Your 2026 Fall Guide: Things to Do in the Lehigh Valley, Poconos + New Jersey

Fall around here gives us plenty of reasons to fill the calendar.

Pumpkin patches, apple picking, corn mazes, harvest festivals, colorful mountain views, cider donuts — you could plan something different almost every weekend of the season without traveling very far.

Whether you’re staying close to home in the Lehigh Valley, heading into the Poconos, or crossing the state line into New Jersey, we rounded up a few fall favorites worth adding to your list.

 

Fall Favorites in the Lehigh Valley

Unangst Tree Farm — Bath, PA

If your ideal fall day includes a little bit of everything, Unangst Tree Farm is an easy one to add to the list.

Pumpkins, corn mazes, hayrides, farm animals, seasonal treats, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy a day outside make it a longtime fall favorite in the Lehigh Valley.

Grim’s Orchard & Family Farms — Breinigsville, PA

For the full fall-festival experience, Grim’s packs plenty into one stop.

Their fall season includes pumpkin and apple picking, an 8-acre corn maze, hayrides, farm activities, photo opportunities, and plenty of seasonal food and treats. Their 2026 Fall Festival runs throughout September and October and into the first weekend of November.

Scholl Orchards — Bethlehem, PA

Not every fall outing needs to involve a huge festival.

Scholl Orchards offers more of that classic neighborhood orchard and farm-market feel right in Bethlehem. The family-run orchard grows apples and other seasonal produce, and their own blend of apples is pressed into cider during the fall and winter months.

It’s a great option for a lower-key fall stop when you want fresh apples, cider, and seasonal favorites without planning an entire day around it.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom — Allentown, PA

For something different from the traditional pumpkin patch, Dorney Park brings its own version of fall fun to Allentown.

Seasonal Halloween events, rides, entertainment, and fall treats make this one to keep in mind when you want an outing with a little more action.

Wehr’s Covered Bridge + Covered Bridge Park — South Whitehall, PA

Sometimes the best fall plan is the simplest one.

Covered Bridge Park sits along Jordan Creek between two historic covered bridges and offers walking paths, picnic areas, the Jordan Creek Greenway Trail, and plenty of scenery to enjoy once the leaves begin changing.

It’s an easy pick for a crisp fall walk, photos, or a slower afternoon outside.

 

Fall Favorites in the Poconos

For our Poconos picks, we’re keeping things centered around the areas our community actually spends time in — including Saylorsburg, Stroudsburg, Lehighton, and Jim Thorpe.

Mazezilla at Klingel’s Farm — Saylorsburg, PA

If a corn maze is a non-negotiable part of fall, start here.

Mazezilla at Klingel’s Farm features an 11-acre corn maze with a new design each season, along with a pumpkin patch, hayrides, barnyard animals, games, photo opportunities, and seasonal food. Their 2026 season runs throughout September and October.

It’s the kind of place where you can easily turn a quick pumpkin stop into a full afternoon.

Quiet Valley Harvest Festival — Stroudsburg, PA

Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm puts a completely different spin on the traditional fall festival.

Their 52nd Annual Harvest Festival takes place October 10–11, 2026 and features heritage crafts, traditional demonstrations, wagon rides, folk entertainment, food, and children’s activities throughout the historic farm.

This is a great one if you want your fall outing to include a little history along with the seasonal fun.

Kettle Creek Fall Festival — Stroudsburg, PA

For a fall evening instead of an afternoon at the farm, Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center is hosting its Friday Night Fall Festival on October 9, 2026.

The family-friendly event focuses on the fall season and nocturnal wildlife, with activities followed by a night hike and s’mores around the campfire. Costumes are encouraged, too.

Great Pocono Pumpkin Festival at Country Junction — Lehighton, PA

Country Junction goes all-in for pumpkin season.

The Great Pocono Pumpkin Festival returns September 26 through October 25, 2026, making it an easy addition to a fall weekend around Lehighton or the surrounding Pocono area.

Pair the festival with everything else Country Junction has to explore and you have plenty to fill an afternoon.

Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival — Jim Thorpe, PA

Jim Thorpe is already one of the area’s best-known destinations for fall foliage, and festival weekends give you even more reason to make the trip.

Spend the day taking in the changing leaves, exploring downtown, browsing vendors, listening to live music, grabbing something to eat, and enjoying everything that makes Jim Thorpe especially popular during fall.

If peak foliage is the main event for you, this one deserves a spot on the calendar.

 

Fall Favorites in New Jersey

For the New Jersey side of the guide, we’re sticking with western and northwestern New Jersey so these still make sense as day trips from the Lehigh Valley.

Donaldson Farms — Hackettstown, NJ

Donaldson Farms has all the ingredients for a classic fall day.

Their 2026 fall season includes pick-your-own pumpkins, a corn maze, hayrides, seasonal food, vendors, and other activities during Fall Harvest Weekends.

It’s an easy option for families, couples, or anyone looking for the traditional pumpkin-patch experience.

Ort Farms — Long Valley, NJ

Ort Farms is another one where it’s easy to spend more time than you planned.

Fall brings apple picking, pumpkin picking, tractor-pulled hayrides, a 5-acre corn maze, farm activities, and plenty of seasonal fun.

Add in the farm market, homemade ice cream, and animals, and there’s something for just about everyone in the group.

Alstede Farms — Chester, NJ

If you want the activity-packed version of a fall farm day, Alstede Farms is one to consider.

Their fall experiences include pick-your-own crops, pumpkins, a corn maze, scenic hay wagon rides, farm attractions, and seasonal food and treats.

This is one worth planning ahead for, especially during peak fall weekends.

West Portal Pumpkin Patch — Asbury, NJ

For something that feels a little more like the traditional pumpkin-patch experience, West Portal is another western New Jersey option to keep on your radar.

Make a day of pumpkin picking, fall scenery, and a slower-paced trip out to the farm before heading home.

 

Your Fall Weekends, Planned

One of the best parts about fall in the Lehigh Valley, Poconos, and western New Jersey is that you really don’t have to go far to make a day out of it.

Get lost in a corn maze. Pick pumpkins or apples. Spend the afternoon at a harvest festival. Chase peak foliage through the mountains. Or keep it simple with a scenic walk, cider, and somewhere good to eat afterward.

Whatever kind of fall day you’re looking for, there’s plenty happening right in our backyard.

Save this guide for the next time the group chat asks, “What should we do this weekend?”

 

Before you go: Fall hours, crop availability, activities, tickets, and weather policies can change throughout the season. We always recommend checking directly with each destination before heading out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2026 Fall Activities by Choice Group Sells by Kelly Houston
Local realtors delivering a top-tier experience throughout the Lehigh Valley, Poconos, and New Jersey
Cell 484-893-4518 | Office 610-867-8888