It’s that time of year again: fall festival season is upon us! From pumpkin patches to corn mazes to live music, the following Pittsburgh area fall festivals have something for everyone. So grab your friends and family, put on your cozy sweater, and get ready to celebrate all things autumn.
Phantom Fall Fest
Kennywood, September 22 to October 29
Boo! The most Pittsburgh way to celebrate spooky season is Kennywood’s Phantom Fall Fest. During the day, find family-friendly festivities among the thrilling coasters and rides as you take in the crisp autumn air. Then, as day turns to night, that’s when the park turns into a home of frights.
Trax Farms Fall Fest
Trax Farms, September 23 to October 22
Every Saturday and Sunday from the end of September to the end of October, find a plethora of fall fun — hayrides, pumpkin picking, a corn maze and more — as Trax Farms celebrates the autumn season on their 150-year-old South Hill farm.
Pittsburgh Silent Film Festival
Various Locations, September 24 to October 1
It may just be me, but the change to cooler weather makes me want to indulge in old movies and films. The scarier, the better. The inaugural Pittsburgh Silent Film Festival will feature screenings of films throughout the Pittsburgh area while musicians provide a corresponding live score.
Confluence PumpkinFest
Laurel Highlands, October 6 to 8
As the leaves fall and change, it’s an ideal time to take in the beauty of the transforming landscape with a short trip outside the city. Located about an hour and a half from Pittsburgh, Confluence’s PumpkinFest offers arts and crafts vendors, a classic car show, a fall parade, and so many more autumn activities.
Autumnfest
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, October 7 to 22
On Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of October, fall transcends onto Seven Springs Mountain Resort with family-friendly autumn enjoyment ranging from hay mazes to pumpkin patches and artisan stands. Don’t forget to hop on a chairlift to revel in all the amazing fall foliage.
Mars Applefest
Downtown Mars, October 7
Pumpkins seem to get the spotlight during the fall season, but we can’t forget about another autumn star: apples! The community of Mars sure doesn’t, holding Applefest on the first Saturday of October every year with more food vendors than your stomach can handle.
Fall Flower Show
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, October 7 to 29
Deep purples, moody oranges, and elegant pinks — surround yourself in the colors of autumn during Phipps’ Fall Flower Show. Besides a bounty of festivge chrysanthemums, the show includes more fall fun like grape harvesting and plenty of pumpkins.
Monster Pumpkins Festival
Strip District, October 21 to 22
This signature fall festival is all about them gourds. Most notably, the world-famous Atlantic Giants breed of pumpkins that tend to weight over a ton. Revel in their hugeness and enjoy various pumpkin-themed activities, like carving contests, pie-eating contests, carriage rides, lots of food, and even acorn and pumpkin glass-blowing demos.
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