TL;DRLabour Day 2026 is Sept 5-7. Rice Lake water is still ~20C - warmer than June - the lake is quiet, fishing peaks, and cottages are still bookable.
Labour Day weekend 2026 runs Saturday, September 5 through Monday, September 7 — and on Rice Lake it’s the most underrated weekend of the entire season. The water is still around 20°C, warmer than it was in June. The summer crowds are thinning. The fishing is turning on. And unlike the July long weekends, you can usually still get a cottage.
When Is Labour Day 2026?
Labour Day falls on Monday, September 7, 2026 — always the first Monday in September. It’s a statutory holiday across Canada, which makes the preceding Saturday and Sunday (September 5–6) the last three-day weekend of the summer. Take the Friday off and you’ve got four days at the exact moment cottage country stops being busy.
The Season Isn’t Over on Labour Day
This is the part people get wrong about Labour Day — they assume it’s the end. On Rice Lake it isn’t. The lake is shallow, so it banks heat all summer and gives it back slowly: early-September water typically sits around 20°C, warmer than it was in June.
Month-by-month temperatures are in our Rice Lake water guide, and Rice Lake beaches covers where the sandy entries are. On the resort grounds the heated saltwater pool and splash pad run through the weekend too.
Why Labour Day Beats the July Long Weekends
The lake goes quiet. Boat traffic drops noticeably once the peak-summer renters head home. Mornings turn to glass, and paddling the shoreline — with the kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards included at Mildred’s — stops being an exercise in dodging wake.
The fishing turns on. Bass and walleye start feeding hard ahead of winter. Serious Rice Lake anglers plan their trips for exactly this window; our fishing and boating guide covers what’s in season and where to cast.
The golf opens up. Tee times that were fought over in July are walk-ups by September. The 18-hole course at Bellmere Winds overlooks the lake from every hole and stays open through Thanksgiving.
Evenings get good. Cooler nights mean the firepit finally earns its keep, and sunsets arrive early enough that you actually stay up for them.
What’s On Around the Lake
The resort runs its activity program straight through the long weekend — Kids’ Club mornings, pool events, and evening entertainment on the Golf Deck, all included with a stay. Off the grounds, Peterborough is 25 minutes away, and the last of the summer’s farmers’ markets and fall-fair season overlap with the weekend. The 3-day Rice Lake itinerary maps a full long weekend without a wasted drive.
Booking Labour Day Weekend
Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage sleeps six across three bedrooms, with a private porch, direct waterfront access, and the pool, beach, and splash pad a short walk away. From $375/night, which splits sensibly across a group.
The honest note on timing: Labour Day books later than July, but it does book — and the season runs only through Thanksgiving (October 12, 2026), so this is one of the last real summer weekends on the calendar. Check Labour Day availability or see the booking page.
FAQ — Labour Day Weekend 2026
When is Labour Day 2026 in Ontario?
Monday, September 7, 2026 — the first Monday in September, as always. It’s a statutory holiday in Ontario and across Canada, making September 5–7 the last long weekend of the summer.
Is Labour Day weekend too late for a lake trip?
On a shallow lake like Rice Lake, yes. Early-September surface temperatures typically run around 20°C — warmer than June — which is comfortable swimming range. Deeper Shield lakes further north cool off faster.
Is it easier to book a cottage for Labour Day than July?
Generally yes. July long weekends at Bellmere Winds book out months ahead; Labour Day fills later and shoulder-season dates stay open longer. It’s the same lake at nearly the same water temperature, with fewer people on it.
What is there to do on Rice Lake in September?
Swimming, paddling, and the year’s best bass and walleye fishing, plus golf on a course that’s finally quiet. The resort’s weekly activity program runs through the long weekend, and Peterborough — museums, the Lift Lock, markets — is 25 minutes away.
The last long weekend of summer, on a lake that’s still warm and finally quiet, 90 minutes from Toronto. Labour Day is the one the regulars keep to themselves.
Staying longer? September on Rice Lake makes the case for the whole month — and the season runs through Thanksgiving.
Ready to book?
Mildred's Lakefront Resort Cottage at Bellmere Winds — 3 bedrooms, sleeps 6, direct waterfront access, free canoes/kayaks/SUPs, 90 min from Toronto.
Check availability → Learn more about the cottage View photo gallery