Fall Fun in Albany County
The air is getting crisper, seasonal treats are making their way to restaurant menus, and soon the leaves will turn to bright shades of orange, yellow, and red.
Autumn is right around the corner and Albany County is full of things to do to celebrate the season. Scroll on for fall fun staples in Albany.
Find Fall Foliage
From the turning leaves in the Capital city's Washington Park, to the breath-taking views at the Thacher Park overlook there are countless picture-perfect places to spot some fall foliage in Albany County.
There are also plenty of fall events that are perfect for leaf-peeping. Runners and bikers may enjoy the annual Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon with a tree-lined course providing a beautiful fall foliage backdrop. The tiniest of fall fans can learn about the season's changing leaves during Pine Bush Pups: Fall Leaves and Deciduous Trees at the Pine Bush Preserve. And catching a ride on the CDTA's Nature Bus connects you to some of the top fall foliage spots in the county through Mid-October; don't forget to check their website for a schedule of accompanying events!
Fall Festivals in Albany County
Fall is a popular time for festivals across the entire county, from outdoor music festivals like the Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival and PearlPalooza, to festivals celebrating the harvest season and autumn treats. This fall brings the resurrection of Albany's All-Hallow E'en Festival which first took place in 1904 and 1905. Peruse the festival's webpage, albanyhalloween.com, to find more information and events.
Click through this list to learn more about fall fairs, festivals and special events in Albany County and beyond!
September
- September 9: Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival
- September 9 & September 10: Shaker Heritage Society's Harvest Craft Fair
- September 9 and October 14: Lark Street Twilight Market
- September 13: Hops & Harvest Festival at the Empire State Plaza
- September 16: PearlPalooza 2023
- September 16: Crailo State Historic Site's Harvest Faire
- September 16 and September 17: Capital Apple and Wine Festival
- September 23: Albany Book Festival 2023
- September 23: Five Rivers Fall Festival
- September 24: First Annual Come Sunday Flea Market
- September 27: Oktoberfest at the Empire State Plaza
- September 30: Albany County Fall Fest & 5k on the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
- September 30 & October 1: Buffalo Moon Artisan Fall Market
October
- October 1 through October 31: Discover Albany's All-Hallow E'en Festival
- October 1: Upper Madison Street Fair
- October 1: Albany Vegfest 2023
- October 1: Fall Fest at Pruyn House
- October 11: Empire State Plaza's Harvest Fest
- October 14: Old Stone Fort Museum's Harvest Fair
- October 14: Autumn Fest at Stuyvesant Plaza
- October 20: Bootin' Scootin' Fallalla- Palooza
- October 21: Autumn in the Arboretum
- October 21: The Vintage Roundup
- October 21: 4th Annual Fall Scavenger Hunt at the Ten Broeck Mansion
- October 25 & October 26: Mystic Fair at the Empire State Plaza
- October 29: Family Festival at the Irish American Heritage Museum
November
- November 5: 52nd Annual Festival of Nations
- November 5: Albany Lantern Parade
- November 8: Flannel Fest at the Empire State Plaza
- November 11: Veterans Day Ruck March at the Heldeberg-Hudson Rail Trail
Pick-Your-Own Apples & Pumpkins
Fall is the season for apples and pumpkins! There are plenty of great pick-your-own places and farmstands in Albany County. Have a family fall day and pick your own apples and pumpkins at Stanton's Feura Farm which also features hayrides, a corn maze, and delicious cider doughnuts. Or go ingredient shopping for fall food staples at Kleinke's Farm store stocked with apples, pumpkins, and other fresh produce. Click on the blog link below for a guide to the top pick-your-own farms and farmstand locations in the county!
Explore Albany's Craft Beverage Scene
Fall is the perfect time to sip specialty ciders, wines, beers, meads and more! Albany County has a booming craft beverage scene featuring unique sites such as Nine Pin, the first farm cidery in New York State and Albany Distilling Company the first licensed distillery since Prohibition. Many of the county's craft beverage locations feature seasonal autumn flavors which makes paying them a visit the perfect way to end a fall day.
Check out the Albany County Craft Beverage Trail and the Capital Craft Beverage Trail o explore some of the region's top craft beverage producers!
