It’s time for fall festivals in York and Adams counties.
Whether you are looking to sample some craft beer and wine or searching for a family-friendly event, a variety of fall festivals are being offered now through the end of October.
One celebrates Latin culture. Another focuses on the apple harvest. Yet another centers the festivities on oysters.
Here are a variety of festivals happening this fall to visit:
Grand opening of distillery at Dills Tavern
When: Saturday, Sept. 7
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Dills Tavern, 303 N. Baltimore St., Dillsburg
Dills Tavern in northern York County is hosting a grand opening celebration for its Eichelberger Distillery.
The event will include branding a whisky barrel with the official Eichelberger Distillery at Dills Tavern brand, according to the Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society’s Facebook post.
Other activities include early 19th century music, games and more.
Stewartstown Railroad celebrates 140th birthday
When: Saturday, Sept. 7
Where: 21 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Stewartstown
Cost: $1.40 per ticket
The railroad in southern York County will throwing a party for its birthday, which will include cake, ice cream and treats, according to a Facebook post.
Train ride tickets cost $1.40. The rides are offered at 11a.m., 11:45 a.m, 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Individuals can reserve seats online or pay with cash at the station.
Gettysburg Wine and Music Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
Where: 3340 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg
Cost: $30 for single-day general admission, $50 for a two-day ticket; $35 at the gate; or $15 for a youth or designated driver. Children ages 12 and under are free.
Guests will be able to sample and purchase wine from 27 wineries and distilleries during the festival at the Granite Hill Camping Resort, according to a news release.
The event also offers live music, craft vendors and food stands.
For more information, visit www.gettysburgwineandmusicfestival.com.
Latin Music Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 14
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Penn Park, 100 W. College Ave.
Celebrate Latin culture at this festival that features food trucks, live music, singers, dancers and vendors.
Festival-goers will be able to taste traditional dishes as well as modern interpretations, according to the event.
It is presented by the nonprofit For the Love Inc.
Snack Town Fall Fest
When: Saturday, Sept. 14
Hours: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Moul Field, 151 Moul Avenue, Hanover
The free event will offer food trucks, a beer garden for guests 21 and older, family activities, craft vendors and live music, according to the website.
It will feature Rocky 98.5’s 20th Anniversary of Battle of the Bands. The competition previously had been held at the York Fair. Now it has moved to Hanover.
The finalists in the Battle of the Bands competition are: The Rust Hounds, the Colin Alvarez Band and Heads or Tails Experience.
For more information, visit snacktownfallfest.com.
Historic East Berlin Fall Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 14
When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: East Berlin Area Community Center, 405 North Ave., East Berlin
The festival will feature food trucks, a book sale and 30 local artisans. Items for sale will include chainsaw creations, homemade candy, antique reproductions and more, according to a Facebook post.
For more information, visit the community center’s Facebook page.
New Freedom Fest
When: Saturday, Sept. 21
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Downtown New Freedom, Pa.
The fall festival includes live entertainment, an Oktoberfest tent with local breweries, pumpkin painting, animals, arts and crafts, food, and more. It starts at 10 a.m., according to a Facebook post.
For more information, visit www.newfreedomheritage.org.
Sweet Potato Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 22
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday
Where: Thomason’s Olde Thyme Herb Farm and Gift Shop, 170 Stoney Point Road, Reading Township
The 11th annual event features live music, sweet potato fries, soup, funnel cake and whoopie pies.
For more information, visit the business’s Facebook page.
Shrewsbury Fireman’s Fall Fest
When: Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28
Hours: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: 21 W. Forrest Ave., Shrewsbury
Food trucks, a beer garden, amusement rides and live entertainment will be featured during the two-day event. Fireworks will be held at 8 p.m. Friday.
For more information, visit shrewsburyfire.com.
Horn Farm Center’s Wild & Uncommon Pawpaw Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 28
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education, 4945 Horn Road, Hellam Township
Cost: $7 for general admission (off-site parking with shuttle); $15 VIP ticket (on-site parking); or $20 premium early entry (9 a.m. to 10 a.m. only with on-site parking)
This is the signature event that is now part of the “Wild & Uncommon Weekend,” which features a variety of activities, including a cooking class, hikes, and an after party.
Tickets must be purchased in advance for the festival. They are available here: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/horn-farm-center/pawpaw-festival
The festival features local vendors, food trucks, plant nurseries, and educational activities.
For a full list of activities, visit hornfarmcenter.org.
Fall Fest at Hueter’s Greenhouses
When: Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 3465 Deininger Road, Springettsbury Township
The business will celebrate the harvest season with food trucks, handmade vendors, live music, photo ops, a bonfire and s’mores, and more, according to its Facebook page.
Pumpkins, fall flowers, hay and other items will be for sale, it states.
For more information, visit the business’s Facebook page.
Oktoberfest at Wyndridge Farm
When: Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6
Where: 885 S. Pleasant Ave., Dallastown, PA
The free event will offer live music, apple decorating, hayrides and a stein holding contest.
For more information, visit wyndridge.com.
National Apple Harvest Festival
When: October 5 and 6; October 12 and 13
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays
Where: South Mountain Fairgrounds, 615 Narrows Road, Menallen Township
Cost: $10 for ages 12 and older; $9 for seniors 60 and older; $9 for military with ID (at gate); and $17 for two-day flex admission for ages 12 and older; children under 12 are free.
Take a drive to the South Mountain Fairgrounds to enjoy entertainment, eat food, go on a hayride and browse through the arts and crafts. It’s a family-friendly event that includes pony rides, a petting zoo and puppet shows.
The festival features all kinds of apple goodies, including butter, cider, jellies and applesauce.
Most of the money raised from the event goes back into the community and to other local, state and national charitable organizations, the website states.
For more information or to buy tickets in advance, visit www.appleharvest.com.
Fall Sip & Savor 2024
When: Saturday, Oct. 12
Hours: 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Downtown York
Take a stroll through downtown York, visiting businesses and sampling craft beverages and food. The tour stops include the Colonial Complex – York History Center and the recently-renovated Yorktowne Hotel.
Proceeds from the ticket sales benefit Downtown York Inc.
For more information, visit downtownyorkpa.com.
Yorktoberfest
When: Saturday, Oct. 12
Hours: Noon to 5 p.m.
Where: York Memorial Park, Vander Avenue
Cost: Ticket prices vary from $11.50 to $79.75
The event allows participants to sample wine and beer while listening to live music.
Twenty to 30 breweries from the area will be participating.
For more information, visit yorktoberfest.com.
Oyster Festival
When: Sunday, Oct. 20
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Colonial Complex, 157 W. Market St. (on Pershing Avenue between Market and Philadelphia streets)
This year marks the York County History Center’s 50th annual oyster festival, which started after an archaeological dig behind the Plough Tavern uncovered oyster shells, according to the website.
Participants can enjoy seafood, including oysters on the half shell and steamed shrimp, as well as desserts, such as York County apple fritters. Local food, beer and wine offerings have been added.
The event includes live music, activities for children, demonstrations and artisan craftsmen.
For more information, visit yorkhistorycenter.org.
New Oxford’s Harvest Day Festival & Parade
When: Saturday, Oct. 26
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: New Oxford Circle, New Oxford
New Oxford is celebrating its 150th birthday this year, and the festival will include an exhibit about the borough’s heritage and history.
The event will include artisans, craft vendors, a children’s area, food and more.
A parade starts at 3 p.m. at New Oxford High School.
For more information, visit newoxford.org.
Dover’s 2nd Annual Fall Food Truck Festival
When: Sunday, Oct. 27
Where: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Brookside Park, 4054 Fox Run Road, Dover Township
This free event will offer more than 10 food trucks, live music as well as a haunted house, according to a Facebook post.
Teresa Boeckel is the trending reporter for the York Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Contact her at [email protected], by phone at 717-771-2031 or on X (formerly known as Twitter) @teresaboeckel.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: 2024 fall festivals in York and Adams counties focus on harvest, fun
