Fall Events Worth Traveling For: Plan a Getaway Around the Season’s Best Festivals
Fall brings more than cooler temperatures and changing leaves. Across the country, destinations come alive with festivals, live music, food celebrations, sporting events, arts experiences and local traditions that can turn an ordinary weekend away into a trip worth remembering.
Whether you want to raise a stein at Oktoberfest, watch hot air balloons float over the mountains, spend a weekend listening to live music or experience a one-of-a-kind cultural event, there’s still plenty of time to plan a fall getaway.
Here are some of the season’s events worth putting on your travel calendar.
Classic Fall Festivals and Seasonal Fun
Pirates of the High Seas & Renaissance Fest | Panama City Beach, Florida
October 9–11
Pirates take over Panama City Beach for a weekend filled with parades, treasure hunts, fireworks and swashbuckling fun. Add beautiful Gulf Coast weather and plenty of time by the water, and it’s an easy excuse for a fall beach getaway.
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Oktoberfest Tampa | Tampa, Florida
October 9–11
German food, cold drinks, live entertainment and traditional Oktoberfest festivities take over Tampa for one of the city’s favorite fall celebrations. Make a weekend of it and leave time to explore everything else Tampa Bay has to offer.
Carolina Renaissance Festival | Charlotte, North Carolina
Weekends October 3–November 22
Travel back in time with jousting knights, artisan markets, costumed characters, live entertainment and plenty of medieval merriment. With festivities happening throughout the fall, there are plenty of weekends to plan a Charlotte-area escape.
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Monster Pumpkin Festival | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
October 17–18
Fall gets supersized in Pittsburgh with gigantic pumpkins, creative displays and seasonal festivities. It’s a fun addition to a weekend spent exploring the city during one of the prettiest times of year.
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Halloween in Orlando | Orlando, Florida
Throughout October
Few destinations celebrate Halloween quite like Orlando. Theme parks and attractions offer everything from family-friendly festivities to haunted experiences and after-dark thrills throughout the month.
Fall Festivals With a Taste of the Season
Destin Seafood Festival | Destin, Florida
September 25–27
Fresh Gulf seafood meets harborfront views during one of Destin’s signature fall events. Sample local flavors, enjoy waterfront entertainment and experience the destination’s famous fishing culture along the harbor.
National Shrimp Festival | Gulf Shores, Alabama
October 8–11
Fresh Gulf shrimp, live entertainment, arts and crafts and beachside energy make the National Shrimp Festival a favorite fall tradition on the Alabama coast.
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Bayfest | Anna Maria Island, Florida
October 17
Spend the day enjoying local food, live music and laid-back island atmosphere during this annual celebration in the heart of Anna Maria Island. It’s Old Florida charm with a side of fall festival fun.
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Sunfest | Ocean City, Maryland
October 22–25
Oceanfront views, food, artisan vendors and live entertainment come together for one of Ocean City’s favorite annual events. Cooler temperatures make it a great time to experience the beach beyond peak summer.
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Food & Wine Classic | Charleston, South Carolina
November 13–15
Charleston is already a destination for food lovers, and this culinary weekend gives travelers another reason to visit. Celebrated chefs, wine experiences and Lowcountry flavors take center stage.
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Mountain Views, Oktoberfests and Harvest Celebrations
Snowmass Balloon Festival | Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
September 25–27
More than 30 colorful hot air balloons rise above Snowmass Village during this spectacular mountain tradition. Crisp air, fall scenery and the Colorado mountains create an unforgettable backdrop.
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Orchard & Ale Festival | Hood River, Oregon
October 3
Celebrate fall in the Columbia River Gorge with fresh-hop beers, local ciders, live music and beautiful scenery. Hood River makes it easy to pair festival fun with outdoor adventure.
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Snowbird Oktoberfest | Salt Lake City, Utah
Through October 11
Take Oktoberfest to the mountains at Snowbird, where traditional festivities come with tram rides and sweeping alpine views.
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Harvest Festival & Apple Palooza | Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
October 17
Fresh local flavors, family-friendly activities and beautiful lake and mountain scenery make Coeur d’Alene an especially inviting fall destination.
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Big Fall Weekends in the City
Nashville Oktoberfest | Nashville, Tennessee
October 1–4
Music City puts its own spin on Oktoberfest with four days of German food, drinks, live music, contests and festivities. Stay for the weekend and add Nashville’s restaurants, nightlife and live music scene to the itinerary.
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Candler Park Fall Fest | Atlanta, Georgia
October 3–4
Live music, local art, food and neighborhood charm make Candler Park Fall Fest a great reason to spend a fall weekend in Atlanta.
Austin City Limits Music Festival | Austin, Texas
October 2–4 & October 9–11
More than 100 performances across multiple stages bring two weekends of music to Zilker Park. Between sets, visitors can experience the food, nightlife and personality that make Austin a destination year-round.
Muertos Fest | San Antonio, Texas
October 23–25
Experience Día de los Muertos through vibrant altars, processions, live music, art and meaningful traditions at Hemisfair. It’s a colorful celebration of culture and community in the heart of San Antonio.
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One-of-a-Kind Fall Experiences
Modernism Week | Palm Springs, California
October 15–18
Architecture and design lovers can explore Palm Springs’ iconic midcentury style through home tours, art, architecture and vintage design experiences.
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Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience | Seattle, Washington
October 15–18
Discover Seattle’s celebrated glass-art scene through live demonstrations, exhibitions, studio visits and artist experiences throughout the city.
Sanding Ovations Master’s Cup | Treasure Island, Florida
November 19–22
Treasure Island Beach becomes an outdoor gallery as master sculptors transform sand into elaborate works of art. Pair the event with a few extra days enjoying Florida’s Gulf Coast.
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Getaways Worth Cheering For
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show | Fort Lauderdale, Florida
October 28–November 1
Explore impressive yachts, marine innovations and waterfront experiences during one of the biggest events of its kind. When you’re finished exploring the docks, Fort Lauderdale’s beaches, restaurants and waterways are waiting.
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Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Weekend | Scottsdale, Arizona
November 7–8
See some of baseball’s top rising talent take the field during a weekend featuring the Home Run Derby and Fall Stars Game at Salt River Fields.
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The RSM Classic | Golden Isles, Georgia
November 16–22
Watch professional golf on the Georgia coast as the PGA TOUR returns to Sea Island Golf Club for The RSM Classic. The event pairs championship golf with the relaxed atmosphere and coastal scenery of the Golden Isles.
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Turn the Event Into a Getaway
Sometimes the best trips start with one event on the calendar. Come for the festival, concert, tournament or celebration, then stay a little longer to explore everything the destination has to offer.
With professionally managed vacation rentals in more than 100 destinations, iTrip makes it easy to find a comfortable home base close to the experiences you want to see.
Explore iTrip destinations and start planning your fall getaway.