Four Family-Friendly Fall Activities at State Parks

Four Family-Friendly Fall Activities at State Parks

While every season is a great season to visit state parks, the fall is an especially fun time for enjoying the outdoors. We’ve got a roundup of family-friendly events—from hay rides to pumpkin sails—in every region of New York.

1. Fall Festivals

Spend a morning, afternoon or entire day at one of these fun fall festivals:

• Wellesley Island State Park (Thousand Islands) is hosting its 38th Annual Autumn Festival, Saturday October 8^th 10am-4pm. Enjoy vendors, live music, and farm animals. Adults $3, military/seniors $2, children $1.
• At Planting Fields Arboretum (Long Island) enjoy an entire Fall Family Festival Weekend, Saturday, October 8^th and Sunday, October 9^th 11am- 5pm. The event features garden games, face painting, pumpkin sales, pony rides, and live music.
• For something a little different, check out Hempstead Lake State Park’s (Long Island) Fall Family Freshwater Festival, Saturday, October 15^th 10am-4pm. This event includes a casting for pumpkins contest, pumpkin decorating, as well as pony rides and a magic show.
• Enjoy an Erie Halloween at Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, Saturday, October 22nd, 3:00pm-7:00pm. Bring the family out for this family-friendly event that is sure to become a new favorite tradition. Entry into the event is for a suggested donation of $3 per person or $10 per family. The event includes a pumpkin carving contest (entries dropped off no later than Thursday, Oct. 20), haunted walk (indoors), scavenger hunt, costume contest, crafts, refreshments (for purchase), and a Candlelit Pumpkin Path.
• Hudson River Park (NYC) hosts a Halloween Kidz Karnival, Friday, October 28^th 12pm, featuring a variety of spooky events. Some events free, others $2.

2. Pumpkin Sail

At Belmont Lake State Park on Long Island, they take pumpkin carving to a new level with the Great Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Sail, Saturday, October 29^th. Festivities begin at 3:00pm; 50 Jack-o’-Lanterns will set sail at approximately 6:00pm. The event also includes balloon twisting, children’s spooky den, games, and funny photos.

3. Haunted Hay Rides

Take the kids for a wagon ride at one of these upcoming events:

• Schodack Island State Park (Capital Region) hosts its Annual Haunted Hayride, Friday, October 14^th 5-9pm. Goblins and ghouls may pop out without notice! Event is free; food will be served at a modest price.
• Glimmerglass State Park’s (Cooperstown) Ghoulish Gathering on Friday, October 14^th 7:00pm-9:00pm includes a haunted wagon ride, goblin games and ghostly graveyard, Children $3, Adults $5.

4. Take a (Not So) Spooky Walk

Between the changing fall colors and Halloween, October is the perfect time to take the kids on a walk or hike. See a favorite trail in a new way or explore a new trail!

• View the changing fall colors in the forest on a Leaf Peeping Walk from the new Humphrey Nature Center at Letchworth State Park (Genesee). Saturday, October 8^th 2:00pm-3:00pm.
• See Beaver Island State Park (Niagara) like you’ve never seen it before, lit by the light of the moon on a Night Prowl, Sunday, October 16^th 7:30pm- 9:00pm
• Families can come enjoy an adventure along the Wild Wood Trail in Grafton Lakes State Park (Capital Region). The Trick or Treat Nature Trail will be held Saturday, October 29^th 4pm- 7pm. $4 per family, registration required
• Clay Pit Ponds State Park (Staten Island) hosts a Haunted Hike, Saturday, October 29^th 2:00pm- 3:30pm. Follow the tour of the mysterious past of Gericke Farm! (ages 10 and up)
• Take a haunted Halloween Walk through one of Moreau Lake State Park’s (Capital Region) camping loops, Saturday, October 29^th 6:00pm-7:30pm. Refreshments will be available. $5/car
• At Thacher State Park (Capital Region) experience Nature’s Creepy Mystery Trail, Saturday, October 29^th 11am-3pm. Walk along the Nature Center trail and discover spooky oddities. Make Halloween crafts and enjoy cider and donuts. This drop-in program is appropriate for all ages Wear your costume!

See a full list of Halloween-themed events at New York State Parks.