fall guide

Your guide to all that is festive and fun this fall in Philadelphia and beyond, presented by Shady Brook Farm.

Fall Fun

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FallFest at Shady Brook Farm is a family-fun tradition and, so much more!!

For more than two decades, Shady Brook Farm has provided guests from near and far with memories that last a lifetime. Take an open-air wagon ride (pulled by real working tractors) to the pumpkin patch, then bounce on the giant jumping pillows and inflatable attractions. But the fun doesn’t end there! Climb on the playground or all over the spider web crawl. Wind your way through the Peanuts-themed Corn Maze (bring a flashlight so you can conquer the maze at PumpkinFest After Dark!) Burn off any steam you might have left by visiting the S.B.F. 500 Tryke Track, rest a while enjoying the sweet sounds of the live entertainment.

There’s still more to do at FallFest at Shady Brook Farm, and (if you dare) visit us at night for some spine tingling thrills at HorrorFest. Just upgrade your general admission ticket!

  • AppleFest is open September 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25. Wagon rides to pick pumpkins and apples, both sold by the pound. The last wagon goes out at 4pm, field closes at 5pm.
  • PumpkinFest is open Oct. 1, 2, 3, and then daily from October 8 – 31. Check our website for specific times.
  • PumpkinFest After Dark is open October 13, 20, 26 & 27 and any night we have HorrorFest until 8pm.
  • HorrorFest is open most weekend nights in October.

Tickets are available online or at the ticket booth. General Admission is $15.00 per person on weekends and $10.00 Monday – Thursday; infants under 2 years of age are free. For more information, dates, HorrorFest prices and coupons for Fall Fest, including PumpkinFest and HorrorFest, visit www.shadybrookfarm.com or call 215-968-1670.

Halloween Events

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“Terror Behind the Walls” at the Eastern State Penitentiary
Open through Saturday, November 5
22nd & Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130 – (215) 236-3300
https://www.easternstate.org/halloween

Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world’s first true “penitentiary,” a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America’s notorious criminals, including “Slick Willie” Sutton and Al Capone. Today Terror Behind the Walls has been ranked #1 in AOL’s City Guide and coined “perfect for Halloween” by the NY Times.fright-factory

Fright Factory
Friday, September 30—Sunday, October 30.
2200 S Swanson St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 – (215) 33-GHOST
http://frightfactory.tv/

Built in a century-old South Philadelphia warehouse, Fright Factory changes the themes of its multiple attractions from year-to-year. Featured on The Travel Channel’s list of America’s Scariest Haunted Attractions.

Ghost Tours of Philadelphia
Open through Wednesday, November 30
Depart from 5th & Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA – (215) 413-1997
http://www.ghosttour.com/

phtext-14bDiscover the secrets hidden in the shadows of America’s most historic and most haunted city! Join the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia for a candlelight stroll along the back streets and mysterious gardens of Society Hill and Independence Park, where tales of ghostly spirits, haunted houses and eerie graveyards lurk in the night!

Franklin Square Halloween Events:

Spooky Mini Golf at Franklin Square
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October
200 N. 6th Street
http://historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/what-to-see/

A family favorite returns! As dusk draws near, Philly Mini Golf (in Franklin Square) becomes a magical playground with spooky tricks around every corner! Lights, fog, cobwebs, and more return to this Philadelphia-themed miniature golf course where you can putt through the crack of the Liberty Bell.

Pumpkin Patch at Franklin Square
Saturday, October 22, Noon-2pm.
200 N. 6th Street
http://historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/what-to-see/

Bring the kids to Franklin Square to pick a nice pumpkin out of the Franklin Square Pumpkin Patch and decorate it with spooky designs to take home. FREE! Recommended for children 10 and under. Limit: 1 pumpkin per child. Group reservations and participation are not available.

Fox Rothschild Trick-or-Treat Trail at Franklin Square

Saturday, October 29, Noon – 3 pm
200 N. 6th Street
http://historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/what-to-see/

Customize your own Halloween-themed trick-or-treat bag and follow the trail map to discover spooky treats throughout the park. FREE! Recommended for children 10 and under. Plus, hop onboard the Lightning Bolt Express Train for a fall ride around Franklin Square. Tickets: $5 adults, $4 children.

Trick-or-Treat Trail & Lightning Bolt Express Train sponsored by Fox Rothschild.

Fall Festivals

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UpToberfest Oktoberfest at Uptown Beer Garden
September 24-25
1735 Market Street

The Center City beer garden will serve a variety of local and imported lagers alongside classic German eats, including pretzels, wurst, schnitzel, and spazel. Enjoy your favorite food and drinks along with live music and games. 

Roxtoberfest
Oct. 1, 2016

Roxborough celebrates Oktoberfest with Roxtoberfest, unfolding along Ridge Avenue between Lyceum and Leverington avenues. There will be plenty of food and drink, live music, life-sized board games, an array of children’s activities and other activities.

Midtown Village Fall Festival
October 1, 2012 Noon-8:00pm
13th Street from Market to Locust Streets

The Midtown Village Fall Festival will return with eight hours of outdoor fun on a larger city footprint than ever before. On 13th Street stretching from Chestnut to Locust Street, food, drink and crafts vendors will set up lining the sidewalks with all manner of entertainment. Think dunk tanks, DJs, Sumo wrestling, a pop-up beer garden, sidewalk sales and more. Sample food from all your favorite Midtown Village restaurants (think Barbuzzo, Jamonera, El Vez, Lolita, Sampan — the list goes on) and visit the “Little Villagers” family-friendly area complete with a free moon bounce, sidewalk chalk and pumpkin painting.

pfs_blue_logoPhiladelphia Film Festival
October 20-30th
http://filmadelphia.org/–267-239-2941

Various Venues, Philadelphia, PA Please join the Philadelphia Film Society from October 20th-30th for the 25th annual Philadelphia Film Festival. This is the largest, most prominent film festival in all of Philadelphia, uniting filmmakers and film lovers from around the world. There will be over 120 highly anticipated films shown at festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, and Toronto. 

operaonthemall_logo_whiteonredOpera on the Mall
Oct. 1, 2016

Opera on the Mall is a free, big-screen HD broadcast performance from Opera Philadelphia. Bring chairs, a blanket and a picnic dinner for an alfresco evening filled with beautiful live music on Independence Mall in Historic Philadelphia.

Philadelphia’s First Annual Oktoberfest at 23rd Street Armory
Oct. 7-9

The 23rd Street Armory will transform into an authentic Munich festival tent for Philadelphia’s First Annual Oktoberfest at 23rd Street Armory. Bavarian blues and whites will paint the ceilings, while authentic festival tables and benches imported from Germany will furnish the floor along with a lofted stage area for live bands. Hofbräuhaus will supply the beer and German fare will flow from the kitchens.

Oktoberfest at Dilworth Park
Oct. 12-16, 2016

Beer, food, live music and fun activities are set to fill Dilworth Park for its multi-day Oktoberfest celebration. On the weekend, the festival kicks off at noon with music from local DJs and performers.

Bloktoberfest
Oct. 15, 2016

Graduate Hospital’s Bloktoberfest returns! The celebration features a wide selection of craft beer from around the country, delicious food from local restaurants and food trucks, live music and entertainment and family-friendly activities. Proceeds from the beer are reinvested into community schools, projects and area organizations.

South Street’s PumpkinFest
Oct. 29

Celebrate fall at the annual South Street Headhouse District Pumpkin Fall Fest at the historic Headhouse Shambles. Enjoy hay rides, pumpkin painting, crafts, live music and more.

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