The first full weekend of November is a different kind of weekend in Markham. With Halloween over and the holiday season still a few weeks away, the calendar slows down and leaves room for two meaningful traditions: the Markham District Veterans Association Remembrance Day Service on Saturday and Diwali on Sunday. Add a free nature walk, a piano concert and a few good rainy-day ideas, and there is plenty to fill two days.
Michael John Lau, a REALTORĀ® with the Kaizen Real Estate Team, one of the most active real estate teams in Markham and York Region, puts this guide together for families who live here and for those getting to know Markham before a move.
Forecast from The Weather Network as of November 5. Check Environment Canada before you head out.
The Markham District Veterans Association holds its Remembrance service on the Saturday before November 11. According to the City of Markham, it begins with a service at 9:30 AM in the upper hall of the MDVA building at 7 Washington Street. The parade steps off around 10:30 AM and marches to Veterans Square, where the wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph begins at 11 AM. Afterward, the march returns to the Veterans Hall.
An evening piano concert in Markhamās Thornhill community. Tickets are sold through Eventbrite. Confirm the price before you go.
A 90-minute sensory workshop on how coffee, scent and memory connect, listed on Visit Markham. Confirm the time, venue and price with the organizer.
A warm, dry stop on a rainy afternoon. The current exhibition is I Think This Means I Can Fly. Ask at the front desk about guided tours.
After the ceremony, warm up with lunch in Unionville, visit the Varley, then catch an early dinner before the 7:30 PM concert.
Sunday is the main day of Diwali in 2026, part of a five-day festival that runs from November 6 to 10. Across Markhamās diverse neighbourhoods, many families will mark the day with diyas, sweets, prayers at local temples and visits with family and friends. Expect busier traffic and parking near temples and banquet halls on Sunday evening.
Parks Canada runs free guided walks in Rouge National Urban Park through the fall. This one, listed by the City of Markham, looks at what happens in the park as the leaves fall and the first ice forms. Sundayās forecast is drier, so it is the best outdoor window of the weekend. Walks can be cancelled in bad weather, so check Parks Canada before you leave.
A flat, easy walk among the last of the fall leaves. Go early in the afternoon while the light is good.
Pair the gallery with a pond walk and a coffee on Main Street Unionville.
Keep diyas and candles away from curtains, test smoke alarms and use outdoor-rated cords for exterior lights.
Shut off outdoor taps, clear leaves from gutters and drains, and book a furnace check if it has been a year.
The Week Ahead in Markham
Remembrance continues through the week, and the holiday season starts to build. Here is what to pencil in:
For the full month, see Events and Activities in Markham This November.
Where to Eat on Main Street Unionville
Whether it is a warm lunch after the Saturday ceremony or an early dinner after Sundayās walk, Main Street Unionville is close by and easy to combine with the Varley and Toogood Pond. Book ahead for Sunday evening, when Diwali gatherings fill many dining rooms.
A brunch favourite with a seasonal dinner menu.
A polished sit-down meal on a cool evening.
House-made pastas and wood-fired pizza in a heritage house.
Traditional and contemporary dishes, a fitting choice for Diwali weekend.
Restaurant hours and menus change, so check ahead on busy weekends.
How to Plan Your Weekend
Sun: The free Rouge Park walk at 1 PM.
What This Weekend Says About Living in Markham
Few cities bring together this many traditions in one weekend. A veteransā parade on a heritage main street, a city where thousands of homes light up for Diwali, and a national urban park within city limits all sit within a short drive of each other.
For anyone weighing a move, early November is a useful time to visit. The crowds are smaller, and you see how neighbourhoods feel on an ordinary weekend. If a weekend like this has you thinking about what comes next, the Kaizen Real Estate Team is happy to talk it through. Ultimately, the decision is yours. The goal is to make sure you have all the information.
Markham This Weekend: Frequently Asked Questions
Saturday has the Markham District Veterans Association Remembrance service and parade, with the cenotaph ceremony at 11 AM, and a piano concert at St. Lukeās at 7:30 PM. Sunday is the main day of Diwali and has a free guided walk in Rouge National Urban Park from 1 to 3:30 PM.
Saturday, November 7. The service starts at 9:30 AM at 7 Washington Street, the parade steps off around 10:30 AM, and the ceremony at Veterans Square, 6031 Highway 7, begins at 11 AM.
The MDVA holds its service on the Saturday before Remembrance Day so more families can attend. The City of Markham and Unionville hold ceremonies on Wednesday, November 11.
The main day of Diwali is Sunday, November 8, 2026, within a five-day festival from November 6 to 10.
Yes. The Parks Canada guided walk on Sunday, November 8, from 1 to 3:30 PM at Bob Hunter Memorial Park is free. Walks may be cancelled in bad weather, so check before you go.
As of November 5, Saturday looked wet, with rain in the morning and a high near 10Ā°C. Sunday looked drier, with a mix of sun and cloud and a high near 10Ā°C. Lows are near 5Ā°C.
If a weekend in Markham has you thinking about a move, Michael can walk you through neighbourhoods, recent sales and the full cost of owning, at no charge. Licence #4784577.
Neeraj can connect what you enjoy about Markham this weekend to the neighbourhoods and streets that fit the life you want here.