Things to do in October in Lancaster, PA

Often when we think of October we think of ghosts, goblins, or The Great Pumpkin. While we certainly have spooktacular events here in Lancaster County, we also have a lineup of other great events! Whether you are ready to get your fright on, or you prefer to sip on a pumpkin spice latte and savor the awesomeness of autumn, we have got you covered. Locals and visitors alike will surely find plenty to fill their weekends in Lancaster this season. Below is a list of our top things to do around the County this October.

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Special Events

Yummie's Boo Bash
October 30 | Kitchen Kettle Village
Celebrate Halloween with Yummie's Boo Bash at Kitchen Kettle Village! Admission to the event includes a lunch voucher for the Harvest Cafe, homemade cookie from the Bake Shop, photo opportunities with Yummie and mascot friends, a spooktacular scavenger hunt for kids, and more! Also, kids can participate in the costume contest for the chance to win cash prizes. This is sure to be a a full day of family fun at the Village!

Fall-O-Ween on the Farm
October 30 - 31 | Barnyard Kingdom
It will be a Halloween like no other! Celebrate Fall-O-Ween on the Farm at Barnyard Kingdom with family friendly fun! There will be Candy Cannon Blasts, Pumpkin Picking, Corn Mazes, Pig Races, Wagon Rides & More! Barnyard Kingdom is the home of Spookley the Square Pumpkin in Lancaster, so make sure you visit our huge Spookley inflatable and venture through our Spookley Mini Corn Maze!

For Women, By Women
Oct 17 and Oct 23 | Adventure Explorations
Join Adventure Explorations for a women-only trip into the woods of Central PA.

Capturing Fall
Oct 16 - Nov 13 | Nissley Vineyards
Enjoy lawn games, local seasonal beers, fall cocktails, and more every day between October 16th and November 13th. On Saturdays you can also listen to live music and enjoy food trucks in addition to the fun!

For more festivals & fairs this fall, click here.

Cultural Happenings

Local Makers Market
October 2 | Shops @ Rockvale
Stop by the Shops @ Rockvale, Suite 1709 for the Local Makers Market. This market will have a variety of handmade goods including skin & body care, candles, pottery, home décor and so much more! Grab a bite to eat from one of the food trucks on site and continue your day of shopping local.

Fall ArtWalk
October 2 - 3 | Downtown Lancaster
Take a self-guided tour of the downtown galleries. See special exhibits and live demonstrations and meet the artists. There will be children’s activities as well so be sure to bring the whole family.

Bridge Bust(ed): Rivertown Redemption
October 2 | Front Street, Marietta
Vendors line Front Street, Marietta for the annual Bridge Bust! The 1 mile stretch of street is closed to traffic so visitors can shop a variety of vendors and purchase delicious food and beverages. This is an event for the whole family. It's a chance to enjoy craft beer, shop local goods, and be part of the community.

Lancaster Roots & Blues Festival
October 15 - 17 | Downtown Lancaster
Lancaster Roots and Blues is an annual festival of music and art held in beautiful downtown Lancaster Pennsylvania, USA. The event is held indoors at multiple venues all located within three blocks of each other. Attendees receive a wristband at check-in and can move about freely from stage to stage. Expect at least 60 different musical artists over the 3-day festival.

Heritage Day & Car Show
October 11 | Star Barn Village
Calling all car enthusiasts! Enjoy an outing at the beautiful and historic 275-acre Stone Gables Estate and see a variety of makes, models, and years of cars and trucks on display. Many are classics that have been lovingly restored while others may be newer models. Take time to walk the property, enjoy concession foods, and ride the train, but most of all, have fun with your family and meet new friends.

Maize & Snitz Market Fair
October 2 | 1719 Museum
Immerse yourself in the cultures of early European and Indigenous people of Lancaster County. Enjoy the Maize & Snitz Market Fair on the historic grounds of the 1719 Museum. New this year is a market fair featuring gifted artisans who specialize in 18th-century trades. Professional tradespeople will demonstrate embroidery, tape weaving, baking, hearth cooking, Native American foods, and fingerweaving.

Pumpkin Picking

Pumpkin Picking
Weekends Sept. 10 - Oct. 31 | Barnyard Kingdom
Find the perfect pumpkin at the Barnyard Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays, September through October! Take a wagon ride out to the huge pumpkin patch (over 10 acres) and enjoy the beautiful scenery that is Lancaster County in the fall.

Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch
Mon. - Sat. Sept. 13 - Oct. 30 | Flinchbaugh's Orchard & Farm Market
Grab one of the wagons provided and take a short walk to Flinchbaugh's vast pumpkin patch. Whether you're looking for a small or extra large pumpkin, the patch has what you need waiting on the vines.

Pumpkin Pickin' Days & Punkin' Chuck'r
Every Fri., Sat., & Sun. - Sept. 24 - Oct. 31 | Oregon Dairy
What is October without pumpkins? At Oregon Dairy’s Pumpkin Pickin’ Days, take a ride on the wagon to the patch and pick out your own pumpkins to carve or decorate for Halloween. Also be sure to try out their new corn hole boards, or the jumbo checkers and Yardzee games. Afterwards, you can go through corn maze, play on the playground and visit the petting zoo area. Take on the challenge of the corn maze whether by day or by flashlight at night.

Find more places to pick pumpkins and "get your Fall on" here.

Tricks and Treats

Spooky Scoot
Fri. & Sat. Oct 1 - 30 | Strasburg Scooters Tours
Slide into your Spooky Scoot Coupe with your special someone and prepare for a hair-raising (yet totally safe) adventure to some of Southern Lancaster best loved haunts.

The Great Diamond Heist
October 1, 2, 3 | Strasburg Rail Road™
The Strasburg Rail Road, America’s oldest Short Line Rail Road, is proud to present the all new Stunt Spectacular “The Great Diamond Heist”. Hop on board as the Strasburg Rail Road makes its inaugural run to Chicago, and beyond! But something seems…off. Not everything is going according to plan. Don’t miss this all-new Stunt Spectacular playing Friday-Sunday only at the Strasburg Rail Road!

Trunk or Treat
October 24 | AACA Museum
Dress in your favorite Halloween costume and enjoy an entertaining afternoon of family fun! Let the amusement begin at crafting tables, where kids will decorate their own “Trunk or Treat” bags using the various car and Halloween stamps, stickers, markers, and more. Gather up your miniature ghosts and goblins and head over to the AACA Museum in Hershey for a bit of Halloween fun! All visitors 12 and under will be eligible to participate in the AACA Museum’s “Trunk or Treat” program included with museum admission.

Happy Hauntings
Sat. & Sun. Oct. 16 - 31 | Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park
Enjoy a fully decorated park full of family-friendly ghouls, ghosts, and spooks! Soak in the colors of fall with all your royal friends at Dutch Wonderland in a safe non-scary environment for kids! Join Duke, Brooke, Merlin, and the rest for a spook-tacular adventure here at the kingdom! The gates are waiting, it's time to creak them open! Be sure to wear your costume!

Halloween Scooptacular
October 23 | Turkey Hill Experience
The Turkey Hill Experience Halloween Scooptacular is filled with great surprises. Decorate your own pumpkin, play Halloween games, make a Halloween themed ice cream creation, and more! Costumes are encouraged, so suit up and head over to Turkey Hill Experience!