Things to do in October in Lancaster, PA

Fall festivals, family fun and cultural happenings.

Fall is officially here and it's time to unpack your cardigans, run to the closest coffee shop to indulge in pumpkin-spiced lattes, and hit the road to Lancaster County, PA.

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Special Events

Festivals

Country Music Festival

PA Ren Faire

Fall Activites

Experience Passes

Live Performances

Free

Special Events

While you're out stop by one of our many fall festivals, cultural events, and more happening around the county.

Rhythmic Impressions: Art of Jazz, Roots and Blues | Lancaster Art Vault | September 9 - October 26
The Lititz Parkwalk | October 5
Harvest Breakfast | Lancaster Central Market | October 5
Lancaster County Best Kept Secrets Tour | October 10 - 26
Frankie Ballard Country Concert | Clipper Magazine Stadium | October 11
RV Show | Clipper Magazine Stadium | October 11 - 13
Kiwanis Chocolate Walk | October 12
Marietta Blues, Brews & Boos Music and Street Fair | October 12
Pumpkin Patch Express | Stone Gables Estate | October 12 - 26
Troegs Oktoberfest Party | Tellus 360 | October 13
Happy Hiker: Exploring Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve & Enola Low Grade | October 17
Wolf Awareness Day | Wolf Sanctuary of PA | October 26

MORE EVENTS

Local 5k's

Strasburg Half Marathon & 5K | October 5
Intercourse Library 5K | October 12
Apoca-Lititz 5K | October 26

Upcoming Races

Fall Festivals & Fairs

Get ready for non-stop fun because Lancaster County hosts festivals and fairs all year round, especially in the Fall! Check out the exciting line up of events happening this September!

Fall Fest at Flinchbaugh’s Orchard | September 14 - October 26
Fall Fest Days at Refreshing Mountain | September 7 - November 23
Maize & Snitz Fest | October 5
92nd New Holland Farmer's Fair | October 2 - 5
Manheim Community Farm Show | October 7 -11
Fall Farm Days | Amish Farm and House | October 12 - 14
Harvest Days | Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum | October 12 - 13

More Fairs & Fests

Country Music Festival

Make your way to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for the annual I-105 FallFest Country Music Festival at Overlook Park on October 6th! This is an event you won't want to miss. But why limit the fun to just one day? With so much to see and do in Lancaster, you should make a weekend trip out of it!

Full Itinerary

PA Renaissance Faire is Back

The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire kicks off on August 17 and runs Saturdays & Sundays until October 27. Experience knights, stunts, delicious food and amazing artisans, and more throughout the Faire.

Can't make it to this year's Renaissance Faire? Stay tuned for the Yuletide at the PA Renaissance Faire happening end of November to December!

Full Itinerary

Fall Fun Activities

Oh, do we love fall in Lancaster County, PA, from browsing farmers markets and roadside stands in the crisp autumn air or basking in all the fun at local attractions. Here is a list of must-do's while visiting Lancaster County.

Corn Mazes & Pumpkin Patches

Corn maze fun! Traverse through winding paths and make split-second decisions with these expansive mazes.

Join in on the Battle of the Roses at the 2024 Corn Maze at Oregon Dairy starting September 9! Stroll through winding paths and traverse across picturesque bridges in this five-acre maze. Discover why this sprawling space was included in the Top 10 Corn Mazes in America at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. Check out Corn Cob Acres all month for family fun and special events like a petting zoo, animal experiences, a corn maze and more!

Top 7 Corn Mazes

During the fall season in Lancaster, there are numerous pumpkin patches and places where you can find pumpkins. If you enjoy selecting your own pumpkins from a variety of options, I recommend visiting our orchards and greenhouses. For a fun outing centered around pumpkin picking, I suggest visiting Cherry Crest Adventure Farm or Oregon Dairy.

Pumpkin Patches

Harvesting The Season

Head out to Old Windmill Farm for an Amish farmhouse experience in the farm kitchen, baking homemade bread, churning butter from our own cream, making cider, and more! Call us today to book your reservations.

The crisp autumn air brings apples and pumpkins to the forefront; they are perfect for picking. Visit different orchards and fields to pick the perfect pumpkin for carving or the perfect apple for snacking or baking. Mums are back at our greenhouses, so be sure to pick one or more up and decorate your home with the beautiful colors of fall.

Explore the great outdoors with one of Lancaster's hiking and biking trails or some fun activities by and on the river while you're at it. If you're headed to the river and are ready to get active check out kayakLanCo, and Chiques Rock Outfitters for rentals and guided excursions. If you want a more relaxing way to enjoy the river, take a boat cruise along the Susquehanna River, on the Chief Uncas boat.

Join Yummie at Kitchen Kettle Village for their annual Yummie's Boo Bash event on October 26! You and your family can safely enjoy a meal, some colorful characters, including Yummie, a costume contest, special treats, and more!

Halloween Fun

Enjoy a spooky ride out into the night with Strasburg Scooters on their Spooky Scoot Tour running October 4 - 25. Head out as the sun goes down and see the Amish backroads in a different light, where your guide will tell you eerie local folklore.

For more Halloween fun, head to Amish Farm and House for their Trick or Treat on the Farm on October 26. Dress up in your best Halloween costume and bring your candy bag and spend a spooky afternoon on the farm. Receive candy at different locations on the farm, ride around the farm on the hay wagon, and cuddle with baby goats. Don't miss out on Turkey Hill Experience Halloween Scooptacular on October 20. Kids will have a spooktacular time eating kettle corn, decorating pumpkins, creating ice cream floats, hearing a story from a witch, and more!

If you're looking for a fun night out enjoying a thriller ride on a large rollercoaster at Hersheypark Halloween adventure. On Saturdays and Sundays, September 14 through October 27 head out to Dutch Wonderland for Happy Hauntings, a fun event with themed rides, Trick-or-Treating, special entertainment, and more.

Hop on the Rails and her haunted tales of local folklore with Strasburg Rail Roads Haunted Rails and Tales this October.

Head to the Historic Rock Ford for a spooky night for their Haunted Encounters Guided Tour on October 10 and 24. Two long-time volunteers will share their personal paranormal experiences gathered over their many years connected with the site.

Things to Do this Fall

Lancaster County Experience Passes

Discover Lancaster County, PA your way! Our experience passes offer exciting opportunities, deals, and discounts that are sure to elevate your visit to Lancaster.

1. Download one of our mobile passports

2. Check in to various local businesses.

3. Redeem coupons

4. Earn points towards exclusive prizes. When you've earned enough points, head over to the Discover Lancaster Visitors Center to pick up special prizes!

Join Our Trails

Catch a Show in Lancaster, PA

Lancaster is home to many amazing theatres, check out some shows happening this month!

Hairspray | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre | October 4 - November 2
It's 1962 and Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, wins a spot on the local TV dance program. Overnight she is transformed from an outsider to a teen celebrity. The upbeat score included "Good Morning Baltimore," "You Can't Stop the Beat," and the title song, "Hairspray."

Beautiful, The Carole King Musical | The Fulton | now - October 20
This Tony and Grammy award-winning musical phenomenon is filled with the songs you remember and a story you’ll never forget.Featuring such unforgettable classics as “You’ve Got a Friend”, “One Fine Day”, “So Far Away”, “Take Good Care of My Baby”, “Up on the Roof”, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”, and “Natural Woman.”

Deathtrap | The Fulton | October 4 - October 27
Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college—a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash.

Ryan & Friends | Bird-in-Hand Stage | now - October 19
Laugh out loud and get a look at Lancaster County as you’ve never seen it before when Ryan and his colorful cast of friends present a hilarious multimedia tour of the region.

Half-Stitched… the Musical | Bird-in-Hand Stage | now - October 24
Emma Yoder, a recent widow, plans a peaceful weekend quilting class. As her students—a biker, an estranged couple, a pastor’s wounded wife, a young military veteran, and a rebellious young girl—spend the weekend learning Amish quilt patterns, seams and secrets come unraveled, tears and truths emerge, and Emma must navigate her way through the upheaval that ensues.

Daniel | Sight & Sound Theatres | Through December 31
Taken from his people, Daniel is exiled far from home in the perilous kingdom of Babylon. Now this faithful servant must navigate his new life inside a palace filled with golden statues and shifting empires. As royal pressures mount, Daniel is faced with a dangerous choice. Will his trust in God remain steadfast through every test of faith?9

IMAGINARIUM | Magic & Wonder Theater | Through November 2
Go as far as imagination can take you in this BRAND NEW variety magic show! Experience wonder as illusionist Brett Myers takes audiences to a larger-than-life-circus, the whimsy of Wonka, the glamour of Hollywood, and the curiosities of a Steampunk era. Your eyes will witness the impossible as people appear, disappear, and fly. All ages enjoy the wonder of this new show infused with grand-scale illusions, comedy, and variety arts.

Jukebox Jive | Magic & Wonder Theater | Through October 19
Jukebox Jive is a music variety show that celebrates the biggest hits of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Travel back in time to experience your favorite hits from the era when the Jukebox was the center of the fun!

Don't miss out on seeing a concert in Lancaster! American Music Theatre hosts a ton throughout the year, and just outside of the county is Giant Center in Hershey.

More Upcoming Shows

Free Things To Do in Lancaster County, PA

Head downtown on the First Friday of the month to explore local artists and galleries, independent retailers, music, and entertainment. You can even turn it into a night out on the town by checking out some downtown dining!

On the same night, from 5-7pm on First Fridays, the Lancaster Science Factory is free for you to explore their 70 interactive exhibits.Similarly, you can explore our small towns on their select days. Manheim hosts First Thursdays, Lititz Second Fridays, and Ephrata First Saturdays.

Fall vendor markets are back and are happening across the county.

October Makers Market | The Shops @ Rockvale | October 7th
LUMC 3rd Annual Community Fall Festival | October 14th
Holiday Bazaar | October 28th
Lititz Farmers Market | Lititz Springs Park | every Thursday in October
Eat, Shop and Be Scary… A Night of Halloween Fun For All | The Shops @ Rockvale | October 23rd

Fall is the perfect time to explore the county, the leaves are changing and there's so much beauty to see. Check out some great places to see the fall foliage or take a self-guided covered bridge tour of the area.

Free in Lancaster, PA

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