Western New York knows how to pack in the fun while the weather is good and Fall is a perfect time to get out and enjoy the crisp air, colorful view, apples, pumpkins and goblins too. There are festivals to enjoy and apples to pick and pumpkins to pie!
Let's start with the festivals! Saturday the 8th of October there is a Fall Fest at Canalside Buffalo from 10:00am-10:00pm that includes plenty of ghoulish delights for all ages. There will be a pumpkin patch, craft, obstacle course, bounce houses, amusement rides, an artisan market, a haunted house and more. If you feel like heading in a different direction there is also a Fall Fest at Peak 'n Peek on Oct. 8 & 9, 15 & 16 in Clymer, NY. that includes a craft fair, chair lift rides, petting zoo, pony rides and the pumpkin cannon. And Western New York's oldest festival, the Ellicottville Fall Festival also keeps the fall fun rolling on Columbus Day weekend with art, food, rides, races and nightly entertainment.
Next there is the pumpkin farms with festivals every weekend. The Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence, NY has a "lot" of pumpkins to choose from and crafts, rides, a pumpkin sling shot, jumping pillow and different events including the Pumpkin Olympics, the Pumpkin Drop, Trebuchet Contest, Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, Pig Races and the World Pumpkin Weigh Off. Another festival spot is Becker Farms, which is a bit of a drive but has a slew of things to do when you arrive. They have hay rides out to pick your pumpkin, a petting zoo, pony rides, apple picking, bounce houses, goat races, sing-alongs, and a corn maze to name a few of the things to keep everyone smiling. Adults will also be happy to know Becker Farms has a winery and brewery with tastings offered every weekend. A smaller farm that also has a petting zoo, pony rides, hayrides and pumpkins to buy is Kelkenberg Farms in Clarence. And you can go BIG at Awald Giant Pumpkin Patch in North Collins where you can buy a 200+ pound pumpkin to stick out front or just wander around admiring the big guys.
Now that the pumpkins are bought and ready to be carved it is time for some apple-picking- my favorite fall fun! There are many places to choose from but be sure to keep an eye on the picking schedules. There is Murphy Orchards where the picking is done, Blackman Homestead Farm with a little bit of picking left and Becker Farms has varieties still left to be pulled from the branches. There is also Lynoaken Farms in Waterport, NY, where we will be, with more picking and an interesting abundance of apple varieties you have never heard of. Lynoaken has over 350 varieties of apples from all over the world and some are many centuries old. There is also a farmer's market, pumpkins, a winery and gift shop at this family run farm.
Fall in Western New York is also filled with one-of-a-kind things to do and we have some favorites and some we would like to try. Actors put on a show at these different autumnal escapades. Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford offers Fall fun through ghostly walks known as Spirit of the Past Tours. This year these theatrical tours through the dark are designed around stories penned by Edgar Allen Poe and meant to keep you a bit creeped out. GVM also has trick or treating in the village during the last weekend of October. Also to our East, is Holiday Hollow where you can take your kids in costume to enjoy some humor at one of the 7 live shows, at what is said to be "America's only Halloween and pirate themed mini-Renaissance Fair". The kids enjoyed our day there even though the jokes were meant for an older crowd. There is also a slide, face painting and a small haunted house at this off the beaten path attraction in Corfu, NY. Our other all time fave is Enchanted Forest at Beaver Meadows in Java Center, NY. This event happens every year onFriday, Saturday and Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. Tickets for these educational and super-fun walks need to be reserved ahead of time and are parsed out in 10-minute intervals. There are crafts and demonstrations inside but the highlight is the guided tour down a jack-o-lantern lit path to meet the 6 nocturnal critters presenting each year. Each animal along the way teaches you about how they live and some through catchy tunes! At the end of this unique take on fall fun everyone gets a donut and warm cider to finish up the night.
I have only mentioned some of the fab fall ideas to get your family out there to enjoy. There are haunted houses, trick-or-treating at the zoo and the mall and just a drive or special train ride to see the colors can be a perfect way to spend the day. It's also a great time for adult fun sipping wine in the Finger Lakes while taking in the views all around. If you are looking to travel a bit farther and wondering where to go and when and what to see, "leaf" the planning to us at Stowaway! Call or email us anytime to help you plan your fall tour.