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25 of The Best Fall Food Festivals You Need To Experience

Cranberries, apples, pumpkins, beer. There's something for everyone.

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Tree, Garden, Botany, Whole food, Natural foods, Melon, Local food, Vegan nutrition, Produce, Annual plant,
Courtesy of the Dallas Arboretum

Harvest festivals are a traditional way to welcome autumn. Start off the season by booking a trip to experience one (or all!) of these 18 celebrations across America. From Okotberfests to wine harvests, each one celebrates the local crops and culture unique to an area. These festivals may even inspire you to embrace a new family tradition!

1

Breckenridge Oktoberfest

Entertainment, Performing arts, Crowd, Costume, Dance, Pole, Party, Performance art, Tent, Tradition,
Courtesy of The Breckenridge Colorado Tourism Office

Where: Breckenridge, Colorado

When: September 9-11, 2016

What to expect: A Munich-style street party in the mountains complete with "oompah" dancers, schnitzel, and traditional polka music.

For more information, visit gobreck.com.

2

Circleville Pumpkin Show

Orange, Calabaza, Squash, Produce, Vegetable, Natural foods, Winter squash, Pumpkin, Whole food, Local food,
Courtesy of Circleville Pumpkin Show

Where: Circleville, Ohio

When: October 19-22, 2016

What to expect: Parades and delicious fall treats. Plus, more than 10,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash, and guards beautifying the streets!

For more information, visit pumpkinshow.com.

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3

Cranberry Harvest Fest

Leisure, People in nature, Reflection, Lake, Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies, Reservoir, Shadow,
Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism via Flickr Creative Commons

Where: Wareham, Massachussetts

When: October 8-9, 2016

What to expect: A bright and colorful harvest on display, helicopter rides or tours of the surrounding bogs, cooking demonstrations, a farmers' market, and activities for the whole family.

For more information, visit cranberries.org.

4

Autumn at the Arboretum

Tree, Garden, Botany, Whole food, Natural foods, Melon, Local food, Vegan nutrition, Produce, Annual plant,
Courtesy of the Dallas Arboretum

Where: Dallas, Texas

When: September 17-November 23, 2016

What to expect: The highlight of this ongoing event is the pumpkin village, made out of 75,000 pumpkins, squash, and gourds.

For more information, visit dallasarboretum.org.

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5

Sonoma County Harvest Fair

Arm, Leg, Sunglasses,
Courtesy of Sonoma County Event Center

Where: Sonoma, California

When: September 30-October 2, 2016

What to expect: Award-winning wines, winery competitions, cow-milking contests, and best of all, the World Championship Grape Stomp, where participants of all ages can join in.

For more information, visit harvestfair.org.

6

Scarecrow Festival

Flag, Sports gear, Helmet, Football helmet, Football equipment, Pumpkin, Calabaza, Face mask, Football gear, Pole,
Michael Kappel via Flickr Creative Commons

Where: St. Charles, Illinois

When: October 7-9, 2016

What to expect: Vote for your favorite hand-crafted scarecrow while enjoying live music, a crafts show, carnival, and petting zoo.

For more information, visit scarecrowfest.com.

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7

North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival

Signage, Garden, Advertising, Banner,
Courtesy of NC Pecan Harvest Festival Organizing Committee

Where: Whiteville, North Carolina

When: November 5, 2016

What to expect: Parades, musical entertaining, and house tours abound in the town known as one of the top pecan producers in the state.

For more information, visit ncpecanfestival.com.

8

Kona Coffee Cultural Fest

Brown, Serveware, Ingredient, Cup, Drinkware, Tableware, Drink, Coffee, Liquid, Tea,
Courtesy of Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

Where: Kona, Hawaii

When: November 4-13, 2016

What to expect: The oldest food festival in Hawaii celebrates the state's coffee pioneers, farmers, and artisans with farm tours, art shows, and a coffee cupping competition.

For more information, visit konacoffeefest.com.

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9

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest

Crowd, Public space, Mountain range, Tent, Pole, Audience, Market, Pedestrian, Ridge, Parking,
Ray Perkins

Where: Hood River, Oregon

When: October 14-16, 2016

What to expect: Seasonal food, local arts, live music, and family-friendly activities.

For more information, visit hoodriver.org.

10

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Event, Entertainment, Performing arts, Dancer, Costume, Performance, Tradition, Dance, Costume design, Performance art,
Courtesy of Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

Where: Cincinnati, Ohio

When: September 16-18, 2016

What to expect: Experience southwest Ohio's rich German heritage with authentic food, music, and beer at the largest Okotberfest celebration in the U.S.

For more information, visit oktoberfestzinzinnati.com.

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11

National Apple Harvest Festival

Whole food, Food, Natural foods, Produce, Vegan nutrition, Local food, Ingredient, Fruit, Staple food, Granny smith,
Orbital Joe via Flickr Creative Commons

Where: Arendtsville, Pennsylvania

When: October 1-2 and 8-9, 2016

What to expect: This festival is a total dream come true for anyone who loves apple picking season.

For more information, visit appleharvest.com.

12

Warrens Cranberry Festival

Social group, Plain, Farm, Land lot, Field, People in nature, Agriculture, Team, Crew, Prairie,
Courtesy of CranFest

Where: Warrens, Wisconsin

When: September 23-25, 2016 

What to expect: The world's largest cranberry fest has become an international event with over 100,000 yearly visitors, thanks to marsh tours, local shopping, contests, seasonal treats and a parade.

For more information, visit cranfest.com.

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13

Fall Back Beer Fest

Alcohol, Drink, Alcoholic beverage, Barware, Wrist, Distilled beverage, Tablecloth, Wine glass, Wine, Watch,
Courtesy of Fall Back Beer Fest/Facebook

Where: Estates Park, Colorado

When: November 5, 2016

What to expect: Beer everything, from demonstrations to home-brewing supply giveaways.

For more information, visit visitestespark.com.

14

Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello

Human, Grass, People in nature, Tourism, House, Lawn, Dome, Mansion, Estate, Park,
jocelyndale via Flickr Creative Commons

Where: Monticello, Virginia

When: September 10, 2016

What to expect: Garden tours, fruit and vegetable tastings, and gardening lessons to celebrate Thomas Jefferson's legacy as America's "first foodie." Oh, and did we mention the Beekman Boys are headlining this year's event?

For more information, visit heritageharvestfestival.com.

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15

Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival

Plant, Mountainous landforms, Highland, Landscape, Mountain range, Tree, Land lot, Hill, Plain, Rural area,
SkyView Images

Where: Stowe, Vermont

When: September 25, 2016

What to expect: Three rounds of competitive "pumpkin chucking" where people of all ages launch pumpkins as far as they can using trebuchets.

For more information, visit vtpumpkinchuckin.blogspot.com.

16

St. Simons Food and Spirits Festival

Public space, Community, Shade, Tent, Tints and shades, Human settlement, Canopy, Walking, Market, Tarpaulin,
Courtesy of St. Simons Food and Spirits Festival

Where: St. Simons, Georgia

When: October 5-9, 2016

What to expect: Enjoy a BBQ and beer pairing, seafood galore, a farmers market, a mixology tent, and live music, all in an idyllic setting underneath towering oaks. This is Southern hospitality at it's finest, ladies and gents.

For more information, visit saintsimonsfoodandspirits.com.

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17

Music City Food + Wine Festival

Entertainment, Stage, Performing arts, Music artist, Music venue, Performance, Public event, Stage equipment, heater, Song,
Courtesy of Music City Food + Wine Festival/Facebook

Where: Nashville, Tennessee

When: September 17-18, 2016

What to expect: During the day, eat your way through samples of world class chefs' favorite dishes, and then at night rock out to live performances, music city-style.

For more information, visit musiccityfoodandwinefestival.com.

18

New Orleans Po'Boy Festival

Food, Cuisine, Finger food, Ingredient, Dish, Fast food, Tableware, Recipe, Fried food, Comfort food,
Courtesy of New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival/Facebook

Where: New Orleans, Louisiana

When: October 23, 2016

What to expect: A celebration of the Louisiana sandwich favorite with every variation you could possibly imagine. This will go way beyond crawfish and shrimp, y'all.

For more information, visit poboyfest.com.

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19

Keene Pumpkin Festival

Night, Crowd, Amber, Landmark, Temple, Orange, Midnight, Place of worship, Holy places, Temple,
Courtesy of Mickey Pullen

Where: Keene, New Hampshire

When: October 22, 2016

What to expect: Pumpkin-inspired everything. From a pumpkin express train, to pumpkin bowling, to pumpkin derbys—you will not forget that fall is the season of pumpkin. As for eats, indulge in mac & cheese, chili, fried dough, maple cotton candy, and, of course, pumpkin sweets.

For more information, visit facebook.com/pumpkinfestival.

20

Adirondack Balloon Festival

Nature, Mode of transport, Blue, Transport, Daytime, Hot air ballooning, Natural environment, Fun, Recreation, Aerostat,
Courtesy of Jason Hupe

Where: Glens Falls, New York

When: September 22-25, 2016

What to expect: Ride in a hot air balloon, or watch from below as bright colors light up the Adirondacks.

For more information, visit adirondackballoonfest.org/.

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