There’s a lot going on in Pittsburgh this Fall, but the same can be said about the entire region! Below are a collection of fall festivals that are just a short drive away from Pittsburgh.
Gather your autumn road trip essentials – a blanket, tea, picnic basket, and a great podcast – and hit the road for some Fall fun!
Best Slice of Indiana
Friday, September 22
Indiana, PA
Eat your way through Indiana’s pizza scene to determine who has the best slice, all while supporting a good cause! Held in Downtown Indiana, tickets to this event include live music, pizza samples from each participant, and the ability to vote on your favorite slice. All proceeds benefit the ICCAP Power Pack Program which provides nutritious meals to insecure children. Tickets can be purchased online.
2017 Etna Art Tour
Saturday, September 23
Etna, PA
Etna isn’t far from Pittsburgh, but not everyone has had the chance to explore Etna’s business district. Well, here is the chance! The Annual Etna Art Tour celebrates different artists of Etna. Guests are encouraged to visit studios, galleries and shops. There will also be community art activities and performances, including an outdoor concert on Butler Street. Food trucks and local eateries, including Quickhatch Coffee+Food, PGH Taco Truck, and Cop Out Pierogies, will be serving food. Admission is free and all are welcome. More information can be found online.
Hops on the Mon
September 23
Morgantown, WV
Just outside of Pittsburgh, over the West Virginia border, is the quaint city of Morgantown. This weekend they are hosting their “Hops on the Mon” beer festival. The festival will feature 50 breweries, some local to WV, and some international, but all rigorously selected based on product quality and style distinctiveness. Guests are welcome to vote on their favorite brewery, and in the Great Grilled Cheese Challenge for best grilled cheese.
Tickets can be purchased online.
Butler Fall Festival
Saturday, September 23
Butler, PA
This weekend, Main Street in Butler will transform into their annual fall festival. There will be plenty of food, crafts, two stages of live music, and a kids zone with a petting zoo, barrel train, face painting and more. Food vendors including PGH Halal, Boyers Ice Cream, PGH Crepes, BRGR, Tango Food Truck will also be in attendance. More information can be found online.
Soergel’s Fall Festival
Saturday, September 23 – end of October
Wexford, PA
Soergel’s is celebrating fall this year with six weekends of autumn fun! Each weekend (Saturday and Sunday) will feature food from Sorgel’s BBQ and food bar. That means roasted corn, barbeque, and desserts from their Sweet Saloon – yum! There will also be hayrides, a pumpkin patch, kettle corn, pick your own apples, face painting, games, and more. For the 21+ crowd Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka, Arrowhead Wine Cellars, Arsenal Cider, and Aurochs Brewing Company will be on site. More information can be found on their Facebook page.
Zombies of the Corn
Weekends, Friday September 29 – Sunday, October 29
Freedom, PA
Forget about your zombie video games – Zombies of the Corn in Freedom, PA, brings zombie nightmares to life. This ride takes guests on through a haunted corn maze on a truck loaded up with paintball guns. Guests shoot at zombies as they pop up from the maze. 24 people can fit on the truck at a time, and it is a fun family activity. Tickets include zombie shoot ride (150 zombie killing Paintballs), walk through the zombie compound, spooky ghost stories, campfire, and parking. Find out more online.
Freedom Farms Fall Festival
Saturday, September 30 to Sunday, October 29
Butler, PA
Every weekend this October, Freedom Farms is inviting everyone to the farm for fun autumn activities like hayrides, pony rides, face painting, a hay maze, contests, corn pit, hay mountain, and much more. There will also be breweries and wineries available for adults, as well as vendors and food. Admission is $10 and can be paid at the gate. More information can be found on online.
Eerie Horror Film Festival
End of October
Erie, PA
Things are going to be eerie in Erie for their annual Eerie Horror Film Festival. Held every year around Halloween, this festival is a celebration of independent cinema. In addition to workshops and screenings, there is competitive film event with open entry. The festival accepts film and screenplays from all around the world. Over 400 films have been shown at the festival since its inception. More information can be found on the website.
The West Deer Nightmare
Friday, October 6 – Sunday, October 29
Bairdford, PA
Warning: VERY scary haunted house! Beware the West Deer Nightmare, a highly intense, terrifying Haunted House that depicts the history of serial killer Noah Hobbs and the 1952 West Deer Nightmare Massacre. The haunted house is located at haunted Bairdford Park. Just a note: the closer the date gets to Halloween, the busier the park gets. Tickets and “cut the line” passes can be purchased online.
Erntedankfest: A Harvest Festival at Old Economy Village
Saturday, October 7 – Sunday, October 8
Ambridge, PA
Celebrate the fall harvest with traditional cooking, baking and demonstrations at Old Economy Village. There will also be seasonal music, food and activities for the whole family.
Delmont Apple ‘n Arts Festival
Saturday, October 7 – Sunday, October 8
Delmont, PA
Take a beautiful drive to Delmont, PA, for their annual Apple ‘n Arts Festival. There will be a 240 quality crafters & food vendors, a train, barnyard petting zoo, well springs jumping balloon, and pony rides. Also, a 1907 antique apple press will make 5,000 of fresh-pressed gallons of apple cider – this machine only runs once a year during the festival. Finally, don’t miss Baby Apple Cheeks – a pageant for children ages 3 months – 4 years old. Find out more information online.
Hickory Apple Festival
Saturday, October 7 – Sunday, October 8
Mt. Pleasant, PA
The 34th annual Hickory Apple Festival has all the fall essentials – and then some. Get ready for a pie eating contest, a petting zoo, cloggers, and live music. There will also be demonstrations like wood carving, sand art, and pottery wheel. Apple dumplings or our caramel apples will be on site. More information can be found online.
The Hydref- a Fall Festival & Market Faire
Saturday, October 7
Allison Park, PA
Travel through time for “The Hydref,” a fall festival hosted by the Depreciation Lands Museum. Guests will enjoy 18th century crafts people, re-enactors, and “sutlers”, purveyors of 18th century goods. There will be entertainment, demonstrations, live music, children’s activities, and tons of delicious food. Activities include fresh cider making and wool dyeing & spinning.
Hydref means “autumn”, in Welsh. The festival was named to commemorate the Welsh heritage of some of the area’s early settlers. This event will be held rain or shine and there will be plenty of hot homemade food and activities for everyone!
33nd Annual Mars Applefest
Saturday, October 7
Mars, PA
Head to Downtown Mars, PA, for a day of live entertainment, food, shopping, and more fun. As the town says, “there really is life on Mars, and residents take full advantage of the fun opportunities there.” Enjoy candy, see the train station, sip on fresh cider, and more!
Kids Monster Mash Bash
Sunday, October 8
Butler, PA
Plenty of children’s activities at the spooktacular Kids Monster Mash Bash in Butler, PA. Walk a haunted trail and roast hot dogs and marshmallows around a campfire. There will also be an optional child costume swap and a family friendly movie. Event takes place at shelter #2. More information can be found online.
Freedom Farm’s Maized & Confused
Friday, October 13
Butler, PA
Adult fun in the corn maze! This event is for the 21+ crowd who want to enjoy a night of drinking at the farm. Take a tractor ride up to the corn maze and hunt for hidden alcohol vendors inside. Participating vendors include Webb Winery, Country Hammer Moonshine, Big Rail Brewing, Brooklyn Brewery, and War Streets Brewery. Tickets can be purchased online.
Zelienople/Harmony Country Fall Festival
Saturday, October 14 – Sunday, October 15
Zelienople/Harmony, PA
There is a lot going on this year for the 33rd Annual Zelienople/Harmony Country Fall Festival. There will be live music both days, arts & crafts, farmers market, horse-drawn wagons, petting farms, pumpkin contests, nightmare monster truck rides, a weenie dog race and more! There will also be a Chili Cook Off on Saturday, and a car cruise on Sunday. More information can be found online.
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