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.
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 Essa and Dune the camels, plus wallabies, goats, emus, and two new baby 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 12-October 31, weekends and Columbus Day. (Later, Christmas trees!)
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.
Wayne County Apple Tasting Trail
U Pick your stops, U Pick the Way!Wayne County's 2021 Apple Tasting Tour is packed with new options for visiting and celebrating the apple! NEW Virtual experiences to include an on-line passport with trivia and NEW features like curbside pickup at some stops. Ten locations, each unique, as is the taste and texture of apples. Plus we added 5 parks and the restaurant sponsors this year. With so many places and options, U Pick your stops, U Pick the Way!
Morgan's Farm Market
U-Pick apples from mid September thru October. Bring the family for a fun-filled day! Morgan's Farm Market is located 10 miles East of Penfield just off Rt.441. Be sure to check out our web site and our Facebook page for all the goings on! During apple season nothing beats a NY apple except one that you pick yourself. We offer one of the largest and best selections of apples. As part of the Wayne County Apple Tasting Tour, our apples have become very popular in the area. New apples varieties arrive daily. U-pick season starts Sept 22nd during Market hours.
Halloween and Fall Foliage Trolley Rides at the New York Museum of Transportation
Saturday, October 23 and Sundays October 3 - 31All aboard for the Halloween Trolley Express on Saturday, October 23! 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.
Fall foliage: What better way to enjoy the beauty of autumn in western New York State than from the window of an authentic 90-year-old electric trolley car! Rides operate every half-hour, starting at 11:30 a.m., and are included with admission to the museum ($8 adults, $7 seniors 65+, $6 youths age 3 – 12). No reservations are required for Fall Foliage Trolley Rides: Sundays: October 3; October 10; October 17; October 31.
Fall Fun At Bristol Mountain With Sky Rides & Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventures
Enjoy the beautiful autumn colors on a scenic Sky Ride at Bristol Mountain. Take a tranquil 15-20 minute chairlift ride to the summit of Bristol Mountain and experience the Bristol Hills and the valley below in all its splendor. On a clear day, a glimpse of Canandaigua Lake is visible from the summit. Advance ticket purchase will be required and ticket sales will be limited.
Enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage climbing in the forest canopy at Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventures. Pick from one of their 3 awesome adventures. Soar through the trees on the private, guided Zipline Canopy Tour. Conquer the 7+ challenge courses at Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventures. Or watch your child gain confidence as they navigate, balance, and zip their way through the trees at the Kids Adventure Park.
Save $2 per person on Sky Rides when you purchase your tickets 3 or more days in advance of your visit.
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.
CORN MAZES
Corn mazes can be easy or hard, and some are even offered at night! Which farms have corn mazes? Here's a quick way to find them in the greater Rochester area.
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!
FALL HIKES IN ROCHESTER & THE FINGER LAKES
There's nothing better than a family hike for taking wonderful fall photos! A free way to get your kids out and about and active in our beautiful countryside. Let them see, let them smell, let them touch, and let them remember.
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.
