12 Things to Do Outside the City This Fall
Pumpkin-centric shenanigans abound September 27th to October 31st at Shadybrook Farm.
Ditch the concrete jungle for autumnal splendor at the many fall festivals located just outside the city proper. From boozy to spooky to totally kid-friendly, there’s an event for every interest and locale.
Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards
September 13th to November 9th
Pay as you go
Pumpkin- and apple-picking, cornfield mazes, hay rides, and children’s activities at Linvilla Orchards in Delaware Valley. The Apple Festival, September 27th and 28th, features a pie-eating contest, and there’s the annual Costume Parade on October 26th so you can try out your costume before Halloween.
For more information, visit Linvilla.com
Brandywine Valley Harvest Festival
September 27th and 28th, and October 4th and 5th
$15 for a Passport to all six wineries
The Brandywine Valley Wine Trail wineries celebrate the fall harvest with two weekends of live music, picnicking, wine tastings and tours. All wineries will offer Stomp for the Cure Oct. 4, a grape-stomping fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
For more information, visit BVWineTrail.com
New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival
September 27th and 28th
Pay as you go
Listen to live music, munch on festival food, and view the wares of over 200 artists and craftsmen at New Hope-Solebury High School. The festival is just a short walk from downtown New Hope, but free shuttles will be provided from the Bucks County Playhouse on South Main Street.
For more information, visit VisitNewHope.com
PumpkinFest at Shadybrook Farm
September 27th to October 31st
$10 weekdays, $15 weekends
Ride wagons through the pumpkin patch, pick your own pumpkins, trek through the giant corn maze, or check out some cute barnyard animals. Visit on select weekends for the not-so-scary PumpkinFest After Dark or the definitely scary HorrorFest.
For more information, visit ShadyBrookFarm.com
Froehlich’s Farm & Garden Fall Festival
Saturdays & Sundays, September 27th to October 26th
Pay as you go
Take a hayride on this 100-acre farm, have some hot cider and S’mores, and build your own scarecrow at this family-friendly event. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the pumpkin toss or pumpkin bowling.
For more information, visit FroehlichsFarm.com
Downingtown Fall Fest
September 28th
Pay as you go
Enjoy local food & crafts, live music and a BMX show as well as a Victory Beer Garden at this one-day event in downtown Downingtown (say that 10 times fast).
For more information, visit DowningtownFallFest.com
Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival
October 5th
Pay as you go
Check out the over 150 artists that will transform Chestnut Hill into an outdoor arts-and-crafts marketplace with live music and more. Children can create their own art or place in a special amusement park.
For more information, visit ChestnutHillPA.com
Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Festival
October 17th and 18th
Most events are free, select events ticketed
This fair is for true Potterheads, complete with the Harry Potter Conference at Chestnut Hill College, Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, and a Quidditch Tournament. For adult wizards, there’s a pub-crawl on Friday, tickets for which go on sale October 1st.
For more information, visit ChestnutHillPa.com
Quakertown Autumn Alive!
October 18th
Pay as you go
Come to Quakertown for crafts, food vendors, beer tasting, and a cupcake contest. Bring Fido’s best Halloween costume and show him off during the Broad Street Pet Parade.
For more information, visit QuakertownAlive.com
Pennypacker Mills All Hallow’s Eve Fall Festival
October 18th
Free admission
Bring your kids (or at least your childish spirit) to paint pumpkins, create crafts, press cider and shuck corn. Though the festival is free, be sure to bring a few bucks for the organization’s donation jar.
For more information, visit MontCoPA.org/PennypackerMills
Chrysanthemum Festival & Autumn’s Colors at Longwood Gardens
October 25th to November 23rd
Free with Gardens admission (Adults: $18, Children & Students: $8)
Inside the Gardens’ four-acre conservatory lie over 80,000 chrysanthemum blooms, or “mums,” trained into beautiful shapes in the Asian tradition. Explore these works of art as well as picturesque fall foliage in the Autumn’s Colors exhibit.
For more information, visit LongwoodGardens.org
Peddler’s Village Apple Festival
November 1st and 2nd
Pay as you go
Get ready for every apple-based treat you could possibly imagine—and some you couldn’t. An apple pie-eating contest and artisan wares finish off this very popular festival.
For more information, visit PeddlersVillage.com
