Posted: 09/21/2023 | by Sarah

October in Lancaster, PA Travel Guide: Harvest

Eerie Halloween thrills and chill fall activities.

The days are getting shorter, the leaves are beginning to fall, and we couldn’t be more excited. We’re starting to see pumpkins and fall wreaths made of burlap pop up in our towns, and the farmers getting ready to harvest out in the fields. However you plan to celebrate fall, October is the perfect month full of activities and events that you’ll enjoy!

Check out our October Travel Guide below:

An orange "Welcome to the Pumpkin Patch" sign stands among stacks of pumpkins and mums at a pumpkin patch in the fall

Harvest

Events:

Annual Harvest Breakfast
Kick off the harvest season at Lancaster Central Market with everyone’s favorite Harvest Breakfast, featuring farm-to-table food, live entertainment, and family fun. This year's breakfast will be held on Saturday, October 7th from 8am - 12pm.

Pumpkin Patch on the Rails

Many train operators in Lancaster County are offering pumpkin-themed rides throughout the month of October. Head over to Stone Gables Estate for their Pumpkin Patch Express. Ride on a replica of an 1868 steam locomotive and visit their pumpkin patch for pumpkin painting and fall fun! Just outside the county Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad is hosting their Pumpkin Patch Train where visitors can take a ride out to their pumpkin patch, collect the perfect pumpkins then hitch a ride back to the station.

Pumpkin Madness Festival
Bring your leftover Halloween pumpkins to Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, on November 4th and smash, throw, bowl, drop, and carve till your heart's content! Their 12th annual Pumpkin Madness Festival will include fun activities like the Pumpkin Smash, Pumpkin Bowling, Pumpkin Putt-Putt, Pumpkin Chucking, and a HUGE pumpkin drop right at 5pm. The excitement continues after dark with a glow in the dark pumpkin drop at 7pm and Fireworks at 8:30pm.

Harvest Days
Join Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum on October 7th and 8th for the return of Harvest Days! Demonstrations, live music, activities, heirloom varieties, and more will be there.

Yummie's Boo Bash
Perfect for the kids, Kitchen Kettle Village, is hosting its annual Yummie's Boo Bash event. You and your family can safely enjoy a meal, some colorful characters, including Yummie, a costume contest, special treats, and more!

Fall ArtWalk

Immerse yourself in Downtown Lancaster’s art scene at Fall ArtWalk. This self-guided tour takes place on October 21st and 22nd.

Fall Fest Festival
Indian Echo Caverns Fall Fest Festival and Old Fashioned Day will include arts and crafts vendors, craft demonstrations, food vendors, and old-fashioned games. A family fun day with many fun activities for all to enjoy. Featuring horse-drawn wagon rides, tractor rides, pumpkin patches, corn cannon, gem mining, glitter tattoos, crack open geodes, kids crafts, carnival games, and more.

Fall Fairs & Festivals
Plan your visit around one of the great fall fairs and festivals in Lancaster County!

Outdoor Fun

Wolf Sanctuary of PA
Northern Lancaster County is home to the Speedwell Wolves. The Wolf Sanctuary of PA offers educational tours for children and adults, with a chance to view the wolves in their natural habitat and to learn about their behavior and biology. Their Full Moon Fundraiser is happening on September 30th! Relax by the bonfire, enjoy some live entertainment, and visit some of the resident wolf packs and learn about wolf conservation and biology.

Bountiful Harvest
Head to one of our many fields to pick the perfect carving pumpkin, and enjoy apple cider and hayrides. If you’re not into carving pumpkins, perhaps you can head to an apple orchard and bring home some fresh apples to douse in caramel for the perfect fall snack.

Corn mazes are popular attractions throughout the County during this time of year. You can enjoy fun-filled adventures at Oregon Dairy's "Discover Lancaster" corn maze and Cherry Crest Adventure Farm's award-winning corn maze.

Top Corn Mazes

As you plan your visit this season, don't miss out on the chance to explore our local greenhouses which remain open throughout the year. Experience the vibrant colors of Fall with an array of mums, pumpkins, hanging baskets, and so much more that our local greenhouse has to offer. Hurry up and visit soon!

Join the Lancaster County Coffee Trail
The Coffee Trail
is a mobile passport that allows you to check in at participating local coffee shops and rewards you with free prizes.

Coffee Spots & Cafes

Fun-filled Attractions
Strasburg RailRoad and Dutch Wonderland are staples for parents who want their kids to run free and have fun. Strasburg RailRoad sends Thomas The Train back out to visit kids and take them on a ride through Lancaster County. Dutch Wonderland is hosting its Happy Hauntings event all October long. Kids can have fun riding-themed attractions, special entertainment, tasty treats, and the Trick-or-Treat Trail.

And for the older crowd, Strasburg RailRoad is hosting their Legacy of Sleepy Hallow Train. oin Isabel Crane, the great-great-granddaughter of the legendary Ichabod Crane, as she takes you on a frightful journey filled with sword fights, ghosts, and a centuries-old curse surrounding her family.

Head Outdoors
Explore the beauty of Fall while driving on our backroads in Lancaster, PA. With over 25 covered bridges, you can witness the old-world charm, rich history, and stunning architecture as you pass through them. Take the self-guided covered bridges tour to experience the magic of these historic sites. For those who prefer to explore with a group, Strasburg Scooters offers a Covered Bridges Tour.

Lancaster County is home to some of the country's best hiking and biking trails and outdoor adventures. Explore the Great Outdoors with the whole family or find peace and quiet on a solo hike. Any time of year, here's a round-up of some of the best spots to explore!

Top 21 Trails

Greenhouses





Some local greenhouses to visit:

- Sunny Spot Greenhouse

- Fisher's Greenhouse

- Cherry Hill Orchards

- Fisher's Festivals

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Sarah