14 Iconic Fall Festivals in the US (2024)

Think of autumn in America, and a few things probably spring to mind: pumpkins, foliage, sweater weather, and wiener dog races. Okay, maybe that last one is unusual, but such is the surprising diversity among the activities found at our nation's many fall festivals.

Although many of the traditional autumnal festivities occur in the northeast and midwest, there's also plenty to do down south, on the West Coast, and even as far away as Hawaii. No one wants to let fall slip by with at least one fun festival, it seems, and everyone has their own spin on the season.

No matter where you find yourself in September, October, and November, there's probably a celebration going on nearby that will fill you with food, drink, laughs, and joy. These are our 14 favorite fall festivals all across the U.S.

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Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)

This is the largest Oktoberfest in the country, with more than half a million attendees flocking to Cincinnati every year for a long weekend. Revelers can enjoy a seemingly endless supply of potato pancakes, pretzels, strudel, and, everyone's favorite, German beer. Just remember that Oktoberfest isn't actually in October—it's in September.

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The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze (Croton-on-Hudson, New York)

Thousands of flickering jack o'lanterns illuminate the grounds of the 17th-century Van Cortlandt Manor in New York's Hudson Valley during this awe-inspiring (and family-friendly) Halloween display. It's located about an hour north of New York City by train or car, and there's a second event on Long Island, too.

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Autumn at the Arboretum (Dallas)

Yes, it's still quite warm in Dallas in the fall, but that doesn't mean you have to skip out on traditional fall activities. Craving some pumpkin action? Visit the famed pumpkin village at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, which is made up of 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash. This event also showcases 150,000 fall-blooming plants, and it also has a maze for youngsters.

Warrens Cranberry Festival (Warrens, Wisconsin)

If you love cranberries, this festival might just be heaven for you. Every year, some 100,000 people make the pilgrimage to Warrens, Wisconsin, to tour cranberry marshes, shop for cranberry products, eat cranberries, and watch a cranberry-themed parade. Admission is free, and you could even walk away with a prize if you can win the "Craziest for Cranfest" award for best costume.

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Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival (Stowe, Vermont)

There are many different things you can do with pumpkins in the fall, from carving jack-o'lanterns to making pumpkin pie. Arguably, the most hilarious is chuckin' them as far as you possibly can with your own handcrafted catapult, which is the main event at this festival in Vermont. After all that hard work chuckin' pumpkins, check out the chili cook-off contest to renew your strength and warm your bones, or peruse the craft fair for some locally made goods.

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Trailing of the Sheep Festival (Sun Valley, Idaho)

The Austrian hills might be alive with the sound of music, but the streets of Idaho's Sun Valley are alive with the baa-ing of sheep—or at least they are in October. This festival celebrates the winter migration of sheep, and events range from wool-weaving workshops to sheep parades to sheepdog trials.

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Scarecrow Festival (St. Charles, Illinois)

In St. Charles, Illinois, you can see more scarecrows in one place than probably anywhere else on the planet. During the festival celebrating this agricultural icon, vote for your favorite designs, listen to live music, and catch a magic show. The Autumn on the Fox arts and crafts festival also occurs the same weekend for those looking to shop.

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Adirondack Balloon Festival (Queensbury, New York)

Yes, Albuquerque might have the most famous balloon festival in the U.S., but it doesn't have fall foliage as New York's Adirondacks do! This non-profit balloon festival is free for observers, though you can also book rides in the balloons. Over the course of a weekend, balloons launch from a small airport near the mighty Adirondack mountains and fill the sky with a kaleidoscope of colors.

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Sonoma County Harvest Festival (Santa Rosa, California)

Journey to Sonoma, California, for a fall festival celebrating all things wine—you can sample more than 900 wines from the region at the tasting tent here. You'll also want to catch the World Championship Grape Stomp, in which participants vie to see who among them are truly great grape stompers. The festivities also include a cow-milking contest and a professional wine competition.

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Muertos Fest (San Antonio)

San Antonio hosts one of the country's grandest Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivals. Originating in Mexico and celebrated across Latin America, this holiday honors those who have passed with music, dance, costumes, processions, and resplendent altars—all of which you'll find at Muertos Fest.

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Kona Coffee Cultural Fest (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)

Put down your pumpkin spice latte and pick up a cup of Kona coffee. This is the oldest food festival in Hawaii, celebrating Kona's two-century history of coffee production. Events include a lantern parade, artisan market, multicultural showcase, half marathon, art show, barista classes, and, of course, coffee tastings.

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Acadia Night Sky Festival (Downeast, Maine)

In Downeast, Maine, residents have worked hard to keep their night sky unpolluted by bright lights—this festival celebrates those efforts. In addition to plenty of pristine stargazing, you can also enjoy art, music, poetry, and a deep appreciation for the scientific wonders of our universe.

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Frankenmuth Oktoberfest (Frankenmuth, Michigan)

This authentic Oktoberfest in Michigan features all of the traditional German music, food, and beer you'd expect, along with one especially unique event: wiener dog races. After gorging on pretzels and sausages, take a seat and watch these adorable pups gallop to the finish line. Frankenmuth has a distinct Bavarian heritage, which is why this Oktoberfest is the only Munich-sanctioned Oktoberfest outside of the German city.

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Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival (Breckenridge, Colorado)

Step aside, beer—Colorado might be the spirits capital of America with its many distilleries. Luckily for all the thirsty visitors out there, this festival gathers a bunch of them together for one big celebration that includes tastings, competitions, seminars, and live bluegrass music.