Every year fall rolls around and I get so excited to see the change in season. I love fall festivities and being close so to the city, we definitely have a lot of cool events to choose from.
If you are like me and don’t have a car on campus, don’t feel like you’re stuck. There is a ton of things to do in the city that are accessible by train, bus, or subway.
In Philadelphia:
Take a Ghost Tour of Philadelphia
Walk around Old City and Independence National Park on a ghost tour with Ghost Tours of Philadelphia. Explore the stories and secrets of Philadelphia’s back streets and secret gardens. Ghost Tours of Philadelphia is open every night at 7:30pm until November. Tickets are $17/person but if you order ahead online or on the phone you get $2 off.
Philly Free Streets Day, October 28th
Okay so this event isn’t necessarily festive for fall but it only comes around once a year. On Saturday, October 28th, the city of Philadelphia will shut down its streets to only pedestrians from 8am-1pm. It’s the perfect opportunity for a photo shoot with friends or just to walk around on traditionally busy streets.
Midtown Village Fall Festival, October 7th
Every autumn, the Midtown Village Fall Festival is a premier outdoor event that features hours of tasty food, drinks, live entertainment, shopping, and more. It is a favorite among locals and takes place on 13th street and across several surrounding blocks in Midtown Village.
Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Festival, October 20th-21st
This event has been on my list of things to do since Freshman year, but I still have not been. For these two days, the town of Chestnut Hill morphs into the wizarding world of Harry Potter. They have sorting hat demonstrations, quidditch matches, and so much more. Need transportation to get there? Take the Chestnut Hill West line from Queen’s Lane Station (only a few blocks from Penn Charter) and you will board onto the Hogwarts Express. Yes that’s right, they turn the Chestnut Hill West Line into the Hogwarts Express for these two days.
The Glow in Fairmount Park, October 6th-29th
Visit West Fairmount Park at night during this time and see it aglow with intricately carved pumpkins that are breathtaking. Tickets range in price. Check out their website for details.
Now for those that want to go a bit further and head out of the city, here are some great places to go:
The Great Pumpkin Carve at Chadd’s Ford, October 19th-21st
Located about 45 minutes from us, the Great Pumpkin Carve is an annual festival that is hosted on the grounds of the Chadd’s Ford Historical Society. Its claim to fame is the hundreds of carved pumpkins that light up at night and illuminate the grounds. The event also has food, fall treats at area eateries, live music, hayrides, and a haunted trail.
Longwood Gardens
Take a 50-minute drive to Kennett Square, PA and visit Longwood Gardens in the fall. Most people think of going to Longwood in the spring when it is in full bloom, but they have a lot going on in the fall as well. They host a Chrysanthemum Festival and have a pumpkin playground for kids. Stick around at night and watch the gardens illuminate with light, sound, and projection in an event called Nightscape.
Cherry Crest Farm
If you are a kid at heart and love a good corn maze, Cherry Crest Farm is the place to go. It’s the farthest place on this list with a drive of about an hour and 20 minutes. It’s located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country and has lots of family fun activities. Its corn maze was ranked one of the top ten corn mazes in the country!
Linvilla Orchards
And finally, if you have never been to Linvilla Orchards, you need to go. Go and pick apples in the afternoon and eat at one of the farm fresh food stands that line the property. If you want to get in the fall mood, this is the place to go. By car, it is about 35 minutes from campus.
Happy Fall!