FRIDAY PM
Get into the fall spirit with a 1.5-hr East Side Ghost Tour of historic downtown Carlisle (tickets required); enjoy the creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky Addams Family, a macabre musical at Allenberry Playhouse (tickets required); or follow the antics of Icabod Crane in an imaginative adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at the Carlisle Theatre.
Cozy up with a hot meal. With over 300 restaurants in Cumberland Valley, you'll find varying cuisine types, including Belgium, Japanese, Nepalese, Thai, and more, mixed with favorite American classics.
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SATURDAY AM
Start your day with a delicious, seasonal treat or cup of coffee. Cumberland Valley is bursting with bakeries and coffee shops serving up mouth-watering baked goods and unique coffee flavors, including many apple and pumpkin-flavored treats.
SATURDAY
This weekend's lineup of fall festivals means a full weekend of eating, drinking, shopping, entertainment, and history. Choose one or two of your favorites or hit all three events if you're feeling ambitious.
Destination Carlisle's Halloweekend (October 14-16)
Destination Carlisle's Halloweekend is a family-friendly weekend of fun. Stroll the pumpkin-lined streets and enjoy daytime trick-or-treating (Saturday), friendly town ghost appearances, spooky photo-op opportunities, games, entertainment, and more. Event Hours: Friday 5pm-8 pm; Saturday 11 am-8pm; Sunday 11 am-4 pm Event Cost: Free Events Happening Nearby: Mystical Market 2022 Photo Credit: Jennifer Oswald Photography
Fall Furnace Fest (October 15-16)
Fall Furnace Festival at Pine Grove Furnace State Park is a local favorite. Set in the scenic Michaux State Forest, this family-friendly event includes food, crafts, live music, hayrides, pumpkin carvings, scarecrow making, kids' crafts, and historical demonstrations. Saturday night, stay for the pumpkin parade and float and learn about the Legend of the Hairy Hand. Event Hours: Saturday 11 am-7 pm followed by the Hairy Hand event at 7 pm; Sunday 11 am-4 pm Event Cost: Free
Army Heritage Days (October 15 & 16)
Hosted by the U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center, the weekend features workshops, demonstrations, reenactments, and more, both outside on the mile-long Army Heritage Trail and inside the Visitor and Education Center. This weekend is the second of two events held this fall and focused on World War II tanks and artillery. Event Hours: 9am-5pm Event Cost: Free
SATURDAY PM
The fun continues Saturday night. Explore downtown Carlisle on a 1.5-hr West Side Ghost Tour (tickets required). Or, if you brought the kids, race go-karts, play mini-golf, compete in laser tag, and enjoy arcade games at the Carlisle Sports Emporium.
Tap, tour and try a pint on the Cumberland Valley Beer Trail. Sign up for a free passport, and visit over 25 breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries spread out over the Valley. Win prizes for 5 and 15 check-ins. With so many flavors to explore, you'll want to make a return visit. Pictured: Hook & Flask Still Works
SUNDAY
It's time for Sunday Funday! Whether you decide to explore a farm with the kids, unwind on a hiking trail or take a scenic, leisurely drive to take in the fall foliage, the suggestions below will make the experience easy.
SPEND TIME ON THE FARM
Kids of all ages will love classic fall activities like picking pumpkins and navigating corn mazes. Try your luck at navigating the corn maze at Maple Lane Farm; visit Paulus Farm Market for u-pick pumpkins, a large farm play area, a mini corn maze, and hayrides; or stop by Ashcombe Farm & Greenhouses, where everyone can enjoy the hay playground, corn crib, fall-inspired games, and a corn maze during their Fall Harvest Days.
FOLLOW THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY PHOTO TRAIL
Fill your Instagram feed and capture the spirit of Cumberland Valley with images of downtown murals, tucked-away covered bridges and other scenic spots when you explore the Cumberland Valley Photo Trail. Along the way, you're sure to find other happy surprises.
GO FOR A HIKE
Fall is the perfect time to take a hike in Cumberland Valley. Whether you're taking a day-hike on the iconic Appalachian Trail or ascending to an overlook for sweeping views of the Valley, you'll want to make sure you packed your camera. Pictured: Pole Steeple Overlook
CAPTURE FALL FOLIAGE
Peak fall foliage typically occurs in mid-late October with an impressive display of yellow, orange, and red leaves. Whether you prefer to drive or hike, you can find the best viewing spots.
MAKE A RETURN VISIT
If you enjoyed your fall visit to Cumberland Valley, you want to make sure to return in December for family-friendly, holiday-themed fun and events, including a Christmas parade, shopping markets, visits with Santa and more. Also, be sure to explore our charming, locally-owned shops to pick up gifts and treats for the holiday season.
