Rochester, NY during the fall season is the best! There are great outdoor activities and special events for the whole family. We’ve rounded up the best fall activities in Rochester, NY to enjoy some quality family time during the autumn season.
I love apple picking and trying fall inspired drinks and treats as the season turns from summer to fall in Rochester, New York. It is a beautiful time to live here.
Like most families, fall is a busy time of year for us with the back to school routine and activities. We like to carve out a little time to experience some of the best places in Rochester to visit during the fall.
With a house full of teens, we do a lot less than we used to, but this is our go-to for things to do in the fall in Rochester when we find ourselves with a free afternoon.
Based in or visiting Rochester? Our Rochester NY Guide covers 50+ things to do in and around the city- local attractions, seasonal activities, and the best day trips within 90 minutes.
- Fall Activities in Rochester NY- My Top Picks
- Fun Things to Do in Rochester in Fall
- HalloweenFest at Lincoln Hill Farms
- Powers Farm Pumpkin Teepees
- Wickham Farms
- Schutt's Apple Mill
- Stokoe Farms
- Spooktacular at the Seneca Park Zoo
- Bristol Mountain
- Fall Foliage
- Apple Picking
- Genesee Country Village Museum
- Fall Train Ride in Rochester
- Bauman's Farm
- More Places to Visit During Fall in Rochester NY
Fall Activities in Rochester NY- My Top Picks
Every year I try to fit at least one fall hike in to see the fall foliage. There are great hiking trails in Rochester, trails for all skill levels, and its a great way to recharge during the busy season.
Apple picking is another one of our favorite things to do in fall in Rochester as well as visiting farms and trying their specialty fall treats.
quick Guide to Fall in Rochester NY
HalloweenFest at Lincoln Hill Farms: October 17th & 24th | $30.00 Halloween Experience / $10 General Admission
Powers Farm: Mid-September- Halloween | Free – $16.00 (night time hayride)
Wickham Farms: August-Halloween | $16.95 and Up (Depending on Week Day or Weekend Visit)
Schutt’s Apple Mill: Open Year Round | Free (Fried Cakes, Apple Picking are extra)
Stokoe Farms: Harvest Fest September 19th- October 25th | $21.48
Spooktacular at Zoo: October 17th, 18th, 25th, 26th | Ticket Info Coming Soon
Bristol Mountain Fall Sky Ride: September-October | Ticket Info Coming Soon
Train Ride: Weekend in October | $25.00 (adults), $10.00 (5-17), Tickets Required
Haunted Housel: Mid-September-October | $10.00 (13 & up) $5.00 (6-12)
Fun Things to Do in Rochester in Fall
There is so much to do in this area, don’t feel like you have to do it all! Pick activities that work for your family. The best thing about these places is you do not need all day. You can plan an afternoon or evening, or put a few together and plan a full day out.
HalloweenFest at Lincoln Hill Farms
A new fall season favorite is planning a visit to HalloweenFest at Lincoln Hill Farms to our fall activities in upstate New York. They have live music and food, but we really loved the walk through trail.
It really gets you in the Halloween spirit but is fun for little kids and big kids. The trail is not scary and features pumpkin carved scenes. I really liked the Headless Horseman. (I am waiting on confirmation for it returning for the 2026 event, as of now there will be Spooky Photo-Ops but I have not seen the trail yet.)
Lincoln Hill Farm will also have a Haunted Zombie attractions. The Zombie Hunt is an add-on experience to your admission. Participants must be 12+ and accompanied by a guest 21 and up.
From the Lincoln Hill Farms website: “…hunt the undead. Join us on a live action zombie hunt at the farm. Ride the zombie hunt wagon through an apocalyptic destination and test your zombie hunting skills. Zombie hunt ticket includes special zombie hunting weapon with 500 rounds of “zombie serum” gelly balls.”
HalloweenFest runs October 17th and October 24th. Read about our visit here: HalloweenFest at Lincoln Hill Farms in Canandaigua, NY.
Powers Farm Pumpkin Teepees
Powers Farm Market has a lot of great things for the guests of all ages. From the Haunted family-friendly hayride to feeding the animals, it is a great place to spend a fall afternoon.
Powers Farm Market has a lot of fun fall activities to enjoy but the most unique is the pumpkin teepees. According to their website they are the “world’s largest teepees”, and we are totally here for it!
The three teepee’s are a kid friendly walk through that is lit up with carved pumpkins and Halloween decorations. We will often walk through a few times during our visit to the farm. This is a free activity too! The Halloween activities begin mid-September through end of October.
Powers also has fall themed photo-ops, a general store, as well as a not so spooky Halloween hayride($). We think a visit to Powers is well worth it! Check out our full visit to Powers Farm Market a few years ago.
Wickham Farms
Wickham Farms is great for kids to pay one entrance fee and have a lot of different activities to enjoy. The activities are best for younger kids but we all enjoyed our visit.
The jumping pillow is one of the kids favorite activities and we also enjoyed the corn maze. They have also added a zipline area, multiple playgrounds, mini-golf, and more.
Guests visiting can enjoy specialty seasonal treats and special events throughout the season.
Be sure to check the events page for the apple cannon and hayrides.
Schutt’s Apple Mill
I have talked about Schutt’s Apple Mill before and it is worth repeating. I love visiting the store and picking up hot fried cakes.
I also enjoy browsing the store and stopping to take a look at the apple cider press. You can also pick apples across the street at the orchard.
Stokoe Farms
Stokoe Farms has a lot of family fun activities on the farm. We loved that it is a great place for all ages and really has something even my older kids will enjoy.
You do need to purchase tickets to enter but it includes most of the activities at the farm.
I really enjoyed the nature trail for a fun family hike! There are a few climbing structures built into the path making it a unique fun activity.
Spooktacular at the Seneca Park Zoo
This Halloween event at the Seneca Park Zoo includes live music, trick or treat trails, and Pumpkin carving stations. This is a great event for young kids and tickets are highly recommended.
Spooktacular will run two weekends with different themes. October 16th & 17th will be Buggie Boogie Weekend and October 25rd & 26th will be Pumpkin Safari Weekend. Book early!
Bristol Mountain
The Fall Sky rides are such a fun way to see all the fall colors in Rochester. I really liked the flexibility of the ride. You have a timed arrival but once at the top you can explore as long as you would like.
We spent the morning exploring the mountain. I highly suggest purchasing tickets early to secure a reservation.
Fall Foliage
There are so many places to see the fall leaves change colors. From fall hikes in Rochester to checking out your own backyard, this is the perfect season for outdoor family time.
Watkins Glen State Park is my favorite place to be in the fall, but this is more of a day trip because of the 1.5 hour drive. Letchworth State Park is also beautiful this time of year. Keep in mind that weekend crowds will be busy.
Apple Picking
Apple picking is one of our favorite fall traditions! We love it so much I wrote an entire post about our favorite apple picking places in Rochester.
It’s best to go at the end of September or early October. We always have so much fun at the orchard and at home deciding what to make with our apples.
Genesee Country Village Museum
Genesee Country Village is a great place to explore during fall in Rochester. During the fall they offer seasonal events like the Agricultural Festival and Spirits of the Past, a spooky walking tour.
Fall Train Ride in Rochester
A great way to spend a fall afternoon is aboard a train at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Check out their events website for ticket information and schedules.
Fall in Rochester is a great time to plan fun local family time. With so many activities you will have your weekends full of quality family fun that gets you outdoors and creating lasting memories.
Bauman’s Farm
Bauman’s Farm is located in Webster and isn’t a lot of bells and whistles but it had a Stranger Things walk through that was free and great for fans of the show. Sadly Bauman’s Farm had a fire that destroyed much of the front store front in Summer of 2026.
As of writing this they had set up a farm tent to continue business. I will keep you posted on what a fall visit looks like as I learn more.
More Places to Visit During Fall in Rochester NY
- Long Acre Farms
- Rochester Museum and Science Center (Special Seasonal Events/Trick of Treating)
- The Strong Museum of Play (Special Seasonal Events/Trick or Treating)
- Becker Farms
- Haunted Housel (This is really cool and worth a visit!)
- Pick n Patch Corn Maze
- Six Flags Darien Lake Fright Fest
Fall in Rochester has been the backdrop for some of our best times and memories. Year after year we find so many fall activities in Rochester NY. Pick a few and start a family tradition!
Want to travel a bit for Halloween fun? Check out our Guide to Hersheypark Halloween (Update 2026) for a fun fall getaway.
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Exploring beyond Rochester? Our New York State Guide covers the best family destinations across the Empire State.
Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.