Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, cider donuts, fall festivals, scarecrows, spooky fun and plenty of ways to enjoy October without going far from Philadelphia.
Some people want pumpkins and cider donuts. Some want a pretty fall walk and lunch. Some want a full day on the farm with a corn maze and hayride.
And some apparently want to pay actual money to have someone chase them through a haunted building.
Whatever your version of fall looks like, there are plenty of ways to enjoy it around Philadelphia.
You can stay right in the city, head into Bucks County for an afternoon, make a day of it in Chester County, or venture into Delaware or Montgomery County for a classic fall festival.
Here are some of the best places and events to put on your October list.
Fall activities can be weather-dependent, and schedules, hours and ticket availability can change. Check the destination’s website before heading out.
The Best Fall Experiences Around Philadelphia
If you don’t want to read the whole list, start here.
Best overall fall farm experience: Shady Brook Farm
Best classic pumpkin-picking day: Linvilla Orchards
Best for kids who need lots to do: Hellerick’s Adventure Farm
Best for cider donuts: Highland Orchards
Best fall experience without leaving Philadelphia: Cityside Pumpkin Patch at Liberty Point
Best for fall foliage: Morris Arboretum & Gardens
Best free fall outing: Peddler’s Village’s Scarecrows in the Village
Best something-different fall event: Pumpkinfest at TileWorks
Best for younger children: Charlann Farms
Best spooky-but-not-too-scary: Boo at the Zoo at Elmwood Park Zoo
Best for a simpler, traditional farm visit: Lytle’s Farm
Best free pumpkin festival: None Such Farm
Now, let’s get into the details.
Philadelphia County
Cityside Pumpkin Patch at Liberty Point — Penn’s Landing
211 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia
Yes, you can visit a pumpkin patch without leaving Philadelphia.
Cityside Pumpkin Patch transforms Liberty Point on the Delaware River waterfront into an urban fall destination, with thousands of pumpkins, pumpkin smashing, scarecrow archery, photo installations, games and seasonal food and drinks.
It’s not trying to be a farm—and that’s exactly the point.
Best for: City dwellers, date nights and families who don’t want the drive
2026 season: October 1–November 1
Don’t miss: The waterfront setting and pumpkin-smashing area
This is one of my favorite additions to the fall list because it gives people an option that’s completely different from the traditional farm experience.
Franklin Square Pumpkin Patch — Old City
200 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia
For one afternoon, Franklin Square gets a little pumpkin-patch treatment.
The Franklin Square Pumpkin Patch takes place Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children 10 and under can choose a pumpkin, decorate it and take it home.
The event is free, although advance registration is recommended because space is limited.
You can easily turn it into a full Old City afternoon with mini golf, the carousel, lunch or a walk through the neighborhood. Franklin Square is also hosting its seasonal Spooky Mini Golf through November 1.
Best for: Younger children and an easy city outing
Date: October 17
Bonus: Free
Morris Arboretum & Gardens — Chestnut Hill
100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia
Not every fall outing needs a hayride.
October at Morris Arboretum & Gardens means ArBOOretum Month, with fall foliage, a Pumpkin Cottage, seasonal activities and the annual Scarecrow Walk.
The 2026 Scarecrow Walk has a particularly fun theme: scarecrows inspired by decades ending in “70,” from the 1770s to the 1970s and beyond. The display runs October 1 through November 1.
Best for: Fall foliage, a quieter afternoon, couples and anyone who’s had enough corn mazes
ArBOOretum: October 1–31
Don’t miss: The Scarecrow Walk and Pumpkin Cottage
This is also one of the better choices if you’re looking for something that feels distinctly Philadelphia rather than another trip out to the suburbs.
Bucks County
Bucks County is probably where you’ll find the greatest concentration of classic fall activities—and several of the area’s best-known destinations.
Shady Brook Farm — Yardley
931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley
If you want the full fall experience, start here.
Shady Brook Farm’s FallFest runs through October 30 and includes more than 25 attractions, pumpkin picking, wagon rides, the America 250 Corn Maze, live entertainment and plenty of food and drinks.
Go during the day for traditional fall-farm activities. Stay after dark for Eerie Illuminations, the farm’s Halloween light experience.
There’s also a Moonlit Maze, Haunted Barn, campfires and live music on select evenings.
Best for: Families, groups and anyone who wants an entire fall day
2026 FallFest: Through October 30
Don’t miss: The corn maze, wagon rides and cider donuts
My pick: If someone asked me where to go for one big, classic fall outing, this would be near the top of my list.
Hellerick’s Adventure Farm — Doylestown
5500 N. Easton Road, Doylestown
Hellerick’s is a good choice when “pick a pumpkin” isn’t enough to keep the kids entertained.
The Adventure Farm has a large corn maze, wagon rides, farm animals, slides, obstacle courses and dozens of other activities.
The 2026 Fall Festival runs through November 15, making this one of the longer-running fall attractions in the area.
Best for: Active kids and families who want lots to do
Don’t miss: The corn maze and wagon ride
If you have children who will ask, “What do we do next?” approximately five minutes after arriving, this is a strong choice.
Charlann Farms — Yardley
586 Stony Hill Road, Yardley
Charlann Farms offers a smaller-scale fall festival that can be particularly appealing for younger children.
The sixth-generation family farm’s Fall Festival runs weekends through October 25, with pumpkin picking, hayrides, a corn maze, pumpkin decorating, a jump pad, games and more.
Best for: Younger children
2026 Fall Festival: Weekends through October 25
Don’t miss: The hayride to the pumpkin patch
Tickets are timed, so this is one where checking availability ahead of time is a good idea.
None Such Farm — Buckingham
Farm: 4493 York Road, Buckingham
Market: 4458 York Road, Buckingham
If you’d rather have a traditional farm afternoon without committing to one of the area’s larger paid attractions, None Such Farm is worth a look.
Its 2026 Pumpkin Festival takes place during the first four weekends of October, with pumpkin picking, hayrides, homemade food and live music.
And here’s the nice part: admission and parking are free.
Best for: A relaxed Bucks County afternoon
2026 Pumpkin Festival: October weekends
Bonus: Free admission and parking
Peddler’s Village — Lahaska
2400 Street Road, Lahaska
You don’t actually have to pick a pumpkin to enjoy fall.
Peddler’s Village brings back its annual Scarecrows in the Village, with more than 100 handmade scarecrows lining the brick walkways.
The display is free and runs through October 26.
It’s an especially easy choice for a fall afternoon because you can combine the scarecrows with shopping, lunch, dinner or a stop at one of the village’s other attractions.
And if you’re looking for something happening this coming weekend, OctoberFeast takes place October 10–11 with food, music, activities and a beer garden. Admission and parking are free.
Best for: Couples, families and an easy Bucks County day trip
Scarecrows: Through October 26
Bonus: Free
Solebury Orchards — New Hope
3325 Creamery Road, New Hope
For a quieter orchard experience, Solebury Orchards is another Bucks County option.
Apple picking is still being offered Thursday through Sunday in 2026, but there’s an important caveat: spring freeze damage significantly reduced this year’s apple crop. The orchard has supplemented its supply with apples from New York, so availability on the trees is more limited than usual.
The cider, cider donuts, cider ice, applesauce, fruit butters and jams are still part of the experience.
Best for: A quieter orchard day
2026 tip: Check current apple-picking availability before making the drive specifically for apples.
Moravian Pottery & Tile Works — Doylestown
130 E. Swamp Road, Doylestown
This one isn’t your typical pumpkin patch—and that’s why it deserves a spot here.
The historic TileWorks property has several Halloween events in October, including Pumpkinfest on October 24–25.
Pumpkinfest features professional pumpkin carving, illuminated jack-o’-lanterns, live music, food trucks, vendors and family activities.
For those looking for something darker, Terror at the TileWorks takes place on October 22, 23, 29 and 30.
Best for: Something different
Pumpkinfest: October 24–25
For the spooky crowd: Terror at the TileWorks, October 22, 23, 29 & 30
Delaware County
Linvilla Orchards — Media
137 W. Knowlton Road, Media
Linvilla is one of those Philadelphia-area fall traditions that really needs very little introduction.
Pumpkinland runs through November 8, with pumpkins, harvest hayrides, corn and straw-bale mazes, barnyard animals, Apple Blasters, pony rides, train rides and plenty of seasonal food.
You can easily spend several hours here, which is why it’s one of the strongest choices on this list for a classic family fall day.
There are also evening options, including moonlight hayrides and the Witch’s House experience on select dates.
Best for: The classic Philadelphia-area fall day
Pumpkinland: Through November 8
Don’t miss: A cider donut—and give yourself plenty of time to explore
One 2026 note: a spring freeze affected much of Linvilla’s apple crop, so apple-picking availability is more limited than usual. If apples are the main reason you’re going, check availability before you leave.
Arasapha Farm — Glen Mills
1835 Middletown Road, Glen Mills
Arasapha Farm is another solid Delaware County choice for a traditional harvest experience.
The Harvest Hayride runs on weekends through November 1 and includes a corn maze, pumpkin picking and a variety of family activities.
And if you’re looking for something considerably scarier, the farm is also home to Bates Motel Haunted Attractions.
Best for: Families who want a traditional harvest outing—with a spooky option nearby
Harvest Hayride: Weekends through November 1
Chester County
Highland Orchards — West Chester
1000 Marshallton Thorndale Road, West Chester
If cider donuts are the deciding factor, put Highland Orchards near the top of the list.
Fall weekends bring pumpkin and apple picking, a five-acre corn maze, apple cannons, food trucks, local vendors and the Levante Brewing Beer Garden. The farm’s cider donuts are a particular favorite.
Private hayrides are also available and should be booked ahead.
Best for: Families, couples and groups
Fall season: Through November 15 on weekends
Don’t miss: The apple cider donuts
My pick: Best destination if you want the combination of farm scenery, food and a classic Chester County fall atmosphere.
Milky Way Farm — Chester Springs
521 E. Uwchlan Avenue, Chester Springs
Milky Way Farm’s Pumpkin Harvest runs through October 31.
Weekend admission includes the corn maze, farm animals, photo opportunities and a walk through the farm meadow to the pumpkin patches. Hayrides are available for an additional charge.
And then there’s Chester Springs Creamery, where you can finish your pumpkin-picking trip with homemade ice cream made from the farm’s dairy herd.
Pumpkins and ice cream? That’s a pretty good October combination.
Best for: A relaxed farm day
Pumpkin Harvest: Through October 31
Don’t miss: Chester Springs Creamery after the farm
Lytle’s Farm — Lincoln University
170 Church Road, Lincoln University
If the big fall festivals aren’t your thing, Lytle’s offers a simpler farm experience.
There is no general admission fee. Pumpkins are sold by the pound, and visitors can take a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch or tackle the corn maze.
The 2026 season runs Thursdays and Fridays from 3–6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., weather permitting.
Best for: A traditional, low-key pumpkin-picking day
Don’t miss: The wagon ride to the patch
Montgomery County
Elmwood Park Zoo — Norristown
1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown
October gets busy at Elmwood Park Zoo.
Harvest Fest runs weekends through October 25, with carnival games, live music, face painting and other family activities.
Then there’s Boo at the Zoo, running on October weekends through October 31, with costumes, trick-or-treat stations, a straw maze, games and Halloween entertainment.
Best for: Families with younger children
Harvest Fest: Weekends through October 25
Boo at the Zoo: October weekends through October 31
It’s a particularly good choice if your kids are interested in Halloween but aren’t quite ready for a genuinely scary haunted attraction.
If Cider Donuts Are Your Priority
Let’s be honest: sometimes the pumpkin is just an excuse.
If your real goal is cider donuts, I’d put these at the top of the list:
Highland Orchards — West Chester
Linvilla Orchards — Media
Shady Brook Farm — Yardley
Solebury Orchards — New Hope
Highland Orchards is my strongest pick if the food is the main event. Linvilla is better if you want a full family day around it.
For Fall Fun That’s Spooky—But Not Too Scary
Not everyone wants a haunted house.
For younger kids or anyone who likes Halloween without the nightmares, try:
Boo at the Zoo at Elmwood Park Zoo — costumes, trick-or-treating, games and Halloween activities.
Franklin Square — pumpkin patch, Spooky Mini Golf and other seasonal attractions.
Morris Arboretum & Gardens — ArBOOretum Month, Pumpkin Cottage and the Scarecrow Walk.
Peddler’s Village — scarecrows ranging from funny to spooky, without the jump scares.
If You Actually Want to Be Scared
For the people who think a pumpkin patch is not nearly frightening enough:
Terror at the TileWorks in Doylestown runs October 22, 23, 29 and 30.
And Bates Motel Haunted Attractions at Arasapha Farm gives you the more traditional haunted-attraction experience.
This is where the cider donut portion of the evening ends.
If You’d Rather See Fall Foliage
Pumpkins aren’t mandatory.
For a quieter fall afternoon, head to Morris Arboretum & Gardens in Chestnut Hill for colorful foliage and the seasonal ArBOOretum displays.
You can also make an afternoon of Wissahickon Valley Park, walk along Forbidden Drive and the Wissahickon Creek, or take a stroll or bike ride along the Schuylkill River Trail.
And if you’re already heading to Bucks County, pair Peddler’s Village with one of the nearby farms or orchards.
Easy Fall Date Ideas
Not every fall outing has to involve chasing children through a corn maze.
For a fall date, I’d consider:
Morris Arboretum & Gardens — foliage, gardens and a quieter pace.
Peddler’s Village — scarecrows, shops, restaurants and an easy afternoon or evening.
Cityside Pumpkin Patch — pumpkins and seasonal fun right along the Delaware River waterfront.
Solebury Orchards — a more relaxed countryside option.
Highland Orchards — farm atmosphere, food and cider donuts.
Worth the Drive
If you’re starting in Philadelphia and don’t mind getting out of the city, these are the places I’d prioritize:
For the full family day: Shady Brook Farm or Linvilla Orchards
For younger children: Charlann Farms or Elmwood Park Zoo
For older, active kids: Hellerick’s Adventure Farm
For food and farm atmosphere: Highland Orchards
For a quieter afternoon: Morris Arboretum & Gardens or Solebury Orchards
For something unusual: Pumpkinfest at TileWorks
For a free outing: Peddler’s Village or None Such Farm
A Few More Fall Ideas Around Philly
If pumpkin picking isn’t really your thing, October still gives you plenty of reasons to get outside.
Take a walk through Wissahickon Valley Park when the leaves start changing.
Spend an afternoon in Chestnut Hill, pairing Morris Arboretum with lunch, coffee or a walk along Germantown Avenue.
Make a Bucks County day trip by combining Peddler’s Village with one of the nearby farms.
Head west for a Chester County fall day around Highland Orchards, Milky Way Farm and the countryside around West Chester and Chester Springs.
Or stay right in Philadelphia and make a day of Old City, Franklin Square and the Delaware River waterfront.
So, Which Fall Experience Is Right for You?
I want the full pumpkin-patch experience:
Shady Brook Farm • Linvilla Orchards • Hellerick’s Adventure Farm
I have younger kids:
Charlann Farms • Franklin Square Pumpkin Patch • Elmwood Park Zoo
I want cider donuts:
Highland Orchards • Linvilla Orchards • Shady Brook Farm • Solebury Orchards
I don’t want to leave Philadelphia:
Cityside Pumpkin Patch • Franklin Square • Morris Arboretum & Gardens
I want something free or inexpensive:
Peddler’s Village • None Such Farm • Franklin Square • Lytle’s Farm
I want a date:
Morris Arboretum • Peddler’s Village • Cityside Pumpkin Patch • Highland Orchards
I want something different:
Pumpkinfest at TileWorks • ArBOOretum at Morris • Scarecrows in the Village
I want Halloween without terrifying the kids:
Boo at the Zoo • Franklin Square • Morris Arboretum
I actually want to be scared:
Terror at the TileWorks • Bates Motel Haunted Attractions
One Last Fall Tip
October weekends get busy—especially when the weather is perfect.
For the larger farms, buying tickets ahead of time and arriving earlier in the day can make the experience much more enjoyable. Some attractions use timed admission, while others have activities that require separate tickets or reservations.
And check the weather before you go. Pumpkin fields, hayrides and corn mazes are outdoor activities, and several of the farms specifically note that schedules or activities can be affected by weather.
Most importantly, you don’t have to do all of these.
Pick a sunny October afternoon, grab someone you like spending time with, and go enjoy fall around Philly.
Have a favorite fall spot I missed? Send it my way. I’m always looking for another good Philly-area find.