You can smell it in the crispness of the air and hear it in the crunch of leaves under your feet–fall is here! ‘Tis the season to sip a pumpkin spice latte and wrap yourself in a silky scarf. Fall is the favorite season of many people around the world, but some of us are lucky enough to spend the season in the City of Brotherly Love. There are so many things to see and do in Philly over these next few months! In case you’re not sure where to begin, here’s a list of our top four reasons we’re falling over Philly this fall:
1. Apples and Pumpkins and Ciders and Pies!
(Image courtesy of: Justin Pizzi via Twitter)
It’s no secret that fall is full of pumpkin pies and apple ciders! Arguably one of the yummiest seasons of all, we’re excited for the tons of food, beverages, and snacks that fall in Philadelphia has to offer.
Philadelphia is the home of Saxbys Coffee and we are particularly excited to try their all-natural pumpkin spice latte. This drink raises the bar for all the other PSLs out there because it’s made with 100 percent real pumpkin! Download the Saxbys App now (if you haven’t already) to get $3 in credit towards your first PSL of the season!
What says fall more than apple pie and apple cider and caramel apples and … well, you get the point. If you want all that and more, check out the Apple Festival at Peddler’s Village! A day full of live entertainment and pie-eating contests is worth the commute. The festival will be held on November 7 and 8.
2. Haunted Prisons and Motels
(Image courtesy of Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary)
Two of the scariest haunted houses in the country are located here in Philly. Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls and The Bates Motel have been ranked on numerous lists and are definitely worth the price of admission. If you are someone who loves all things scary, dare to enter these attractions at your own risk (the risk of peeing your pants, that is!). Eastern State Penitentiary is a real prison with a number of ghost sightings reported there. The Bates Motel also features haunted hayrides and a haunted corn maze in addition to the classic haunted house, which supplies the extra scare factor for our more desensitized readers. Both attractions are open until the first week of November.
For more information about tickets and hours of operation at Eastern State Penitentiary, click here.
For more information about tickets and hours of operation at The Bates Motel, click here.
3. Fall Festivals
(Image courtesy of uwishunu)
There’s a festival for everyone happening this fall in the greater Philadelphia area. If you’re looking for a good bite to eat, visit the 20th Night Market Philadelphia. Despite rumors of their endangerment, the food trucks of Philly will be serving up their delicious cuisine on Thursday, October 1 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Frankford and Girard Streets.
If you want to admire artwork, listen to music, taste culinary masterpieces, and more, then don’t miss The Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival. On Sunday, October 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. between the 8000 and 8600 blocks of Germantown Avenue, artists from across the country will be selling and displaying their work. Food, drinks, and arts and crafts are also on the agenda!
If you are in the mood for picturesque scenery and the colorful foliage of fall, go explore the Autumn’s Colors at Longwood Gardens. Take a stroll through the Meadow Garden and bask in the fields of lavender as you take it all in. Or catch the Chrysanthemum Festival and see the mums gorgeously manipulated to look like clouds, columns, pagodas, and fountains. Hang around the festival after hours to witness the breathtaking Night of 1,000 Lights and, if you’re of age, enjoy the beer garden.
4. Pop-Up Parks
(Image courtesy of Visit Philadelphia)
This fall will bring the returns of some fabulous outdoor attractions! Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is back by popular demand and opens up at Penn’s Landing Friday, November 27. It’s time to put your rollerblades away and whip out your ice-skates! Grab your SO and cuddle up near a fire in The Lodge after holding gloved hands while ice-skating. This is the perfect date night!
If you’re looking for somewhere new to skate, Dilworth Park’s Rothman Ice Rink will be open officially on Friday, November 14 for its second year of business. This rink is complete with its own warming tent. The Rothman Ice Rink also hosted a number of fun events last year, including a zombie skate hosted by Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls, so keep an eye out for those!
Something else to look forward to this fall is long walks and runs along the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. This structure, completed last year, bridges together the Schuylkill River Trail and Center City making them accessible from University City! You can now continue your walk or run along the east shore of the river just in time to view the changing colors of the trees.
No matter if you’re a Philadelphia native or just attending school here for the next few years, there’s a lot to love about our city. So, get out there and explore what every season has to offer! The more you experience, the more we know you’ll fall head over heels for Philly.
Think we missed something? Tell us why you love Philadelphia in the fall! Tag us on Facebook (@Her Campus Drexel) and Twitter (@HerCampusDrexel) to share your reasons!