Master Guide to Fall Fun in Greater Rochester, NY
If you have an idea for fall family fun that isn't listed on these pages, please email our editor, Debra Ross, at ross@kidsoutandabout.com, or click here for instructions for listing your own business and events on our site (it's free!).
Stokoe Farms
Stokoe Farms has good, old-fashioned family fun on the farm, especially with their Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Fest. A low-cost, noncommercial way to spend an afternoon creating wonderful fall memories with your family. With over 35 exciting activities, including; famous bee zip lines, bounce pillows, hayrides, giant slides, corn and soybean mazes, pedal kart track, nature trail, sports center, games and so much more. Be sure to check out the NEW low ropes course! Don’t forget to meet all the animals, including plus wallabies, goats, emus, and kangaroos!
Be sure to grab some of their legendary donuts or fresh popped kettle corn. Don’t worry if the kiddos get hungry, The Old Barn Grill has lots of offerings! Activities are September 21-October 27, weekends and Columbus Day. (Later, Christmas trees!)
Wayne County Apple Tasting Trail
U Pick your stops, U Pick the Way!Wayne County's 2024 Apple Tasting Tour is packed with new options for visiting and celebrating the apple! NEW Virtual experiences to include an on-line app that has a fun game at each stop. The Tour features twelve locations throughout beautiful Wayne County, each unique, as is the taste and texture of each of the apples. With so many places and options, U Pick your stops, U Pick the Way!
There are THREE ways to access the Apple Tasting Tour App. It is in the Apple App Store and the Google Play store as well as a web-based version at www.appletastingtour.oncell.com.
Wickham Farms
Wickham Farms is an amazing place to spend a fall day on the farm. Located just 10 minutes outside of Rochester, the farm has apple picking, pumpkin picking, 25+ farm attractions, beautiful photo ops, and delicious fall foods.
You won’t want to miss the chance to pick apples from one of the most scenic orchards in the region, or to experience the farm’s signature attractions like the giant slide and Corn-A-Copia! Wickham Farms is also the home of the famous Fall Shake Up, a perfect fall combination of apple cider slushee and creamy vanilla ice cream topped by a fresh cider donut. More food options are also available at 8 specialty food locations on the farm.
Open 10am – 7pm everyday until Halloween except closed on Wednesdays. Purchase tickets online for the best prices.
Halloween and Fall Foliage Trolley Rides at the New York Museum of Transportation
Fall Foliage: Sunday, October 6, 13, and 27. Halloween: Oct 20All aboard for the Halloween Trolley Express on Sunday, October 20! Ride the vintage trolley car to the Pumpkin Patch where you'll decorate a free baby pumpkin and enjoy delicious cider and donuts. In the museum there's trick-or-treating in Halloween decorated trolley cars! Special prices prevail and reservations are required www.nymtmuseum.org/halloween
Fall foliage: What better way to enjoy the beauty of autumn in western New York State than from the window of an authentic century-old electric trolley car! Rides depart at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30, and are included with admission to the museum ($10 adults, $9 seniors 65+, $6 youths age 3 – 12). No reservations required for Fall Foliage Trolley Rides: Sundays: October 6; October 13; October 27, 2024
Al Sigl Walkabout: Sunday, October 20, 2024
Join us on Sunday, October 20th for a memorable morning celebrating inclusion and abilities. Enjoy FREE Halloween-themed fun, a costume contest, and more at the Al Sigl Community WalkAbout on Sunday, October 20 inside Eastview Mall. This is a free event; pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Proceeds stay local and help over 55,000 kids and adults with special needs served by seven Al Sigl Member Agencies. Register today by clicking here.
FARM ACTIVITIES
Fall means harvest season, and it brings out the best in our area farms. It's awonderful, low-cost way to get outside in the fresh air, and get active with your families.
Each farm is different -- it brings its own flavor to the experience. Browse our big list of local farms that offer fall activities, and see which new ones you want to try this season!
PICK YOUR OWN APPLES
One great way to get your kids to eat more fruit -- and introduce them to the subtleties of sweet/tangy tastes -- is by taking them apple picking to a local orchard. This link has places to go and things to do for a day in the orchard all around Rochester and the Finger Lakes.
HALLOWEEN EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Fun or scary: You take your pick! It's easy to evaluate all of your options with the KidsOutAndAbout.com big list of Halloween events and activities. This includes the scary stuff that my kids will probably not venture into until they're too cynical to enjoy it, and the wonderful gentle trick-or-treat parties that the towns, museums, and farms provide. (The number of fun stuff outweighs the scary activities by a margin, but there's something for everyone.) We divide the list into a scary section and a fun section so you know exactly what you're getting into!
PUMPKIN PATCHES
Buy your fall pumpkins at a boring old grocery store? Not when you can head to a farm or roadside stand and pick the perfect pumpkin for a less money and more fun! Here is KidsOutAndAbout's list of places to pick pumpkins in our area.
FUN ON THE FARM
Thinking a trip to the farm might be fun? You're right! Agri-tourism is great in the Rochester area, with endless opportunities for great down-home activities as you make the most of the season. We have you covered with a big list of places for great down-home activities on the farm as you make the most of the season.
