Meet some uniquely American, slightly eccentric fall family festivals and plan an autumn interlude with the kids. We encourage travelers of any age to exfoliate that sinking back-to-school feeling with fun fall activities.
There are other good reasons to travel in fall besides fun. First, autumn is the time to harvest some of the year’s top free festivals. Plan now and attend apple harvesting at u-pick farms, photo safaris, fall foliage viewing, film festivals and museum openings.
Second, these festivals are typically in small towns across America, where food and lodging is less expensive than in big cities. Next, autumn is considered the shoulder season between summer and winter holidays, so it’s easier to find discounted hotel rooms. Having said all that, we urge you to plan ahead to secure a room once you’ve selected your destination festival.
Here are some of our favorites:
Woolly Worm Festival, North Carolina’s Top Fall Family Festival
The third weekend of October for the past 46 years, Banner Elk has been home to a wriggly event featuring Woolly Bear Caterpillars. The Woolly Worm Festival typically begins at the local high school, where contestants bring their pets. The famous woolly worm races begin around the festival’s daily opening time of 9am. Or, as soon as the first heat (20 worms) is registered and running. Watch these fuzzy caterpillars race up three-foot strings. Cheer them on! Judges crown the champion worm and trainer (and pay them!) Experts interpret the winning worm’s 13 brown and black stripes to predict the weather forecast for the coming 13 weeks of winter. Expect about 20,000 spectators, 1,000 racers plus 150 craft and food vendors, serenaded by local talent.
Other Fall Family Activities in Banner Elk
The charming town of Banner Elk, Avery County is between the local ski areas at Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain near the Tennessee border. Locals call it the High Country and mid-late October is the height of leaf peeking in the region.
Family-Friendly Lodging in Banner Elk
Look at the pet-friendly Best Western Mountain Lodge at Banner Elk offers moderately-priced, spacious double rooms. Another inn we liked is actually a small condo with apartment like units, that serves afternoon tea, bedtime snacks and popcorn in between. It’s called Little Main Street Inn & Suites and is located, where else, on the town’s main street.
The Family Favorite Apple Festival, Bayfield, Wisconsin
True apple picking aficionados will recognize Wisconsin for its first-rate Gays Mills apples, honored at the 1905 New York Apple Show and highly regarded ever since. Although Gays Mills is still the most concentrated orchard region in the Midwest, we’re sending you north to the scenic fishing village of Bayfield on Lake Superior. Bayfield residents have celebrated the Apple Festival for more than 55 years. For three days in early October, orchard tours, an apple-peeling contest (imagine a record 311″ peel?) and every conceivable apple product are on show. More than 50,000 visitors head to Bayfield for what’s considered one of the Top 10 Autumn Festivals in North America.
Fifteen local growers set up roadside stands to sell frosted apples, pies, strudels, cider, apple sundaes, apple jam, apple butter, apple bratwurst, apple dumplings, and more. Eat to your heart’s content. Then, join in for country dancing and carnival rides in this very family-friendly affair. Kids of all ages participate in a midway packed with games and rides. The whole family will enjoy the closing day’s Grand Parade featuring a 400-piece band.
Other Fall Family Activities in Bayfied
Bayfield is on the outskirts of Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Watch hemlocks and maples change color before your eyes on some of the most scenic roads in America. The Hayward to Glidden route is especially spectacular. Those traveling after mid-month should concentrate on the Kenosha and Elkhorn regions near Milwaukee, where fruit and foliage ripens later. For more information and a 24-hour foliage report, contact the Wisconsin Board of Tourism.
Family-Friendly Festival Lodging in Bayfield and Nearby Wisconsin Towns
If you’re going to make a real vacation of this visit, the lakefront Bodin’s Resort in Washburn is popular and quiet. The resort, founded in 1938, has four well-kept one and two-bedroom cottages overlooking Lake Superior and five of the Apostle Islands. Families will enjoy the large lawn area for playing and the surprisingly nice sandy beach. By the way, your four-legged relatives are welcome here, too.
For a more sublime and eco-friendly stay, try the historic eight-room farmhouse called the Pinehurst Inn. This place has been recognized for its sustainable and energy-efficient practices. They give some of that energy back to guests with its fine spa, locally grown cuisine and attentive service. Fall rates — a bargain — include a three-course breakfast.
The FireAnt Festival, Marshall, Texas
You have to give the 25,000 residents of Marshall in east central Texas some credit for their sense of humor. Anyone who’s sat on one of those springy verdant lawns carpeting Austin, Dallas, or Houston has probably known (in the Biblical sense) a Texas fireant. These incredibly ferocious pests are feted annually the second Saturday in October at Marshall’s FireAnt Festival.
The 42nd Annual FireAnt Festival will have a free concert and dancing, petting zoo and kids activities. Fun costumes, a parade, the Tour de FireAnt bicycle race, and the awarding of FireAnt King and Queen scholarships to local highschoolers should engross your family.
Other Fall Family Festival Activities in Marshall
Your family can enjoy long walks through the city’s large historic core of 19th- and early 20th-century Western houses, or visit nearby Jefferson, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana. Search the Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce for other events occurring during your stay.
A Budget Festival-Worthy Motel in Marshall, Texas
There’s a newly renovated La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Marshall with a fridge and microwave in the rooms. Pets and kids are welcome. Take advantage of the indoor pool and gym. There are also laundry facilities (in case anyone gets ants in their pants.) Budget rates include complimentary breakfast.
Fall Foliage Festival, Boothbay Harbor, Maine
It may be known as the Pine Tree State, but Maine still has plenty of fall color to go around the 17.7 million acres of woodland. Plan to visit the Boothbay region, where your family can check out the annual Maine Fall Foliage Festival, more than 55 years running. The event takes place over the three-day Columbus weekend and features arts, crafts, great food, local entertainment, children’s activities and steam train rides.
While in Maine, don’t miss the fabulous pumpkin art being readied for October’s Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta nearby. It’s typically held the Columbus Day holiday weekend.
Other Fall Family Activities in Boothbay Harbor
Check with the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber and discover local fall family attractions. This coastal village reflects Maine’s long sea-faring history, has many local watersports and boating options, and is very picturesque.
Visitors enjoy shopping in the harborfront village. Take a scenic cruise on the water or hike on 35 miles of beautiful local trails in the Boothbay Region Land Trust. The Oak Point Farm visitors center is the place to begin.
A Favorite Place to Stay in Boothbay Harbor
The waterfront Boothbay Harbor Inn is good place to stay, near the marina. Spacious rooms with two queens welcome kids under 12 to stay free. The hotel also has business services and a bar if you’re remote working from here. Rates include breakfast and WiFi. This is a popular town, so if you have trouble finding a room, check out the inventory at Booking.com.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
2 Replies to “Autumn Interludes and Fall Family Festivals”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Are you ready for a Road Trip? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.!
Hi, the Fabulous Fall Vacations and Getaways article it is well written, it’s very informative.
Hi, the Ski and Snow Vacations for Families article it is well written and is very useful.
I love spending time in London. I think if you want to spend time out of the city, Brighton is also a great place to visit, especially as it’s close by. There are a number of family-friendly hotels, too, like The Brighton Hotel:
This blog 11 Driving Tips for Easier Road
Trips helps me a lot with my battery problems. I use a simple
solutio for my battery from here: Kiss you all!
Thanks for sharing a great post!
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most
certainly donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll
settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my
Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this site with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
Yes Zeb!
It’s a steam excursion train, shorter ride, probably many kids on board. This would be better suited to younger children. Much better choice for the under-12 set.
Ralph
Originally created as a recreation area for employees of the Hershey Chocolate factory, today Hershey Park boasts plenty of chocolate paraphernalia, as well as roller coasters and a water park. Tickets include admission to the nearby ZOOAMERICA. Originally owned by the Knott’s jam producers, Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park is one of the older parks in the US, Knott’s Berry Farm is a classic for those looking for thrill rides, water rides and family fun.
Hi Ralph, thank you for your reply. I haven’t booked it yet as I had similar reservations that since it’s an 8-hr journey, it will not be wise to take the kids at this age but would love to take them on a shorter train tour, I’m currently looking at the Jacobite express (here in the UK).
Hello Zeb,
For children under 10, It would simply be too long a day in too confined a space for them, might get a little boring for them after the first 20 minutes; it’s an eight-hour journey.
If they are active, there isn’t a lot of room to run around on the train, which is smaller than the ones we are used to here in the U.S.
If you have already booked a space, and will have toddlers or young children, suggest you bring lots of things to keep the little ones entertained.
Ralph
A very good article! Thank you
Have been to Switzerland but missed the Glacier Express, I’ve heard it really one of the best train journeys in the World with amazing mountain/alps view. Is it good to travel with kids 7 and 4 years old) too, since it’s 8 hours long?
Sunlight, particularly in late summer and fall, sets off the production of anthocyanin. Cloudy weather dampens production and leads to less colorful displays. Many scientists argue that warming temperatures do not have much to do with the intensity of color, only with its timing: when it appears and how long it lasts. But Howard Neufeld, a professor of biology at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, said climate change could eventually affect the complex processes in leaf senescence and lower anthocyanin production, dulling the autumn reds.
Gladiator School – My new favorite thing to do in Rome. We did this on our last trip to Rome and both kids and adults absolutely loved it. Instructors are great. Highly recommended. Book far in advance. (Pictured above.) Walking Tour: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill – Excellent guided tour of Ancient Rome. Skip the line to enter all three sites. Very kid-friendly.
Deer Valley caters to families with kid-friendly skiing, child care programs and a limited child-to-instructor ratio. Because Deer Valley sells a limited number of daily lift tickets, tiny tots and pint-sized groms have plenty of room to work on their pizza wedge and French fries. Other amenities include a Children s Center, Adventure Camp and furry mascots on the Adventure Trails. I grew up skiing here and learned to love the mountains and snow at this resort. The amenities are top notch and the food is amazing. As a young kid, when the skiing got tough, I would always head inside and get delicious food and hot cocoa. See more Deer Valley reviews here .
Fall is very busy in the mountainous regions with the influx of leaf peepers from the New England area, around the United States and the world. In these extremely popular areas, you ll want to make lodging reservations at least several weeks ahead, especially on weekends. Columbus Day weekend (Oct 7-9, 2017) is another time in which advanced booking is advised throughout the region.
Awesome post!
Thanks for sharing a great post!
Hey, This article posted at this website is really good.
Guess me aand the squad gonna tour around Europe next year.
Thankful for my homies still stationed in Germany and Italy
Aw, this was a very good post. Finding the time and actual
effort to generate a superb article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and never
manage to get nearly anything done.
Must say that you have share some really interesting information and the list has many options for one’s family vacation. And the images that you have used in the article are amazing too! US is such an amazing place. Thanks for sharing these ideas with us, it was a good read.
Traveling to other cities with your kiddos? Don’t miss Curbed’s maps of the best family activities
Good to know : West Valley is open daily from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Apples are $0.85 a pound. Follow their Facebook page for updates on U-pick apples. And be sure to bring containers for their popular juice pressed right on site!
Minneapolis, Minnesota is a great pick for outdoor-loving families thanks to kid-friendly (and free) favorites like the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home to more than 40 outdoor works of art
You can’t go wrong with a safari and I would recommend booking with a company like Timbuktu Travel. Have a look at their safari travel tips – .
The K Bar S Lodge, built in 2006, is located a short distance from Mount Rushmore. It is quietly secluded on 31 forested acres and away from busy streets. Battle Creek winds its way throughout the property and the large meadow in front of the Lodge is often a playground for deer and turkeys. As a single traveler it was so fun to be with this group. It s much nicer to be with others when you share a great experience or see something wonderful. And, it s safer than traveling alone. I m hooked on Road Scholar.
Rockefeller State Park offers seasonal activities including hiking, running, bird-watching, fishing ( New York state fishing license required), picnicking, horseback-riding, carriage-driving, photography, painting, and geocaching (park permit required). Sleepy Hollow and neighboring Tarrytown have a deep immigrant history resulting in a rich mix of cuisines: Italian, Greek, Mexican, Indian, French, Portuguese, Irish, Japanese, Dominican, Chinese, Ecuadorian, Thai, Moroccan, and Chilean. Foodies should not miss the Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow farmers market at Patriots Park where you ll find fresh Hudson Valley produce, meat, bread, and wine.
Speaking of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, don t miss out on seeing the Rockettes show-stopping leg kick precision chorus during the holidays at Radio City Music Hall.
Jimmy Buffet s restaurant is a short walk from the Comfort Suites Paradise Island Hotel and Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. What could be better than eating a literal Cheeseburger in Paradise? Pairing it with a yummy margarita, of course.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup.
Make sure you check out the new sustainable Christmas Market in Berlin!! Its located by Hacksnshiremarkt!
What s more exhilarating than seeing the city from 108 floors above the world-famous Las Vegas Strip? Jumping off it. Strap in and face your fear as you jump off the side of SkyPod at The STRAT.
Have you ever dreamed of creating your own ice sculpture? The Quebec Winter Carnival has just what you’re looking for! Bring your group to our Ice Sculpture Workshops under the guidance of a team led by none other than Marc Lepire, chief sculptor of Bonhomme’s Ice Palace! During this one-hour event, you will learn the workflow of master sculptors and enjoy the unique experience of carving your own solid ice block with your group of 2 to 4 people. Free all-you-can-drink hot chocolate will keep you warm throughout the frosty fun.
When you’re travelling with your kids, indoor-fun options are a must no matter what the season. Montreal saves the day with all kinds of activities, from adventurous physical feats to skill-testing games and educational entertainment.
Hi everyone, it’s my first pay a visit at this site, and piece of writing is actually fruitful designed for me, keep up posting these types of content.| ?
Very ?nteresting topic, thank you for posting.
As I website owner I believe the content material here is very superb, thanks for your efforts.
Make sure to have lists of important contacts, in case of any emergency like health issue, car issue, towing issue (for emergency roadside assistance nyc), police issue, these all contacts make a trip safe and secure
Thank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and
I am waiting for your further write ups thank you once again.
Thanks for sharing a great post!
Hello, I enjoy reading all of your article post.
I like to write a little comment to support you.
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually
realize what you’re speaking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally consult with my
website =). We will have a hyperlink alternate agreement among us
I am interested in taking a family vacation with my 2 children.
Great Read! Travelling with your family is one of the most exciting way to spend your holidays. If you are wondering where to travel next, here are some of the best vacation spots in the world.
Nice information thanks for sharing us.
Awesome post!
Thanks for sharing..
Thanks for sharing a great post!
We have traveled through several airports in Germany but never Munich. We will keep Munich on our list for the next trip through Europe since it sounds like the best place to have a stop over with kids. Thanks for the review and the information for kids to do in Munich Airport.
Greetings! I am going to be moving to Brooklyn from Minnesota in the beginning of February! My dad and I plan to take on the journey and would love to take your car with us! Contact me if you need your car out in NYC. Thanks.