🍁🍂 Colorful Fall Festivals That Celebrate the Harvest (AARP Article)

Forum|Forum|11 months ago
September 18, 2025
11 replies
7930 views

FROM THE ARTICLE.

Pumpkins, cranberries and apples — oh my! Road trip-worthy fests celebrate autumn’s beautiful bounty.

By Berit Thorkelson, AARP. Published September 17, 2025.

What do a three-story pumpkin tower, a sunflower field photo op and a mashed potato-eating contest have in common? These are all ways to celebrate American agriculture at crop-focused festivals around the country this fall.

U.S. agritourism continues to rise in popularity year over year, according to statistics from Grand View Research, a market research and consulting company. And fall’s temperate weather, beautiful colors and bountiful harvests are natural draws for road-trippers looking for weekend getaways, ranking in the top three domestic travel motivations for travelers 50 and over in AARP’s most recent travel trends survey.

USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE.

https://www.aarp.org/travel/vacation-ideas/colorful-fall-festivals/

SummerOnTheWay1Author

The colors are changing here in Virginia and I am happy. One of my two favorite seasons. As I drive by the mountains and low laying areas, I am still amazed by nature and what it does.

Lol, then Old Man Winter is next. 😭

Take care,

Nicole ✈ (Travel Forum)

M

MichelleC103656

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

Hey Nicole! New York is beautiful in the Fall. The trees are just starting to change. The days have been hot and the nights cool, so the colors are going to be very vibrant. We are driving to Northern Pennsylvania this Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing the mountains and foliage on the way. Bye for now! 🙂💌🐱👩‍🏫 By the way, our girl furbabies are doing better. Talk to you later! 🐱🐱🐱🙂💌👩‍🏫

SummerOnTheWay1Author

Michelle @MichelleC103656 , I am SO RELIEVED!!! I know you were worrying. ENJOY your trip. My daughter & I will be doing the same but walking. As you know Florida is flat & boring. So when she arrives here in Virginia next Friday, she wants to check out the mountains. In 2019 when she was last here, we walked and talked = Mom & Daughter Time. Met some TOO CUTE furbabies too. Luv to your three 🐈🐈🐈 from the man of my house (lol - well he "thinks" he is) Mister. 🐈. So good hearing from you my friend, Nicole. 💛

➡️[*** MICHELLE

@MichelleC103656 wrote:
Hey Nicole! New York is beautiful in the Fall. The trees are just starting to change. The days have been hot and the nights cool, so the colors are going to be very vibrant. We are driving to Northern Pennsylvania this Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing the mountains and foliage on the way. Bye for now! 🙂💌🐱👩‍🏫 By the way, our girl furbabies are doing better. Talk to you later! 🐱🐱🐱🙂💌👩‍🏫

M

MichelleC103656

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

We are going to a grape festival next weekend for my birthday. It is in Naples, New York. They have been having it every year since 1961,which is coincidentally when my husband, Jim, was born. Along the way, there are wineries, small country stores, farmer's markets, and all kinds of different kinds of grape dishes to sample and buy. The pies are the best and most delicious. We plan on attending lots of other fairs and festivals when we visit New England. Closer to home, we have Homecoming, bonfires, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and hay rides. We are going to be very busy trying to see ,do, and attend as many things as possible. Thanks for the great article. Talk to you soon!😺😻😸

M

mh44305342

Contributor ⭐

The Lake Michigan coastal cities (in Michigan) are gorgeous all summer but even in October they're still warm and mostly sunny. Lots of historic lighthouses, etc. It's known as the New England of the Midwest.

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