Kick Off Fall with Fun Festivals: September 26-28

FRIDAY EVENING

Start your festival weekend at the Upper Allen Township Fall Festival at Winding Hill Park in Mechanicsburg. Running from 4 pm to 9 pm on Friday evening, September 26, you'll find food trucks, craft vendors, hayrides, a petting zoo, family-friendly fun, and a special history display celebrating Upper Allen Township's 175th anniversary.

Music fans can enjoy a concert by the Nicks in Time: The Stevie Nicks Concert Experience at the Carlisle Theatre, and racing fans can catch Friday night racing at Williams Grove Speedway. The schedule on September 26 features the 410 Sprints World of Outlaws Tune-Up and the 358 Sprints Championship Night. And, as always, kids 12 and under are free.

The comfortable weather in early fall is ideal for al fresco dining. With over 300 restaurants in Cumberland Valley, you'll find a wide range of cuisines, including Belgian, Japanese, Nepalese, Thai, and more, mixed with favorite American classics. Pictured: Dockside Willies

SATURDAY MORNING

Start your day with a delicious, seasonal treat. Cumberland Valley is bursting with farm markets and bakeries serving fresh produce and mouth-watering baked goods, including apple and pumpkin-flavored treats.

On the West Shore, check out the West Shore Farmer's Market. This 60,000-ft facility is home to 50 vendors selling a delectable and delightful array of produce, meats, cheeses, spices, and baked goods. If you have time, browse the upstairs shops for home decor, gifts, clothing, and more. 

Sweet Velvet Macarons in Camp Hill sells uniquely sweet and delicious handcrafted French macarons. The monthly flavor menu features 20 curated options. Nearby, the Pennsylvania Bakery in Camp Hill is a local favorite for all things sweet. In its large selection of bakery cases, you can find monster cookies, seasonal cupcakes, rotating flavors of scones, and everything in between. 

Talking Breads (pictured) in Mechanicsburg mills their own flour and makes many baked items, including Old World European bread, scones, turnovers, and hand pies in an open-concept bakery. Stop by to see their newly renovated space, including an expanded retail area and the addition of an indoor dining space.

Although it's not a bakery, Fay's Country Kitchen in Carlisle is a crowd-pleaser. This vintage cafe serves breakfast and lunch in a Coca-Cola-themed dining room. Diners will be delighted by the massive pancake menu, showcasing seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice topped with homemade whipped cream. Be sure to bring cash, as they do not accept credit cards.

If you're staying in Shippensburg, stop by the Art of Pie Cafe and be tempted by their rotating display of sweet delights, crepes, and breakfast sandwiches.

SATURDAY EVENTS

Today's lineup of fall festivals means a full day of eating, drinking, shopping, and entertainment. It showcases all the reasons why Cumberland Valley is a wonderful place to live, work, play, and visit. Choose your favorite or hit all three stops if you're feeling ambitious. 

Harvest of the Arts & Meeting of the Marques (September 27)

Harvest of the Arts is a downtown Carlisle staple and includes juried crafts, an emerging artist market, entertainment, kids' activities, and food vendors. Parts of West High Street and Pitt Street are closed for the event, giving visitors plenty of room to stroll the street, shop downtown's unique boutiques and galleries, and admire the architecture of this pre-Revolutionary War town. Meeting of the Marques is a display and appreciation of the art of vehicles, featuring British and American-made cars. Event Hours: 10 am-5 pm Event Cost: Free  

Annual Sunflower Festival on the Farm (September 27 & 28)

Stroll through 50 acres of sunflowers at Meadowbrooke Gourds' Sunflower Festival. This unique farm is the largest gourd-crafting facility in the country, and visitors will love exploring its grounds. Several gourd-shaped houses make the perfect backdrop for photos, and the two-day festival includes an Oops! sale, craft vendors, food vendors, trolley rides, music, and nearby pumpkin picking. Visitors are encouraged to cut and take home the sunflowers. Event Hours: 10 am-6 pm  Event Cost: Free

New Cumberland Apple Festival (September 27)

This annual festival entertains families with music, great food, handmade crafts, contests, and lots of activities. More than 200 craft vendors and 70 food vendors are set up in New Cumberland Borough Park. Event Hours: 9 am-4 pm Event Cost: Free

SATURDAY EVENING

The fun continues Saturday night. Race go-karts, play mini-golf, compete in laser tag, and enjoy arcade games at the Carlisle Sports Emporium or catch a movie under the stars at the Cumberland Drive-In Theatre. Old-fashioned fun continues at Midway Bowling with bowling, duckpins, and axe throwing. End the evening relaxing with delicious food and drinks around the fire pits on their recently renovated outdoor patio.

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. Check in at participating locations and earn prizes. With so many flavors to explore, you'll want to make a return visit. 

SUNDAY MORNING

Start Sunday morning at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, where you can hike some of the 25 miles of trails. The park has numerous overlooks and picnic areas. No visit is complete without a stop at the Kings Gap General Store, located across from the park's entrance.

If you signed up for our Beer Trail passport, several locations along the trail offer delicious Sunday brunch options.

Or, begin your morning with a hunt for treasures at the Farmers Flea Market. Taking place every Sunday morning at the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Society grounds, you never know what you will find. If you are looking for more antique or vintage gems, follow our Antiques & Vintage Trail to find the perfect Cumberland Valley memento. Pictured: Carlisle Antique Mall

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

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.

Early 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: Waggoner's Gap Hawk Watch

MAKE A RETURN VISIT

If you enjoyed your early fall visit to Cumberland Valley, you'll want to return later in the fall. Upcoming fall festivals include:

October 12 & 13: Pennsboro Pumpkin Festival @ Adams-Ricci Park

October 19: Ag Day @ Dill's Tavern

October 19 & 20: Fall Furnace Fest @ Pine Grove Furnace State Park

October 26 & 27: Shippensburg Pumpkin Festival @ Shippensburg Fairgrounds

Look for additional festivals to be added to the schedule as we get closer to October.

Peak fall foliage typically occurs in mid-late October. Whether you prefer to drive or hike, find the best viewing spots. Pictured: Kings Gap Environmental Education Center