It’s that time of year again: fall festival season in Pittsburgh is upon us! From pumpkin patches to corn mazes to live music, the following 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 no matter if you prefer action or relaxation.
Embrace Autumn with These 10 Pittsburgh Fall Festivals
Penn Brewery Oktoberfest
Penn Brewery, September 19-20 and 26-27
Celebrate Oktoberfest a bit early this year at Penn Brewery. Take a seat in this brewery’s cobblestone biergarten and kick back with authentic German eats. Make sure you leave room to try all of Penn Brewery’s specialty beers as you relax to live entertainment. Not to mention, this festival is family-friendly with activities for the kiddos, too.
Phantom Fall Fest
Kennywood, Through November 1
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.
Triple B Fall Fun Festival
Triple B Farms, September 20 Through October 26
Fall Fun weekends at Triple B Farms span over various barns and fields to bring you a full day of activities. Adults and children alike can take part in Grain Bin Basketball, travel through the Big Boo Barn and two corn mazes, snack on fall treats, relax on the hayride, and much more.
Trax Farms Fall Fest
Trax Farms, September 20 to October 26
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.
Butler Fall Festival
Main Street, September 27
Butler’s Fall Festival is a must for families all around the area. Like a street fair but better, explore lanes of craft and food vendors, kid’s zone crafts and games, and a classic car cruise. As you explore all the fun, you’ll listen to live tunes throughout the day from different bands, musicians, and Djs.
Pittsburgh Silent Film Festival
Various Locations, September 28 to October 5
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. This year features some particularly creepy films like The Unholy Three (1925) featuring side show act conmen, and the original The Phantom of the Opera (1925).
Oktoberfest PGH
Ft. Duquesne Blvd & Sixth Street Bridge, October 2-12
The city’s official Oktoberfest celebration takes place downtown to bring you tends of authentic German fun. Whether you’re competing in a Stein Holding contest, playing carnival games with the kids, or dancing the polka, the festivities are nonstop. Don’t forget to stop by the Biergarten to grab your pint of beer to accompany your weekend.
Confluence PumpkinFest
Laurel Highlands, October 2 to 4
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, the Pumpkinfest Queen Pageant, and so many more autumn activities. Plus, you’ll get to see an array of large pumpkins that look straight from a giant’s backyard.
Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, October 2 to November 2
Walk through thousands of hand-carved pumpkins glowing along the paths of Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. As you look at your favorite animals, spot animal designs, celebrities, characters, and even a few Pittsburgh themed influences. Plus, while you visit the last two weekend in October, look forward to daytime trick-or-treating at the ZooBoo event.
Autumnfest
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, October 4 to 19
On Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of October, fall transcends onto Seven Springs Mountain Resort with autumn enjoyment ranging from live performances and hay mazes to pumpkin patches and artisan stands. Don’t forget to hop on a chairlift to revel in all the amazing fall foliage and spot the changing leaves.
Mars Applefest
Downtown Mars, October 4
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. Besides the deliciousness, you can also enjoy crafts and music no matter if it’s rain or shine.
Fall Flower Show
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, October 4 to 26
Deep purples, moody oranges, and elegant pinks — surround yourself in the colors of autumn during Phipps’ Fall Flower Show. This year’s theme focuses on the festive chrysanthemums and Japanese culture. Step through beautiful gates with flowers all over, a gigantic dragon below bright lanterns, colorful fans, and so much more. Plus, you can check out the new update to their Garden Railroad, The Age of Dinosaurs, which opens the same day.
Zelienople Fall Fest
Spring Street, October 11-12
You won’t want to miss all the autumn experiences at Zelienople Fall Fest. Start with the Chili Cook-Off on the 11 then end with the Car Cruise on the 12. In between those two you can check out bounce houses, tailgate zones, free wagon rides, sidewalk sales, and craft vendors. It’s all waiting in Downtown Zelienople.
Fall Fest 2025
Pittsburgh Playhouse, October 16-26
In Downtown Pittsburgh right on Point Park University’s campus, Forbes Avenue and the Pittsburgh Playhouse fill with the autumn spirit. Look forward to food & drinks, games, local vendors, arts, crafts, and rolling performances of Boo’s Halloween House Party each day.
Monster Pumpkins Festival
Strip District, October 18-19
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.
Story by Jordan Snowden and Kylie Thomas
Photo Courtesy of Gillian Lingard
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