If you’re dreaming of crisp mountain air, festive fall events and all things pumpkin and spice, then head to the Pennsylvania Mountains. Fall is a great time to visit your favorite Pennsylvania Ski Resort. Not only will you find breathtaking foliage, but cooler temps and a potpourri of some of the region’s best fall festivals, too. There is something for everyone to enjoy from traditional family harvest celebrations and seasonal food and brews to haunted mountain adventures and races.
Here are a few options, organized by region from the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association, SkiPA.com.
EASTERN PA
Autumn Timber Festival
Enjoy the fall foliage and head to Shawnee for a weekend of lumberjack competitions, chainsaw sculptures, blacksmith demos, scenic chairlift rides, pig races, novelty shows and live music at the base of the mountain. Plus, festive food and arts and craft vendors.
When: October 12-13, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Shawnee Mountain, East Stroudsburg
Cost: Advance tickets for adults $9 and $7.50 for children (5-12
Elk Mountain Fall Festival
Celebrating its 60th year, Elk Mountain’s Fall Festival features fun for the entire family. Soak in the Autumn colors with scenic chair lift rides and hayrides or enjoy arts and crafts and a mountain bike ride on Sunday at 10 a.m. The weekend is a great time to relax with some live musical entertainment and festive food and drinks.
When: October 12-13, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Elk Mountain Ski Resort, Union Dale
Country Jam Music and Fall Festival
Kick off the fall season at Bear Creek Mountain Resort with an afternoon of fun for all ages including live music from five bands, a farmer’s market, beer garden, petting zoo, pick your own pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, moon bounce, ATV tours, archery target shooting, ax throwing and climbing wall. Also enjoy a country cookout featuring a pig roast, barbeque chicken and more. The first 500 pre-purchased adult tickets will receive a 16-oz Country Jam mason jar mug.
When: October 13, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Bear Creek Mountain Resort, Lehigh Valley
Cost: Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Kids 6-12 are $5 and under 5 are free.
Pocono Food Truck & Art Festival
Shawnee Mountain will celebrate the season with a weekend chock full of, delicious street eats, an arts and crafts show, chairlift rides, live music and more. The popular event is a great way to experience the fall foliage in a fun, relaxing setting. Enjoy favorite regional foods from over 25 food trucks and choose a new addition to your art collection from more than 35 artists and crafters.
When: October 19-20, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Shawnee Mountain, East Stroudsburg
Cost: Advance tickets for adults $9 and $7.50 for children
Scream Mountain
Spring Mountain transforms into a spooky haunted adventure for all ages in October. Those looking to get their spook on can enjoy a haunted hayride or haunted chairlift ride and walk. There is also a starter haunted hayride for smaller kids, which features the same Halloween scenes, but without anyone sneaking up and while it’s still daylight. And, for those looking for even more thrills can enjoy the full heart of darkness tour, which includes seven zip lines, four challenges, two rappels and a cargo net climb after dark.
When: Now through October 26 (Fridays and Saturdays)
Where: Spring Mountain Adventures, Schwenksville
Cost: $18 an up. Prices vary by activities.
Reaper’s Revenge Halloween
Wear your best Halloween costume and head to Montage Mountain for a Halloween Party featuring live band, DJ, games, drink specials and plenty of costume madness with $5,000 in cash prizes.
When: October 25, 6 p.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Montage Mountain Resort, Scranton
Cost $10 Admission
Harvest Wine Festival
Enjoy the rich flavors of fall with wine and food samples from over 40 vendors during the Bear Creek Harvest Wine Festival. Each guest receives an event program, free samples and commemorative wine tasting glass to take home.
When: October 27, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Bear Creek Mountain Resort, Lehigh Valley
Cost: Advance Tickets $25 or $35 at the door
Rhythm & Brews Festival
Enjoy live music, great craft beers and more at the 2019 Rhythm and Brews Festival at beautiful Montage Mountain. Tickets include festival entry, beer sampling and a commemorative tasting glass. Taste from over 40 different breweries and 75 craft beers and ciders. Live entertainment includes three tribute acts BSTREETBAND: The Original Springsteen Tribute, Slippery When Wet: The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute and Separate Ways: Performing Journey.
When: November 9, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Where: Montage Mountain Resort, Scranton
Cost: Advance Tickets $35 or $45 at the door.
CENTRAL PA
Fall Family Fun Festival
Nestled among the highest peaks of the Allegheny Mountains, Blue Knob Resort is a great place to see some beautiful fall foliage. The resort is celebrating the season with a family festival featuring live music, a petting zoo, kids crafts, hayrides, craft vendors and festive food and beverages.
When: October 19, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Blue Knob Resort, Claysburg
Cost: Admission price.
19th Annual Great Outdoors Festival
Whitetail Resort’s 19th Annual Great Outdoors Festival is a favorite Fall tradition for residents and visitors alike. The festival will feature activities for all ages including crafts, food, music, climbing wall, chairlift rides, paintball target shoot, haunted hall, pony rides, apple butter demo and more.
When: October 26-27, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Whitetail Resort, Mercersburg
Cost: Adults: $10, Seniors: $5, Kids: 7-17: $5 and Kids 5 and Under: Free.
Oktoberfest
Roundtop will host its second Oktoberfest at Roundtop Mountain Adventures. Enjoy a great selection of beers and German food, as well as live music from Polkadelphia from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Bring the kids and purchase a wristband for the Mountain Adventures Climbing structures, Tree House, Cedar Maze and zip lines. This year the annual equipment sale will be going on as well as the Cyclocross bike race, so a great event to ramp up for the season.
When: November 2, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Roundtop Mountain Resort, Lewisberry
WESTERN PA
35th Annual Autumnfest
Whatever your ideal Fall festival looks like, Seven Springs Autumnfest will not disappoint. It’s a four-weekend celebration of the mountain’s dramatic and colorful transformation. Each weekend features unique family themed activities for all ages. Enjoy live musical entertainment of all kinds, discover the unexpected with a variety of novelty performers or hop on a chairlift of an aerial view of the beautiful fall foliage. Themed weekend events include an Octoberfest Weekend, Chili Weekend and Kids’ Halloween Weekend.
When: Now through October 20, (Saturdays and Sundays), 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Seven Springs
Cost: $5 per car
Marathon on the Mountain
A unique marathon event in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Marathon on the Mountain will both challenge and inspire participants while they run through the beautiful mountain terrain at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Runners can choose the distance that fits their skill level including a marathon, half marathon or 5K. The race route features multiple ponds, charming country lanes and some of the most scenic woods in Pennsylvania.
When: October 26, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Seven Springs Resort, Seven Springs
Cost: $40 and up, based on race registration
For more great Fall vacation ideas at Pennsylvania Ski Resorts, visit SkiPA.com.
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