweries, cideries, distilleries and local food, running Friday 2 p.m. through Monday 6 p.m. (Labour Day long weekend).
bieresetsaveurs.com
Canada's Boating and Outdoor Festival — September 23–27, 2026
At Parc Delpha-Sauvé in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield: free on-water demos, a boat show, a drone show and an illuminated boat parade. A great stop if you're travelling the St. Lawrence corridor.
festivalnautiquepleinair.com
Eastern Townships (Cantons-de-l'Est)
⭐ Fête des Vendanges Magog-Orford — September 5–7 and 12–13, 2026
The biggest food-and-drink event devoted to Quebec wines, ciders and spirits, held at Pointe Merry between Lake Memphremagog and Mont Orford. Two weekends of tastings, with regular, VIP and group packages that include the official glass and tasting coupons. Pair it with the Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route, less than an hour away.
fetedesvendanges.com
Défi Everest Orford — September 25–27, 2026
A charity endurance challenge at Mont Orford: teams climb the mountain at least 19 times to match the height of Everest, raising funds for people living with functional limitations. Worth watching even if you're not climbing, and the colours are starting to turn.
The Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route
160 km and 24 wineries, including Domaine des Côtes d'Ardoise — Quebec's oldest vineyard — and L'Orpailleur. September is the heart of the harvest, and several wineries host open houses and harvest activities.
laroutedesvins.ca
Lanaudière and the Laurentians
1804: L'événement! — September 5–6, 2026, Terrebonne
Historical re-enactment and free outdoor shows at Île-des-Moulins. Great with kids, and the area's parking accommodates RVs reasonably well outside peak hours.
terrebonnemascouche.com
Oktoberfest de Repentigny — September 11–13, 2026
Billed as Quebec's largest Oktoberfest, at Parc de l'Île-Lebel: 80 exhibitors, cooking workshops and Bavarian entertainment. Tickets from about $21.
repentigny.ca
Festival des Artisans de Sainte-Marcelline-de-Kildare — September 19–20, 2026
The 26th edition, on a "Far West" theme, free and spread across several sites in the village. Crafts, tastings and music in one of the prettiest corners of Lanaudière.
ste-marcelline.com
Symphonie des Couleurs — Saint-Donat, late September to mid-October (2026 dates to be confirmed)
Family activities, a community fair and chairlift rides to take in the colours. In 2025 the event ran from September 20 to October 11.
saint-donat.ca
Mont Blanc Fall Colours Festival — September 19 to October 4, 2026
Scenic lift rides and trails in the Upper Laurentians, where the colours run ahead of southern Quebec.
Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec
⭐ Festival Western de Saint-Tite — September 11–20, 2026
This is THE September RV event in Quebec. Ten days of professional rodeo, country concerts, a parade and a demolition derby, in a village of 3,800 people that welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors. Thousands of RVs settle into temporary campgrounds and private lots around town. Book very early: serviced sites go months in advance, and many people dry camp for the duration. Plan your water reserves and electrical autonomy accordingly.
festivalwestern.com
Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie — September 5–7, 2026
The 93rd edition of North America's biggest canoe and rabaska race, running the Saint-Maurice River between La Tuque and Trois-Rivières. You can follow the race from several riverside vantage points.
tourismeshawinigan.com
Festival du Bœuf d'Inverness — September 1–6, 2026
An agricultural and family festival in Centre-du-Québec, with shows, livestock exhibits and entertainment. A genuine small-town festival, exactly the kind RVers love.
festivalduboeuf.com
Le Grand BBQ Warwick — September 11–12, 2026
A "Texas Country" themed food festival. Site admission is free — you only pay for what you eat.
legrandbbqwarwick.ca
Défi des Appalaches — September 12, 2026
A gourmet cycling event around Victoriaville and the L'Érable region: three routes (35, 60 and 80 km) punctuated by tasting stops. Perfect if you carry bikes on the RV.
granddefi.qc.ca
Lyst'ART — September 19–20, 2026
A free gathering of some fifty artists and artisans in Lyster, with hands-on creative workshops open to everyone.
Quebec City, Charlevoix and Chaudière-Appalaches
Carrefour mondial de l'Accordéon — September 4–6, 2026, Montmagny
The 37th edition of a genuinely one-of-a-kind international festival. Weekend site wristband: about $25; afternoon access $10.
accordeonmontmagny.com
Festival du Poulet — September 3–6, 2026, Saint-Damase-de-L'Islet
Demolition derby, farm visits, games and shows. Many activities are free; the derby runs about $25 for adults.
festivaldupoulet.com
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec — September 11, 2026
The world peloton racing through Old Quebec and along Grande Allée. Free from the roadside.
gpcqm.ca
Envol et Macadam — September 10–12, 2026
The 29th edition of Quebec City's punk, rock and alternative festival, at the Agora du Port de Québec.
envoletmacadam.com
Quebec City Film Festival (FCVQ) — September 9–13, 2026
The 15th edition: independent Quebec and international features and shorts in venues across the capital.
fcvq.ca
Ultra-Trail Harricana — September 11–13, 2026, La Malbaie
Trail running in the Charlevoix UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, from a 5 km family run up to 125 km. The weekend is also a fine excuse to drive Route 138 while Charlevoix's colours wake up.
ultratrailharricana.com
Côte-Nord and Saguenay
Béluga Ultra Trail — September 19, 2026
A trail race between Baie Sainte-Marguerite and Tadoussac beach, inside Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay, in support of beluga conservation.
beluga.trailssaglac.org
Festival des oiseaux migrateurs de la Côte-Nord — September 21–27, 2026, Les Bergeronnes
The 16th edition: more than 40 activities, many of them free — guided excursions, birdwatching sessions and talks, right in the middle of migration season.
festivalmigrateurs.com
Grande Corvée des monts Groulx — September 4–7, 2026, Fermont
The 26th annual volunteer gathering to maintain the trails of the Uapishka massif. Free, and a unique way to discover a spectacular northern landscape.
amisdesmontsgroulx.com
Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and the Magdalen Islands
Festi Jazz International de Rimouski — September 3–6, 2026
The 40th edition, with indoor and outdoor stages all over downtown Rimouski. "Explore" pass around $200, or buy tickets individually.
festijazzrimouski.com
Bière Fest de Rivière-du-Loup — September 10–12, 2026
Free admission to Parc Blais; you buy a glass-and-token package for the tastings. A good stop between Quebec City and the Lower St. Lawrence.
bierefest.com
Festival gaspésien de contes et légendes — August 27 to September 6, 2026
In Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis, on the north shore of the peninsula. A storytelling festival best enjoyed in the evening, after a day on Route 132.
tourisme-gaspesie.com
Festival Quad Matapédien — September 4–6, 2026, Amqui
An ATV gathering organized by the Matapédia ATV club, with guided rides and family activities. Plenty of participants show up in an RV with the trailer in tow.
Festival FLÕ — Le Bic, mid-September (2026 dates to be confirmed)
An eco-arts festival built around the river, set against Parc national du Bic. Confirm with Théâtre du Bic.
theatredubic.com
Madelicourons — September 13, 2026, Magdalen Islands
The islands' popular road race. Worth noting: the ferry to the Magdalen Islands requires RV reservations well in advance.
Festival international Contes en Îles — September 27 to October 4, 2026
The 25th edition, across several sites in the archipelago. A good reason to stretch your season into October.
conteseniles.com
Abitibi-Témiscamingue
FME — Festival de musique émergente — September 3–6, 2026, Rouyn-Noranda
The 24th edition: more than 90 artists on 15 stages, free outdoor shows and the famous "hidden shows." One of the best music festivals in Quebec, and a great excuse to drive Route 117 into the northwest.
fmeat.org
Province-Wide: Journées de la culture — September 25–27, 2026
Hundreds of free cultural activities in every region: workshops, artist studio tours, performances and museum open houses. Wherever your RV is parked that weekend, there's something happening nearby.
journeesdelaculture.qc.ca
September's Big Seasonal Draws
Fall colours
The first colours appear at elevation and in the north as early as late August: Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord, Charlevoix, Mont-Mégantic and the higher Laurentian summits. The peak then moves south (Eastern Townships, Outaouais, Montérégie) from late September into mid-October. Two tools worth bookmarking:
- The Bonjour Québec fall colours map, updated region by region starting in late August.
- The Sépaq Fall section, with trail suggestions (Mont-Mégantic, Fjord-du-Saguenay).
Whale watching
September is one of the best months of the season: whales are feeding hard before migration, and the Tadoussac docks are far quieter than in July. The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park interpretation centres stay open from late June to mid-October.
Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park
The snow goose migration
Counts begin in mid-September at Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, about 45 minutes from Quebec City, and the peak falls between late September and mid-October — more than 52,000 geese have been counted in a single day. Daily guided visits and a bird banding station on site.
Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area
Harvest, wineries and pick-your-own
September is harvest season. The Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route — 160 km and 24 wineries in the Eastern Townships — is the most complete circuit in Quebec, and several wineries will let you park an RV on site for a visit (always call ahead). Apple picking is also in full swing and runs into October in the orchards of the Townships and Montérégie.
Cycling and hiking
Sépaq highlights roughly 700 km of cycling trails and 200 hiking trails across its national parks for the fall season. The Route verte, some 5,000 km of it, is far quieter in September than at the height of summer — ideal for an RV-plus-bike trip.
Practical Notes: RVing in September
When do campgrounds close?
- Sépaq: most campgrounds stay open into early or mid-October, with services gradually scaled back. Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, for instance, moves to reduced visitor centre hours from August 24 to October 12, 2026.
- Parks Canada: at Forillon, the Cap-Bon-Ami and Ôasis campgrounds close as early as September 7, 2026, while Des-Rosiers and Petit-Gaspé run until October 12, 2026. At La Mauricie National Park, the serviced Rivière-à-la-Pêche campground is open until October 11, 2026, then unserviced until October 25.
- Private campgrounds: many extend into October, sometimes November. Call before you drive out, especially midweek.
Municipal RV stopovers
Most free municipal RV stopovers ("haltes VR" or "arrêts nuitée") operate roughly from May to October. A couple of examples: Sainte-Croix (May 1 to October 31, free, no water or dump station) and Val-des-Sources (April to October, free). Be warned: there is no province-wide standard — every municipality sets its own dates, night limits and services. Always check the municipality's official website before you go, particularly late in the season.
Four end-of-season habits
- Watch for frost. From mid-September on, overnight frost becomes possible in Gaspésie, on the Côte-Nord, in Saguenay and at elevation. Keep the means to drain your tanks and protect your lines.
- Don't count on dump stations. Several close before the campgrounds themselves do. Plan your dumps ahead along your route.
- Daylight disappears fast. You lose roughly an hour and a half of daylight between September 1 and September 30. Arrive at the campground earlier than you would in July.
- Book for the big weekends. Labour Day (September 4–7), Saint-Tite (September 11–20) and the UCI Worlds in Montreal (September 20–27) will fill up accommodation across their respective regions.
The Month at a Glance
| Dates | Event | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 1–6 | Festival du Bœuf d'Inverness | Centre-du-Québec |
| Sept 2–6 | Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival | Outaouais |
| Sept 3–6 | FME — Emerging Music Festival | Abitibi-Témiscamingue |
| Sept 3–6 | Festi Jazz International de Rimouski | Bas-Saint-Laurent |
| Sept 3–6 | Festival du Poulet | Chaudière-Appalaches |
| Sept 4–6 | Carrefour mondial de l'Accordéon | Chaudière-Appalaches |
| Sept 4–6 | Festival Quad Matapédien | Gaspésie |
| Sept 4–7 | Bières et Saveurs de Chambly | Montérégie |
| Sept 4–7 | Grande Corvée des monts Groulx | Côte-Nord |
| Sept 5–7 | Taco Fest MTL | Montreal |
| Sept 5–7 | Classique internationale de canots | Mauricie |
| Sept 5–7 & 12–13 | Fête des Vendanges Magog-Orford | Eastern Townships |
| Sept 5–6 | 1804: L'événement! | Lanaudière |
| Sept 9–13 | Quebec City Film Festival (FCVQ) | Capitale-Nationale |
| Sept 10–12 | Envol et Macadam | Capitale-Nationale |
| Sept 10–12 | Bière Fest de Rivière-du-Loup | Bas-Saint-Laurent |
| Sept 10–20 | Festival Quartiers Danses | Montreal |
| Sept 11 | Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec | Capitale-Nationale |
| Sept 11–13 | Jackalope | Montreal |
| Sept 11–13 | Riverside Festival | Outaouais |
| Sept 11–13 | Oktoberfest de Repentigny | Lanaudière |
| Sept 11–13 | Ultra-Trail Harricana | Charlevoix |
| Sept 11–20 | ⭐ Festival Western de Saint-Tite | Mauricie |
| Sept 11–12 | Le Grand BBQ Warwick | Centre-du-Québec |
| Sept 12 | Défi des Appalaches | Centre-du-Québec |
| Sept 13 | Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal | Montreal |
| Sept 13 | Madelicourons | Magdalen Islands |
| Sept 17–20 | Laval en Folie | Laval |
| Sept 19 | Béluga Ultra Trail | Côte-Nord / Saguenay |
| Sept 19–20 | Festival des Artisans de Sainte-Marcelline | Lanaudière |
| Sept 19–20 | Lyst'ART | Centre-du-Québec |
| Sept 19–Oct 4 | Mont Blanc Fall Colours Festival | Laurentians |
| Sept 20–27 | ⭐ UCI Road World Championships | Montreal |
| Sept 21–27 | Migratory Bird Festival | Côte-Nord |
| Sept 23–27 | POP Montreal | Montreal |
| Sept 23–27 | Canada's Boating and Outdoor Festival | Montérégie |
| Sept 25–27 | Journées de la culture | Province-wide |
| Sept 25–27 | Défi Everest Orford | Eastern Townships |
| Sept 27–Oct 4 | Festival Contes en Îles | Magdalen Islands |
Dates were verified against official event websites in August 2026. A few programs were not yet final at the time of writing — always confirm with the organizer before you hit the road.