Fall Festivals and Activities in the Susquehanna River Valley Region

Delgrosso’s Harvest Fest – Tipton PA : Sept 24^th/25th

            Usually taking place the last weekend of September, Harvest Fest at Delgrosso’s Amusement Park is a great way to spend an autumn day. There is a $6 dollar fee for entrance for anyone over the age of 3; however, it includes rides. With countless hand made craft vendors and a variety of things to eat, this festival is geared toward the whole family. The park usually has a petting zoo, pumpkin painting, and entertainers that put on shows for kids.

Potato Fest – Ebensburg PA : Sept 24^th/25^th

            This festival as you may guess is centered around Cambria County being the 2^nd largest producer of potatoes in Pennsylvania. Over 200 craft and food vendors come together and line the streets of Ebensburg. Many potato foods can be had including: Potato soup, candies, pancakes, perogies, chips, and even potato pizza. Live music from acoustic, bluegrass, and even some brass bands can be heard throughout the day. A lot of kid friendly crafts, contests, play areas, and live entertainment goes on for the entirety of the festival. For the adults the Dautless Fire Company hosts a wine tasting. Admission is free and off site shuttle parking is available free at the Admiral Peary Vo Tech, Penn Highlands Community College, and Lake Rowena.

Apple Cider Fest – Patton : Oct 2^nd

            Always celebrated the first Sunday of October, the Apple Cider Festival at Prince Gallitzin State Park is one of a kind. The leaves are usually just starting to change in the park it makes for a great backdrop with the smell of fresh Apple Cider and Apple Butter in the air. The festival has a decent amount of local craft vendors and a set of live entertainment. An old fashion hayride can be had to really experience the park. Admission is free.

Hartslog Day – Alexandria : Oct 8^th

            This unique fall festival takes place annually the 2^nd Saturday of October. The day is named after an old Indian trader that set up his trading post, a log, near present day Alexandria. This is one of my favorite fall festivals even though it’s just one day. There is so much to see and do including over 200 food and hand made craft vendors. A local church even offers a breakfast for people early in the morning. Parking and Admission is free. Don’t miss out on experiencing this small town festival.

Bedford Fall Foliage – Bedford : Oct 8^th/9^th & 15^th/16^th

            This is one of the best places to experience a fall day and really get into the autumn spirit and is always the 2^nd and 3^rd weekends in October. Over 400 vendors line the streets of Bedford with live entertainment, music, chainsaw carvings, Children entertainment, pumpkin patch, and apple pressing. Expect all your favorite fall food like apple cider, apple butter, candy apples, roasted nuts, kettle corn, and many more options.

PumpkinFest – Hollidaysburg : Oct 15^th

            Pumpkin Fest in Hollidaysburg has been slowly getting more and more attention. This year will be the 11^th annual Pumpkinfest celebrated in historic downtown Hollidaysburg. Craft and food venders along with 2 stages with live entertainment make this a small but refreshing fall festival. Many of the local small business in the downtown area are open and offer many fine and unique things that are great to kick-start your holiday shopping.

           

“Fall” into Family – Raystown Lake : Oct 15^th

            This year will mark the 4^th annual “Fall” into Family event at Raystown Lake. This is another smaller festival that is a palate cleanser from the huge crowds other festivals bring and allows for the visitors to really experience the autumn atmosphere. Spend the day watching pumpkin chucking, on a hayride, visiting the tractor show, or the multiple kid friendly games. The event is centered around the family and is a great way to spend a fall day.

PumpkinFest – Old Bedford Village : Oct 15th

            The Pumpkinfest at the Old Bedford Village could not happen at a better time. The leaves are changing and usually almost at there peak color. The air usually has a slight chill and adds to the whole experience.  The colonial village is decorated for the autumn season and really makes for a quaint down to earth experience. There are pie eating contests, pumpkin and gourd chucking and lots for adults and children to experience. The village has many people dressed in colonial wears with different workshops like candle and scarecrow making. Live music and entertainment goes on all weekend and is a great experience. There is a small admission fee for anyone over the age of 14 and free parking.

Shavers Creek Fall Harvest Fest – Petersburg

            This is a great family festival to attend but unfortunately is not going on this year but will return in 2017.

Ravenwood Manor – Beccaria : Sept 29^th- October 30^th.

            For anyone looking for a close to home Haunted Attraction, Ravenwood Manor has been putting on a great show for years. The historic mansion in Beccaria is a great backdrop for a haunted house and hundreds of people attend to get a scare each year. Ticket prices are reasonable with free parking, and food on site. Tickets go on sale around 6:45pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from the last week of September until the end of October. I recommend getting there as early as possible to beat the long lines.

Lincoln Caverns Ghost & Goblin Tours – Huntingdon : Every Friday & Saturday in October

            What better way to get a good scare for Halloween than in a dark cave? Lincoln cavern’s hosts a haunted attraction including a cave tour, Haunted hayride, and woods trail. Each year is a different theme and experience. Save money and perchance tickets online or you can get them at the door. Adults many get a little scare from this attraction but on scare factor I found it more geared towards kids and teens.

       

JB Tree Farm’s Fall Frenzy – Alexandria : Starts Mid Sept through October

            Looking for a great family outing during the fall season? The JB Tree farm will not disappoint. This is a great place to spend an afternoon as a couple or with children. The JB Tree farm kicks off it’s Fall Frenzy Days on September 16^th which include a Corn Maze, Hayrides, Kid play area, Pumpkin Patch and gift shop. This year there is a new Pumpkin Slingshot. There are Nighttime Corn maze hours until 10pm for anyone who wants more of a challenge.

Weakland Farms – Munster : Sept 10th - Oct. 29th Thursday through Sunday

            Weakland Farms is another great place to spend an autumn day. Located in Munster, this farm has a Corn Maze, Barnyard petting zoo, hayride, Pumpkin Patch, Fall decorations for sale, Food stand and Indoor kid play area. The fall activities run from September 10^th through October 29^th Thursday-Sunday.

           

Unique PA Festivals - Harts Log Day

   

     In the small town of Alexandria, Pennsylvania, a festival takes place annually on the 2^nd Saturday in October. The festival in many ways is similar to other autumn festivals in Pennsylvania. However, the history behind the town and the festival's name is unique.

      In the 1740's, an Indian trader named John Hart set up his trading post near present day Alexandria. Hart would use a hollowed-out log at his post to feed his horses while making trades. Through the years, the log he used became a landmark for early pioneers and was later referred to as Hartslog Settlement. In 1755, Hartslog Settlement and 400+ acres were bought by James Sterrat and in 1793, the town of present day Alexandria was laid out into blocks.

      Today the people of Alexandria continue to celebrate their heritage and autumn with the Hartslog Day Festival. Many hand-made crafts and venders line the main street through the town. Parking is free and available at both east and west entrances if you arrival early enough to get a spot. Local churches, organizations, fire companies, and other venders have great food throughout the festival. One local church even offers breakfast if you get their early in the morning. The festival is usually over sometime around 5-o-clock in the afternoon and is only a one days event. Alexandria is located just a short distance west of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

MayFest : Huntingdon's Spring Festival

   Pennsylvania sure has its share of unique festivals each year. While most of these festivals take place in autumn during the harvest season, one very unique festival in Huntingdon county helps to usher in the beginning of spring. In the borough of Huntingdon, this year will mark the 10th Annual MayFest. This uncommon festival usually takes place in the last weekend of April from 9am to 5pm. For the festival celebration, 5 blocks of  downtown Huntingdon are blocked off for venders, crafters, and some very special entertainment. What makes MayFest truly unique is how each block of downtown captures a different time era including Renaissance, 50's, Woodstock, Colonial, and Victorian. Activities, music, and entertainment center around each blocks time period.  Meanwhile, volunteers and re-enactors dress accordingly to the period. Most of the small business, cafes, and shops in downtown Huntingdon are also open. Some of the shops even offer specials during the festival. All the funds raised during MayFest go to help community non-profit groups.       

     I first heard about the festival a few years ago from a friend that lives in Huntingdon. For the past 2 years I have attended MayFest and plan on going this year on April 25th.  For anyone who loves small town festivals, this one is a must to attend and I strongly encourage it. For a festival goer like me, it is nice to have this festival “bridge the gap” between the autumn festivals. The easiest way to reach Huntingdon is by Route 22. Parking is available in a few different parts around town.