10 Must-Attend Fall Festivals in Florida

Florida is a tropical paradise, known for a lot of things, and fall festivals and weather are not one of them. Still, you can taste a bit of fall when visiting one of the many fall festivals and pumpkin patches. Many of the festivals that happen in this sunshine state from September to November have nothing to do with pumpkins, hayrides, or delicious fall foods. Still, they are worth a mention. Listed below are 10 must-attend fall festivals in Florida.

1. Fantasy Fest

Starting our list of the 10 must-attend fall festivals in Florida is Fantasy Fest in Key West. Although this festival doesn’t scream ‘fall’, it’s held during the season. Fantasy Fest in 2023 runs from October 20 to October 29. Each day there is a new schedule of events and activities. This festival is for grownups. It’s an annual 10-day party that began in 1979 by a small group of Key West locals. The purpose of this party was to bring visitors to Key West during a slow season, and it worked! Now, nearly five decades later, people from all over the globe visit. Visitors can come to enjoy parades, beautiful costumes, and delicious local favorites.

2. Harvest Holler Corn Maze

Not all fall festivals in Florida are full of glitz and glamor. Some feature good old-fashioned family fun, like the Harvest Holler Corn Maze in Polk County. This corn maze and pumpkin patch is a great place to enjoy quality family time. They are open from September 15 to November 12. Guests can enjoy exciting activities and explore nature on the farm. Also on the farm are the Cow Barrel Train, tire swings, and Hay Mountain. If you’ve worked yourself an appetite, Paw-Paw’s Vittles is open with cheeseburgers, french fries, iced tea, lemonades, and roasted sweet corn on the cob. Admission is required, although children under two years old can enter for free. The hours vary. On Fridays, the farm is open from 4 pm to 8 pm, while Saturdays are open from 12 pm to 8 pm. Sundays close a little early, running from 12 pm to 5 pm.

3. Cape Coral Oktoberfest

Continuing our list of the 10 must-visit fall festivals in Florida is the Cape Coral Oktoberfest. Visitors can experience this wonderful and vibrant festival during two October weekends (October 20-22 and 27-29). The Cape Coral Oktoberfest provides guests with the opportunity to experience German-American traditions, food, music, and more. Visitors can listen to local and German live artists, dance the days away, and enjoy delicious drinks. This massive festival has three large stages and two dance floors. Children can explore the carnival area, while adults try different German beverages, like beers and wines.

4. Brown and Brown Farms & Country Store Fall Fest

Fourth on our list is the Brown and Brown Farms & Country Store Fall Fest in Oxford Florida. This exciting outdoor festival runs from October 7 to November 5. The corn maze is the true highlight of this fall fest. This massive 10-acre corn maze is filled with winding and twisting paths. Two events will be hosted within the maze, Dazed In The Maze and Uncle Willy’s Twilight Express. On Friday nights, guests can enter the tall maze with flashlights at night, adding another level of difficulty.

Festival goers aren’t just limited to the corn maze. On the farm and country store, guests can enjoy and take pictures at Brown’s Pumpkin Paradise. There are also plenty of activities for small children like the Barnyard Basketball, Bee-line Express, Corn Beach, Jumpin’ Pillows, and bubble stations.

5. Raprager Family Farm’s Fall Pumpkin Festival and Haunted Farm

The Raprager Family Farm’s Fall Pumpkin Festival and Haunted Farm is quite the mouthful. You can find this incredible fall festival in Odessa, Florida. With admission, guests can participate in a 2-acre, 300-animal petting zoo, and farm animal experience. Guests can also enjoy hay rides, axe throwing, a 40 food second story hay chute slide, pumpkin painting, 5,000 square foot Haunted Barn, Goblin Market, and live entertainment. What’s not included is food, gem mining, pony rides, face painting, and cow feed.

It’s best to purchase tickets online, instead of at the door as this festival sells out fast. It’s open on select days from October 6 to November 19. In October, the festival operates Friday through Sunday. In November, the farm is only open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. Parking and children under two years old are free.

6. Florida Forest Festival

Also on our list of the best fall festivals in Florida is the Florida Forest Festival in Perry. This year is the festival’s 68th year of operating. The Florida Forest Festival runs for one day, October 28, 2023. The history of this fun and important festival starts in 1955 as the “Pine Tree Festival”. It was created to reduce forest fires through education.

Now, this massive festival welcomes people from all over the world. Although the festival day is on October 28, there are a few starter activities a few days before including downtown events, fireworks, and pageants. On festival day though, guests flock to the Forest Capital State Park to see shows, eat delicious foods, and ride carnival rides.

7. Micanopy Fall Festival

A favorite fall festival for many in Florida is the Micanopy Fall Festival. It’s open from October 28 to 29, 2023, although dates for 2024 are already out. The Micanopy Fall Festival is a great place to visit if you’d like to support local artists and vendors as they fill up Cholokka Boulevard. There are well over two hundred vendors onsite as well as live local music playing on the main stage. Some performers coming to the Micanopy Fall Festival in 2023 include Lisa Marie Nicole, Cross Creek Cloggers, the Chasing Rabbits Band, Caddilac Ken & Elvis, and the Lost Safari Drummers.

8. Flamingo Road Nursery’s Fall Festival

Another must-visit Florida fall festival is the Flamingo Road Nursery’s Fall Festival in Davie, Florida. This incredible event runs from the last week of September to the first week of November. Visitors can admire the transformed 10-acre garden center that mirrors a vibrant New England fall. While at the garden center, you can pick the perfect pumpkin, take stunning family photos at the many displays, and participate in themed activities. Every weekend is centered around a different theme. Some of these themes are Pepper Palooza, Tomato Fest, and Tropical Fruit Celebration. Hay rides are also available.

9. Aunt Louise’s Fall Farm Days

There is nothing better than spending a fall day on a farm. You can do this by attending Aunt Louise’s Fall Farm Days in Monticello, Florida. This fun family-friendly farm is a great place to take the little ones. During fall, guests can brave the corn maze, pet and meet barn animals, and enjoy wagon and barrel train rides. Some of the great animals you can meet on the farm include chickens, geese, highland cows, rabbits, pigs, ducks, and emus. Children three years old and younger can enter for free, although admission is required. This event runs from September 30th through November 12th on Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays, you can enjoy this farm from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Sundays from 2 to 6 pm. During the week, field trips and private activities are available.

10. Fruitville Grove 35th Annual Pumpkin Festival

The tenth must-visit Florida fall festival is the Fruitville Grove 35th Annual Pumpkin Festival. It’s open every weekend from September 30 to the end of October. The festival is in full swing from 10 am to 5 pm. So, what can you expect to see and do at the Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival? Some things you can do within the festival include the petting zoo, Torres Family Circus, great photo ops, costume contests, and live music. For a small fee, you can participate in other activities like pumpkin painting, pony rides, bounce houses, games, and more. While admission is free, parking is $5. Aside from the festival, visitors are more than welcome to shop at the Farmer’s Market every day from 10 am to 5 pm.