We know, we know. It’s hard to believe that fall is right around the corner. But we’re already looking ahead to some of the best fall family fun that Indianapolis has to offer.
Here are the top 12 fall events near Indianapolis you’ll want on your calendar!
Related Article: Fall Fun Bucket List Ideas in Indianapolis
1. Harvest Festival
September 11 – October 24, Saturday-Sundays only | Stuckey Farm
Our Harvest Festival runs each Saturday and Sunday from September 11th through October 24th. Each weekend we have a special theme. Come one weekend or come all weekends. Admission is just $14.50 per person (under 2 free) for all day which includes free parking, unlimited wagon rides throughout the farm, an 8 acre corn maze, Adventure Acres, which has a 60-foot slide, pedal cars, a barrel train, kid’s size games and corn maze, and much more. Address: 19975 Hamilton Boone Rd, Sheridan
2. Fall Fun at Lark Ranch
September 21 – October 30, Weekends; Check location for hours
Two Locations: Loogootee & Greenfield
Lark Ranch is full of fun, fall activities for everyone in your family. Whether you’re young or old there is something exciting for everyone. A highlight for everyone will be the mile-long family train ride. With seating for over 80 guests, there is plenty of room for you and your family to climb aboard one of their custom-made trains. You won’t find a ride like this anywhere else!
3. Apple Festival & Craft Fair
September 25 – 26, 8 am – 8 pm | Anderson Orchard
Fall is synonymous with apples and orchards, and there’s no better time to visit this Mooresville orchard than during the Apple Festival & Craft Fair. Pick your own apples (or grab a bag of already-picked Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Red Delicious, and other apple favorites), visit the pumpkin patch, sip on an apple cider slushy or indulge in a slice of apple cobbler, browse the 50+ craft stands and much more.
4. Fall Festivals at Beasley’s Orchard
September 25 – October 31 | Beasley’s Orchard
Celebrating the fall harvest with some fall family fun! Activities include an 8-acre corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, apple cannons, barnyard bonanza, straw mountain, yard games, delicious food, entertainment, and more! Additional activities include u-pick apples and u-pick pumpkins. Activities are available EVERY DAY from Sept 25 through October 31. Weekdays offer all of our fall activities at a discounted admission price. Prices range from $9-$12 per person. Address: 2304 E Main Street, Danville, IN
5. Harvest at Newfields
October 2-31, Friday – Sunday 11 am – 5 pm | Newfields
Harvest presented by JPMorgan Chase at Newfields is back with a month-long celebration and our favorite spooky experience, Harvest Nights. This nightly ticketed event features thousands of endless glowing pumpkins along a hidden path at Newfields. The spooky (not scary) outdoor walking experience guides guests around twists and turns of the enchanted forest, an eerie ghost train and a grand-finale at Mischief Manor on the Lilly Allee. Ghosts and friends alike can enjoy festive fall beverages and light snacks as they wander amongst glowing jack-o-lanterns. Tickets are $5/members or $20/public if you purchase your tickets online, on-site they are $10/members $25/public. and Address: 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis.
6. Potter’s Bridge Park
October 2, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm | Potter’s Bridge Park
Enjoy a special autumn day at Potter’s Bridge Park during the 21st Annual Potter’s Bridge Fall Festival. Listen to live music, visit the more than seventy arts, crafts, and food booths, or simply take in the natural beauty of Noblesville’s most scenic park on the White River Greenway Trail. Free. Address: 19401 N Allisonville Rd, Noblesville
7. The Headless Horseman at Conner Prairie
October 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-30 | Conner Prairie
This fall festival is full of activities, shows and spooktacular family fun. Take an adventure on Conner Prairie’s haunted hayride where you’ll get chased down by the Headless Horseman! Address: 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers
8. The Original and Fabulous GermanFest
October 9 from 12-7 pm | Athenaeum grounds
GermanFest is back and better than ever! Join us this Oktober as we take Indy’s Biggest Haus Party to the streets! Don your Lederhosen and bring the Kinder to celebrate Indiana’s biggest and best German heritage festival! There’s something for everyone to enjoy, including all of your favorite GermanFest classics!We’re bringing the party – the games, the music, the races, and of course, das Bier! All you have to bring is yourself and your German spirit! Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 5-17. Address: The Athenaeum. 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis
9. Frightful Frontier Haunted House
October 9-31 | The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Round up the cowpokes and saddle up for a spook-tacular ride through the Frightful Frontier, The Children’s Museum Guild’s 57th Annual Haunted House. Chaos ensues once you board the last train to Tombtown, where goblins and monsters roam the wicked west! The Haunted House offers AES Indiana’s Lights-On Hours (for children who scare easily) and AAA Insurance’s Frightening Hours (with the lights off, for children who dare to be scared). $9/person, museum members receive a 10% discount. Address: 3000 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis
10. Boo Bash with Fishers Parks and Recreation
October 30 from 10 am-1 pm | Nickel Plate District
Join the fun on Saturday, October 30, 10 am. to 1 pm. at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater! Boo Bash makes its return to the AMP with more than 50 local vendors offering safe trick-or-treating around the Fishers Municipal Complex, Teal Pumpkin Project booths providing non-food items for children with food allergies and special needs, a display of community-carved jack-o-lanterns, live music, food, games, and more! Wearing costumes is encouraged for all participants. Best of all – it’s FREE. Address: 6 Municipal Dr, Fishers
LOOKING FOR MORE FUN ACTIVITIES? Check out these free festivals around Indianapolis
11. Historic Irvington Halloween Festival
October 26-30
This annual festival and its associated events are designed to bring commerce to local business and sponsors and provide fun for the children of Irvington and Indianapolis. The celebration now includes a week of events including a 5-mile run, music, Halloween-themed movies, storytelling, ghost tours, live theater, masquerade ball, a haunted puppet show and dozens of other events.
12. ZooBoo at the Indianapolis Zoo
October 6-31, Wednesday – Sunday, from 2:00- 7:00 pm *open until 9 pm on Friday and Saturdays | The Indianapolis Zoo
ZooBoo is always a fun family experience for itty-bitty ghouls and goblins, as well as the bigger kids. October weather means active animals, colorful foliage and a new season to explore. Combine that with engaging, hands-free activities, spooktacular costumes and trick-or-treating — plus, the chance to boogie-woogie to a live DJ — and you’ve got an unforgettable family tradition. The Bicentennial Pavilion is home to a whimsical village with adorable cats, fancy rats and Mayor Jack who keeps guests on their toes with his boo-worthy jokes! One of our most popular areas, we’ll be monitoring attendance in this area to ensure guests have space for social distancing. Address: 1200 West Washington St. Indianapolis.
