Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s autumn equinox in Canada

Hold onto your love of summer, but not too tightly. Crisper, fall days are on the horizon, which means it’s nearly time to turn your attention to all things cozy and colourful. But before the first fall foliage of the year hits the ground, we’re here to share everything you need to know about the upcoming autumn equinox — AKA the very first day of fall.

September’s Corn Moon

The Harvest Moon is recognized as a symbol of the turn of the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, as September is typically a critical month for harvesting crops.

The Farmers’ Almanac says that 2025 is a unique year in terms of the lunar calendar because the Harvest Moon actually falls in October.

September’s full moon is considered a Corn Moon (in honour of the corn harvest) rather than the Harvest Moon this year, which is coming up on Sept. 7, 2025.

“This switch occurs approximately every two to three years on average, though the last October Harvest Moon occurred in 2020,” the Almanac explains.

October’s Harvest Supermoon

The Old Farmers’ Almanac adds that October’s Harvest Moon will double as the first Supermoon of 2025, reaching peak illumination at 11:47 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 2025.

This means the Harvest Moon will be noticeably larger and brighter — eight per cent bigger and 15 per cent brighter than regular full moons, to be exact.

Local moon rising and setting times can be calculated via this calculator by province or by city via the Old Farmers’ Almanac.

When is the first day of fall in 2025?

Before the Harvest Moon brightens our skies, we’ll officially transition to fall during the autumn equinox. Mark your calendars for Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at 11:19 a.m. PDT (2:19 p.m. EDT), and get excited for cooler, crisper days ahead!

While the days will continue to get shorter once fall begins, rest assured, we won’t “fall back” an hour until November, when daylight saving time officially ends.

Here are local sunset times on the 2025 autumn equinox:

• Montreal, Que.: 6:51 p.m.
• Toronto, Ont.: 7:14 p.m.
• Calgary, Alta.: 7:33 p.m.
• Edmonton, Alta.: 7:31 p.m.
• Vancouver, B.C.: 7:09 p.m.

Your time is coming soon, fall lovers!

Recent Posts:
There’s a charming fall drive through an Ontario town with striking views
A Victorian-era castle in B.C. has one of North America’s finest collections of stained glass