It seems like no matter who you ask in Central Florida, everyone’s favorite season is the fall. While we don’t quite have the crisp, brisk temperatures the rest of the country enjoys this time of year, just breaking into the 70s is a treat after a blazing hot summer and difficult hurricane season. We can drive with the windows down, put pumpkin spice on everything, pick up a couple cinnamon brooms from Publix, and take pictures of our toddlers on top of gourds of all shapes and sizes.
There’s really so much to do in the Orlando area that narrowing this list down to just 10 great fall festivals and activities wasn’t easy. Whether you’re a parent seeking out the best place to find fun for kids (and adults) of all ages, or you’re a babysitter or nanny looking for ideas to keep everyone occupied for the day, these festivals and pumpkin patches will not disappoint.
A post shared by Green Meadows Petting Farm (@greenmeadowspettingfarm) on
At this pumpkin patch, you’ll actually get to take one home free! One admission sticker gets one free pumpkin, and they’re pretty strict about this. Additional pumpkins can also be purchased for $3. In addition to the pumpkin patch, guests paying farm admission get access to all the other great things Green Meadows has to offer. That includes their pony rides, tractor rides, petting zoo, playground, and more.
Green Meadows offers a couple other Halloween family events, like the Ooky-Spooky Haunted House, which is recommended for ages 7 and up. And you can listen to spooky Halloween music as you walk down a path of lighted pumpkins in the Trail of Jack-O-Lanterns. Our family has been to events at Green Meadows since the beginning of time, and they never fail to impress.
Dates: Aug. 31 – Nov. 13 | Click here to check calendar for hours. Address: 200 Epcot Center Drive, Orlando, FL 32821 Phone: 407-939-5277 Fees: Park admission required. | Click here for tickets. | Extra fees for food & wine.
A post shared by Walt Disney World (@waltdisneyworld) on
The Food & Wine Festival at Epcot has always been one of my family’s favorite events of the year. As passholders, we probably go about 10 times in the month and a half this park is transformed to welcome the cuisines and cultures of the world — even more so than it does year-round. Festival favorites like the cheddar cheese soup in Canada keep us coming back year after year. But it’s the local favorites like Orlando’s own Orange Blossom Pilsner that I always love seeing people from around the globe come to enjoy.
Epcot’s World Showcase surrounds a lagoon, and it doesn’t get much better than hanging out there on a cool fall evening, right after the sun sets. It’s relaxing for parents, and exciting for kids because they’re still at Disney World! If the little ones go on culture overload, take them to one of 11 KidCot Fun Stops to collect stamps and make crafts. These are always shaded and rarely busy.
At Club Lake Plantation, you can always get into the pumpkin patch and its accompanying country store for free. So if you’re just looking for pumpkins, you won’t have to worry about paying for anything else! Parking is also free, so come let the kids run around the pumpkin patch and enjoy yourself some free fun.
If you want to spend the whole day or evening, pay for the festival, where your family can take a hayride, run through the corn maze (including a toddler maze), and frolic around the rest of the plantation grounds. For an extra fee, you can also buy pumpkins for chuckin’ or tennis balls for launching from an air cannon. Club Lake also offers train rides on weekends, which are included in admission.
The Painted Oaks Pumpkin Patch opens Oct. 7 and offers a huge pumpkin patch with great photo ops for the family. Please be aware, they do ask that professional photographer register in advance. Pricing for pumpkins is easy at just $1 per pound.
On weekdays, kids can also make crafts, along with the petting zoo and the pony and hayrides. If you visit on weekends, there’s a lot more to do, but expect larger crowds, too. On Saturdays and Sundays in October — including Harvest Weekend and the Pumpkins & Ponies Festival — Painted Oaks has live music, antique car shows, carnival games, bounces houses, slides, rides, and food vendors. And if you still don’t have your fill of pumpkin patches, check out the Pumpkin Patch Express at the Florida Rail Road Museum in Parrish or “A Lot of Pumpkins” at Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest in Eustis.
A post shared by Stanley Pond Adventure Farm (@stanley_pond) on
Every weekend in October, Stanley Pond opens its doors for everything from pumpkin decorating and bowling to magic shows and a storytime hayride. This is a really cute experience for any small child. There’s also an air cannon, a jumping pillow, horse rides, and a honeybee encounter. One other very sweet thing that stood out to me about this farm: They offer pick-your-own sunflowers! And there’s even a sunflower maze to get lost in and pretend you’re Alice in Wonderland.
Check out some of the farm’s year-round activities here. If you’re interested, get online tickets or sign up for early bird discounts and other updates at the bottom of this page.
I’ve personally been going to this festival since I was a small child, and there has always been something to keep me busy. There’s a huge kid’s area as soon as you walk in, and you don’t even have to walk through the moneytrap midway to get to it! (Seriously, we spent $70 on a stuffed penguin last year. Don’t let them talk you into tossing one more ball or throwing one more dart!) Teens will love the classic carnival rides — like the big Ferris wheel, the Zipper, the Gravitron, and more. And parents, you’ll be grateful for the company and atmosphere at the biergarten! Go during daylight hours for smaller crowds, or go all-in on a Friday or Saturday night for the full carnival experience. Admission is free, but rides and games require tickets.
Autumn is absolutely the best time of year to enjoy an art festival. It’s cool enough to enjoy the displays and vendors, but not too cold to be outside for hours at a time. This 10th-annual event in Winter Springs showcases artists from around the U.S. and offers a great Kids Art Area for the little ones to get crafty. Parents can get into the Oktoberfest spirit with some delicious German food, beverages, and music. If you still haven’t gotten your fix of art this fall, check out Winter Park’s Autumn Art Festival. It’s free, Oct. 14-15, and held on Park Avenue.
Also in the Winter Springs Town Center this fall, the Hometown Harvest Festival. For just one evening, Nov. 4, kids can participate in hayrides, pumpkin painting, and line dancing. Parents will enjoy the various food and drink vendors, as well as live musical performances.
Apopka’s Fall Family Festival includes some great carnival rides and food vendors that people of all ages will love. Small kids will have a playground to enjoy, and there’s even a Beer & Wine Garden that offers beer from the Florida Beer Company, cider, wine, and sangria.
This large festival held at Kit Land Nelson Park can get pretty busy, but at least it’s free! You only pay for what you play, and carnival ride and game tickets can be purchased in family packages.
Dates: Nov. 3 & 4 | Click here for full schedule. Address: 125 N. Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee, FL 34761 (Bill Breeze Park & Gazebo) Email: help@ocoeefoundersfestival.org Fees: Concert is free, but preferred seating available on website.
A post shared by Ocoee Founders Day (@ocoeefoundersday) on
Ocoee is celebrating its Founders’ Day with a music festival at Bill Breeze Park featuring familiar country acts like Dwight Yoakam, Chris Janson, and Colt Ford, among others. The concert is free and open to the public, but you can buy preferred seating tickets online for $35-$65. The festival’s lineup also includes tournaments in fishing, poker, and golf, as well as a car show and 5K run.
Orlando loves its local artists and crafters, so we take any chance we can get to show them off and give them our appreciation. Check out some of the Best In Show winners from last year here. There’s a lot of talent in this city, and that’s a great thing to share with our impressionable young ones. One of my favorite aspects of all festivals held at Lake Eola: Pets are welcome! As soon as I hear I can bring my corgi, you can count me in.
Of course, we also love our food here in Orlando, so you can expect tons of great vendors. I love Lake Eola festivals and farmers markets because you can always grab food and drinks, and then find somewhere to people watch or let the kids loose in the playground. (But steer clear of the beautiful but aggressive swans!) Make sure you check out the Facebook page here for updates leading up to the festival.
Did we list all the best fall festivals around town? Let us know in the comments below!
