Top 6 Finger Lakes Fall Festivals for 2024

2024 marks the town of Hilton’s 42nd Apple Fest! 

They’ve got a car show, music, food, games, and more. 

Plus, what would an apple festival be without an apple pie contest? Oh yes! 

The Hilton Apple Fest doesn’t stop there, they’ve also got a porch decorating contest, and a contest for their annual logo design. Additionally, with over 100 vendors, they’ve set up numerous craft awards. 

Dates and Times

• 🗓️ October 5-6, 2024

Getting there

• 📍Hilton, NY 14468
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Apple Fest
• Car show
• 100 vendors
• No pets allowed
• Free parking and shuttle
• Free entry

In the cute little town of Lima, they’ve been getting ready for a pumpkin and sunflower competition. Yes, seeds were handed out in April, and now the fruits of their hard labor will come down to one competition: to see who grew the biggest pumpkin and sunflower. 

While checking out the pumpkins and sunflowers, you can watch the plowing demo, participate in the silent auction, and maybe take part in the corn eating contest if that suits your fancy.

Getting there

• 📍Mark Tubbs Park, Lima, NY 14485
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Biggest pumpkin and sunflower competitions
• Plowing demo
• Silent auction
• Corn eating contest
• Free entry

Their closing up Linden Street for this party! 

The final stop in the 2024 Linden Wine Series, head to Geneva to try some locally crafted beer, Finger Lakes food, and excellent music.

The purchase of your ticket includes a beer stein, drink tickets, tastings, and discounted beer and food - all night.

Dates and Times

• 🗓️ October 5, 2024
• ⌚ 6-9 pm, registration starting at 5:30

Getting there

• 📍Linden St, Geneva, NY 14456
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• 10 beer vendors
• Beer stein included in price of ticket
• Discounts on beer and food 
• Tickets: $35/person

With a two and a quarter days of fall activities planned, Candor is taking their fall festival to the next level. 

There will be a scarecrow contest, pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay rides, cemetery walk, and a woodcarvers art show. On top of all that, add the vendors and food. 

To be honest, I think the most unique item I see on their line up is atlatl and spear throwing at Thunderbird Atlatl. I mean, you wouldn’t want to miss that, would you?

Date and Times

• 🗓️ October 11-13, 2024
• ⌚ Starting 4pm on Friday night

Getting there

• 📍Village of Candor, NY 13743
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• A huge line-up of fall-themed activities
• Scarecrow contest
• Corn maze
• Hay rides
• Cemetery walk
• World-class woodcarvers art show
• Free entry

The Genesee Valley Hunt Races promise a day of fun no matter what your interest. Of course, there are the horses, the jumping, and the glory of the steeplechase. 

But there’s also Jack Russel Terrier races - who knew that was a thing? There are vendors, a farmer’s market, activities for the kids, and plenty of food. PLUS the excitement of the horse races.

Dates and Times

• 🗓️ October 12, 2024
• ⌚ 10am - 4pm

Getting there

• 📍3320 Nations Rd., Geneseo, NY 14454
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Steeplechase horse races
• Jack Russel Terrier races
• Children's activities
• Vendors
• Farmers market
• Well behaved, leashed dogs welcomed
• Tickets: $15/person

Two and a half days of food, hard and fresh cider, music, and craft markets at Star Cider in Canandaigua? Yes, please!

Located just below Finger Lakes Community College on Route 364, they’ve also got a Greek food truck lined up, a “Spookcycle,” and football. There’s a little bit of something for everyone.

(Also, just in case this is need-to-know information for you and your inner circle of friends, on October 30th, Star Cider is also hosting a Hocus Pocus trivia and costume event! Check out Facebook for more info.)

Dates and Times

• 🗓️ October 15-17, 2024  
• ⌚ Events kick off at 1pm on Friday

Getting there

• 📍3365 NY-364, Canandiagua, NY 14424
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Greek food truck
• Hard cider
• Fresh cider
• Spookcycle
• Football game
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

Bring the kids out for some day-time, “kooky-not-spooky” trick-or-treating fun with the animals at the Rosemond Gifford Zoo. 

With a different theme each weekend, you and your kids can enjoy some candy, face painting, scavenger hunts, and themed craft stations while hanging out with the animals.

Dates and Times

• 🗓️ Saturdays and Sundays, October 12-27, 2024
• ⌚ Zoo hours

Getting there

• 📍Rosemond Gifford Zoo, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse, NY 13204
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Trick-or-treat while visiting the animals
• Daytime trick-or-treating
• Weekly themes
• Face painting
• Scavenger hunts
• No dogs allowed
• Entry: $7-9, plus admission or membership fee

Are you’re looking for a truly heart-stopping fall activity? Head to the five haunted houses of Fright Nights to get a one-of-a-kind, horrifying experience. 

Fright Nights brings state of the art creepy set design paired with terrifying human actors to bring Central New York what USA Today voted one of the 20 Best Haunted Attractions of the Northeast.

If you like to be scared, you don't want to miss The Fright Nights.

Dates and Times

• 🗓️ Every weekend in October 2024

Getting there

• 📍1 Lepage Place, Syracuse, NY 13206
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• 5 fright houses
• State of the art sets
• Real actors 
• Voted one of the 20 Best Haunted Attractions of the Northeast by USA Today
• Tickets: $35/person