| Page 48 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Best Harvest and Pumpkin Festivals in Connecticut for Fall Family Fun

Submitted by Ally Noel on Sun, 09/01/2024 - 10:00pm

Fall festivals are roaring your way this autumn in CT, with harvest fairs, pumpkin festivals, and more! Photo courtesy of the Seymour Pumpkin Festival

There are family-friendly fall festivals happening every week in Connecticut.

Best Harvest and Pumpkin Festivals Near Boston for Fall Family Fun

Submitted by Lucie T on Sun, 09/01/2024 - 5:40pm

The Topsfield Fair is one of Boston's most beloved fall festivals and autumn traditions. Photo courtesy of the Topsfield Fair

Find the best fall festivals near Boston for kids and families.

Best Harvest & Pumpkin Festivals in Chicago for Fall Family Fun

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Sun, 09/01/2024 - 11:00am

Taste of Chicago, Pullman Park. Photo by Walter S. Mitchell III, City of Chicago

Chicago is full of kid-friendly fall festivals, and many of them are FREE. From neighborhood festivals honoring Chicago's diverse communities, like Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest or 79th Street Renaissance Festival, to kid-friendly festivals in Chicago that dig deep into our thriving food and art scenes, like the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts or Renegade Craft Fair , there's a celebration happening every weekend from now 'til Thanksgiving.

Even Oktoberfest celebrations in Chicago, which might make you think of boozy crowds, make room for families with kids' zones and activities. And of course, there's Halloween and all the fun that comes with it.

Bookmark this long list of the best fall festivals in Chicago to do with kids. And get your calendar and your favorite fall sweater ready!

Best Harvest Fairs and Pumpkin Festivals in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Fall 2024

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 09/01/2024 - 9:32am

Enjoy bouncy houses, a petting zoo, and plenty of kid-friendly activities at the Town of Walden's annual Harvest Festival. Photo courtesy of the event

Harvest festivals in Westchester and the Hudson Valley celebrate the region's spectacular seasonal offerings, including romping around local pumpkin patches and eating delicious apple cider doughnuts. Plus, many of these wow-worthy weekend events involve carnival rides, treats, and live music.

For even more ways to celebrate the season, bookmark our Guide to Fall Fun in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, which includes our picks for the best places to go apple picking, leaf peeping, and more.

Best Fall Festivals and Fairs in NYC this September and October

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 09/01/2024 - 9:32am

Try your hand at corn husking and more analog entertainment during the Corn Fest at the Queens County Farm Museum. Photo courtesy of the Queens County Farm Museum

Fall festivals in NYC punctuate the changing of seasons with plenty of family-friendly fun. Top annual fall festival favorites include the Richmond County Fair and the Brooklyn Children's Book Fair. Plus, Mommy Poppins is providing kid-friendly entertainment at the Seaport Kids x Back to School Bash, an Open Streets event on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, and the Atlantic Antic, too.

There are also some cool under-the-radar events you may not have heard of, including an Italian fair in the Bronx that is a lot less crowded than Little Italy's San Gennaro.

Best Fall Festivals and Fairs in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 09/01/2024 - 9:31am

The Water Lantern Festival returns to the harbor in Jersey City's Liberty State Park at month's end. Photo courtesy of the event

As the carefree days of summer draw to a close, these fall festivals in New Jersey give families plenty to look forward to. Chow down on delicious seafood at the Downbeach Seafood Festival, and sneak in some early Halloween fun at Six Flags Great Adventure's Fright Fest Extreme, plus, get a taste of fall at local fairs, including Jersey City's All About Downtown Street Fair.

Best Fall Festivals and Fairs in Los Angeles for Fall Family Fun

Submitted by Toby B on Sun, 09/01/2024 - 9:15am

Pick a peck of pumpkins at the Annual Pumpkin Festival Cal Poly Pomona. Photo courtesy of the Cal Poly Pomona Facebook page

Fall festivals in Los Angeles do exist, even if the warm beach weather says otherwise. While other places have a season called fall, LA has something more like extended summer weather with back-to-school fun and a pumpkin aisle at Trader Joe's.

Of course, the beauty of an endless summer that fades gently into Halloween or Thanksgiving—usually right up until that guy in the red suit arrives—is that family-friendly fall festivals keep going strong through November. Check out some of our favorite annual faux fall festivals in Los Angeles, from Labor Day through Day of the Dead.

For more fall fun, visit the best pumpkin patches in Los Angeles, go apple picking near LA, and see what other seasonal activities should be on your fall bucket list in our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids.