Fall Festivities without the Crowds
A calm parent’s guide to autumn activities in CNY.
Tim’s Pumpkin Patch | photo by Lauren Wojtalewski
At fall festivals, some parents get energized by apple fritters, pumpkin brews, and wagon rides. Other parents see only nauseating lines and sticky crowds. So, how can festival-dreading parents participate in seasonal family fun without going completely insane? We’ve rounded up the best local events, activities, and outings that capture all the autumn vibes without the chaos or crowds.
Orchards That Are (Mostly) Simple Picking
Apple and pumpkin picking can potentially be a relaxing activity, but when you add in tractors, bounce houses, and beer tasting, the old-fashioned tradition can get a little lost. Here are orchards where picking is the primary activity. Be sure to call first since variables like frost and weather can affect the crops.
Photo By Lauren Wojtalewski
Apples
• Adam’s Acres Farm, Jamesville | adamsacres.net
• Appledale Orchards, Mexico | appledaleorchard.com
• Deer Run Farms, Lafayette | deerrunorchard.com
• Grisamore Farms, Locke | grisamorefarms.com
• North Star Orchards, Westmoreland | northstarorchards.com
• O’Neill’s Orchard, Lafayette | oneillsorchard.com
• Owen Orchards, Weedsport | owenorchard.com
• Woznica Orchards, Cicero | woznicaorchards.com
Pumpkins
• Cicero Pumpkin Patch, Cicero | ciceropumkinpatch.com
• Granger's Christmas Tree Farm, Mexico | fb.com/grangerschristmastreefarm
• Grisamore Farms, Locke | grisamorefarms.com
• North Star Orchards, Westmoreland | northstarorchards.com
• O’Neil Family Farm, Weedsport | oneilfamilyfarm.com
• Riverside U Pick, Phoenix | fb.com/riversideupick
Weekdays Can Be Festive, Too
It’s entirely possible to participate in fall fest activities without the crowds, you just have to go on a weekday. These seasonal spots have popular attractions available all week.
Critz Farms, Cazenovia | critzfarms.com
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Corn Maze
• Farm Animals
• Apple Picking
• Pumpkin Picking
• Playgrounds
Chuck Hafner’s Straw Maze | Photo courtesy of Hafners
Chuck Hafner’s Fall Fest, North Syracuse | chuckhafner.com
Weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Sun. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Petting Zoo
• Corn Pit
• Tricycle Race Track
• Miniature Golf
• Bowling
• Giant Tic Tac Toe
• Big Connect Four
• Giant Checkers
• Memory Game
• Straw Maze
• Photo Opp Boards
• Teepee
Tim’s Pumpkin Patch | Photo by Lauren Wojtalewski
Tim’s Pumpkin Patch, Marietta | timspumpkinpatch.com
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Note: Admission ticket required
• Animal Barn
• Corn Maze
• Pumpkin Patch
• Apple Fritters
• Hay Fort
• Corn Play Bin
• Squash Barn
• Farm Basketball
• Giant Skee-ball Machine
• Fossil Dig
Fun Off the Farm
Fall isn’t just about taking trips to the farm. Autumn’s brilliance can be found in foliage-filled forests, cinnamon-scented bakeries, and leaf piles right in your own backyard. Here are more creative ways to celebrate the harvest season.
Scenic Chairlift Rides
Catch views of the Fulton Chain Lakes and the Adirondack peaks as you ride a chairlift to the summit of McCauley Mountain. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at the top, where you may be able to see Mount Marcy or Whiteface Mountain on a clear day.
McCauley Mountain Ski Area, Old Forge | mccauleyny.com
Food, Foliage, Firepit
Head over to Heuga’s Alpine in Tully where you can sit by an outdoor firepit that overlooks the southern hills. The menu ranges from casual handhelds to more refined entrees like Wagyu ribeye or red snapper. Live music is scheduled every Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Heuga’s Alpine Restaurant and Bar, Tully | heugasalpine.com
Horseback Tours
A forest hike is a popular way to see fall foliage, but do you know what’s even better? A forest trail ride. Circle B Ranch offers guided tours for adults and supervised children ages 7 and up. The Beaver Dam Trail Ride is the best choice for families with its gentle terrain and calm Adirondack landscape.
Circle B Ranch, Chestertown | circlebranchny.com
Rail bikes
Tour the countryside on a rail bike. With several companies offering rail rides across the region, you can choose from scenic routes near the Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, or Susquehanna River.
• Adirondack Rail Bikes, Thendara | adirondackscenicrailbikes.com
• Finger Lakes Rail Riders, Penn Yan | flrailriders.com
• Rail Explorers, Cooperstown | railexplorers.net