Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.

It’s not 80 degrees in Syracuse anymore. The leaves are ever-so-slowly turning to shades of yellow and orange, and it’s time to dig out your sweaters. Embrace the autumn season in central New York with a lineup of festivals, farms and fall celebrations.

The Pumpkin Hollow
About 15 minutes away from campus, The Pumpkin Hollow is encapsulated in fall ambiance. Whether you want a pumpkin for a bit of seasonal decor or to bake some autumnal treats, this patch has everything you need. Complete the day with a stroll through a corn maze or a hay ride through the scenic views of central New York in the fall. Both parking and admission are free. The Pumpkin Hollow is open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Oktoberfest at Harvey’s Garden
If you’d rather welcome fall with a beer instead of a pumpkin, head to Harvey’s Garden for its Oktoberfest celebration. The bar offers a new attraction every day until Oct. 1, including beer tastings, trivia nights, live music, history talks, painting, a “Beer Olympics” and a “Das Boot Contest.” A full list of the bar’s upcoming Oktoberfest events can be found here.

Navarino Orchard
Is Beak & Skiff too crowded? Wander off the beaten path to Navarino Orchard, located about 20 minutes outside of SU. The orchard projects a number of different kinds of apples to be ripe and ready for picking, including Honeycrisp, Macoun, Empire and Cortland apples in late September and Snapdragon, Golden Delicious, Crispin, Fortune and Jonagold apples in early October. Navarino Orchard is also home to a country store and a cafe. From Wednesday to Friday, it will host an Oktoberfest celebration. The orchard is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

DIY Candle Making Workshop
Lean into the coziness of fall by creating a one-of-a-kind candle. Hosted by CAMP Candle Bar, this workshop guides you through the process of making candles of various scents and sizes from locally sourced materials. Registration is $45 and the classes will be held at CAMP on Walton Street.

Fall Bazaar
Surround yourself with fall sights and smells at the Fall Bazaar. Hosted by The Cozmic Cauldron, the fair will feature crafters, artists, musicians and food vendors, and is free to attend. The Fall Bazaar will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Johnson Park in Liverpool.

LaFayette Apple Festival
If picking your own apples isn’t enough, attend a festival dedicated entirely to the popular harvest fruit. The LaFayette Apple Festival is host to a wide array of apple goods, like pies, pancakes, turnovers, cider and donuts. There’s also apple-themed apparel, pottery, candles and ornaments. Additionally, the festival features an apple pie competition, midway, petting zoo, pony rides and live entertainment. It will be held on Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Published on September 19, 2023 at 10:38 pm