As days get shorter and nights get longer, you know Fall is underway! It’s the perfect season to get outside and enjoy nature because it’s not too hot or cold, plus there’s pumpkin spice-flavored everything! Autumn brings in beautiful colors, smells, and tastes for all to enjoy. Whether you prefer rolling pumpkins, apple picking, or following the foliage, there is a fall activity for you in the Saratoga Springs and Rome regions!
Saratoga Springs
September
Clifton Park Farm Fest – September 14-15
Take a break from the city and enjoy the countryside with a road trip to the working farms in Clifton Park. You can learn about farming, ride a horse, pick apples, enjoy a hayride, and eat delicious country foods. It’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy!
Adirondack Balloon Festival – September 19-22
A staple upstate NY fall activity is the Adirondack Balloon Festival! Located at Floyd Bennet Memorial Airport and opening ceremonies at Crandall Park in Glens Falls, it’s a free, four-day festival with almost 100 hot air balloons! Plus, you won’t want to miss glow nights and local food trucks and vendors. (This festival is subject to change depending on the weather.)
Saratoga Giant Pumpkin Fest – September 28
The Saratoga Springs City Center and Saratoga Farmers Market will host the 9th annual Saratoga Giant Pumpkin Fest Weigh-off this year. The pumpkins arrive early in the morning, and the weigh-off starts at 11 am. Also, the Saratoga Farmers Market is next to High Rock Ave., with food vendors and special exhibits. Plus, there’s free admission for the whole family!
The Great Pumpkin Challenge – September 28
Put on your running shoes! This race benefits Saratoga Bridges. It offers 5K, 10K, or Kids Fun Run, so anyone can participate. Registration costs $25 through September 15 and increases to $30 on September 24, the last day for registration. The first 1,200 participants get a moisture-wicking long-sleeved t-shirt, plus the event has costume and pumpkin contests, with prizes for winners and top runners for each age group. And don’t miss out on the sweet treats!
October
Liberty Ridge Farms Nightmares – October 7-28
Looking for a good scare? Starting October 7, Liberty Ridge Farms has five haunted attractions open from 7 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings. All tickets are available online or at the gate. After you get a good scream in, check out the gift shop and the food vendors.
The Way We Were Car Show – October 13
Enjoy a blast from the past with classic cars! Ballston Spa hosts one of the biggest car shows in the Saratoga County. In addition to free admission, the event has live music, food, merchandise vendors, and a kid’s zone. It’s a great way to spend a fall day! (The rain date is October 20.)
Saratoga DBA Presents the Annual Fall Festival – October 26
The Saratoga Downtown Business Association will hold the Fall Festival in Downtown Saratoga! Not only will there be many festivities and contests, but there will also be a two-week-long Great Pumpkin Hunt! In addition to free admission, this event is kid-friendly.
Rome
Take “The Fall Getaway” train departing from Union Station in downtown Utica and travel throughout the Adirondacks—a perfect way to see the foliage and beautiful scenery! There are various other tours available; most bring you to Old Forge. Check the schedule for when it offers the “Pumpkin Train,” which takes you to Wally’s pumpkin patch, and the “Family Halloween Train,” where wearing costumes is highly encouraged!
October Getaway at the Oneida Community Mansion House
Stay overnight at the Mansion House and immerse yourself in the history of the Oneida Community! The admission package includes a fall-inspired dinner the night you arrive, followed by a Tunnels and Towers Tour later that evening, which takes you into the house’s basements, towers, and lesser-seen areas. Enjoy a light breakfast in the morning by an award-winning local baker! Finally, take a tour of the Oneida Community Cemetery. You are welcome to go back to the museum after the tour. Check out the link for pricing and details!
Orchards and Farms
Looking to grab a drink and enjoy some scenery? Check out Brimfield Farm Winery! Visit the tasting room for a history lesson on the farm, or bring your golf clubs and hit up the driving range. No matter what you choose to do, the rolling hills and mountains offer beautiful fall scenery to soak up!
Wanna have a fun fall day with your kids? Check out Clinton Cider Farms for fresh pressed cider, apples, and donuts! Along with lodging, you can visit the mill to see how the farm makes cider. The mill opened in 1903 with just a screw, by 1927 they had a new hydraulic press installed and has been making the best cider ever since!
Carving pumpkins is an essential fall activity; otherwise, how else will you keep the spirits from your doorstep? North Star Orchards has apples and pumpkins for you to pick. Its shop also has locally sourced goodies, pre-picked apples, and pumpkins if you plan a quick trip!
Fall Races
Sold out the last two years, this 5K has become an enormous fall event for Willow Running in Syracuse! Now, in Utica, the 5K is on Sunday, October 27, but beware because the race course is haunted! After the event, there is a huge food festival at Pizza Boy’s. The event has apparel and a finisher medal, and it all goes to a good cause! There is a sign-up fee of $40-$44.
50th annual Falling Leaves Road Race
Celebrate 50 years of this fall classic by joining the Utica Roadrunners at the state office building to begin the race! There is a 5K course, a 1K course, and a kid’s run. The 14K is a 2024 RRCA Eastern Region Championship Event, so you receive a t-shirt and a 50th Anniversary medal. After the race, visit the DoubleTree by Hilton Utica for a post-race party and award ceremony! Click the link for prices and details.
Trick or Treating
Family Fun Series: VCC’s Pumpkin Party
Bring the kids in costume to Mohawk Community College on October 26 from 12-1:30 pm for a pumpkin party! This event has fun fall activities, like pumpkin painting and a meet and greet with Wednesday Addams and Jack Skellington! There is a $10 entry fee, but, most importantly, it’s just down the street from Air City Lofts!
Living in Upstate NY, nice fall weather is not always guaranteed! However, Mohawk Valley Community College is offering an indoor trick-or-treating event! Join them with your kiddos on October 29 from 4-6 pm.