The Complete Guide to Fall Festivals in Maryland, DC, Northern Virginia, and more! (updated for 2023)

Inside: Your passport to fall family fun in the Maryland area. It includes the best fall festivals in Maryland plus apples, fall foliage, pumpkins, and Halloween! Google Map of all the fall festival locations at the end of this post!

Did you see it? The leaves are starting to change. Apples are in season. The grocery store has brought back pumpkin spice.

Bring it on!

With the start of school and (hopefully) cooler weather, there are so many fantastic fall festivals and activities in the Baltimore-DC Area. Lucky for you, I have done a fair bit of research for you. Hopefully, this guide will act as your comprehensive resource for fall family fun in the greater Baltimore-DC area.

I have focused this guide on families with young children (no haunted houses.. sorry). So, happy harvest! I hope you pick out the best pumpkin ever, drink the best apple cider slushie, and see the most vibrant fall colors. Updated for 2023!

Apple Picking

Related: All the best places to pick apples in Maryland!

Baugher’s Orchards and Farms

Address: 1015 Baugher Rd, Westminster, MD 21158

Take a nice drive to Westminster, MD and pick some of the juiciest apples in the area. Baugher‘s specializes in honey crisp apples but grows pretty much all varieties. Stop by their market for delicious apple cider donuts still warm and wash down their yummy goodness with an apple cider slushie. They also have a great little petting zoo farm.

Larriland Farm

Address: 2415 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine, MD 21797

Nestled out in Western Howard County, Woodbine, this fantastic pick your own farm will have apples ripe for picking in late September.

Related: Best Pick Your Own Farms in Central Maryland!

Butlers Orchard

Address: 22222 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD 20876

This fantastic farm and orchard is located in Germantown, MD.

Milburn Orchards

Address: 1495 Appleton Rd, Elkton, MD 21921

Located in Elkton, MD, this Milburn Orchards offers an ‘apple adventure’ pick your own experience.

Rock Hill Orchard

Address: 28600 Ridge Rd, Mt Airy, MD 21771

Located in Mount Airy, MD, Rock Hill Orchard is a pick your own orchard also boasts an on-site creamery (ice cream… yummy!), animal experiences, flower picking, and a playground!

Homestead Farms

Address: 15604 Sugarland Road, Poolesville, Maryland 20837

Homestead Farms in Poolesville, MD is operated by a family who has been farming in Maryland since 1763!

Weber’s Cider Mill Farm

Address: 2526 Proctor Ln, Parkville, MD 21234

Don’t get distracted by the the fact that the pick your own farm is called, PeachBerry Farm. Weber’s Cider Mill Farm in Parkville, MD offers apple picking beginning in late September. Make sure you pick up some fresh apple cider and apple cider donuts as well!

Catoctin Mountain Orchard

Address: 15036 N Franklinville Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788

Catoctin Mountain Orchard in Frederick County offers over 10 varieties of pick your own apples throughout their season! When you are there, don’t miss a stop at the bakery to pick up some delicious pies and apple cider donuts!

Best Spots to View Fall Foliage

Skyline Drive and the Shenandoah National Park are the area’s fall foliage favorites. However, the are many fantastic places to take in the leaves. Here are just a few:

Autumn Glory Festival

Even though this is technically a festival, not a leaf peeping spot per se, no Maryland Fall Family Fun Guide would be complete with giving the Autumn Glory Festival a mention.

This year’s festival runs from 11 to 15 October in Garrett County. Festival activities include craft shows, parades, live music, and of course.. fantastic views of the fall foliage.

The C&O Canal National Historic Park

The C&O Canal National Historic Park has 184.5 miles of scenic trails that are great for biking and hiking. The fall colors next to the water are gorgeous. Note: The Paw Paw Tunnel recently opened up after a multi-year renovation too!

U.S. National Arboretum

Address: 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002

Peak bloom at the U.S. National Arboretum is in mid-to-late October, with many varieties of maple trees showing off their bright red splendor.

Patapsco Valley State Park

Any of the regions of the Patapsco Valley State Park would be great for fall foliage viewing. However, areas that are more accessible for families with small kids include the Hollofield Area off of Baltimore National Pike (Route 40) and the Avalon Area in Elkridge.

Great Falls Park

Both the Virginia and Maryland sides of the Great Falls Park offer great fall leaf viewing and easy hikes for kids.

Elk Neck State Park

Elk Neck State Park is located in Cecil County. The leaves turn in late October/early November in this Chesapeake area park. Take the 1 mile hike to Turkey Point Lighthouse for spectacular views.

Related: The Best Maryland State Parks for Families!

Cunningham Falls State Park

Address: 14274 William Houck Dr, Thurmont, MD 21788

Cunningham Falls State Park is a great state park in the Catoctin Mountains and it’s gorgeous anytime of the year. Wouldn’t it be awesome to see the falls with the backdrop of the fall leaves?

Oregon Ridge Park and Nature Center

Address: 13555 Beaver Dam Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030

Not only will the leaves be gorgeous at Oregon Ridge, but during the first weekend in October, the Nature Center will host a Honey Harvest Festival (first full weekend in October), complete with crafts, puppet shows, hayrides, and a campfire with s’mores!

Related: Great Nature Centers for Kids in Maryland

Gunpowder Falls State Park

Gunpowder Falls State Park sprawls across multiple counties in Central Maryland. Lots of Aspen trees make the fall leaf season quite spectacular.

Swallow Falls State Park

Address: 2470 Maple Glade Rd, Oakland, MD 21550

If you are headed to Western Maryland you have to check out Swallow Falls State Park in Oakland, MD. Check out the hike to Muddy Creek Falls, a 53′ waterfall.

Annapolis

Maybe not quite known as a fall leafing destination, but it may be the best time to visit Annapolis. Home to the US Naval Academy, a walking tour in the crisp air and changing leaves create a memorable experience.

https://www.visitannapolis.org/discover/articles/autumn-in-annapolis

Seneca Creek State Park

Address: 11950 Clopper Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Stretching along 14 miles of Seneca Creek, Seneca Creek State Park and in particular, Clopper Lake, is the perfect place to see breathtaking fall colors. The view of the trees reflecting in the water of Clopper Lake is unforgettable.

Loch Raven Reservoir

Address: 12801 Stone Hill Rd, Phoenix, MD 21131

Loch Raven Reservoir is incredibly beautiful and offers quite a few easy hikes for kids. You can go for a short 1 hour hike, bring a picnic and hang out by the water, or even rent a kayak! The colors in the fall are absolutely stunning!

Fall Festivals/Pumpkin Festivals

Note: Many of the farms that have pick your own apple orchards, also offer pumpkin patches. Unless the farm offers a significant festival I did not list it in this section. However, if you want a more ‘authentic’ pumpkin patch, I would check out one of the farms in the apple picking section. Many of them do offer hayrides as well.

Related: The Best Pumpkin Patches in Maryland!

Maryland

Butler’s Orchard

Address: 22222 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD 20876

I can’t say enough great things about the Butler’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival. It really does have it all. The caramel apples are to die for (seriously) and the festival has great slides, a corn maze, barn animals, and of course– pumpkin picking!

Summers Farm

Address: 7503 Hollow Rd, Middletown, MD 21769

Summer’s Farm has a new location as of 2022! Ok, so I didn’t know fall festivals had transformed from hayrides and pumpkin picking to a hay-themed amusement park! And Summers Farm definitely has enough attractions to keep your kids happy most of the day!

Milburn Orchards

Address: 1495 Appleton Rd, Elkton, MD 21921

Milburn Orchards is not just about apple picking. Nope, they open up their big Backyard every weekend in the fall season and host themed events like Apple Harvest or Pumpkin Harvest weekend, Autumn Colors, and Trick or Treat weekend. Admission includes access to all the fun activities in the backyard, a boo barn, corn maze, and a petting zoo.

Weber’s Cider Mill Farm

Address: 2526 Proctor Ln, Parkville, MD 21234

In addition to pick your own apples and pumpkins, Weber’s Cider Mill Farm opens up its barnyard fun area every fall. Activities include hillside slides, a boo barn, hay bale maze, hayrides, and the tire mountain.

Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch

Address: 6521 Holter Rd, Middletown, MD 21769

Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch in Middletown, MD has been rated as one of the top 10 pumpkin patches in America. Of course, you have to check it out, right? Festivities include a corn maze, crafts vendors each weekend, the pumpkin patch and hayrides (of course), petting zoo, horse drawn wagon rides and more!

Buppert’s Doran’s Chance Farm

Address: 6914 Ridge Rd, Marriottsville, MD 21104

This cute farm in Carroll County is perfect for families with young kids. There is a super fun corn maze, a hayride out to the pumpkin fields where you will pick the pumpkins off the vine, and a few animals to feed as well. The pumpkin season runs weekends during October.

Gaver Farm Fall Fun Festival

Address: 5501 Detrick Rd, Mt Airy, MD 21771

Located in Mount Airy, MD, the Gaver Farm Fall Fun Festival starts earlier than most– it opens September 1st and is open every day through October 31st!

The festival boasts over 45 attractions, including a huge corn maze (and a smaller kiddie maze), cow trains, jumping pillows, giant slides, and a petting farm. In the evening, they host campfires and a flashlight corn maze experience.

Maryland Corn Maze 

Address: 389 Gambrills Rd, Gambrills, MD 21054

The Maryland Corn Maze in Gambrills, MD is great fall fun for the family and they are really kicking it up in 2023 with a superhero-themed corn maze. How awesome is that? In addition to the corn maze there are tons of other fall themed activities.

Sharp’s at Waterford Farm

Address: 4003 Jennings Chapel Rd, Brookeville, MD 20833

Sharp’s at Waterford Farm is a great family friendly option in Brookville, MD will start their fall festivities on fall weekends. This farm, which is operational throughout the year, will offer hayrides, pumpkin picking, scarecrow making, a corn maze, and feeding farm animals.

Clark’s Elioak Farm

Address: 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Clark’s Elioak Farm is great anytime of the year. However, it is really super fun in the fall. In addition to the petting farm, there is pick your own pumpkins and special fall festival weekends.

Homestead Gardens Fall Festival

Address: 743 W Central Ave, Davidsonville, MD 21035

Check out the Homestead Gardens location in Davidsonville, MD. When they kick off the annual Fall Fest there will be a barnyard, corn maze, and pumpkin patch.

Montpelier Farms Family Farm Park

Address: 1720 Crain Hwy, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

Montpelier Farms Family Fun Park in Upper Marlboro, MD started the season early, by opening their fall festival in mid-September. Festivities include a corn maze, hayride, campfires, duck races, gem stone mining, giant slides, and more.

Shlagel Farms

Address: 12850 Shlagel Rd, Waldorf, MD 20601

During weekends in October, Shlagel Farms in Waldorf, MD opens it gates to the public for an authentic pumpkin patch experience.

Magnolia Meadow Farms

Address: 13001 Creagerstown Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788

Located in Thurmont, MD, the Magnolia Meadow Farms fall festival boasts the largest corn maze in Maryland. Other activities include pumpkin picking, a zipline, mountain slides and 20 other fun attractions. 

Lockbriar Farms

Address: 10051 Worton Rd, Chestertown, MD 21620

Located on the Eastern Shore, the Lockbriar Farm Harvest Festival runs every weekend in October. They offer loads of activities including a pumpkin patch, apple cider slushies, and more!

Councell Farms

Address: 11773 Old Skipton Rd, Cordova, MD 21625

This sweet little farm in Talbot County first got on our radar due to their ice cream (yes please!). Well, Councell Farms also offers a pumpkin patch and Field of Fun in the Fall!

They are open 7 days a week starting mid-September through Halloween. Family activities include a jumping pillow, tractor ride, fun combine playground, and more!

Rock Hill Orchard

Address: 28600 Ridge Rd, Mt Airy, MD 21771

Rock Hill Orchard is a really nice orchard in Mount Airy, MD and (hint hint) it is collocated with one of the stops on the Maryland Ice Cream Trail! In the fall, you can take a hayride out to pick pumpkins and apples, try out the pumpkin cannon, get lost in a corn maze, watch cows get milked, and even bottle feed the calves yourself (every day at 4pm). 

Knightongale Farms

Address: 3924 Solomons Island Rd, Harwood, MD 20776

Located in Harwood, MD (Anne Arundel County), Knightongale Farm is a delightful farm that offers pumpkin picking, a corn maze, hayrides, and a number of other seasonal fun activities for kids. Free activities include pedal carts, a straw bale playground, and a petting farm. 

Emily’s Produce

Address: 2214 Church Creek Rd, Cambridge, MD 21613

Emily’s Produce is a fantastic family run farm in Cambridge, MD has a lot to offer from pick your own fruit and flowers to grass fed beef. In the late summer/early fall they also have pick your own sunflower fields and (I think) a small sunflower maze. And after that they host a great pumpkin patch and corn maze!

Related: The Best Things to Do With Kids on Maryland’s Eastern Shore!

Virginia/DC

There are tons of great fall festivals in Virginia each year. Here are some of the favorites!

Leesburg Animal Park Pumpkin Village

Address: 19246 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg, VA 20175

Leesburg Animal Park is such a fun animal park with great fall activities. The fall activities include a maze, hill slides, moon bounce, and spider web crawl.

Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Festival

Address: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121

In addition to just being a super nice place to visit and take in the fall foliage, Mount Vernon hosts a really fun 18th/19th style fall harvest festival. Festivities include farming demonstrations, a discounted river cruise tickets, live entertainment, and more.

Great Country Farms’ Fall Harvest Pumpkin Festival

Address: 34345 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont, VA 20135

This super fun fall festival kicks off on October 1st. Great Country Farms, located in Bluemont, VA includes a huge corn maze, pig races, jumping pillows, pedal carts, rope swings, and cider donuts.

Wegmeyer Farms and Wayside Farm Fun

Address: 5273 Harry Byrd Hwy, Berryville, VA 22611

Wegmeyer Farms, which grows 50 varieties of pumpkins, partners with the Wayside Farm in Berryville, VA to deliver some fantastic family fun. There are pig races, a corn maze, hayrides, and much more. Festivities start September 23rd and runs weekends through the end of October.

Cox Farms

Address: 15621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, VA 20120

The Cox Farms Fall Festival is AMAZING and if you are in Northern Virginia.. it’s a MUST do. Their fall festival offers pumpkin picking, slides, swings, loads of great eats and entertainment.. and the coolest ‘not so spooky’ spooky hayride we have ever been on!

Pennsylvania

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm

Address: 150 Cherry Hill Rd, Ronks, PA 17572

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Lancaster, PA is basically a fall festival amusement park. There are so many attractions like the 5-acre corn maze, the Farm Experience, giant slides, build your own Lincoln Log Cabin, fling tennis balls with the giant slinger, and rubber duck races.

Maize Quest Corn Maze and Fun Park

Address: 2885 New Park Road Suite MQ, New Park, PA 17352

Located in New Park, PA, Maize Quest Fun Park is similar to the Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. More than 30 attractions including a giant corn maze, pumpkin patch, straw bale maze, giant slides, barnyard board game, and a pumpkin patch.

FAQ

Fall Festivals and Pumpkin Patches In Maryland- A Google Map!

 

I hope you have a great fun fall season!

Thanks for checking out this guide!