Country Fairs & Fall Festivals 2017

admin Posted OnSeptember 6, 2017

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Country Fairs & Fall Festivals: Here’s the skinny on local country fairs and fall festivals. The best 21 fall themed events we can find key worded for country fair, harvest, farms, barns, pigs, apples, pumpkins, cider, donuts, craft beer and even a few that just claim to be festivals!

September

Apple Picking – 9/9-10/29: Apple picking season is here. Check out our Fall Survival Checklist to find out where to pick apples and when. Apple Picking.

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard Festival Weekends – Sat-Sun, 9/9-10/29: They’re picking apples (and pumpkins) and rocking’ at Harvest Moon in North Salem. There are hayrides, pony rides, face painting, farm animals, bounce house, and great live music. Plus the best apple cider donuts, lemonade, funnel cakes and smoked turkey legs. Other vendors include dog treats, kettle corn, gourmet pizza, pumpkin cheesecakes, Italian cheeses and sausages, local French cakes and more! (130 Hardscrabble Rd., North Salem; www.harvestmoonfarmandorchard)

Yorktown Grange Fair – Fri-Sun, 9/8-10: Westchester’s only true country fair showcasing home grown vegetables, flowers, baked goods, livestock, poultry, needlework and photography since 1923. There’s an antique tractor parade, livestock exhibits, horse competitions, hay rides, jugglers, magic shows, pie eating, balloon blowing, nail driving and rubber chicken throwing competitions – the stuff memories are made of. Plus carnival rides, food and music. (Yorktown Grange Fair Grounds, 99 Moseman Avenue, Yorktown Heights; www.yorktowngrangefair.org)

Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival, Fri-Sun: 9/8-10: Three days of entertainment, carnival rides and games and OYSTERS, OYSTERS, OYSTERS. Featuring a 65 foot Ferris Wheel, an Arts & Crafts Show with 100 vendors, New England Seaport Village, Kids’ Cove with games, rides & activities under a circus tent, International Food Court, headline musical acts, harbor tour cruises, vessel tours and a Celebrity Oyster Slurp-off. (Norwalk Veterans Park, 42 Seaview Ave., Norwalk; www.seaport.org)

Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival, Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Sat-Sun, 9/9-10: Sample wine and food from over 100 Hudson Valley vendors, wineries, draft beer brewers and spirits distillers . Plus Gourmet Food Truck Corral. (Including our good friends from Three Little Pigs BBQ!) There’s wine seminars, cooking demos, music and 5o crafts vendors. Take home some Hudson Valley gourmet specialty foods from goat cheese to cheesecake, maple syrup to olive oil and beef jerky too! (6550 Spring Brook Ave, Rhinebeck; www.hudsonvalleywinefest.com)

Local! Greenwich Audubon Fall Festival and Hawk Watch – Sat-Sun, 9/16-17: 11am-5pm: Live raptor shows, rehabilitated hawk releases, petting zoo with a bearded dragon, kangaroo, goats and baby animals, rock climbing wall, hayrides, guided hikes, games & crafts, local exhibitors and food. The Greenwich Audubon has some of the best hiking trails in the area. If you’re a hiker pick up a copy of Walking Trails in Greenwich and the Surrounding Area in their gift shop. (613 Riversville Rd., Greenwich; www.greenwich.audubon.org)

Local! Puttin’ on the Dog Adoptions and Pet Festival – Sun, 9/17: 10am-4:30pm: This annual event showcases dogs and cats that are available for adoption from Adopt-A-Dog Armonk. Plus competition classes for your dog, food, entertainment, vendors and a silent auction. CATS TOO! (Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, Arch St., Greenwich, CT; www.adoptadog.org)

Local! John Jay Barn Dance, John Jay Homestead – Sat, 9/16: 4:30-9:30pm: Local celeb alert! It’s the event of the season in Bedford. The annual John Jay Barn Dance serves up a country BBQ, a pizza truck, a campfire and PIG RACING IS BACK! The highlight of the evening is the music by local bands including Bedford’s School of Rock House Band. (John Jay Homestead, 400 Jay St., Katonah; www.johnjayhomestead.org)

Local! Armonk Cider and Donut Festival & Byram Hills Pre-School Assn. Fall Carnival – with Jamie’s 5k Run for Love – Sun, 9/17: 9am-2:30pm: This Armonk Chamber of Commerce celebration featuring Jamie’s 5K Run for Love and in conjunction with the Byram Hills Preschool Assn., offers live music, carnival rides, a pie eating contest, kids activities. Love the donut bobbing (pictured here) and pie eating contests. Races from 10am-12pm. (Wampus Park, Maple Ave., Armonk; www.armonkchamberofcommerce.org)

Blues, Brews & Botany, New York Botanical Garden – Sat-Sun, 9/23-34: 12-4pm: Discover the connections between beer and botany and chill out to the blues sounds of The Paul Josephs Blues Project. With tastings and talks from Garden scientists. Check out the 20 sculptures from renowned artist Dale Chihuly, now on exhibit throughout the grounds. (2900 Southern Blvd. Bronx; www.nybg.org)

October

Local! Once Upon a Time Fall Fest & Halloween Train Show, Lasdon Park – Sat- Sun: 9/30-10/29: 11am-4pm: This Fall Fest cum Halloween Train Show features an elaborate storybook themed Lionel Train Show in the Main House, storybook character meet and greets, an enchanted hay maze, an Alice in Wonderland Down the Rabbit Hole Walk, food from the Fork in the Road food truck and craft, garden, clothing and seasonal foods vendors. (2810 Amawalk Rd., Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org)

Hot Ticket Alert! Annual Stone Barns Harvest Fest – Sat, 10/7: 10am-3pm: Their 14th annual celebration and fundraiser will be a hot ticket so sign up early. THIS EVENT ALWAYS SELLS OUT! Live music, hands-on farming activities, food crafting, a seasonal food and farmer’s market, hayrides, sheep moving, turkey herding and live music around the farm. (630 Bedford Rd., Pocantico Hills; www.stonebarnscenter.org)

Fall Fest, Hilltop Hanover Farm – Sat-Mon, 10/7-9: 10am-5pm: A weekend of farm activities including hay rides, pumpkin picking, hikes on 3.5 miles of marked trails, farm animals, farm stand and u-pick veggies and more. (1271 Hanover St., Yorktown Heights; www.hilltophanoverfarm.org)

Hudson Valley Bacon Bash & 5K Run – Sat, 10/7: 2-6pm: Bacon 45 different ways and their first ever 5K run. This s@#t is crazy! The ultimate day for bacon lovers! This family friendly event features bacon themed food and craft vendors, a bacon competition where you can be the judge, live bands and bacon themed games. Sounds like a total pig-out to us. And we mean that in a good way. (Orange County Farmer’s Museum, 850 Rt. 17K, Montgomery, NY; www.baconbashny.com)

Local! Pumpkin Picking Weekend at Muscoot Farm – Sat-Sun, 10/7-8: 11am-3pm: Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch or walk to the vegetable garden to pick your pumpkin. Visit the farmer’s market, farm animals, (check out the pygmy goats and miniature donkeys) 12 historic buildings, (love the ice house and blacksmith shop) and 7 miles of hiking trails from easy to moderately strenuous. (Rt. 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Local! 5th Annual Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, Bell Middle School – Sat, 10/14: 10am-4pm: Our What To Do With the Kids Bucket List starts with the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. It’s been written up in the New York Times and The Huffington Postand regularly draws over 4,000 visitors. The kids’ book fest showcases over 90 popular children’s book authors including co-author and illustrator of the Pinkaliciousseries, Victoria Kann. Most of them will be onsite, doing signings and book readings for the kids. The show also features authors of books for young adults, children’s entertainment and of course the Great Chappaqua Bake Sale that raises funds for No Kid Hungry. (50 Senter Place, Chappaqua; www.ccbfestival.org)

Local! The Great Chappaqua Bake Sale for No Kid Hungry, Bell Middle School – Sat, 10/14: 10am-4pm:The Great Chappaqua Bake Sale manages the snacks at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Fair offering baked goods and raffle prizes donated by families and businesses in the Chappaqua area. It has raised over $100,000 for No Kid Hungry in the past seven years. Both events run in conjunction at the Bell Middle School. (50 Senter St., Chappaqua; like them on Facebook.)

Local! Lenape Festival, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Sat, 10/14: 10am-4pm: Join descendants of the Lenape tribe for music, dancing and story-telling at the Trailside Museum. Admission is free. Bring your own refreshments. (6 Reservation Rd., Pound Ridge)

Harvest Festival, Stamford Museum & Nature Center – Sat-Sun, 10/14-15: 11am-3pm: Enjoy apple-cider, a scarecrow-making contest, hay bale climb, costume parade, Colonial Militia re-enactors, an apple slingshot, farm animal demonstrations, live music with Jay and Ray, face-painting, storytelling, children’s crafts and food trucks. Plus museum exhibit: Masterpieces of Science Fiction. (39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford: www.stamfordmuseum.org)

Local! The Pound Ridge Harvest Festival ROCKS (with Rusted Root), Pound Ridge Town Park – Sat, 10/14: 1-6pm: Come on Armonk, Bedford & Chappaqua, you’re not trying hard enough! The Pound Ridge Harvest Festival features activities for kids, a craft beer garden for adults, and a root beer garden for kids and BBQ for all. Plus their first annual Scarecrow Contest and music from Rusted Root New whose 1994 album When I Woke went platinum with it’s Top 40 hit “Send Me On My Way”. (Pound Ridge Town Park, 179 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge; www.poundridgeharvestfestival.com)

Local! Tastes of Northern Westchester, Mt. Kisco Country Club – Thurs, 10/26: 6-8pm: The Mount Kisco Rotary Club invites you to an evening of fine food, wine and music to benefit Richmond Community Services Foundation. Sample the wares of the area’s finest restaurants. The Richmond Foundation operates home-like residences in Westchester County to support the lifelong needs of children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities that require complex medical needs. (10 Taylor Rd., Chappaqua; www.mountkiscorotary.org)

Where To Celebrate Halloween, The Dead, The Undead & The Grateful Dead: You didn’t think we’d forget the biggest fall events of all? Our Annual Halloween Events Calendar will be out soon. We’ll have everything from all the major boo-fests to the local kids parades and celebrations. Last year we listed over thirty Halloween events in eluding Horseman’s Hallow at Philipsburg Manor (pictured here). Plus, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Old Dutch Church, Spooky Tales at Caramoor and The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Check back soon or sign up for the What To Do Email Newsletter to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

November

Fall Forest Weekend, New York Botanical Garden, Sat-Sun, 11/4-5 & 11-12: 11am-4pm: Explore the Thain Family Forest, the largest remaining tract of old-growth forest in New York City, and immerse yourself in the magnificent colors of fall foliage. See the Forest from a different perspective with a scenic canoe trip down the Bronx River and spot birds that call this woodland home. Live bird demonstrations, guided tours, and more make for an unforgettable autumn experience. (2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx www.nybg.org)

UBS Parade Spectacular, Downtown Stamford – Sun, 11/19: 12pm: Skip the Macy’s Day Parade and stay local with one of the largest helium balloon parades in the country. When we were there we saw the Pink Panther, Popeye, Underdog (our fave), Nemo, Mighty Mouse, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Miss Piggy, Spiderman and Kermit the Frog. Plus marching bands, floats and street food. (Stamford Downtown)