October in the Laurel Highlands means three things: fantastic fall foliage, harrowing haunted attractions and fabulous fall festivals. From pumpkin picking to historic reenactments, here are 8 fall festivals you won't want to miss this month.
Springs Folk Festival
Oct. 1-2
Celebrate the arts, skills and labors of our forefathers at the annual Springs Folk Festival! See traditional log hewing, bread baking and weaving demonstrations, hear the music of the era and browse hundreds of artisans' booths for one-of-a-kind wood-crafted furniture, quilts and other handcrafted items! Cap off your trip with a Pennsylvania Dutch sausage meal and take home some homemade bread baked in a kiln right in front of you!
Confluence Pumpkinfest
Oct. 1-3
Confluence Pumpkinfest is a fall foliage celebration packed with unique events like the Pumpkinfest Queen Pageant, antique auto show, largest pumpkin contest, tough man fire truck pull, kids mule pull, antique tractor show and more fall fun. Plus, get crafty with amazing art vendors selling their wares all through town.
Delmont Apple 'n Arts Festival
Oct. 2-3
Apple 'N Arts festival, with the apple of my eye 🍎❤️
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It's not fall until you're sipping on fresh apple cider! The Delmont Apple ‘n Arts Festival celebrates everything apple! Buy fresh apple products, try out the apple sling shot and enter your child for the famous Baby Apple Cheeks pageant. The weekend is also packed with arts and crafts and food vendors and live entertainment, so make a new tradition this year and check out this fruit-filled festival!
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival
Oct. 2-3 and 9-10
The Laurel Highlands is proud to be the host of the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival, a must-do fall festival! Step back in time and grab a turkey leg or steak on a stake, browse artisans' booths and watch jousting and sword fighting performances by an authentically-costumed cast.
Hallowboo!
Oct. 2-31, Saturdays and Sundays
If you like coming to Idlewild and SoakZone during the summer, you'll love their kid-friendly Halloween event, HallowBoo! Dress the kids in their costumes and head to the amusement park to see all their favorite rides decorated for Halloween, enjoy spook-tacular entertainment and follow the trick-or-treat trail through Storybook Forest to receive goodies from their favorite characters!
Bedford's Fall Foliage Festival
Oct. 2-3 and Oct 9-10
When it comes to fall festivals, Bedford's Fall Foliage Festival goes all out. For two weekends, Bedford's downtown is filled with vendors, food, fun and crafts! Don't miss the antique car parade which launched the festival more than 50 years ago, and see the crowning of the Fall Foliage Queen.
Fort Ligonier Days
Oct. 8-10
Named one of the "Top 100 Events in America," Fort Ligonier Days is a three-day commemoration of the Battle of Fort Ligonier that fills the town and its namesake Fort Ligonier with excitement. The weekend is spotlighted by artillery demonstrations and reenactments of the battle complete with tactics, drills, period music and everyone you would expect to see in the battle from Highlanders to Native Americans and French troops. The fun continues into town with crafts, vendors, a 5k, wine tasting and more!
Fall Craft Days
Oct. 9-10 & 16-17
Seven Springs Mountain Resort is bringing a brand new fall festival to the Laurel Highlands this year! For two weekends in October, Fall Craft Days will welcome more than 100 artisans and crafters displaying their handmade treasures for you to browse and buy! In addition to shopping, there will be live entertainment, outdoor adventures, family fun and more. Be sure to take a ride on the scenic chairlift and take in the views of the beautiful fall foliage!
While you're exploring Laurel Highlands fall festivals, be sure to use #laurelhighlands when posting photos on Instagram!
