Fun Fall Festivals to Enjoy in Pennsylvania

The Annual Autumn Leaf Festival, Clarion, PA

If we had to name the biggest attraction at Clarion’s autumn leaf festival, it would have to be the “Tournament of Leaves Parade,” which also happens to be the state’s biggest daytime parade. The festival itself, which features craft vendors, a carnival, and fireworks attracts over 500,000 attendees each year over the span of nine days. This internationally award-winning event is one not to miss this season, that’s for sure.

Bloomsburg Fair, Bloomsburg, PA

Spread over 236 acres, the Bloomsburg Fair is, without question, the Keystone State’s biggest agricultural fair. Fairgoers have opportunities to view a variety of animal exhibits, arts and crafts vendors, and taste a wide array of delicious fair treats. But the highlight each year has to be the top-quality musicians, who entertain at the grandstand every night.

Bedford Fall Foliage Festival, Bedford, PA

The Bedford Fall Foliage Festival is a popular attraction that draws approximately 70,000 attendees every year. More than 400 artisans and craftspeople descend on Bedford’s square, accompanied by live music and food galore. Fort Bedford Park features an antique car show and scarecrow-making. To stick with the season’s spooky theme, the festival also organizes popular murder mystery evenings.

Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival, Jim Thorpe, PA

Jim Thorpe’s Fall Foliage Festival is a celebration of all things fall over three weekends in October. Beautiful fall foliage makes for a perfectly picturesque backdrop against live entertainment, antique train rides, arts and crafts shows, antiques, and flavorful fall food. The festival doesn’t stop after the town square, either—in fact, shops and restaurants celebrate with live music too. To cap off the weekends, the opera house will host live entertainment every Saturday night during the festival.

Applefest, Franklin, PA

Apple aficionados adore Franklin’s annual Applefest, which features hundreds of arts and crafts booths, live music and entertainment, an antique car show, fresh food, and all things apple. Apple activities include cider press making, apple pie eating contests, and an apple pancake breakfast.

Cherry Crest Farm Harvest Festival, Ronks, PA

The Harvest Festival at Cherry Crest Farm delights both young and old visitors every Saturday with its five-acre corn maze, face painting, scarecrow making, pony rides, and pumpkin decorating. Festivalgoers can also enjoy picking their own ears of corn to pop in the microwave at home at this mum-covered farm.

The National Apple Harvest Festival, Arendtsville, PA

For more than 50 years, the National Apple Harvest Festival has been drawing people to Pennsylvania with tasty treats, awesome live music, arts and crafts, demonstrations, and more. The festival takes place over the first two weekends in October and packs enough activities and entertainment to make the whole weekend memorable.

Key Insights at a Glance

• Top fall festivals in Pennsylvania include the Annual Autumn Leaf Festival in Clarion, the Bloomsburg Fair, the Bedford Fall Foliage Festival, Jim Thorpe's Fall Foliage Festival, Franklin's Applefest, Cherry Crest Farm Harvest Festival, and the National Apple Harvest Festival.
• The Annual Autumn Leaf Festival in Clarion features the state's biggest daytime parade, craft vendors, a carnival, and fireworks.
• The Bloomsburg Fair is the state's biggest agricultural fair, featuring animal exhibits, arts and crafts vendors, and top-quality musicians at the grandstand.
• The Bedford Fall Foliage Festival in Bedford draws 70,000 attendees with artisans, live music, food, antique car shows, and murder mystery evenings.
• Jim Thorpe's Fall Foliage Festival offers live entertainment, antique train rides, arts and crafts shows, and flavorful fall food over three weekends in October.
• Franklin's Applefest features arts and crafts booths, live music, an antique car show, apple-themed activities, and fresh food.
• The Harvest Festival at Cherry Crest Farm in Ronks offers a five-acre corn maze, face painting, scarecrow making, pony rides, and pumpkin decorating.
• The National Apple Harvest Festival in Arendtsville has been drawing people to Pennsylvania for over 50 years with tasty treats, live music, arts and crafts, and demonstrations.