Best Fall Festivals In The US For 2017

Fall is in full swing. Cooler weather brings out boots and scarves. The leaves change, and the birds fly south. Some people turn on the heat and pull the blankets out of storage. Others cook chili and drink hot cocoa. Harvest festivals are a great way to celebrate the season. From cider festivals to Oktoberfests to pumpkin patch visits, these are some of the best in the U.S.

Checkout The Truly Unique Fall Festivals In 2017

Trailing Of The Sheep Festival

Idaho is second only to Sydney, Australia in sheep ranching. In 1997 the Wood River Valley began hosting a festival to honor this tradition that started in the 1860s. With a sheep population almost as large as the human one, sheep ranching is something to be celebrated. The goals of the festival are to preserve the history, celebrate the culture, and entertain and educate people about the sustainability of sheep ranching.

Five days of nonstop family events bring upwards of 26,000 people from 36 states. Featuring multicultural performers, storytelling, culinary events, championship sheepdog trials, and a big sheep parade, the Trailing of the Sheep festival has an economic impact of an estimated $4.5 million.

As a part of their annual migration to winter pastures, visitors can watch 1500 sheep parade down Main Street in Ketchum, Idaho. The parade is sponsored by third generation sheep farmer John Faulkner and highlights historic sheep wagons. To conclude the festivities, visitors are invited to follow the sheep as they move to their winter home.

Adirondack Balloon Festival

Celebrating 45 years in 2017, the Adirondack Balloon Festival in Glen Falls, New York brings balloon pilots from around the world. A musical performance and flight of twenty hot air balloons kick off the four-day festival, followed by the launch of eighty balloons, a flight of shaped balloons, and a moonglow display of balloons in the dark!

Meant to honor the beauty of hot air balloons, the festival features a pancake breakfast, food vendors, crafts, and more balloon flights than you can count.

Autumn At The Arboretum

Named one of America’s best pumpkin festivals by Fodor’s Travel and one of the world’s 15 most breathtaking gardens by Architectural Digest, Autumn at the Arboretum is Dallas’s favorite fall tradition. This year’s theme highlights The Wonderful World of Oz and features 4500 Chrysanthemums, 150,000 fall blooming plants, and 90,000 pumpkins, squash, and gourds. Guests can travel through Pumpkin Village on the Yellow Brick Road, experiencing all of Dorothy’s adventures. Children will enjoy the Children’s Adventure Garden and a hay bale maze.

The event runs through November 22 and features everyday historical tours, weekly beer tastings, live music, and pumpkins for purchase. It is fun for the whole family, one of a kind, and something you do not want to miss.

North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival

Nothing is as quintessentially southern as pecan pie, and every year, in Whiteville, North Carolina, the Pecan Harvest Festival to prove it. Join thousands of southerners as they celebrate pecan harvesting season, which is just another excuse to eat pie and learn about growing pecans as a commercial pursuit.

With a pecan run, a car show, and a cooking contest, there’s no better way to gather with your friends and show off your pecan recipe. While the adults may enjoy touring some traditional southern homes, the children will get up close and personal with animals of all kinds while they learn about natural sciences in a hands-on exhibit. Lunch with the pecan queen and a parade will round out your day at the most deliciously southern festival of all.

Celebrate Fall

As we watch the old fall away to make room for the new, there are many people around the country doing the same. As we share this season together, let’s celebrate the beautiful economic productivity that comes along with it. Fall represents the harvest, which feeds our bellies and warms our hearts. It fosters a sense of community and allows us to reflect on an incredible summer while we build excitement for what comes next. If you can’t make it out of town this season, check out some of the ways you can make fall fun at home. How will you celebrate?

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