By Annette Morejon, Owner of Traveler’s Caffe
Crisp air, golden leaves, and cozy sweaters – it’s no wonder fall is the favorite season for so many. While Pumpkin Spice Lattes may steal the spotlight, autumn has far more to offer. From vibrant harvest festivals to charming small-town celebrations, this is the time of year when communities across the country come alive with traditions, flavors, and festivities that make the season unforgettable.
One of my favorite things about fall is visiting some of the great festivals that take place every year in towns across the U.S. For most, fall is a magical time of year with colorful landscapes and much awaited cooler temperatures. It’s also harvest time when many delicious fruits and veggies are at their peak, many of which become the main attraction at fall festivals throughout. But the months of September through November are also perfect travel months as the weather tends to be just right and certainly more enjoyable for outdoor activities, airfares usually drop, and hotels also offer shoulder season (before and after peak) discounts. My recommendation for this fall is to plan a weekend getaway where you can experience a local festival, visit some beautiful parts of the country, enjoy the dramatic fall foliage, and even take advantage of those shoulder season discounts all in one!
Here’s my list of some fun festivals to consider as part of a weekend getaway away from home:
New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival: October 25, Laconia, NH. Includes a 34 foot tower of jack-o-lanterns, a zombie walk, horse-drawn hay rides, and pumpkin bowling. Combine this with Boston for some history and great food and Salem, MA, for a witch tour at night. NHPumpkinFestival.com
Sonoma County Harvest Fair: October 11, Sonoma, CA. Sample more than 100 wines, locally crafted beers and ciders, and some of the county’s best specialty foods. Arrive in San Francisco, visit the city, and hit some local wineries in between. HarvestFair.org
National Apple Harvest Festival: October 4-5 and 11-12, Arendtsville, PA. Great place to sample all things apple and enjoy the demonstrations, contests, arts and crafts, and much more. Held in the middle of “apple country” but close to Harrisburg and Gettysburg, which are two great places to also visit while here. AppleHarvest.com
Harvest on the Harbor: October 30 – November 1, Portland, ME. The area’s best foods and drinks are brought together with a series of food events, such as demonstrations, tastings, competitions, etc. Portland is a destination all on its own, but also visit the coastline, which makes for amazing picture stops. HarvestontheHarbor.com
Trailing of the Sheep Festival: October 8-12, Ketchum/Hailey, ID. The main attraction here is herding of the sheep as they work their way towards their winter pastures, but there is also music, a folklife fair, a wool fest, and cooking and art demonstrations and classes. Nearby is Sun Valley and its mountains, where you can also participate in plenty of outdoor activities. TrailingoftheSheep.org
By the way, I didn’t mention Oktoberfests in the list as there are too many around the U.S. to name. If you’re traveling somewhere else in October, do a Google search as you may find one near you throughout the month.
If you want to head out of the country instead this fall, there are also some neat festivals and events taking place just about anywhere. In Paris, you have the White Night (or Nuit Blanche) on October 4, which allows free admission to many museums, lots of nighttime festivities, and free transportation all night long. In Italy, you have the Alba White Truffle Festival going on between October 11 and December 8, and in parts of Latin America (such as Mexico and Bolivia), you have All Saints Day or the Day of the Dead celebrations between October 31 and November 2. The list goes on!
Whether you’re curious about one of these festivals for a quick getaway or prefer to take an international vacation, get traveling this fall and take advantage of the marvels (and discounts) of this fabulous season!