The leaves are changing color, the weather is cooling down, and pumpkins are appearing on doorsteps — there's no denying that autumn has arrived. And with the new season comes a whole host of festive activities to enjoy. From apple picking to hayrides and Halloween fun, there's plenty to do when fall rolls around in the United States.
Have been dying to try a pumpkin spice latte? Or maybe you want to take a scenic hayride through a charming New England town. Whatever your fall plans entail, here are 10 of the best autumn festivals you shouldn't miss enjoying with your loved ones.
10 Oktoberfest - Cincinnati, Ohio
While there are many places that celebrate Oktoberfest, Cincinnati's Zinzinnati event is the largest of its kind in the United States.
It is held annually on the second weekend in October in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
Approximately 500,000 people attend the three-day event, which features live music, traditional German food and beer, dancing, and other activities.
It was in 1976 when the first Oktoberfest Zinzinnati was held as a one-day event with just six breweries.
Today, the festival features over 70 different breweries, making it the perfect place to sample a variety of autumnal beers.
9 National Halloween & Pumpkin Destruction Day - Keene, New Hampshire
If you love Halloween and all things spooky, this festival might suit your interest! Every year on the last Saturday of October, the town of Keene goes all out for Halloween.
There's a parade, live music, food vendors, and a pumpkin weigh-off where the heaviest pumpkin wins a cash prize. The festival's highlight is the pumpkin destruction, where attendees can watch as pumpkins are dropped from a crane onto a target below.
Join in on the fun by carving your own pumpkin, or simply enjoy watching the spectacle.
8 Autumn At Oz - Beech Mountain, North Carolina
This event is based on L. Frank Baum’s novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and offers many activities and attractions for guests of all ages.
Some highlight activities include a straw broom Bingo, apple pie eating contests, live music, an outdoor disco, visits with Dorothy and her beloved friends, and so much more!
You can also take part in many classic autumn traditions while enjoying the breathtaking leaves changing color on the peaks of Beech Mountain.
7 New York City Wine & Food Festival - New York, New York
Foodies rejoice! As one of the world's best food festivals, the New York City Wine & Food Festival is a can't-miss four-day event for anyone who loves to eat and drink.
It attracts top chefs from across the globe to showcase their talents and love of food to visitors.
In addition to cooking demos and tastings, there are gourmet food trucks and a Grand Tasting event where you can sample wine and food from more than 100 different vendors.
6 World Pumpkin Pie Eating Championship - New Bremen, Ohio
Love pumpkin pie? Then you'll want to check out this annual event in the small town of New Bremen, Ohio where contestants compete to see who can eat the most pumpkin pie in no more than 10 minutes!
You can indulge in several other competitions too, such as a pumpkin carving contest and a seed spitting contest.
The event also features a pumpkin weigh-off, live music, and a variety of food vendors, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
5 Stowe Foliage Festival - Stowe, Vermont
Every October, Vermont comes alive with color as locals and visitors alike come out to enjoy music, food, art, and of course, the stunning foliage.
Stowe Foliage Festival is free to attend and takes place at various downtown locations.
Highlights include a craft fair at the historic Spruce Peak Village Center, live music performances at venues like the Alchemist Brewery & Visitors Center and the Stowe Performing Arts Center, and plenty of opportunities for scenic walks and hikes through Vermont's famously lush forests.
4 Santa Cruz Autumn Arts Festival - Santa Cruz, California
Love art? Perhaps a quick tour to Santa Cruz is in order this fall. The Santa Cruz Autumn Arts Festival is one of the oldest and most beloved art festivals in California that takes place every October in downtown Santa Cruz (and has since 1974).
The event features over 200 juried artists displaying their work (e.g., paintings, jewelry, sculptures), as well as live music, food trucks, a Kids' Art Zone where little ones can get creative, and other family-friendly activities.
3 World Of Bluegrass - Raleigh, North Carolina
If you’re a fan of bluegrass music, then you’ll definitely want to indulge in World of Bluegrass.
This autumn event has more than 100 bands playing on ten different stages from world-renowned artists. Not to mention the workshops, jam sessions, and other fun activities that are perfect for music lovers of all ages.
Are you feeling a bit competitive? Enter one of the many bluegrass contests, such as the fiddle or the banjo contest. There are more to explore — a BBQ competition, a kids' zone, and a variety of food and drink vendors that will keep you coming back for more.
The World of Bluegrass takes place in Raleigh's historic downtown and is definitely a toe-tapping good time.
2 WaterFire Rhode Island - Providence, Rhode Island
WaterFire Providence is one of the most unique and visually-striking cultural events in Rhode Island — and indeed, in all of New England.
Held on select nights throughout the year, it features nearly 100 bonfires burning atop decorative braziers floating in the center of downtown Providence.
Torches carried by festival-goers set the Woonasquatucket River ablaze in a mesmerizing display that can be seen from all around the city.
It is billed as "one of the most extraordinary public art events in the world."
1 Harvest On The Harbor - Portland, Maine
America has some of the best food festivals, with Harvest on the Harbor being one of the most delicious. It is a four-day event that celebrates all things food and drinks!
There are cooking demos, wine and beer tastings, a lobster bake, and more.
There is a five-course gala dinner where you can sample Maine's best cuisine.
You can also enjoy live music, take a harbor cruise, or explore one of the many shops and galleries in Portland's Old Port district. And, of course, no visit to Maine would be complete without taking in the stunning fall foliage.