‘Fall’ into October!
Summer is gone and fall is here, along with more than enough fun to keep you busy. As apples and pumpkins fill the seasonal section of your grocery store, festivals are just down the street for you to enjoy. We’ve done the heavy lifting and put together a list of events for you to check out. Make sure to grab a cup of hot cider on the way!
Disclaimer: None of the events below are in any way endorsed by or affiliated with National OnDemand. These events in no way constitute as work-related experiences, nor will you be paid to attend. Please use your own individual discretion when attending.
Alabama: Barber Vintage Festival
Fan of motorcycles? This is the festival for you. There will be food, motorcycle vendors, swap meets, and more around a motorcycle museum. Check it out!
Date: Oct. 7-9
Arkansas: Ozark Regional Arts & Crafts Fair
If retail therapy is your favorite for weekend fun, this may be the event for you. The Ozark Regional Arts & Crafts Fair has been running for over 30 years in Northwest Arkansas and is estimated to bring in over 250,000 guests this year. You can expect to find holiday gift ideas, quality arts & crafts, home goods, apparel, antiques, vintage goods and more from vendors across the country.
Date: Oct. 13-15
Colorado: The Aphraxia Foundation’s Colorado Fall Festival
If you’re looking to support a cause while having some family fun, this may be the event for you.
The Aphraxia Foundation is focused on “supporting people with childhood apraxia of speech afford speech therapy services, communication devices, and more.” This event is the organization’s first in Colorado. You can expect arts & crafts, public speakers and more.
Date: Oct. 8
Florida: Fort Walton Greek Festival
Ever wanted to visit Greece without leaving the Emerald Coast? Now you can! The Fort Walton Greek Festival has an assortment of Greek foods (such as such as souvlaki, spanakopita, gyros and more) and drinks, as well as books and history lessons about Greek culture. You can also expect to see live music and dance performances at the festival!
Date: Oct. 21- 23
Indiana: The Bella Vita Private Resort Halloween Fall Festival Haunted Hayride or October 29th Farmers Market Evansville
Spooky season is incomplete without an old-fashioned hayride. The Bella Vita Private Resort is hosting its inaugural Fall Festival complete with candy, costume contests, games, and the aforementioned haunted hayride. There’s also going to be cornhole tournaments, food, and drinks, making it fun for everyone!
Date: Oct. 5-31
Who doesn’t love farmers markets? Packed year round with grocery essentials, the Evansville Farmers Market is getting into the spirit of Halloween by having a community Trunk-or-Treat event to fundraise for the Hillcrest Youth Services.
Date: Oct. 29
Kentucky: Kentucky Bat Festival
If you gravitate to what goes bump in the night, the Kentucky Bat Festival might be a ‘flapping’ good time. Hosted by the Second Chances Wildlife Center, this event allows guests to see live bats, listen to educational presentations, enjoy local food and drink, and make crafts! This event supports the center as they continue to rescue animals in Kentucky.
Date: Oct. 22
Louisiana: Fall Fest New Orleans or Monster Mash Mandeville
Costume contests, tricking and treats, crafts and games. What more can you ask for? Come out to the Longue Vue for a community Fall Festival to celebrate Halloween while getting to see some beautiful architecture.
Date: Oct. 29
Monster Mash is a Mandeville community tradition over 30 years in the running. Patrons can expect music, cookie decorating, crafts, carnival rides and more after admission. Additionally, every child’s ticket comes with a bunch of goodies and tickets to activities like the maze. Proceeds support the STPH Parenting Center.
Date: Oct. 22
Mississippi: Fall Into Tupelo
Need a little bit of spice in your life? This multi-day event kicks off with a Chili Fest for everyone to enjoy. Looking for something to take the kids to? Come out to the Family Fun Day on Saturday! Fan of live music? The Down on Main free concert closes out the festival. The Fall Into Tupelo fest has a little bit of everything for everyone!
Date: Oct. 7-8
Missouri: Cornucopia Kansas City
Noted as one of the biggest festivals in Missouri, the Cornucopia event in Kansas City has everything you could imagine for fall festivities. From carnival rides and bounce houses, to pumpkin carving and BBQ, Cornucopia has it all.
Date: Oct. 14-16
North Carolina: Dark at the Ballpark or Dogwood Fall Festival
On top of your normal Halloween activities (including trick-or-treating), Dark at the Ballpark in Burlington also has fireworks! How often do you get to see fireworks after Labor Day? Once in a spooky moon.
Date: Oct. 29
The Dogwood Fall Festival offers plenty of food, fun and frights as there will be food trucks, hayrides, and face painting for kids. For the adults, there will be plenty of live music and a car show Sunday to enjoy!
Date: Oct. 14-16
Ohio: Operation Pumpkin or Harvest Festival Columbus
Ever wanted to be like James and the Giant Peach? Well imagine giant pumpkins! Operation Pumpkin features a pumpkin competition where applicants compete to see who’s the biggest in town. Patrons can enjoy vendors, food and drinks while enjoying the gourd-ic wonders.
Date: Oct. 7-9
If you’re a fan of pumpkin painting, inflatables and seasonal crafts, the Harvest Festival in Columbus is right up your alley. Returning for the first time in over a year, the Harvest Festival offers plenty of fun for the family.
Date: Oct. 19
Oklahoma: Castle of Muskogee: Halloween Festival
This offering is unique as it transforms the Castle of Muskogee into a Hall of Halloween every Friday and Saturday in October! You can explore different haunted rooms and terrifying experiences all in one place.
Date: Every Friday and Saturday in October
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival
Described as a “spectacle of colorfully colossal cucurbits” the Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival is for all the fans of massive pumpkins. With record weights of over a ton, patrons can see the Atlantic Giants pumpkin strain highlighted in competitions. Enjoy tasty food and drink as you see these environmental marvels!
Date: Oct. 28-29
South Carolina: Fall for Main Street Spartanburg
If you enjoy food, shopping and fall festivities, the Fall for Main Street Spartanburg festival is right up your alley. This event is pet and kid friendly with enough activities to keep the whole family happy.
Date: Oct. 22
Tennessee: Cookeville Food Festival or Lakeside of the Smokies Balloon Festival
Fall festivals need a few things to be fit for success: food, live music, face painting, games, and family fun. The first annual Cookeville Food Festival & Fall Market has it all! You can also expect to see art, wood work, a car show, and more all at the fairgrounds.
Date: Oct. 29
One of the best things about fall is the leaves changing colors to hues of orange, red, yellow, and everything in between. At the Lakeside of the Smokies Balloon Festival, you can see this sea of color from the sky! This event offers tethered balloon rides to patrons all while having food, vendors, and, of course, more balloons! See dozens of balloons traverse the sky while enjoying nature’s beauty in Jefferson County.
Date: Oct. 22-23
Texas: Bayou City Art Festival
Have you ever wanted a fall festival that’s a little more refined? The Bayou City Art Festival is the one for you. International artists, a Culinary Arts Stage, an Active Imagination Zone and more will populate downtown Houston offering patrons an incredibly unique experience. This is also one of the largest juried arts festivals in the U.S.!
Date: Oct. 8-9
Virginia: Norfolk Mac & Cheese Festival
Norfolk offers an entire festival dedicated to one of the most beloved foods in America comprised of over 15 restaurants serving a surplus of 40 types of Mac & Cheese. Nestled in the Waterside District, this event has quickly become a staple in the community offering an experience cheesier than any other.
Date: Oct. 8