This document lists and provides details about 8 fall festivals taking place across Pennsylvania in September and October. The festivals celebrate the autumn season and include pumpkin festivals, apple cider festivals, and historical and cultural events. They will have music, food, crafts, activities and more. Visiting these festivals is a way to experience the history and culture of small towns across Pennsylvania.

1. Come Visit Pennsylvania!

2. September Festivals
BRADFORD
PUMPKIN FEST
BEN AVON FALL
FESTIVAL
EVANS CITY
PUMPKIN FEST
PENN’S
COLONY FEST
Location: Bradford, PA Location: Ben Avon, PA Location: Evans City, Location: Saxonburg,
Dates: 9/23 Dates: 9/23 Dates: 9/23 – 9/24 Dates: 9/23 – 9/24

3. September to October Festivals
AUTUMN LEAF
FESTIVAL
BRIDGEWATER
AUTUMN FEST
SOERGEL
ORCHARDS
APPLE CIDER
FESTIVAL
Location: Clarion, PA Location: Bridgewater,
PA
Location: Wexford, PA Location: Patton, PA
Dates: 9/26 – 10/2 Dates: 9/24 Dates: 9/24 – 9/25 Dates: 10/2

4. Autumn
Leaf
Festival
Now this festival, along with that of Ellwood City, I
have attended before. My aunt’s family lives up this
way, and we used to frequent the festivals of
Clarion and Ellwood quite often. However, as the
years pass, we don’t get up to the festivals as often
as we’d like.
Clarion County was founded in 1839 as its “mother
county,” Armstrong, was divided to form six smaller
ones. Iron, lumber and oil was Clarion’s first
industries, followed by farming, and a sawmill. Steel
later overtook the iron industry and the Clarion
River played a huge part in goods transportation.
Come enjoy the Autumn Leaf Festival in this county
full of industrial history.
Location: Clarion, PA
Dates: 9/26 – 10/2
Features: Live music,
parades, vendors, arts &
crafts, antique shows, et al

5. Bridgewater
Autumn
Fest
Founded in 1805, Bridgewater is, in fact,
surrounded by lots of water and the valleys that
house it. It is home to a stretch of the Susquehanna
River, Snake Creek, the Meshoppen Creek and the
Wyalusing Creek. These feed other water systems,
and the area is no stranger to the threat of flooding.
However, this means that Bridgewater’s lands are
good for cultivation and farming. Bridgewater saw
many original settlers come and go, farmers come
and go, and Revolutionary war Captain Hinds of
Boston.
Bridgewater still has many of its original building
including three churches and the home of a local
landowner. If you love history, the Bridgewater
Autumn Fest might be the fest for you!
Location: Bridgewater, PA
Dates: 9/23
Features: vendor fair, live
entertainment, food, train
rides, children’s activities
and more

6. Soergel
Orchard’s
Fall Festival
Arguably one of the oldest still-in-operation farms in
Southwestern Pennsylvania, it was founded in 1850
by John Conrad Soergel. They began with a
roadside stand to sell their produce which
eventually grew to become what is now its Garden
Center, produce shop and bakery and a Gift Barn.
Apple cider is one of the farm’s biggest sellers and
draws, along with year-round produce picking
offered to the public such as strawberry and
blueberry picking.
Located on Brand School Road, this annual, long-
time festival is one of Wexford’s event gems. While
they no longer offer seasonal hayrides and
campfires during the fall season, the Fall Festival is
still a well attended family favorite.
Location: Wexford, PA
Dates: 9/24 – 9/25
Features: apple picking,
pumpkin patches, food,
tractor rides, cider, kettle
corn, outdoor market, etc

7. Apple
Cider
Festival
Located in Cambria County, Patton was originally
known as “Polish Corners.” Named for one of the
borough’s founders, John Patton, Patton saw many
different industries such as trapping, trading,
lumber, clay manufacturing and farming.
Located less than an hour from Johnstown – the
town involved in the infamous Flood of 1889 – it
would’ve been among the first to know something
was wrong.
While Patton has seen a steady decline in
population since the 1900s, that is a common
theme among many small towns in Pennsylvania.
However, the Apple Cider Festival is a welcome
change of pace, and one I hope to visit this year!
Location: Patton, PA
Dates: 10/2
Features: craft and food
vendors, apple cider,
hayrides, family friendly
activities

8. Bradford
Pumpkin
Fest
Bordering the state of New York, Bradford was first
settled in 1823 and experienced great growth
during the 19th century’s oil rush. It’s also here that
airplanes were built in the 1930s by the Taylor
Brothers Aircraft Corporation. And by the end of the
1930s Bradford’s population was almost 20,000
residents.
Bradford hosts multiple festivals throughout the
year including Stinkfest, Summer Daze, Autumn
Daze and the Italian Festival – just to name a few!
While Bradford’s population today doesn’t match
that of the 1930s (just under 8,000 vs 20,000), one
can’t say that they don’t hold on to their history
quite well.
Location: Bradford, PA
Dates: 9/24
Features: craft vendors,
food court, hayrides, live
music

9. Ben Avon
Fall
Festival
Hosted by the historic Avon club, each year Church
Avenue between Dickson and Dalzell Avenues is
closed to traffic for music, food, artisans and many
more community activities.
Founded in 1892 – the same year as the infamous
Homestead Strike – by many residents from those in
Allegheny City, it became known as a very
desirable place to live by the wealthy. A railroad
once connected it to the city (route is now the Ohio
River Boulevard), and even had its own depot.
Now, this “old money” neighborhood features a mix
of Victorian and more modern homes. But the
sense of community still lives on.
Location: Ben Avon, PA
Dates: 9/24
Features: music, food,
artisans, family friendly
activities

10. EVANS CITY
PUMPKIN
FEST
Evans City’s first ever Pumpkin Fest may not have
the long history of others, but it is part of a
community that’s been around since 1830. Located
in Breakneck Creek, Evans City is a quintessential
Pennsylvania small town.
By 1878 it housed the railroad, a bank, a pastor for
the German Lutheran Church and increased
business activities.
I’m honestly surprised they haven’t had a festival
such as this in the past, and I am tempted to make
this my first stop of the festival season!
Location: Evans City, PA
Dates: 9/24 – 9/25
Features: food trucks, beer
and wine vendors, arts
and crafts vendors, car
cruise, live music

11. PENN’S
COLONY
FESTIVAL
Founded officially in 1683 by William Penn as an
escape from persecution in Europe, Penn’s Colony
still lives on today as a history hub for the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Penn’s Colony attracted settlers from multiple
nations including – but not limited to – Germans and
Scots-Irish. Those of the Quaker faith were the first
to comingle with the Lenape, and set up the original
treaties that helped keep the peace for a good long
while.
Penn’s Colony keeps the history alive all year
round, but one one could argue that this annual
festival (going on for almost 40 years), is its crown
jewel of the year.
Location: Penn’s Colony
Dates: 9/17-9/18,
9/24-9/25
Features: talent, artisans,
food, living history, battle
re-enactments, tours

12. Come Visit Pennsylvania!