Santa making the rounds in parades across Ontario

   One-Tank Trip for Oct. 31/15

   (c) By Jim Fox

   With less than two months until Christmas, the jolly gent in the big red suit will soon be making the rounds at parades in his honour.

   Off he will go with a hearty “ho, ho, ho” on tour to cities and towns across Ontario and beyond to the delight of thousands of children.

   November is the busiest month for his public appearances combined with the launch of Christmas tree lighting ceremonies and festivals of lights.

Ho, ho, ho and off we go as Santa reigns in his Toronto parade. (Ontario Tourism - Daniel Taub)

   The granddaddy of Santa Claus parades is Toronto’s now in its 111th year and happens on Nov. 15 and runs for three hours.

   It is said to be the longest running children’s parade in the world and is telecast internationally each year.

For a good time, head for The D, the Motor City

   One-Tank Trip for Oct. 24/15

   (c) By Jim Fox

   For a good time, start your engine and head for Detroit, the Motor City.

   These days it can be called America’s Great Comeback City after speeding away from several years of economic woes.

   “Detroit’s restaurant scene is thriving, our museums are hosting new exhibits and new retail continues to open throughout metro Detroit,” said Larry Alexander, president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.

   “We welcome our Canadian neighbors to visit Detroit and experience the comeback firsthand,” he added.

   There is plenty to see and do – as well as the popular favourite of shopping and attending sports events – throughout the area.

Checking out the latest models at the North American International Auto Show gala in Detroit. (Jim Fox photo)

   “Fall is an exciting time to be in Detroit,” said Deanna Majchrzak, the bureau’s manager of media relations.

A howling good Halloween awaits in Ontario Parks, Bingemans and at Pumpkinferno

   One-Tank Trip for Oct. 10/15

   (c) By Jim Fox

   If the spirits move you, head out to an Ontario provincial park for a howling good Halloween.

   Numerous Ontario Parks plan spooky Halloween events throughout the month.

   Kids even go trick or treating in the parks as campers decorate their sites.

A Halloween-inspired camping site at Algonquin Provincial Park. (Ontario Parks photo)

    There are pumpkin-carving events, costume contests and scavenger hunts but the parks’ Andrew Chambers says the coolest Halloween events are the naturalist-led evening activities.

   These focus on creatures with scary reputations such as spiders, bats and owls.

   Park naturalists dig up “weird and wonderful facts” about these creatures and share them during spooky night hikes, owl prowls and coyote and wolf howls.

Norfolk County Fair in Simcoe is one of the country's oldest

   One-Tank Trip for Oct. 3/15

   By Jim Fox

  Hi ho, come to the fair.

   If you’re old enough to remember – or have heard the stories – fall fairs were long-awaited annual gatherings for fun, fellowship and to celebrate our agricultural roots.

   The tradition continues and is especially entrenched at the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show in Simcoe.

Monstrous-sized veggies are on view at the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show. (Jim Fox photo)

   They do it up right. After all, the fair has been around for 175 years, so it must be good.

   It’s one of Ontario’s oldest fairs (there are several claims to which one is the oldest) and fourth largest event of its kind in the province, attracting more than 100,000 visitors.