Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and apple cider, oh my! Fall is on its way to Lancaster County. Accompanying the cooler weather and changing leaves, fall brings an abundance of fun family activities to experience around Lancaster.
Whether you love taking in Lancaster’s colorful foliage, participating in fall-themed events, or channeling your spooky side, there is never a shortage of activities for you and your littles to enjoy this harvest season in Lancaster County.
Visitors, new residents, and natives alike are sure to find something in this list to keep busy!
Open Thursdays to Saturdays September 19 to November 7, 2026
Full of fun, education, and adventure, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm offers 60 attractions on 25 acres of land. You and your family can laugh and learn your way through the themed corn maze, farm wagon tour, bee barn exhibit, hay chute, animal grove, and so many more attractions.
Special Fall Events:
Saturdays and Sundays from August 15 through October 25 2026
Travel back in time at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire! Meet kings and queens, watch an exciting joust, and enjoy a turkey leg as big as your head. Each week has a different theme and will showcase a different experience. With immersive experiences around every corner you will witness history right before your eyes.
You know what is better than fresh produce? Fresh produce that you picked yourself. Take the family to Cherry Hill Orchards to pick your own peaches, apples, and pumpkins! Visit their website to see what produce is in season before you head out for a fun-filled afternoon in the orchard.
While you are there, be sure to visit their farmer’s market just down the road to shop for fresh produce, baked goods, flowers, and more!
All Aboard! The Strasburg Railroad is a local favorite for a family-friendly experience. Hop on to take a ride through Lancaster’s beautiful farmland and fall foliage. Stop at one of the picnic groves or playgrounds and catch another train on the way back. Learn all about locomotives with one of the many tours.
It’s a big day when celebrities like Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends roll into town! This 30-minutes train ride is pulled by the fully operational Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas and Friends will be at the Strasburg Railroad September 11 to 13 and September 18 to 20.
Open weekends, September 12 to November 8., 2026
Celebrate the fall season by creating lifelong memories at Corn Cob Acres. A fall family favorite with over 50 activities for kids of all ages, Corn Cob Acres will have you and your family adventuring all day long. Take a hayride, paint pumpkins, feed goats, see the pigs race, climb a pyramid of straw bales, walk through the cornfield trail, and many other fun-filled farm activities.
Open Now to October 31, 2026
When you think of fall, you think of pumpkin picking. You will definitely want to stop by The Country Barn for picking your own pumpkin. Jump on one of their wagons and ride out to their pumpkin patch. Finding your perfect pumpkin won’t be too hard with over 10 acres of pumpkins to pick from. Looking for pre-picked pumpkins, head to their Farm Market!
Explore a working farm and learn about the Amish life at Old Windmill Farm. Take a hayride farm tour and meet the animals, milk cows, and gather eggs. Hop on one of the barrel train rides. Join a garden tour to plant seeds and harvest vegetables.
Join them between September 10 and November 6 for their seasonal Farmhouse Experience. Try your hand at making fresh cider, baking bread, and churning butter. Afterwards, sit down with your family to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Open Saturdays and Sundays September 19 to October 31, 2026
Ready for some Spooktacular family fun? Happy Hauntings at Dutch Wonderland, opening September 19, is a fun, fall event featuring themed rides, special entertainment, yummy treats, and the Trick-or-Treat Trail.
Open Every Weekend from September 12 to October 31, 2026
Head over to Oregon Dairy and enjoy the Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch! Fall! Enjoy activities like barrel trains, pedal tractors, a jump pad, and corn launcher! Hop on the new ride, The Barnyard Express Train Ride! Also pick pumpkins in their pumpkin patch!
Open select days from September 12 to November 1, 2026
Hersheypark In The Dark is filled with rides and rollercoasters, chocolatey trick-or-treat adventures, wild zoo visits, and festive Hershey Character experiences. Grab some of their pumpkin-flavored goodies and hop on a lights-out ride experience!
Trick-or-treat at the sweetest place on earth! The Trick-or-Treat trail takes you from Hershey’s Chocolate World to The Boardwalk at Hershey park, enjoying 14 sweet stops along the way.
On weekend nights in October, head over to ZooAmerica to see “Creatures of the Night.”
Dark Nights Are Coming To Hersheypark Halloween. Starting September 12, this fully immersive haunted experience is sure to have you frightfully spooked with three scare zones and four spine-tingling haunted houses.
Tours available on select days from Now thru November
Experience a spine-tingling journey through Lancaster’s shadowed past on the Candlelight Ghost Tour of Lancaster City. Departing from the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Penn Square (25 S. Queen St.), this atmospheric evening walk illuminates over 300 years of eerie tales—from phantoms of the Opera House and haunted markets to the legend of the “Walking Tombstone,” star-crossed lovers, fatal curses, and the spectral presence at the old jail. Guided by costumed storytellers wielding lantern light, you’ll traverse eight city blocks steeped in Pennsylvania Dutch folklore, haunted mysteries, and dark history.
Participating restaurants and bakeries in Lancaster County
September 14 - 20, 2026
Celebrate Lancaster City Restaurant Week! One thing that makes Lancaster special is the wide variety of cuisine that it offers. Now is your chance to enjoy all those by supporting local restaurants. Continue to visit their website to see the list of incredible eateries, bakeries, restaurants, pubs, bars, and cafes so you can plan your week!
Intercourse, PA
September 18 and 19. 2026
Every year Kitchen Kettle Village pays tribute to tailgating season with a two-day food festival. See the Village come alive with scarecrows, pumpkins and corn shocks. Enjoy delicious fall food and seasonal themed events!
Bird-in-Hand, PA
September 25 and 26. 2026
The Bird-in-Hand Hot Air Balloon Festival is one of Lancaster County's most unique fall traditions. Spend the evening enjoying colorful hot air balloons, local food vendors, family-friendly activities, and a spectacular balloon glow after sunset. It's the perfect event for making lasting memories while experiencing the beauty of Lancaster County in the fall.
Lititz, PA
Saturday, September 26, 2026
This charity-fundraising event features live music, great local food trucks, and more than 80 craft breweries with 150+ offerings to sample. Also enjoy the homebrew competition!
Strasburg, PA
September 25 to October 25, 2026
Looking for a Halloween experience with a few more thrills? The Brakeman's Curse at Strasburg Rail Road is an immersive, live-action mystery aboard a historic steam train. Follow the clues, meet unforgettable characters, and uncover the truth behind a 40-year-old curse on this spooky adventure that's perfect for teens and adults who enjoy suspense with their fall festivities.
Strasburg, PA
September 26, 2026
Ride the train to our convenient Groff’s Picnic Grove – a recreational area along the train’s route. Here you will have a fun filled 40-minute layover as you enjoy live music, games, and pumpkin decorating.
Included with each guest ticket is:
Strasburg, PA
Weekends from October 2 to October 31
Climb aboard the Strasburg Rail Road for The Haunting of Pumpkin Junction, an interactive mystery train ride the whole family can enjoy. This one-of-a-kind Halloween adventure combines live actors, a fun whodunit storyline, and a scenic steam train ride through Lancaster County for a memorable fall experience that's more festive than frightening.
Strasburg, PA
October 30, 2026
Step into the elegance of the Victorian era with A Night of Smoke and Silk at Strasburg Rail Road. This adults-only immersive experience combines a historic steam train ride, a gourmet dinner, and an interactive murder mystery where guests become part of the story. Dress in your finest period-inspired attire and enjoy an unforgettable evening of suspense, history, and theatrical entertainment.
Strasburg, PA
Select Dates October 2 - October 31, 2026
Hop aboard your scooter for the only motorized ghost tour in Lancaster County. Visit some of Lancaster County's best haunts as you travel along eerie back roads, make stops to hear local folklore and see the lesser-known haunted side of Lancaster County.
Lancaster, PA
October 10 and 11, 2026
Step back in time at Harvest Days at Landis Valley Museum, where Pennsylvania German history comes to life through live demonstrations, traditional crafts, seasonal food, and family-friendly activities. Stroll through the historic village, enjoy wagon rides and hands-on experiences, and celebrate the harvest season with a weekend full of fall fun for all ages.
Manheim, PA
October 5 - 9, 2026
Every October the Manheim community gets together to celebrate their town and agriculture. Enjoy all things farm! From livestock to tractors, baked goods to crafts you won’t want to miss this community fun!
Middletown, PA
October 17 & 18, and October 24 & 25
This ride stops at a special pumpkin patch along the line where each passenger may go and select their very own pumpkin.
Participating restaurants and bakeries in Lancaster County
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Get ready for a wild and wonderful day at the Wolf Sanctuary of PA! This heartwarming, family-friendly fundraiser invites visitors to enjoy self-guided wolf tours, pumpkin painting, arts & crafts vendors, educational games, and delicious fare from local food trucks—all in support of the wolves of Speedwell Forge.
Intercourse, PA
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Visits Kitchen Kettle Village for the perfect recipe for Halloween fun! Enjoy a meal, some colorful characters, including Yummie, a costume contest, whoopie pie making experience, special treats and more.
Penn Cinema, Zoetropolis, & West Art Lancaster
November 12 - 15, 2026
The Red Rose Film Festival is a celebration of storytelling through the art of film, connecting filmmakers and the Lancaster community. Attendees will be treated to a mix of short films, documentaries, and feature-length movies, along with engaging panel discussions that dive into the creative process.
September 16 - 18, 2026
September 22 - 26, 2026
September 23 - 25, 2026
September 30 - October 3, 2026
Local fall activities in Lancaster can definitely keep the family busy all season long, but if you're looking for a more low-key experience, try getting out into nature. Breathe the crisp cool air and take in the colors of fall on one of the many local hiking trails.
Here are a few of our favorite hiking spots:
Uncharted Lancaster is more than just geocaching; it's a thrilling blend of treasure hunts and real-life adventure, inspired by the cinematic magic of Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Goonies, and National Treasure. Fueled by his passion for these iconic films, Adam Zurn has masterfully created a series of immersive experiences that bring the spirit of adventure to life in Lancaster County. Each challenge, meticulously crafted by Adam, offers a unique opportunity to explore the rich history and hidden gems of the area. This fall, embark on one—or more—of these exhilarating quests, and uncover the secrets that make Lancaster County truly legendary.
We hope this list helps your family jumpstart your fall fun in beautiful Lancaster County this year! And if you have more ideas that we should include in next year's list, please leave them in the comments!