Discover family fall fun across the Northeast with 12 standout pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and Halloween events from Maine to Virginia. From pumpkin boats racing down a Maine river to glowing jack-o-lantern trails, this 2026 guide brings together verified dates, hours, and prices so parents can plan a smoother, stress-free day trip.
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Fall is one of the best times for family travel in the Northeast. From giant pumpkins racing down a Maine river to glowing jack-o-lantern trails, the region is filled with memorable things to do with kids from late September through early November.
Use this guide to plan family fall activities, a road trip with kids, or one of the best family weekend getaways in the Northeast. All event details below were verified on September 21, 2026. Because weather and ticket availability can change, confirm final information on each official website before traveling.
How To Plan Your Fall Family Day Trip
- Buy timed tickets online in advance. Several popular attractions sell out or do not sell tickets at the gate.
- Choose weekday or value nights. You can often save money and enjoy smaller crowds.
- Arrive at opening. Early arrival makes parking, photos, hayrides, and activities easier with young children.
- Pack layers and stroller-friendly shoes. Farms may have mud, gravel, grass, or uneven paths.
- Check last-admission times. Some attractions close admission well before the listed closing hour.
- Plan for breaks. Snacks, water, bathrooms, and a flexible schedule make traveling with toddlers easier.
Maine
1. Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta, Damariscotta, Maine
This wonderfully off-beat Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend celebration turns giant pumpkins into boats. The signature Pumpkinboat Regatta takes place on the Damariscotta River on Sunday, October 11, from noon to 2 p.m. Families can also enjoy a pumpkin derby, parade, pumpkin drop, and other community events.
See the official Damariscotta Pumpkinfest schedule before visiting.
Know Before You Go
- Address: Damariscotta, Maine; events take place at multiple town and riverfront locations.
- Dates: October 9–12, 2026.
- Hours: Vary by event; check the official schedule.
- Last admission: Not separately published.
- Cost: Free to attend.
- Parking: Free satellite lots at Great Salt Bay School, Lincoln Academy, and the Coastal Rivers/Round Top Farm property, with a free shuttle to the festival area; shuttle buses pause during the parade. Tip jars on board support the service. Review the official getting here and parking options.
- Accessibility: There is also a wheelchair-accessible shuttle running every 15 minutes with a stop on Church Street near Bath Savings. Confirm route and viewing-area details in advance.
- Best ages: All ages, especially families who enjoy unusual local festivals.
Vermont
2. The Great Vermont Corn Maze: North Danville, Vermont
At 24 acres, the Great Vermont Corn Maze is the largest and most complex corn maze in New England. Younger children can try the shorter Scenic Maze and play area, while older kids and adults can tackle the full maze.
Check tickets and maze information before you go.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 1404 Wheelock Road, Danville, VT 05828.
- Dates: July 25–October 12, 2026.
- Hours: Seasonal hours vary.
- Last admission: Noon Monday–Friday; 1 p.m. Saturday–Sunday.
- Cost: Advance tickets are $16–$27, depending on the day. Walk-up tickets, purchased before noon, are $32 for adults 16–59 and $22 for seniors 60+ and children 5–15. Ages 4 and under are free.
- Parking: Free.
- Accessibility: Dirt trails, hills, uneven terrain and several sets of stairs make strollers and wagons impractical — most families end up leaving them in the car.
- Best ages: Scenic Maze for younger children; Big Maze for families ready for a long hike.
New Hampshire
3. Coppal House Farm Chipmunk & Acorn Corn Maze: Lee, New Hampshire
Coppal House Farm offers a manageable daytime maze for younger children and public night mazes in October for older kids. It is a practical choice when you are searching for a family-friendly corn maze near me without committing to an all-day attraction.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 118 North River Road, Lee, NH.
- Dates: 2026 daytime season; check the official calendar.
- Hours: Monday, Thursday, and Friday noon–5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Open Columbus Day, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Last admission: 4:30 p.m.
- Cost: $10 ages 13+; $8 ages 5–12, seniors 65+, military, and college students with ID; ages 4 and under free.
- Parking: Confirm current parking details.
- Accessibility: Confirm current terrain and mobility information.
- Best ages: Young children for daytime; older children for selected night mazes.
Review the official Coppal House Farm details.
Massachusetts
4. Topsfield Fair, Topsfield, Massachusetts
The 208th annual Topsfield Fair combines giant pumpkins, farm animals, rides, food, and classic agricultural-fair energy. It is an easy choice for families who want many activities in one place.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 207 Boston Street, Topsfield, MA.
- Dates: October 2–12, 2026.
- Hours: Friday, October 2, 4–10 p.m.; October 3, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; October 4, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; October 5–7, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; October 8–11, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; October 12, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Last admission: Confirm with the fair.
- Cost: $20; children under 8 free with a paying adult.
- Parking: $15.
- Accessibility: Confirm current fairground services.
- Best ages: All ages, especially children who enjoy rides and animals.
See official Topsfield Fair hours and planning information.
Rhode Island
5. Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo: Providence, Rhode Island
More than 5,000 glowing pumpkins create an evening walking trail with the 2026 theme, “The Great Pun-kin Trail.” Choose a value night from Monday through Thursday to save.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI.
- Dates: October 1–November 1, 2026.
- Hours: 6–10:30 p.m.; last entry at 10 p.m.
- Cost: Value nights: $20 adults and $16 children ages 2–12. Prime nights: $23 adults and $19 children. Under age 1 free. Members save $2 adult and $1 child online.
- Parking: Free on-site parking is first-come, first-served; premium parking is available for an additional fee.
- Accessibility: The trail is accessible but includes uneven and unpaved terrain. Strollers and wheelchairs are permitted.
- Best ages: All ages; the show is designed to delight rather than scare.
Buy timed tickets through the official zoo website.
Connecticut
6. Lyman Orchards Corn Maze, Middlefield, Connecticut
Lyman Orchards pairs a four-acre corn maze with pick-your-own pumpkins and cider donuts. It is a relaxed farm stop for families who want a shorter maze and room for snacks and photos.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 32 Reeds Gap Road, Middlefield, CT.
- Dates: September 5–November 1, 2026.
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 1–5:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. The maze closes early at 3:30 p.m. on September 11, October 2 and October 16 for 21+ evening events (Twilight Hard Cider Maze and Twilight Brew Maze).
- Last admission: 5:30 p.m., except early-closing dates.
- Cost: $12 ages 13+; $7 ages 4–12; ages 3 and under free.
- Parking: Confirm current details.
- Accessibility: Confirm terrain and mobility information.
- Best ages: Preschoolers through elementary-age children.
Plan your visit with Lyman Orchards.
New York
7. Historic Hudson Valley: Croton-on-Hudson and Sleepy Hollow, New York
Make this a full Hudson Valley Halloween outing. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor features thousands of hand-carved pumpkins along a walking trail. At nearby Philipsburg Manor, Twilight Village at Sleepy Hollow adds storytellers, fire performers, music, and family-friendly Halloween atmosphere. Evening start times vary by date: 6:30–8 p.m. on October 2 and 4; 6:30–9 p.m. on October 3, 9–11 and 16–18; 6–9 p.m. on October 23–25 and 30–31. Headless Horseman Files is a daytime, family-friendly option on select October dates.
Know Before You Go
- Addresses: Blaze, 525 South Riverside Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson, NY; Twilight Village, 381 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY.
- Dates: Blaze, September 18–November 8. Twilight Village, Fridays–Sundays, October 2–31.
- Hours: Vary by timed date.
- Last admission: Blaze trail access closes 45 minutes after the last entry time; Twilight Village times vary.
- Cost: Blaze from $24, with FLEX and FLEX PLUS options for any date and time; Twilight Village tickets $25–$35, advance purchase only (none sold on site).
- Parking: Parking and trail-access details are posted on the official Blaze plan-your-visit page — confirm before you go.
- Accessibility: The Blaze trail is wheelchair accessible but unpaved; confirm current access, stroller and mobility details on the official plan-your-visit page.
- Best ages: Blaze suits all ages; Twilight Village is best for children comfortable with gentle spooky themes.
For a longer city-and-country trip, you can also save on a 3 Day New York Pass.
Visit Historic Hudson Valley and plan your Blaze visit.
New Jersey
8. Happy Day Farm Fall Festival: Manalapan, New Jersey
Happy Day Farm’s 10-acre Dolly Parton-themed corn maze, with three miles of paths, a 15–25 minute family route and a 45–60 minute route for older kids, is the highlight of this large fall festival. Pumpkinville, farm attractions, and photo opportunities make it a convenient day trip about an hour from New York City.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, NJ.
- Dates: September 19–November 8, 2026.
- Hours: The 10-acre Dolly Parton-themed maze (three miles of paths, with a 15–25 minute family route and a 45–60 minute route for older kids) is open Saturdays and Sundays plus Fridays in October. The broader festival runs 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily; last entry at 4 p.m.
- Cost: Weekend tickets $29 online in advance and include access to 35+ farm activities. Weekday admission is $23 cash at the door. Tickets are required for ages 2+.
- Parking: Free, staff-directed on-site parking at 106 Iron Ore Road.
- Accessibility: The farm is not wheelchair accessible because of uneven terrain.
- Best ages: Toddlers through elementary-age children.
Review the official Happy Day Farm Fall Festival information.
Pennsylvania
9. Linvilla Orchards Pumpkinland, Media, Pennsylvania
Pumpkinland offers free entry, free parking, farm displays, pumpkins, playground fun, and hayrides. Daytime Harvest Hayrides run September 12–November 8, while Hayrides to the Witch’s House run September 18–October 30 and are designed especially for younger children.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 137 West Knowlton Road, Media, PA.
- Dates: Pumpkinland, September 12–November 8, 2026.
- Hours: Daytime hayrides generally 10 a.m.–4:45 p.m.; evening hayrides roughly 5–8:30 p.m.
- Last admission: Activity times vary; confirm when booking.
- Cost: Free entry and parking. Daytime hayrides $9 ages 5+ and $7 ages 1–4 online. Witch’s House hayrides $13 ages 5+ and $10 ages 1–4 online.
- Parking: Free.
- Accessibility: Confirm current activity-specific access.
- Best ages: Toddlers through elementary-age children.
Book early because hayrides can sell out. See Linvilla Orchards Pumpkinland details.
Delaware
10. Fifer Orchards Fall Fest, Camden, Delaware
Fifer Orchards is a welcoming fall farm stop with wagon rides, u-pick pumpkins, fresh cider, and cider donuts. Check the daily attraction calendar before leaving because u-pick and attraction hours may vary.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 1919 Allabands Mill Road, Camden-Wyoming, DE 19934.
- Dates: September 19–November 7, 2026.
- Hours: Monday–Saturday; closed Sundays. Attractions run 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with exit by 5 p.m. The farm store is open 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Last admission: Attractions close at 4:30 p.m.
- Cost: Confirm current attraction pricing.
- Parking: Confirm current details.
- Accessibility: Confirm activity-specific access.
- Best ages: All ages.
Check Fifer Orchards’ fall festival calendar.
Northern Virginia
11. Cox Farms Fall Festival, Centreville, Virginia
Cox Farms is a full-scale fall adventure with hayrides, farm animals, slides, themed play areas, rope swings, and a pumpkin to take home. Four ticket tiers (Discount, Value, Regular, and Peak) make flexible dates a useful way to save.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 15621 Braddock Road, Centreville, VA 20120.
- Dates: September 19–November 8, 2026. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays and November 4–6.
- Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. September–October; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. in November.
- Last admission: One hour before closing.
- Cost: Four date-based price tiers; tickets are required for ages 2+. Children under 24 months are free.
- Parking: Free on-site grass and gravel parking; accessible spaces are marked near the entrance by the windmill, and drivers without a tag can drop passengers at the front before parking.
- Accessibility: Confirm current farm-terrain information through the official accessibility page.
- Best ages: Toddlers through elementary-age children.
Buy Cox Farms Fall Festival tickets online. For an overnight stay, browse Washington, D.C., hotel options.
Washington, D.C.
12. Boo at the Zoo: Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Boo at the Zoo brings trick-or-treat stations, animal-themed fun, costumes, a kids dance party, and after-hours access to select animal houses. Zoo members receive early entry and save on admission.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
- Dates: October 16–18, 2026.
- Hours: 6–8:30 p.m.; last entry at 8 p.m. Members may enter at 5 p.m.
- Cost: $35 general admission; members save 15%. Tickets are required for everyone over age 2.
- Parking: $30 in advance or $40 day-of.
- Accessibility: The National Zoo is an accessible venue; review its accessibility guidance before visiting.
- Best ages: Young children through elementary-age kids who enjoy costumes and gentle Halloween activities.
Get official Boo at the Zoo information.
Save On Your Northeast Fall Getaway
A comfortable, organized trip makes family fall activities more enjoyable. For road-trip inspiration, explore North America, discover the best flight deals, or save on travel with Trip.com. If you plan to visit several farms in one weekend, compare car rental discounts.
For attraction planning, Undercover Tourist may help with attraction and resort discounts. You can also explore family cruises through Cruise Direct when you are ready for a larger getaway.
Keep the car comfortable with a four-pack of LCD Doodle Tablets, a Melissa & Doug Seek and Find Sticker Pad, an On The Plane Activity Book, a Kids Travel Tray, a kids neck pillow and sleep mask, or Grab and Go travel board games.
For farm days, pack flushable travel wipes, hand sanitizer wipes, a junior motion-sickness roll-on, a mini first-aid kit, and a TSA-approved travel medicine kit.
Make Your 2026 Fall Memories
Whether you are searching for pumpkin patches near me, things to do with kids in October, or a memorable road trip with kids, the Northeast offers an unforgettable mix of farms, festivals, corn mazes, and Halloween events.
Choose one destination close to home or build a family weekend getaway around several stops. With practical planning, comfortable layers, and a little flexibility, you can enjoy a smoother fall outing filled with fresh air, seasonal treats, and memories your family will talk about long after the pumpkins are gone. For more family travel inspiration and in-depth resources, visit Packed for Fun.