Best Fall Festivals for Families

Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Sonoma, CA

The grape harvest, of course is why everyone is here, and all ages can participate in the World Championship Grape Stomp. But there’s plenty else going on: a pygmy goat show, cow-milking contests, a pumpkin toss, sheepdog trials, and a giant pumpkin weigh-in.

For the Kids: Animals take center stage, with a miniature donkey show, pet pig show, poultry and waterfowl exhibit, and llama show—even a llama parade. There’s also a magic circus, an Etch A Sketch contest (Etch A Sketches provided), and an Easy Bake Bake-Off. Kids can also indulge in a varietal apple tasting before the less health-conscious Super Sundae contest.

For the Parents: What would Sonoma be without a wine tasting?This festival’s tasting offers unlimited samples for $40, while the beer tasting is $15 for five taste tickets. And check out the slew of seminars and chef demonstrations and the Port & Chocolate Garden.

Details: October 3–5, 2008; www.sonomacountyfair.com.

National Apple Harvest Festival
Arendtsville, PA

Southern Pennsylvania has been celebrating the apple for 44 years with this event held over two October weekends. As you’d expect, the fruit takes many forms here: jelly, pancakes, syrup, sauce, and candied. But save your appetite for the pie-eating and apple-bobbing contests. And while you’re digesting, watch the tractor square dance—two by two, tractors ride in formation like couples on a dance floor.

For the Kids: Between the hayrides, kid country barn, petting zoo, pony rides, and puppet shows, there’s not much that isn’t child-oriented. Aspiring singers can karaoke in the petting zoo, while dance fans can watch performances by cloggers, Native Americans, or a children’s ballet.

For the Parents: Antique and classic cars, and some 300 vendors keep everyone occupied. Enjoy a constant stream of musical acts, and take home a pie (apple, of course) from the pie-baking contest and auction.

Details: October 4–5, 11–12, 2008; www.appleharvest.com.

Circleville Pumpkin Show
Circleville, OH

The pumpkin fest is so important here that students are given days off of school to participate. There is nothing small-town about this annual event that features two pageants, seven parades, karaoke, farm demonstrations, pet training expositions, and nearly nonstop music.

For the Kids: The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In is a perennial favorite, as are the Big Wheel Race and a messy egg toss. Catch one of the many magic acts or perform as a family in the Stand Up ’n Sing competition. Save room for Saturday’s Pumpkin Pie-eating contest.

For the Parents: Enjoy acts that feature funk, bluegrass, country rock, gospel, and jazz music. Then check out the stained glass demonstration in the craft tents or one of the daily Fashion Extravaganzas in the pavilion.

Details: October 17–20, 2008; www.pumpkinshow.com

The 64th Annual Floresville Peanut Festival
Floresville, TX

Travel just 30 minutes south of San Antonio and you’ll find yourself awash in peanut pride and paraphernalia. Queen Tunaep and King Reboog (peanut and goober spelled backwards, respectively) kick things off with a bevy of 'royal' guests at the opening coronation gala.

For the Kids: The Goober Games include peanut races (balancing a peanut on a spoon while running) and face painting. There’s a kiddie parade with decorated bikes, wagons, and trailers, along with 'Peanut Square,' which offers pony rides, Folklorico dancers, mariachi bands, and Texas Gunslingers.

For the Parents: Nothing says classic American romance like the Friday and Saturday night dances to live music set under the town’s large oak tree.

Details: October 7, 9–11, 2008; www.floresvillepeanutfestival.org.

Fall Festival
Silverton, OR

As October comes to a close, Portland families make their way south to the 80-acre Oregon Gardens, for costume and pet parades, craft tents and corn-husking races. Get a head start on your Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas with a floral-arranging tutorial while children practice their own less-refined hobby of throwing pumpkin seeds at targets.

For the Kids: The fair is full of harvest archetypes, including hayrides and a corn maze. Larger (and more volatile) events like a pumpkin slingshot and pumpkin rolling can cause some major gourd carnage.

For the Parents: Walk through more than 20 specialty gardens, many of which include sculptures. If the weather isn’t fit for strolling, head to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gordon House, located within the park, for an architectural tour.

Details: October 25–26, 2008; www.oregongarden.org.

Fall Harvest Festival
James River Park, VA

When this Virginia fair touts old-fashioned fun, they mean it. The harvest fair features historic crafts and events like candle dipping, butter churning, and apple pressing using machines from the early 1900’s.

For the Kids: The fair offers two wagon rides—an afternoon jaunt to the Tye River Overlook, and a scary haunted version after nightfall. For those who’d rather stay put, there’s face painting, a corn husking bee, pumpkin painting, apple bobbing, sack races and cornhusk doll making.

For the Parents: Enjoy the spread at the herbal butter tasting before savoring hot cider while huddled around the evening bonfire.

Details: October 18, 2008; www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks.

Town of Porter Cabbage Festival
Porter, NY

If you’ve ever wanted to see some 3,000 people get creative with cabbage, this festival’s for you. The highlight?The Cabbage Leaf Costume Show, where local celebrities model custom cabbage couture.

For the Kids: There’s a fun run, petting zoo, pony rides, bounce house, pumpkin painting, and the Cabbage Toss competition. The one event missing, not surprisingly, is a cabbage-eating contest.

For the Parents: If the promise of your children eating cabbage isn’t enough to draw you to this picturesque upstate town, surely wine tastings will. Four wineries will join in festivities with free tastings and by-the-glass pours.

Details: October 5, 2008; www.northofthefalls.com.

Wellfleet OysterFest
Wellfleet, MA

Nothing says the Cape quite like oysters, which is why S.P.A.T (Shellfish Promotion and Tasting) is committed to keeping harvest hauls large and healthy. There may not be a hayride in sight here, but the community atmosphere, brisk waterfront location, and focus on local ingredients make this one of the best ways to spend a clear October weekend.

For the Kids: This festival isn’t all about raw bars. There’s a family-friendly area complete with clowns, a moon bounce, face painting, and oyster jewelry making. There’s even a children’s steel drum workshop.

For the Parents: Start the festival off with a turn on the dance floor at the annual Disco Night dance. Check out the cooking demonstrations before getting raw at the 'Taste the Terroir' seminar (four oyster and two clam samples from six different sections of the Harbor). Then test your shucking skills in the shucking contest. Grand prize: $1,000.

Details: October 18–19, 2008; www.wellfleetoysterfest.org

Black Walnut Festival
Spencer, WV

Northeast of Charleston, WV, people are going a little nutty for the 54th Annual Black Walnut Festival. The four-day celebration features craft shows, markets, and the quintessential hometown gathering, the high school football game (appropriately titled the Black Walnut Bowl).

For the Kids: A steady stream of FFA and 4-H shows makes for a veritable hog heaven for petting-zoo lovers. If pigs don’t make your children squeal, head to the nightly carnival, the pancake breakfasts, and the band and majorette Competition.

For the Parents: Antiques abound at the daily Antique Mall, Flea Market, and Quilt Show. Get your fill of black-walnut candy and baked goods before heading to the chainsaw art booth and live music stages. Don’t worry, you can work off all of the calories in the Nut Run.

Details: October 9–12; www.wvblackwalnutfestival.org

Harvest Festival
Santa Fe, NM

The Santa Fe Harvest Festival is a hands-on chance for families to experience traditional New Mexico culture and ritual. Stomp grapes, help string red chile ristras, and cook tortillas on the outdoor griddle.

For the Kids: Children can create tradition corn-husk dolls, eat biscochitos (traditional New Mexico cookies) straight from a beehive oven, and watch burros crush sorghum to make molasses. Weavers will be on site all day to demonstrate how to wash, dye, and spin wool, while two working mills will be in motion as millers explain the history and process of weaving.

For the Parents: Ballet Folklórico dancers will perform as well as Matachines—a captivating dance indigenous to Mexico and New Mexico. Throughout the weekend, the festival puts on fashion shows featuring beautiful Mexican fashions both contemporary as well as traditional.

Details: October 4–5, 2008; www.newmexico.org.