12 Fall Festivals in the US That Offer More Than Just Pumpkin Spice

Some of the links might be affiliate links and, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission. See our disclaimer for more info.

In the US, fall is the time of autumn leaves, BBQs, long drives, and fun festivals. From holiday parades to food celebrations, some fall festivals should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.

There’s nothing like autumn in the US. Its crisp weather, colorful foliage, and cultural events make it an excellent time to travel.

Besides being a beautiful time to travel, the fall is full of exciting festivals. Below are 12 of the best fall festivals to experience in the US this year.

Salem Haunted Happenings, Salem, Massachusetts (October)

Offbeat US Attractions The Witch House, Massachusetts — © Georgios Antonatos / Shutterstock

Save this!

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later.

What could be a better bucket list experience on Halloween than partying through the site of the Salem Witch Trials on Halloween? We couldn’t think of anything either. Spooky City USA hosts one of the largest Halloween festivals in the world, and hundreds of thousands of participants would agree. It’s not to be missed.

At the start of October, fans of everything scary come in droves to Salem. Family-friendly costume contests and events bring locals and visitors together in endless fun and creativity.

On October 3, there will be elaborate floats and decorations downtown for the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade. You’ll find plenty of witch costumes and the occasional T-Rex marching through town. For Halloween on a grand scale, there’s no better place to be in the world.

Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta, Santa Fe, New Mexico (End of September)

Since 1991, the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta has been where food and wine lovers meet to celebrate all things Santa Fe. From its award-winning cuisine to its great wines, New Mexico’s capital is a haven for foodies, and this fall festival is where to appreciate its legacy.

Wine industry giants and some of the best chefs in the country head out to Santa Fe. You’ll sample some of the country’s best wines and dine on endless bites prepared by the best of the best.

To top it off, live music goes off through the night as participants dance the enchiladas away. The event costs $200 to enter and lasts for five days.

National Apple Harvest Festival, Biglerville, Pennsylvania (First Two Weekends of October)

There’s nothing as crisp and delicious as a freshly picked apple in the fall. In Biglerville, Pennsylvania, they have a whole festival celebrating the satisfying experience. For just $10 to enter, you’ll get to participate in one of the largest festivals in the world dedicated to the fruit.

Come to enjoy endless games and apple-themed events. Vendors, puppet shows, and classic car demonstrations add to the pure adrenaline-fueled Americana.

If that isn’t enough reason to go, you’ll have hundreds of artisanal apple products and ciders. At the end of the event, the Pennsylvania Apple Queen is crowned. It can’t get more American than that.

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, Tualatin, Oregon (Mid-October)

Imagine racing your competition on a cold lake, paddle in hand, trying to beat the person next to you and win the heat. That’s exactly what racers in Tualatin’s regatta are doing, only replace the boats with giant pumpkins.

The costume-clad rowers paddle their dug-out pumpkins for glory while spectators cheer on the sidelines. The vibe is full of contagiously goofy energy. To top it all off, there are other pumpkin-themed events outside of the race.

At the festival, you can indulge in all forms of pumpkin cuisine, from pumpkin soup to pumpkin pie. Of course, this being Oregon, you can find a healthy amount of pumpkin ales to wash down all the pumpkin goodies.

Ocean City Fall Block Party, Ocean City, New Jersey (Mid-October)

Ocean City is where East Coast surfers come for great waves, and festival goers come for one of the US’s best fall festivals. This day-long festival is marketed as a block party, and for good reason. It turns into a full-blown party.

The festival starts with plenty of booths, performers, games, and family-friendly activities. As the sun winds down, it turns into a massive firework show over the glimmering ocean.

🏨 Explore all your hotel options here

You’ll enjoy a day full of food, live music, and plenty of celebrations. After the fireworks, you can enjoy the beach vibes of this fun-loving coastal town.

San Antonio’s Día de los Muertos, San Antonio, Texas (End of October)

Festivals in the World The Day of The Dead, Oaxaca, Mexico — © Oleg Znamenskiy / Adobe Stock

In the historic city of San Antonio, you can find one of the largest Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations outside of Mexico. The festival is when families in Mexico and Mexican communities in the US lay candles at gravesites and celebrate the lives of their deceased relatives by wearing face-painted skulls and other traditional decorations.

You can observe the festivities at the Day of the Dead River Parade. Here, massive floats and alters parade down the avenue. You’ll hear traditional music and take in all the vibrant colors of the elaborate costumes.

Throughout the festival, you can enjoy homemade Mexican cuisine at one of the many restaurants and vendors. At night, San Antonio’s bars and clubs turn into a thrilling celebration.

Shenandoah Autumnfest, Woodstock, Virginia (Beginning of October)

Fall festivals in the US usually center on one industry, agriculture, and the Shenandoah Autumnfest is no exception. Come visit on October 5 to experience a daylong tribute to the fall harvest.

You’ll get to try homemade BBQ and artisanal meals served from some of the region’s best food trucks. To quench your thirst, there will be wine, beer, ciders, and spirits tastings from beloved local businesses.

Throughout the event, there will be everything from harness racing to log splitting. There’s even endless live music to serenade you as you enter a satisfying food coma.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, New Mexico (October)

Few fall festivals in the US are as grand as Albuquerque’s International Ballon Fiesta. This massive spectacle showcases over 500 balloons, each with stunning designs and significance.

The event has been going on since 1972 and has grown to become the world’s largest balloon show. Vendors and performers come from all across the region to set up for the nine-day event.

You can expect endless entertainment and perfect photo opportunities under a desert sky filled with hot-air balloons. You can enter the launch area and talk to the aeronauts before they take to the skies.

Louisiana Pecan Festival, Colfax, Louisiana (November)

Thousands of hungry spectators arrive annually in the small community of Colfax on the Red River to celebrate all things pecan. The nut is such a part of the region’s economy and culture that they created an entire festival for it.

The festival begins with family-friendly events, games, and special performances. Everything from pecan pie to pecan ice cream is served as you wait in line for the rides.

Towards the end of the event, you can see the parade, where performers and decorated floats parade down the small town’s main street. For a great taste of small-town USA fun, the Louisiana Pecan Festival may be hard to beat.

Trailing of the Sheep Festival, Ketchum, Idaho (October)

Idaho’s small town of Ketchum puts on one of the most unique and fun fall festivals in the country. The Trailing of the Sheep Festival started in 1997 after a pair of sheep farmers and the local Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber & Visitor Bureau decided to make a festival out of the already popular local pastime of sheep trailing.

Ketchum has a long history of sheep farming, and the festival has become the perfect way for locals and visitors to celebrate this storied tradition. Over 1,500 sheep walk (trail) down the town’s main street.

Spectators can follow the sheep through town and stop into restaurants and shops for special festival deals. You can enjoy live music, artisanal food, and seasonal family fun that runs through the week.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio (October)

People love traveling to Cincinnati for its zoo and historical charm. But in the fall, almost a million visitors celebrate the largest Oktoberfest in the US.

This loud and joyous festival features live music, great vibes, and, of course, mouth-watering food and some of the best beer in the country. Local brewers pour their best beers, and fans come dressed in traditional German lederhosen and outfits looking for a good time.

The festival throws the world’s largest chicken dance. If that isn’t enough energy, you’ll also enjoy endless live music and other fun events where strangers become best friends quickly.

The festival has been running since 1976. Admission is free, but you’ll probably want to bring extra money for all the bratwurst and pretzels you’ll be scarfing down.

The Great Jack-O’-Lantern Blaze, Croton-on-Hudson, New York (September-November)

Over 7,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns are displayed with custom music and lights in this one-of-a-kind festival. Now, for the festival’s 20th year, you can enjoy new experiences like the VIP Gourd & Goblet Tavern experience.

Throughout the path are spooky lights and music, creepy decorations, and life-sized creations. From dinosaurs to a giant Kraken, all your worst nightmares are waiting for you.

The event is held at the Van Cortlandt Manor, a historic manor with a history dating back to the Revolutionary War. Once you’ve gotten your fill of the excitement, you can take a short drive south to the town of Sleepy Hollow where the famous novel, ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ was based.