The 11 best fall festivals across the USA

Sept 17–20, 2026

Admission: Free

You don’t need a plane ticket to Munich to get a taste of Bavaria this fall. Each September, the charming town of Mt. Angel, Oregon leans into its German heritage with four days of Bavarian food, music and dancing for the annual Oktoberfest. Expect everything from alphorn performances and traditional costumes to artisan demonstrations and plenty of regional beer, cider and wine. Best of all, Mt. Angel sits on the edge of Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country, so you can easily turn Oktoberfest into a longer fall weekend among the vineyards.

Sept 18–Oct 3, 2026

Admission: Free

For a few weeks each fall, you don’t need to step inside a museum to see great art in Grand Rapids; instead, the city becomes the actual gallery. ArtPrize scatters hundreds of works across sidewalks, parks, restaurants, museums and other public spaces, ranging from paintings to enormous sculptures, performances and mixed-media installations. The scale is serious: More than 967,000 people attended in 2025 and the 2026 edition drew a record 1,000 submissions. Even local hotels get involved, so you may stumble across one of the festival’s works before you’ve even checked in.

Sept 18–20, 26, 27, 2026

Admission: Free

If your ideal fall weekend involves apples in practically every form imaginable, head to Nebraska City for the annual AppleJack Festival. Taking place at Arbor Day Farm, the celebration kicks off harvest season with apple pie, cider, doughnuts and candy apples alongside parades, carnival rides and even bull riding. The second weekend goes even harder on the fruit with orchard tours, caramel-covered treats, cider slushies and a hard-cider sip-and-stroll. Between festivities, make your way to nearby Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard for U-pick apples, hayrack rides and, yes, even more cider doughnuts.

Sept 18–Oct 4, 2026

Admission: From $17.50 per adult, per day 

Why settle for one New England state when you can experience all six at once? Billed as the largest event of its kind on the East Coast, The Big E is essentially New England’s supersized state fair, complete with carnival rides, livestock competitions, live entertainment and the kind of gloriously over-the-top food that requires a strategy. The real standout is the Avenue of States, where Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine each have their own state building filled with local foods, products and regional pride. There’s also a daily parade, historic Storrowton Village and plenty of only-at-the-fair eats to track down. Come hungry to nosh on all sorts of quirky provisions, from fried deviled eggs and Fluffernutter paninis to deep-fried cheesecake.

Sept 25–Oct 18, 2026

Admission: From $12 per adult per day 

Everything really is bigger in Texas—including its state fair. The State Fair of Texas celebrates its 140th anniversary in 2026 with 24 days of rides, live performances, livestock shows, competitions and gloriously over-the-top fair food at Dallas’ historic Fair Park. Ride the towering Texas Star Ferris wheel and see just how far the concession stands can stretch the definition of fair food: For example, this year’s Big Tex Choice Award winners include Burger Chop Tater Tacos, Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos and Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar.

Sept 25–27, 2026

Admission: Free

Hot air balloons are impressive just about anywhere, but floating above the Colorado Rockies with fall foliage below? That’s hard to beat. Celebrating its 51st year in 2026, the free Snowmass Balloon Festival brings three days of high-flying festivities to Snowmass Town Park. Saturday and Sunday begin with early-morning launches as dozens of colorful balloons rise above the mountains, while Friday’s Night Glow lets visitors walk among tethered balloons illuminated beneath the stars. Come for the balloons, then stick around for a fall weekend in the Rockies at one of the prettiest times of year, with colorful foliage peaking around late September.

Sept 26, 2026

Admission: Free 

Come hungry to this annual waterfront feast in Lower Manhattan’s Seaport. More than 50 neighborhood restaurants and small businesses come together for Taste of the Seaport, turning an afternoon by the East River into an edible tour of the neighborhood. The 2026 lineup stretches from New York institutions like Delmonico’s to Andrew Carmellini’s Carne Mare, Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s The Fulton and newer arrivals like Sadies. Live music adds to the block-party feel while a free KidZone keeps younger festivalgoers occupied. Even better, all that eating supports a good cause: The event is the primary annual fundraiser for two Lower Manhattan public schools.

Oct 2–4, 2026

Admission: Free

Leave the pumpkin spice behind: Fall tastes like guacamole in Carpinteria. Set along Linden Avenue in this laid-back beach town on California’s Central Coast, the California Avocado Festival celebrates one of the state’s most famous crops with three days devoted to all things avocado. Now marking its 40th year, the free festival pairs plenty to eat with more than 60 bands across three stages, arts and crafts and a downtown block-party atmosphere. The location is half the fun: When you’ve had your fill of guac, Carpinteria’s beach is just a few blocks away, making this a fall festival where flip-flops feel every bit as appropriate as flannel.

Oct 3–11, 2026

Admission: $22.24 per person, per session 

For nine days each October, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta fills the sky with more than 500 hot-air balloons. Get there early—and I mean really early—to catch Dawn Patrol, when pilots fire up their burners before sunrise, followed by the festival’s signature mass ascensions around 7am. This year’s theme, “The Scenic Route,” celebrates the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which runs straight through Albuquerque. And you don’t have to watch it all from the ground: Rainbow Ryders is the only commercial operator authorized to take off with passengers directly from Balloon Fiesta Park during the festival.

Oct 9–11, 2026

Admission: Free

If you needed another excuse to eat your way through Greenville, this is it. Fall for Greenville takes over the city’s charming, walkable downtown for three days each October, turning its streets into one big celebration of food, drinks and live entertainment. I’ve been twice, and it remains one of my favorite fall festivals: You can spend hours wandering from one bite to the next, with plenty going on for families, too. The setting only adds to the appeal: Tucked into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville is especially beautiful in fall, when changing leaves add a splash of color to the city. Come hungry, wear comfortable shoes and make a weekend of it—you’ll want plenty of time to eat your way through the festival and explore more of Greenville’s excellent food scene.