Apples, pumpkins, and corn mazes, oh my! Harvest season is here, which means it’s time for your favorite fall festivities. Part of the beauty of living in Upstate New York is that there are thousands of farms harvesting a variety of fresh products – and many of these local farms offer fun activities, giving you the opportunity to enjoy autumn while supporting local businesses.

From the Erie Canal to the Finger Lakes and beyond, there is something for everyone. Enjoy this brief guide to just a few day-trip destinations that New Yorkers and visitors alike can enjoy.

BUFFALO AREA

The Buffalo area is filled with an unbeleafable array of fall fun for everyone. Our first pick of the patch is The Great Pumpkin Farm, located in nearby Clarence. Only 30 minutes from the heart of Buffalo, you can find a smorgasgourd of autumn activities. Fall in love with festival weekends, BBQ, a huge pumpkin patch, a world pumpkin weigh-off, pumpkin Olympics, pumpkin drop, a pumpkin-pie–eating contest, a five-acre corn maze, zombie paint ball, jumping pillows, apple cannons, a petting zoo, the Boo Barn, a hay maze, playground, crafts, face painting, rides, food, mums for sale, and more! Their fall festival kicks off September 17 through October 31. Open daily 10 a.m. to dusk.

If you are looking for the apple to your pie, you autumn know about Becker Farms in Gasport. This year-round destination is even more special in the fall. Pick your own apples, purchase pumpkins, take a hayride, listen to live music, or have some BBQ. The kids will love the petting zoo, playground, and corn maze. The adults will love that there are winery, brewery, and coffee/pie tours. Yum! Fall fun starts weekends in September and October.

If you live closer to the Southern Tier or are looking for that perfect fall foliage day road trip, Pumpkinville in Great Valley is a great find. Opening day is September 17 and the attraction is open through October 31. Pumpkinville offers a wide array of activities for the family. Enjoy pumpkin picking, a carousel, farm animals, a corn maze, train rides, hayrides, apple blasters, pumpkin races, chicken shows, and more. If that’s not enough, there is farm-fresh food, pumpkin doughnuts, kettle corn, homemade baked goods, candy and caramel apples, an ice cream shop, a grill, cider, a beer garden, and shopping.

ROCHESTER AREA

If you’re traveling with younger kids and are looking for a one-stop shop with all the activities you could imagine, look no further! Stokoe Farms in Scottsville will host its annual Harvest Fest from September 17 through October 23, featuring hayrides, pumpkin picking, corn mazes, playgrounds, and pony rides. For all the animal lovers, there are farm animal meet and greets, and you can RSVP for a one-on-one private encounter with kangaroos at the Roo Ranch!

On the eastern side of Rochester, you’ll find another farm boasting a variety of attractions. Wickham Farms in Penfield offers mini golf, hayrides, corn mazes, playgrounds, apple picking, pumpkin patches, and farm animal meet and greets.

For many people, some of the best parts of autumn are apple picking, cider, and doughnuts. Less than four miles north of Wickham Farms is Schutt’s Apple Mill and Country Store. Tours are offered from the beginning of September until the end of October, and you can pick your own apples and pumpkins, learn about harvesting and the process of making baked goods, sample the cider, and do so much more.

SYRACUSE AREA

Pumpkin picking is certainly a main attraction for many families, and the Pumpkin Hollow in Syracuse has a vibrant feast of fun ready for your visit this fall. Whether you are carving pumpkins for Halloween, decorating your yard and home with corn stalks and pumpkins for Thanksgiving, or intending to try every pumpkin dessert in the recipe book, the Pumpkin Hollow is your first stop! Come for the pumpkins and stay for the atmosphere – this farm also has corn mazes, hayrides, and cute farm animals.

In the outskirts of northeast Syracuse, Abbott Farms in Baldwinsville is open for pick-your-own crops all year round. The crops include apples, berries, sweet corn, and pumpkins. Starting Labor Day, weekends are for Fall Festival Days at Abbott Farms, featuring tube slides, face painting, corn mazes, apple cannons and slingshots, playgrounds, wagon rides, and more! If you start to get thirsty, just head over to the cidery, where you can see cider-smiths hard at work blending apples into delicious cider and cider slushies.

If you’re an adult, hard apple cider might be more up your alley. While the kids play in the treehouse playground, check out the 1911 Tasting Room and Tavern at Beak & Skiff Orchards in Lafayette, where you can enjoy a great meal and the latest hard ciders, spirits, and wines. The orchard features more than 15 revolving varieties of fresh apples to pick. The Apple Hill General Store has lots of gifts and goodies, including homemade fudge, for all ages and interests, and the bakery offers everything from doughnuts and pies to cookies and apple bread – the perfect snack for the drive home!

Taking the drive to one of these locations for some fall fun? Make sure that your AAA Membership level will cover you for every mile. Upgrade today for more covered tow miles and perks like a complimentary rental car.

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