Posted: 10/04/2023 | by Tori

Top Things to Do this Fall in Lancaster, PA

The air is crisp, the foliage is festive, and there are flavors to savor. Below are 25 things to this Fall season.

rows of orange and white pumpkins on a grassy field at a farm during the fall in Lancaster, PA

1. See a Show!

There are lots of great theatres in Lancaster offering a variety of productions. The Fulton Theatre reopens for its fall season with Something Rotten, running Sept 15th - October 8th. Prima is back with Girl Group Greats premiering September 22nd. Remember Jimmy Buffet's life at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatres Escape to Margaritaville. Tales of revenge, obsession, and deception will be brought to life by characters stepping out of the shadows when you see Nevermore on stage at Gretna Theatre.

Even More Shows!

2. Small Town Fun

Enjoy small-town fun with First Fridays in downtown Lancaster, First Thursdays in Manheim, and Second Fridays in Lititz every month!

Arts Around Lancaster

3. Culinary Perfection

Foodies love Lancaster County for its wide variety of restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, including Asian, Mexican, Peruvian, Indian, Moroccan, African, and much more. Whether you prefer fine dining, an authentic Pennsylvania Dutch meal, or indulging at a casual restaurant, you'll find it all here.

Don't miss out on exploring Lancaster County's amazing culinary scene, which you can experience during Lancaster County Restaurant Week.

4. Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes

What's better than a good ole corn maze? Head to Oregon Dairy to join in on the fun with their "Discover Lancaster" corn maze and pumpkin patch.

Don't let the fun stop, let the kids run free with Fall related farming activities at Corn Cob Acres and have even more farm fun at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm.

Top 7 Corn Mazes

5. Celebrate Hometown Heroes

Celebrate Hometown Heroes with Cherry Crest Adventure Farm on September 16th.
The festival includes:

  • Meet & greets with EMS, fire department, police, & health workers
  • A parade
  • Touch-a-truck
  • Fireworks at night

6. Fairs & Fests

Enjoy family fun, rides, delicious fair food and drinks, and more at the New Holland Fair and at the West Lampeter Fair.

more festivals & fairs

7. Take a Ride, a Thomas The Train Ride

Spend a Day Out With Thomas at the Strasburg Railroad! Take a ride through the beautiful Lancaster countryside on a steam train, enjoy family fun activities, and more while Thomas is in town September 14th-19th.

8. Experience The Fantasy

Head out to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire through October 29 for delicious food and drinks, great entertainment, shopping, and fun! Tickets need to be purchased in advance.

9. Apple Picking Fun

Whether you really like apples, enjoy the activity itself, or like taking photos in the orchard; apple picking is a fun activity for all.

Kauffman Orchards and Cherry Hill Orchards both offer fruit-picking fun, fruit and ripening dates vary. Be sure to stop at Cherry Hill Orchards Market where you'll find pumpkins, fresh cider, baked goods and so much more.

10. Shop Till You Drop

Browse the shops at Kitchen Kettle Village and celebrate autumn at their Tailgate Festival on September 15th & 16th. Head out to their last Summer Siorre and enjoy Yummie's Boo Bash on October 28th.

GREAT FOR GIFTS

11. Take Flight

Join the US Hot Air Balloon Team for the 2023 Hot Air Balloon Festival! Enjoy:

  • The mass ascension of dozens of hot air balloons
  • Fireworks
  • Buggy rides
  • Food and drink and more

You can even take a balloon ride during the mass launch!

12. Enjoy Live Music

Enjoy live music as Decked Out Live continues until the end of September, and Wine by the Vine continues through the end of October.

13. Happy Haunting!

Get into the spooky spirit by checking out Happy Hauntings at Dutch Wonderland on Saturdays and Sundays in October and Monday, October 9th.

14. Spooky Scoot Through Strasburg

Go for a late-night ride and listen to local folklore and ghost stories during Strasburg Scooter Tours' Spooky Scoot.

15. Visit Lancaster Central Market

Enjoy a Harvest Breakfast at Lancaster Central Market on October 7th. Explore local farm stands for fresh produce.

16. The Legacy Of Sleepy Hallow

Discover the true Legacy of Sleepy Hollow as it comes to life onboard the Strasburg Rail Road! Join Isabel Crane as she takes you on a frightful journey about her family.

17. Harvest Days

Save the date for Harvest Days at Landis Valley on October 7th and 8th. Demonstrations, exhibits, live music, and more will be waiting!

18. Ride The Rails

All aboard the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad to the pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkin onboard the Pumpkin Patch Train!

19. Touch of Science

Get a Taste of Science on October 19th at the Lancaster Science Factory! Trivia, Frisco's, homebrew competition, and more!

20. Pumpkin Madness!

Find out how many ways you can demolish a pumpkin during Cherry Crest Adventure Farm's Pumpkin Madness Festival on November 4th! Pumpkin bowling, carving, chucking and more.

21. Taste of A Lancaster Fall

Lancaster's rural roads are lined with roadside stands brimming with fresh produce. Take a leisurely drive, handpick your favorites, and savor a delicious meal made from your bounty.

22. Get Outdoors!

Fall in love with our scenic hikes and cute farm animals. There is so much to do outdoors this fall in Lancaster County.

23. Support Local

Check out some local galleries and upcoming art exhibits in Lancaster County.

24. Tour a Covered Bridge

Explore Lancaster County's backroads this season by going on a self-guided covered bridge tour.

25. Join the Craft & Cork Trail

Savor the season at one of our wineries, breweries, and distilleries; and while you're there sign up for the Lancaster County Craft & Cork Trail. Earn points, redeem coupons, and win prizes all Fall long.

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Two children sit on large pumpkins in a pumpkin patch in Lancaster, PA

Plenty of places to pick your perfect pumpkin.

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

Fall festivals, family fun and cultural happenings.

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

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Fairs and festivals are year-round in Lancaster, PA. With so many to choose from, there's one for every interest!

Photo Credit: DiscoverLancaster.com

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Partners

Fulton Theatre

Fulton Theatre

The Fulton Theatre, considered to be the nation's oldest...

Main

Barnyard Kingdom

Ten acres of farm fun activities await you and your family!...

Lancaster Balloon Rides

Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant, 2727 Old Philadelphia Pike
Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505

Corn Cob Acres

Corn Cob Acres

With over 50 activities on our farm, you and your children...

Prima

Prima

ENERGIZE YOUR LIFE WITH BOLD & BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCES....

Author

Tori