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Explore Fall-Themed Festivals Throughout Upstate New York

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2023-08-06 07:35:00

As summer fades to fall and the leaves begin to turn, a new season of fun and flavor comes to Upstate New York. There are hundreds of fall-themed festivals and events to enjoy throughout the state, but here is a sampling of some you can find throughout Upstate New York this season.


In the Thousand Islands region, families from around the state congregate at the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence for the annual Great Pumpkin Farm Fall Festival, held on weekends from September 16 through the end of October this year. The emphasis is on family-friendly fun, with an expansive list of activities for all ages, including a corn maze, hay maze and hay rides, amusement rides, kids’ crafts, magic shows, playground, and petting zoo. Older kids and adults will enjoy the zombie paintball train, apple cannons, Old West shooting gallery and “haunted” barn as well. Fall flavors are a staple, with many treats to try, from fresh cider donuts to a large selection of candy for purchase. Tickets are required for weekend visits and on Columbus Day Monday, and are available on the Great Pumpkin Farm website.

 
On Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24, the Western New York town of Lewiston will shut down the streets for the two-day Lewiston Harvest and Hops Festival. The favorite annual festival features more than 130 vendors, including a variety of artisans and craftspeople selling their wares; a farmer’s market with local products; and of course, craft beer. A variety of food options, live music, and kids’ activities, including a petting zoo, round out the weekend’s events.

 
In the Catskills, the annual Taste of the Catskills Festival, which has been held each Columbus Day weekend since 2010, will return on Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8, 2023, at Maple Shade Farm in Delhi. The family-friendly festival will feature dozens of vendors offering selection of the region’s favorite fall foods, craft beverages, wine, and goods made by local artisans, as well as demonstrations and information on farm-to-table practices, workshops on farming, cooking, brewing and winemaking, and more. There will be activities for kids as well. The event is held rain or shine and doors open at 10 a.m.; more information can be found on the event website.


The 50^th annual LaFayette Apple Festival will be held at Apple Valley Park, an apple orchard in the Central New York town of LaFayette, south of Syracuse, on Columbus Day weekend-- Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8, 2023. The event celebrates the fall season with fresh apples, donuts, cider, pies and other treats and meal options, as well as a craft fair with more than 400 artisan vendors in attendance, live music, a carnival midway, pony rides, a petting zoo, farming and agriculture exhibits, an apple pancake breakfast, and more. The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, with the apple pancake breakfast starting at 7 a.m. on both days. More details can be found on the event’s webpage. 


This is just a short sampling of fall events from around Upstate New York. Check out Discover Upstate New York’s Fair and Festivals page to find more!

 
PHOTO CREDITS

Great Pumpkin Farm photo credit Great Pumpkin Farm
Cider donut photo credit Great Pumpkin Farm
Street festival photo credit Lewiston Harvest and Hops Festival
Fiddler photo credit Taste of the Catskills Festival
Barn photo credit LaFayette Apple Festival
 

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