Fall Festivals

SEPTEMBER

Indian Summer Festival

Explore the diversity of American Indian culture on a three-day lakefront trip. Children will learn unique tribal customs and dances from local tribe members and be entranced as storytellers tell fables as fireworks pop in the sunset sky.

Oyster Festival

At only $25 for a weekend pass, this annual seafood festival celebrates the city's maritime history with arts and crafts, face painting, and of course lots of oysters.

Morton Pumpkin Festival

Home to the Nestle-Libby's pumpkin-processing plant, more than 80 percent of the world's canned pumpkin hails from Morton, Illinois, less than three hours southwest of Chicago. See whose bright-orange beauty earns top honors at the annual weigh-off. Plus, you can dig into pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin chili, pumpkin donuts—even pumpkin baked beans!

Johnny Appleseed Festival

Channel the spirit of famed Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman and stock up on good old pioneer gear, browse the fruit and vegetable stalls in the farmers'-market area, or even dress up as a character from Johnny's era. Don't forget to pay your respects to Mr. Appleseed, who is rumored to be buried atop a nearby hill.

Hill City Western Heritage Festival

Travel back to the Old West at this festival where you can board an authentic 1880 steam train or sample some incredible chuckwagon fare. Children can go wild with dummy steer roping and sack and foot races. Adults can check out the Wine Train into the West, featuring a five-course meal paired with wines from the local Prairie Berry Winery. Just watch out for the possible train robbers.

Portland Pirate Festival

It's a full-fledged village of buccaneers and balladeers. Wander through Maurader's Market or hunt for treasure at Scupper Monkey Island where your little ones can eat shaved ice and stock up on free balloons.

Warrens Cranberry Festival

Celebrate this bitter berry at the annual Cranberry Festival. The family can take bus tours of the cranberry bogs and experience the unique harvesting of this autumnal favorite.

Standing Bear Pow Wow

Experience a weekend of traditional Native American dance, arts, crafts, and food at this annual event hosted by six local tribes. Located in the 63-acre Standing Bear Native American Memorial Park, families can take in the serene setting on a walking trail that winds through native grasses and wildflowers.

48th Annual Bristol Chrysanthemum Festival

Ranked by The Boston Globe as one of New England's top inexpensive fall attractions last year, this celebration of this season's favorite flower will bring your family back to a simpler time. Don't miss, the Mum parade, the carnival, and, of course, the crowning of Miss Mum.

North American Sand-Sculpting Championship

Watch as millions of grains of sand are shaped, shoveled, and molded into beautiful works of art by master sculptors from around the nation, as well as local groups and students. After inspiration like this, the kids are sure to want to perfect their own artistic visions, so don't forget the sand toys!

Connecticut Antique Machinery Association

Perfect for your train- or tractor-obsessed tots, this festival brings to life hundreds of antique machines. Board the old Plymouth Diesel locomotive for a ride and don't forget to try the famed Engineer's Vegetable Beef soup.

OCTOBER>

National Apple Harvest

Just 10 miles northwest of historic Gettysburg, the festival features more than 300 arts-and-crafts dealers, children's activities, and virtually every apple-related treat imaginable. Bob for apples, eat some pie, and bask in the glory of autumn, but get there early—the drive to the festival takes you through a windy two-lane highway, and parking can be difficult.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

For thousands of balloon enthusiasts, this festival is the highlight of the year. Crisp fall mornings are accompanied by the mass ascension of whimsical balloons over the sprawling desert. Thrill seekers can board one of the balloons and get a bird's-eye view of the spectacle.

Fryeburg Fair

It's not at every festival that you can watch nearly 100 competitors tossing cast iron pans, but that's what you'll see at the Fryeburg Fair's Skillet Throw. As Maine's largest agricultural event, the fair attracts more than 300,000 people annually. Kids, ages 8 to 10, can get in on the competitions too and try their little hands at catching a piglet at the Piglet Scramble.

Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze and Legend Weekend

Channel Washington Irving and wander through the famed Sleepy Hollow's Philipsburg Manor—an 18th-century farm where kids can carve pumpkins and play colonial-era games by day and hear tales of witches and ghosts by night. At nearby Sunnyside, Irving's home in Tarrytown, take in a (less spooky) program of magic shows, sing-alongs, and puppets telling "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Plus, the Great Jack o' Lantern Blaze at historic Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, featuring more than 4,000 glowing pumpkins, will illuminate the fall night.

Scarecrow Festival

View more than 100 handcrafted scarecrows at this fun festival. The wacky, unique creations are sure to entertain. Plus, the kids can visit the carnival for face painting, rides, and can even build their own scarecrow masterpiece.

Gore Mountain Harvest Fest

This small-town fest is the perfect setting to take in the fall foliage and feast on seasonal favorites. Kids will go bonkers for the Inflatable Village, sack races, three-legged races, and pumpkin rolling competition. Not to miss are the Children's Nature Hike and the Halloween Egg "Haunt."

Feast of Hunter's Moon Festival

Set against present-day Fort Ouiatenon, the feast is a re-creation of a fall festival begun by French settlers and Native Americans. Five stages host music and dance performances, military drills, puppet shows, and more. Artisans demonstrate traditional crafts of the time, while costumed participants serve up the fare of the era. Try the Forfar Birdies—a traditional meat-filled pastry. Kids can get into the pioneering spirit by trying on period costumes, making candles and ropes, and taking on the historical-games challenge.

Connecticut Columbus Day Weekend Festival and Chowderfest

Ward off the autumn chill with a cup of steaming "chowda" at this annual festival at The Museum of America and the Sea. Swing by the Children's Museum for story time, stroll through a re-created 19th century village, or climb aboard and explore one of the historic tall ships.

Shawnee Mountain Timber & Balloon Festival

Enjoy a cool fall day at this rustic festival featuring Lumberjack competitions and an amazing show of colorful hot air balloons. Conveniently located less than two hours from Philadelphia, Northern New Jersey and metropolitan New York, the family can experience the feeling of fall without having to trek too far away.

Wellfleet OysterFest

The main draw of this Bay State favorite is the Oyster Shuck-Off, but the music, street fair, and abundance of the town's favorite bivalves (served up in any way you can imagine) don't hurt. Plus, kids can show their artistic sides with oyster-jewelry making and pumpkin painting.

Keen Pumpkin Festival

Come see if the town of Keen can win back its world record for the most Jack-O-Lanterns in one place. Keen holds eight world records for the most lit jack-o-lanterns in one place. Last year, with its 22, 568 pumpkins, it fell shy of another record. Bring your own and help them reach their goal, or, just sit back and enjoy the spectacle while eating your body weight in cider doughnuts

Pirate Days of The Colony

Break out the eye patches and enjoy a swashbuckling good time at this Northern Texas festival. The festival features concerts, comedy routines, children's plays, water exhibitions and a pirate costume contest for the two-, peg- and four-legged. Kids can even dig for treasure in a jewel-laden sand pit.

31st Annual Woolly Worm Festival

Celebrate the coming of the snow season at the Woolly Worm Festival. Legend has it that the coloration of these furry caterpillar's can predict how cold the winter will be—the wider the black bands are, the colder and snowier the coming winter will be. Watch the critters race to determine whose stripes will be chosen as the official predictor of the coming winter.

Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival

Kids can slurp down spicy pumpkin pies in the classic pie-eating contest at this scenic beachside hamlet. Parents may be more interested in the special festival-label wine from the winemakers at Half Moon Bay winery or Pumpkin Harvest Ale 2 from Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. Also, find out who will prevail in the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off.

Circleville Pumpkin Show

Less than an hour away from Columbus, the festival is a great quick family trip. The show features a Big Wheel Race, an egg toss, pumpkin carving, and the World's Largest Pumpkin Pie (14 feet across!).

The Great Pumpkin Festival

Head to the Desert Botanical Garden for hayrides, a hay bale maze, petting zoo, and pumpkin patch. Plus, kids under the age of 12 can choose their own free pumpkins.

Chicago International Children's Film Festival

The 26th annual International Children's Film Festival, hosted by Second City, will feature more than 200 of the top films and videos for children from 40 countries. The festival is renowned for its focus on culturally diverse, nonviolent new cinema for children ages 3 to 16. After screenings, kids (and adults) can cast their votes for the Best of the Fest audience prize, the most coveted honor of the festival.

Queens County Farm Museum Children's Fall Festival

Get that cozy fall-festival feeling without leaving the big city. Just 30 minutes outside of Manhattan, this festival offers a corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins, and a haunted house. Dress the kids in their Halloween best and let them play rounds of trinket-in-the-haystack, while you browse various craft stands for the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece.

NOVEMBER

Mesa Old West Days

See how the West was won at this festival honoring the pioneer spirit. Watch metal working demonstrations and performances of Old West-style gun fights. Kids try their hand at roping and panning for gold, plus catch a ride on a train or pony. Plus, fill hungry bellies at the International Chili Society's annual cookoff.