Travel

As a local, you are familiar with almost each fall festival. However, you, as a foreigner or traveler, have no clear ideas about the fall festivals celebrated or observed in the United States of America. To make your visit/tour during the autumn season more enjoyable and unforgettable for you and your closed ones, here is the list of the best fall festivals of America with a brief description: 

1. Sever's Fall Festival

Shakopee in Minnesota is the ideal place to enjoy this fall festival on every Saturday and Sunday during the autumn season. The primary attractions of this festival are corn stalk mazes, straw sculptures, a corn pit playground, a petting zoo, and zip lines. 

2. Duluth Fall Festival

The Duluth Fall Festival is the 40th annual celebration to say goodbye to summer and welcome to autumn. It usually happens at the last weekend of September in downtown Duluth and runs from 30 September to 1 October this year. Talking about chief attractions, you can enjoy a parade, local dance, antique cars, marching bands, etc. on Saturday morning (September 30, 2023). Further, you can experience 180 artisans selling their art pieces, more than 20 scheduled performances, and on-site carnival throughout the weekend. 

3. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Since its origin in 1976, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati has advanced a lot. This fall festival is celebrated in the six city blocks residing on the Ohio River bank. It is the largest festival in downtown Cincinnati. This year, it will run from 14 to 17 September. Main attractions include the Running of the Wieners, the World’s Largest Chicken Dance, and many running music. As a foodie, you can taste German dishes like sausages, potato pancakes, soft pretzels, sauerkraut, cream puffs, pickled pigs feet, and strudel. 

4. Elk Fest

Most of the locals love pumpkins and cider in autumn while people in the rocky mountain area, Estes Park, of Colorado prefer elk. This fest starts from the last day of September and runs throughout October 1. You can make your US tour unforgettable with activities like clicking images of antlers on the bulls, a haunting sound for calling their mates, food trucks, live music, and leaf peepers. 

5. The National Apple Harvest Festival 

Largely observed in Biglerville in Pennsylvania on two full weekends in October, the National Apple Harvest Festival attracts a lot of native residents and outsiders. This year, the festival is going to take place on 7-8 and 14-15 October. As an outsider, you can make your US autumn trip memorable by experiencing apple art, apple syrup, and apple jellies. In addition, you can watch chainsaw, enjoy live entertainment, explore antique farm equipment, and witness a collection of classic cars. 

6. Salem Haunted Happenings

Do you love exploring dark history such as a witch city? Salem Haunted Happenings is the right celebration for you. It takes place astound the year. However, it becomes a center of attraction throughout October. During the month, thousands of people from all across America and other parts of the world reach the city, Salem, for the Salem Haunted Happenings. Magic shows, costume parties, movie nights, etc. take place throughout October nights for those who love thrills and excitements in forms of ghost tours and psyche readings. Further, you can experience the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade on October 5 and Salem Zombie Walk. 

7. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze 

This fall festival will take place on 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30 September 2023 in Croton-on-Hudson in New York. You can enjoy this festival throughout October and on 1-5, 8-12, and 17-19 in November. During this festival, you will witness grounds of historic Van Cortlandt Manor getting turned into gorgeous designs that will be formed using more than 7 000 jack-o-lanterns. 

9. West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta

This fest is very crucial for the small community of Tualatin in Oregon, 15 miles away from the south of Portland. It runs for two days in October each year and features fall themed activities such as face painting, races, pumpkin bowling, a costume contest, and food vendors. This fall festival will take place on 21 and 22 October in the ongoing year.

11. Warrens Cranberry Festival 

Since its inception in 1973, the Warrens Cranberry Festival has been an eye-catching annual celebration around the evergreen shrub. It gets a kick off with the beginning of the harvest season in the village of Warrens. Taking place on 22-24 September this year, the Warrens Cranberry Festival will feature 1300 booths, a parade, 3 miles of shoppin, cranberry marsh tours, and contests to celebrate the occasion. 

12. Muertos Fest (Día de los Muertos)

San Antonio is a native place for the celebration of Dia de los Muertos or Muertos Fest, one of the largest fests in the USA, which will happen on 28 and 29 October this year. It is a Mexican holiday to honor the dead ones. It will feature live music, elaborate altars, and art vendors along with the activities highlighting Latin American and Mexican heritage. Further, you can witness a river parade. 

13. Trailing of the Sheep Festival

Are you willing to experience the root of a region during your American holiday this fall season? Participating in the Trailing of the Sheep Festival, which will take place on 4-8 October 2023, is good for you. During this fest, you will experience the Folklife Fair, farm-to-table dinners, the Sheepdog Trials, and wool workshops. Further, the Love of Lamb will make you taste various lamb-based dishes. And you will witness a parade of more than 1500 sheep down Main Street. 

14. Sea Witch Festival 

Rehoboth Beach, the seaside town and acknowledged as the Nation’s Summer Capital, is going to organize the 33rd annual Sea Witch Festival at the end of October this year, especially on 27-29 October. It usually features Halloween activities such as a haunted beach bonfire, a costume parade for people, and a broom tossing competition. If you are with your kids, you can go to kid specialized areas that boast crafts, magic shows, and spooky stories. 

15. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Highly acknowledged as the largest hot air balloon festival across the world, this fall festival has been an attraction for thousands of people for more than a century. Occurring on 7-15 October in Albuquerque in New Mexico, this balloon festival allows you to enjoy everything such as eating, drinking, photography, shopping, and dancing. Further, you can enjoy fireworks, live music, and oodles of shopping. 

Conclusion 

Fall festivals are the key attraction of tourists in the USA during autumn. In your search of the best fall festivals in the USA, you can come across many options. However, including the fests like Sever’s Fall Festival, Elk Fest, the National Harvest Festival, Salem Haunted Happenings, and the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze are the ones that will make your US tour memorable for you.