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
Phantom Fall Fest
Kennywood, Through October 24
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, Through October 27
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 28 to October 27
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 29 to October 6
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 clown haven of He Who Gets Slapped.
Confluence PumpkinFest
Laurel Highlands, October 4 to 6
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.
Autumnfest
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, October 5 to 20
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 5
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 5 to 27
Deep purples, moody oranges, and elegant pinks — surround yourself in the colors of autumn during Phipps’ Fall Flower Show. Besides a bounty of festive chrysanthemums, the show includes a musical theme with each room representing a different genre. But hurry, this flower show is only available for 3 weeks before winter starts to take over.
Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, October 3 to November 3
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.
Monster Pumpkins Festival
Strip District, October 19 to 20
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
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine‘s print edition.