FALL FESTIVALS 2009

Here's our list of fun-for-all Fall events that the whole family can enjoy.

SEPTEMBER

9/4 - 9/6

Howl! Festival 2009, New York, NY

The Howl! Festival in the East Village is a great time for little ones to channel their creative energy.

9/10 - 9/20

The New Island Festival, Governors Island, NY

Check out The New Island Festival, starting Thurs. Sept 10th on Governors Island. Ten days of theater, music and art from the Netherlands!

9/11 to 9/13

Indian Summer Festival, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Experience and learn the unique tribal customs and dances of American Indian culture on a three-day lakefront trip.

9/11 to 9/13

Oyster Festival, Norwalk, Connecticut

This annual seafood festival celebrates the city's maritime history with arts and crafts, face painting, and lots of oysters, for only $25 (weekend pass).

9/13

Brooklyn's Book Festival, Brooklyn, NY

For those who LOVE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, don't miss a special Q&A with author Jodi Barrett at Brooklyn's Book Festival Sun 9/13.

9/16 to 9/19

Morton Pumpkin Festival, Morton, Illinois

Home to the Nestle-Libby's pumpkin-processing plant, Morton, Ill. also hosts the annual pumpkin weigh-off. Don't miss out on the pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin chili, pumpkin donuts and more!

9/18 to 11/1

New Victory Scottish Festival, New York, NY

The New Victory Theater brings a unique showcase of theater for young people featuring shows from four of Scotland's finest theater companies.

9/19 to 9/20

Johnny Appleseed Festival, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Channel the spirit of famed Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman and stock up on good old pioneer gear, browse the fruit and vegetable stalls in the farmers'-market area, or even dress up as a character from Johnny's era.

9/19 to 9/20

Hill City Western Heritage Festival, Hill City, South Dakota

Travel back to the Old West at this festival. While the children are having fun, adults can check out the Wine Train into the West.

9/19 to 9/20

Portland Pirate Festival, Portland, Oregon

Wander through Maurader's Market or hunt for treasure at Scupper Monkey Island. Your little ones can eat shaved ice and stock up on free balloons.

9/25 to 9/27

Warrens Cranberry Festival, Warrens, Wisconsin

Families can take bus tours of the cranberry bogs and experience the unique harvesting of cranberries.

9/25 to 9/26

Standing Bear Pow Wow, Ponca City, Oklahoma

Experience a weekend of traditional Native American dance, arts, crafts, and food at this annual event hosted by six local tribes.

9/25 to 10/11

48th Annual Bristol Chrysanthemum Festival, Bristol, Connecticut

Ranked by The Boston Globe as one of New England's top inexpensive fall attractions last year, this celebration inlcudes a parade, a carnival, and, of course, the crowning of Miss Mum.

9/25 to 9/27

North American Sand-Sculpting Championship, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Be amazed at the beautiful works of art by master sculptors as they shape, shovel, and mold millions of grains of sand.

9/25 to 9/27

Connecticut Antique Machinery Association, Kent, Connecticut

Here you can board the old Plymouth Diesel locomotive for a ride. It's the perfect festival for your train- or tractor-obsessed toddlers.

OCTOBER

10/3 to 10/4 and 10/10 to 10/11

National Apple Harvest, Arendtsville, Pennsylvania

This festival features more than 300 arts-and-crafts dealers, children's activities, and all kinds of apple-related treats.

10/03 to 10/11

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, New Mexico

For balloon enthusiasts, this festival is the highlight of the year. Thrill seekers can board one of the balloons and get a bird's-eye view of the Balloon Fiesta.

10/4 to 10/11

Fryeburg Fair, Fryeburg, Maine

It's not at every festival that you can watch nearly 100 competitors tossing cast iron pans, but that's what you'll see at the Fryeburg Fair's Skillet Throw. As Maine's largest agricultural event, the fair attracts more than 300,000 people annually. Kids, ages 8 to 10, can get in on the competitions too and try their little hands at catching a piglet at the Piglet Scramble.

10/3 to 11/1

Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze and Legend Weekend, Westchester, New York

Channel Washington Irving and wander through the famed Sleepy Hollow's Philipsburg Manor—an 18th-century farm where kids can carve pumpkins and play colonial-era games by day and hear tales of witches and ghosts by night.

10/9 to 10/11

Scarecrow Festival, St. Charles, Illinois

View more than 100 handcrafted scarecrows at this fun festival. The wacky, unique creations are sure to entertain. Plus, the kids can visit the carnival for face painting, rides, and can even build their own scarecrow masterpiece.

10/10 to 10/11

Gore Mountain Harvest Fest, North Creek, New York

At this festival, kids will love the Inflatable Village, sack races, three-legged races, and pumpkin rolling competition.

10/10 to 10/11

Feast of Hunter's Moon Festival, West Lafayette, Indiana

At this festival artisans demonstrate traditional crafts of the time, while costumed participants serve up the fare of the era.

10/11 to 10/12

Connecticut Columbus Day Weekend Festival and Chowderfest, Mystic, Conneticut

Enjoy a cup of hot "chowda" at this annual festival at The Museum of America and the Sea, then go to the Children's Museum for story time, or simply stroll through a re-created 19th century village.

10/16 to 10/18

Shawnee Mountain Timber & Balloon Festival, Shawnee Mountain, Pennsylvania

This festival features lumberjack competitions and an amazing show of colorful hot air balloons.

10/17 to 10/18

Wellfleet OysterFest, Wellfleet, Massachusetts

This festival is all about oysters but the music, street fair, and fun activities for kids, including oyster-jewelry making and pumpkin painting, make this a favorite.

10/17

Keen Pumpkin Festival, Keen, New Hampshire

Keen holds eight world records for the most lit jack-o-lanterns in one place. The key is to enjoy the spectacle while eating cider doughnuts.

10/17 to 10/18

Pirate Days of The Colony, The Colony, Texas

This festival features concerts, comedy routines, children activities, water exhibitions and more.

10/17 to 10/18

31st Annual Woolly Worm Festival, Banner Elk, North Carolina

Celebrate the coming of winter at the Woolly Worm Festival. Legend has it that the coloration of these furry caterpillar's can predict how cold the winter will be: the wider the black bands are, the colder and snowier the coming winter will be.

10/17 to 10/18

Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay, California

While the kids enjoy spicy pumpkin pies, the adults can enjoy the special festival-label wine from the winemakers at Half Moon Bay winery or the Pumpkin Harvest Ale 2 from Half Moon Bay Brewing Company.

10/21 to 10/24

Circleville Pumpkin Show, Circleville, Ohio

This festival features a Big Wheel Race, an egg toss, pumpkin carving, and the World's Largest Pumpkin Pie (14 feet across!).

10/22 to 10/25

The Great Pumpkin Festival, Phoenix, Arizona

Head to the Desert Botanical Garden for hayrides, a hay bale maze, petting zoo, and pumpkin patch.

10/22 to 11/1

Chicago International Children's Film Festival, Chicago, Illinois

The 26th annual International Children's Film Festival, hosted by Second City, will feature more than 200 of the top films and videos for children from 40 countries.

10/25

Queens County Farm Museum Children's Fall Festival, Floral Park, New York

Just 30 minutes outside of Manhattan, this festival offers a corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins, and a haunted house. Dress the kids in their Halloween best!

NOVEMBER

11/7 to 11/8

Mesa Old West Days, Mesa, Arizona

See how the West was won at this festival honoring the pioneer spirit. Watch metal working demonstrations and performances of Old West-style gun fights.

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