22 Best Fall Festivals in the USA You Need to Visit in Your Lifetime
Fall is a glorious time of year when there is a nip in the air, the leaves are turning their autumnal golds and reds, and people are excitedly preparing for the upcoming holidays. And while you might associate fall with pulling out your favorite scarf or sipping a pumpkin spice latte, autumn also brings the promise of family fun. Fall festivals around the U.S. are a great way to celebrate the turning of the new season and all it has to offer. Here are 22 of the best fall festivals to visit in the U.S.
But it's not just about pumpkin carving and apple picking. For instance, Albuquerque, New Mexico, holds one of the country's biggest hot air balloon festivals during the fall, and Texas celebrates autumn with the Austin City Limits Music Festival. And who could forget about Hailey, Idaho's Trailing of the Sheep Festival, which aims to educate about the history of sheep herding in the West?
Fall festivals in the USA are as varied as its people. Just think of all the food, fun, friendships, and memories you'll make. From Arkansas to Hawaii and everywhere in between, these are the best fall festivals to visit in your lifetime. So grab a friend and hit the road to find out where you can celebrate the best of what fall has to offer.
International Folk Festival
September 28-29, 2024: Fayetteville, North Carolina
This festival oozes culture. If you're into live music, dancing in the street, and food trucks galore —the International Folk Festival is the event for you. Cultures from over 30 countries will be represented at this year's annual event, showcasing their heritage in traditional garb, food, and homeland traditions. It's basically like experiencing dozens of countries in a one-stop shop. No passport is needed.
Ogunquitfest
October 25-27, 2024; Ogunquit, Maine
Dogtoberfest Costume Walk, a classic car show, trick or treating, and a high-heeled race are just some of the fun-filled events planned for this year's Ogunquitfest. The fair is free and open to the public and features over 60 booths from local vendors and eateries.
Trailing of the Sheep Festival
October 2-6, 2024; Hailey, Idaho
The Trailing of the Sheep Festival is a unique fall event that animal lovers will appreciate. Enjoy the history, heritage, and culture of sheepherding in Idaho. Learn how wool is processed and made into the clothes we wear, taste some of the city's best lamb cuisine, and peruse the stunning arts and crafts. The event's biggest draw is a literal sheep parade where sheepherders lead their flocks through the town's main street in one incredible journey.
The Great Jack o' Lantern Blaze
September 13 - November 17, 2024; Croton-on-Hudson, New York
Now in its 20th year, The Great Jack o' Lantern Blaze features thousands of pumpkins carved, lit, and arranged into stunning displays. This year's biggest draw will be the giant pumpkin Kraken rising from the Croton River. And don't forget to check out the fall-themed treats and sweets at the Blaze Cafe.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
October 5-13, 2024; Albuquerque, New Mexico
The nightly balloon glow at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is truly a breathtaking sight. Watch as hundreds of balloons are lit up for a nighttime show unlike any other. During the day, watch as these magnificent balloons take flight over the city. Hot air balloon enthusiasts come from all over the country to attend this world-renowned event. Be sure to check out the hatch chili roasting events and try some local (spicy) cuisine.
San Francisco Autumn Moon Festival
September 14-15; San Francisco, CA
Explore San Francisco's Chinatown and enjoy vendors, mooncakes, family-friendly activities, and traditional lion dancing at the Autumn Moon Festival. Not to be missed is the annual dumpling eating contest, where contestants try to eat as many dumplings as possible in just one minute.
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Oysterfest at Martha's Vineyard
October 1-2, 2024; Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Every year, food and wine lovers flock to Martha's Vineyard for the popular Oysterfest. Just how many oysters are eaten each year? About 16,000 oysters and 4,000 clams are eaten by seafood enthusiasts. Learn how these delectable bivalves are raised, farmed, and cooked.
Louisiana Pecan Festival
November 1-3, 2024; Colfax, Louisiana
Pecans have a rich history in Colfax, Louisiana, and a three-day festival is devoted to these versatile nuts. The Lousiana Pecan Festival kicks off with a children's day full of carnival rides, games, petting zoos, and crafts. Vendors sell savory and sweet pecan dishes as well as pecan-themed souvenirs. The festival's last night is capped with a parade, fireworks, and a street party, complete with live music and dancing.
Aloha Festivals
Throughout September 2024, Honolulu, Hawaii
The Aloha Festivals, which span the entire month of September in and around Honolulu, Hawaii, are one of the biggest and oldest festivals in the country. Through food, dance, and more, you can learn about Hawaii's rich history. Be sure to check out the Floral Parade, the Island's version of the California Rose Parade.
Connecticut Garlic and Harvest Festival
October 12-13, 2024; Bethlehem, Connecticut
Celebrate all things garlic at the Connecticut Garlic and Harvest Festival. Enjoy cooking demos, live bands, craft vendors, and more. But be sure to come hungry. The food hall is filled with a wide variety of garlic-infused foods, and there will be tons of items to sample, like oils, dips, spreads, and cheeses.
California Avocado Festival
October 4-6, 2024; Carpenteria, California
Avocados are an incredible fruit packed with protein, healthy fats, and umami flavor. Just how many dishes can be made with avocado? Find out at the California Avocado Festival in Carpenteria. This year's slogan: Peace, Love, and Guacamole.
Arkansas Timberfest
October 4-5, 2024; Sheridan, Arkansas
Arkansas's Timberfest is home to one of the largest lumberjack contests in the country. Watch as they challenge themselves to chop, saw, lug, and load timber faster than anyone else. Enjoy local food, arts and crafts, and wood carving demonstrations. The festival culminates with a parade and a pinewood derby race.
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Seven Springs Autumnfest
Saturdays and Sundays October 5-20, 2024; Seven Springs, Pennsylvania
Celebrate fall at the Seven Springs Autumnfest. Enjoy fall-themed activities and foods, plus family-friendly crafts, vendors, and music. Adults will love the local whiskey tastings. Because the event is held in and around a ski resort town, you can hop on a ski lift and catch all the fall foilage from an aerial point of view.
West Side Nut Club Fall Festival
October 7, 2024; Evansville, Indiana
The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival is a community-wide celebration that honors all that Evansville has to offer. Local restaurants, shops, and charities line the streets with fun-filled activities and more. The amateur talent competition and the closing parade are not to be missed.
San Jose Glass Pumpkin Festival
Imagine a fall pumpkin patch where every gourd was made from hand-blown glass. That is the basis of the San Jose Glass Pumpkin Festival. The event is held in conjunction with The Bay Area Glass Institute, where students and local artists work on meticulously made pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.
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Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta Maine
October 11-14, 2024; Damariscotta, Maine
Huge pumpkins are carved into canoes for the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta. You truly have to see it to believe it. Watch as participants carve out and decorate their giant pumpkins. Each is weighed beforehand, with a winner for the heaviest pumpkin.
Hollywood Forever Dia de Los Muertos Celebration
October 26, 2024; Hollywood, California
Each year, the Hollywood Forever Cemetary holds one of the nation's largest Dia de Los Muertos Celebrations. Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a special time to honor loved ones who have passed away. And Hollywood really does it up with elaborate costumes, shows, live music, and traditional foods.
Nebraska City Apple Jack Festival
September 19-30, 2024; Nebraska City, Nebraska
Apples are synonymous with fall, and the Apple Jack Festival celebrates this fall fruit in all its glory. The downtown cider stroll has something for everyone — hard cider, regular cider, cider slushies, and more. And don't forget your food passport. You can get your book stamped at each food vendor so you don't miss any apple goodness.
Austin City Limits Festival
October 4-6, 11-13, 2024; Austin, Texas
There are no pumpkins, apples, or hayrides here. The Austin City Limits Festival is all about the music. During the two-week festival, bands, large and small, perform on several stages while vendors serve up local food and drink.
Bourbon and Bacon Festival Memphis
September 20, 2024; Memphis, Tennesse
Who doesn't like bacon? Add bourbon to the mix, and now you're talking. Tempt your tastebuds with bacon-washed bourbon or a sundae with bacon-infused caramel. You can get all this and more at the Memphis Bourbon and Bacon Festival.
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Oregon Oktoberfest
Why travel to Munich when you can experience Oktoberfest in Portland, Oregon? Celebrate all things Bavarian with food, beer, and probably more beer. But there are plenty of family-friendly events, too, like live music, crafts, face painting, and more.
Nantucket Cranberry Festival
October 11-14, 2024; Nantucket, Massachusets
Cranberries are a fall fruit that often gets overlooked. But without them, what would we serve the turkey with at Thanksgiving dinner? Celebrate all things cranberry with the Nantucket Cranberry Festival, a four-day event featuring cranberry cook-offs, cranberry picking straight from the bog, and more.
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