- It isn’t fall without going pumpkin picking! Lancaster County has no shortage of options in all corners of the county, including Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, Country Barn, Oregon Dairy, Wissler Pumpkin Patch and Kauffman Orchards, to name a few.
- Attend the Maize & Snitz Market Fair (October 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.). Immerse yourself in the cultures of the early European and Indigenous people of Lancaster County at the 1719 Hans Herr House and Museum. Shop for handcrafted items, drink apple cider and watch demonstrations of embroidery, baking, hearth cooking, Native American cuisine and finger weaving.
- Stroll through the Annual Lititz Porchwalk (October 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.). Shop for ceramics, décor, fiber arts, jewelry and artwork from 29 juried local artisans. This year’s event will be held at Lititz Springs Park.
- Take in one of America’s favorite pastimes. Cheer on the Lancaster Barnstormers while they finish off their season at home on September 24-26 and October 5-10.
- Pick your own apples. Enjoy the fruits of your labor by picking your own apples at Cherry Hill Orchards. Various apple varieties will be available for picking throughout the fall season until early November.
- Get spooked. Field of Screams offers four horrifying attractions to get your adrenaline pumping, including a Haunted Hayride, Den of Darkness Horror Barn, Frightmare Asylum Haunted House and Nocturnal Wasteland Haunted Trail.
- Navigate through a maze. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm’s corn maze this year is dedicated to the hometown heroes that played an important role over the course of the pandemic. For a twist on the classic corn maze, visit Cedar Meadow Farms and their 4-acre hemp maze – the first of its kind in the state.
- Admire the fall foliage on your favorite local trail. Some of our favorite spots to view the fall colors are Susquehannock State Park, the Enola Low Grade Trail, Speedwell Forge Lake, Welsh Mountain Preserve and Octoraro Lake. The fall colors usually peak in mid- to late-October, according to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
- Visit Dutch Wonderland’s Happy Hauntings (October 16-31). The Halloween-inspired, family-friendly event will feature themed rides, special entertainment, tasty treats and a trick-or-treat trail.
- Parades are back! The Millersville Community Parade (October 16, 8:30 a.m.) will pay tribute to the “hometown heroes” who have made a difference in our local community, including those in the medical, educational and public safety fields. The annual Lititz Lion Halloween Parade (October 25, 7 p.m.) will also be back this year!
- Eat at the World’s Largest Chicken BBQ (October 16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.)! This year marks the 68th annual Civitas Chicken BBQ. They will also have entertainment, activities and beer and wine at their new Civitas Court. Proceeds are reinvested into the Lancaster community and help with the improvement of Long’s Park, as well as local programs for at-risk youth and other nonprofits.
- Enjoy live music again. The Lancaster Roots and Blues Festival (October 15-17) is an annual celebration of music and art held in various venues in downtown Lancaster and features at least 69 different musical artists over the 3-day festival.
- Indulge in the Lititz Chocolate Walk (October 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.). Participants tour the over 30 shops in downtown Lititz in search of mouth-watering chocolate treats from some of the region’s top chefs, bakers, ice cream shops and candy makers. All proceeds benefit children-focused charities.
- Catch a show. Theatres across the county are raising the curtain on a variety of fun-filled shows this fall. At Prima Theatre, Soon (October 1-23) is a new musical that follows a woman named Charlie as she takes to the couch to wait out the looming apocalypse. At The Fulton, enjoy Fun Home (September 7-October 17) which is based on the real-life story of cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Enjoy dinner and a show at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre during their run of Mamma Mia! (September 9-November 6). EPAC’s Something Rotten! (October 7-23) is a musical comedy set during the Renaissance that follows two playwrights as they struggle to compete with Shakespeare and eventually – with the help of a soothsayer – write the world’s first musical.
- Celebrate our agricultural heritage. Fair season wraps up with the Manheim Community Farm Show (October 4-8), which promises to include all the pageantry, animals, crafts, competitions, fair food, creative talents and blue ribbons that make it one of Manheim’s most anticipated events.
- Ride the rails at the Strasburg Rail Road! Take a trip through the countryside as it makes the transition to fall. The Strasburg Rail Road offers a variety of experiences, including their special events such as the Great Diamond Heist (available through October 3) and The Legacy of Sleepy Hollow (October 7-November 6).
- Make apple cider at the Lancaster County Environmental Center (October 3 from 1-2 p.m. and October 4, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.). Learn about the history of the apple tree and Johnny Appleseed. Participants will also make and enjoy fresh cider from an old-fashioned cider press.
- Trick or treat, drive-through style. At Drive the Block (November 2, 6-9 p.m.), enjoy a 15-minute drive through the Rock Lititz campus while collecting treats at various candy stops.
- Sip on seasonal libations. From cocktails to specialty brews, Lancaster is filled with local options for seasonal libations, including Baked Pumpkin Ale by Lancaster Brewing Company and BRAAAIINS! Pumpkin Ale for Zombies by Spring House Brewing Company. Wyndridge Cider Co. is offering a fall variety pack of ciders with pumpkin spice, maple bourbon, caramel apple and cranberry flavors. Zoetropolis also created a list of seasonal cocktails made with Lancaster Distilleries spirits, including Apple Cider Spritz, Pomegranate Gin & Tonic and Fig Fizz.
- Hike in the moonlight. Embark on a unique adventure at Lancaster County Central Park. During the Full Moon and History Hike (October 20, 6:30-8 p.m.), walk the paths that Native Americans traveled when they lived in the area and learn some history along the way.
- Volunteer at the Plastic Purge of the Lower Susquehanna (October 30, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.). The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association is hosting a large-scale cleanup around Lake Clarke on the Susquehanna River to help protect our downstream neighbors, as well as aquatic and avian species.
- Attend a Halloween lecture at 551 West. At Halloween Lecture and Lager: Medical History on Tap (October 23), Millersville history professor Dr. Erin Shelor will discuss the history of grave robbing and the study of anatomy in early 19th-century Britain. Enjoy food and drink from 551 West, raffles and prizes. All proceeds benefit the Lancaster Medical Heritage Museum.
- Travel back in time. The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire will close out their season with three themed weekends called Halloween Days & Spooky Knights (October 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31) where spooky creatures of every variety haunt the grounds of Mount Hope Estate.
- Have a paranormal experience. Take a ghost tour of Lancaster City or Strasburg, both of which are steeped in history. In Lancaster City, explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses and star-crossed lovers. In Strasburg, learn about the Pennsylvania Dutch folklore that is seldom told and hear the tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards and spirits that roam the night.
- Experience Hersheypark in the Dark (October 15-17, 22-24 and 29-31). The park will offer fall treats, lights-out rides on some of their rollercoasters and a trick-or-treat trail.
- Spend a day on an Amish farm. Fall Farm Days at The Amish Farm & House (October 10-11) are filled with fun activities for the whole family, including a corn maze, scavenger hunt, petting zoo and hayrides. Also, enjoy tasty treats like apple cider milkshakes, pumpkin funnel cakes and stuffed pretzel sandwiches.
- Eat your way through Lancaster Central Market. At the Harvest Breakfast (October 2, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.), enjoy a seasonal breakfast from your favorite market stands, in addition to live music, face painting, pumpkin painting and more.
- Go out to the movies. Attend Zoetropolis’ First Friday Fright Night (October 1, 8 p.m.) for the first official test screening of local horror-comedy film, HeBGB TV, before its fall 2022 release. The Penn Cinema Drive-In will also offer Friday Fright Nights with classic Halloween movies including Beetlejuice, Casper, Friday the 13th, Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
- Celebrate apples at Landis Valley Museum’s Harvest Days (October 9-10, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.). Enjoy demonstrations, exhibits, live music and activities, including pumpkin picking, horse-drawn wagon rides and a children’s discovery tent. Taste heirloom varieties of apples and watch as they are made into apple butter and cider.
- Smash pumpkins. Celebrate the end of the Halloween season at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm’s Pumpkin Madness Festival (November 7, 12 p.m.). Bring your leftover Halloween pumpkins to smash, throw, bowl, drop and carve to your hearts content. The excitement continues after dark with a glow-in-the-dark pumpkin drop at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
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