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14 Charming Ways to Celebrate Fall in a Small Town

Byroushkaylak

It’s officially October (and hard to think it’s more than halfway gone!), which means fall has set in here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and there are so many reasons to enjoy this season. For the most part, the weather has been wonderful and the colors on the trees are beyond gorgeous. There has been incredible fall foliage this year and the weather has been nice and cool. One of the great things about living in Pennsylvania is all of the small towns that make up this amazing state. Another great thing is the state truly embodies fall, between the food, activities, and foliage, we’ve got more than you could ever want. Join me as I show you 14 charming ways to celebrate fall in small town Pennsylvania.

A blessing of living in Lancaster County is there is never a shortage of fun fall activities. We are surrounded by farms, many of which sell beautiful decorations and also host a slew of farm festivities. We also have a great restaurant scene which boasts some delicious, local food that you don’t want to miss! Check out some of my favorite fall activities to do in small town Pennsylvania.

1. Farm festivities

This is probably a favorite amongst small town residents and visitors. Farm festivities usually include corn mazes, hayrides, visiting a pumpkin patch, picking out fall decorations, delicious treats, and some other activities like taking photos in the pumpkin patch or near cute animals, pumpkin chunkin’, tractor pulls, or playing games. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, there is no shortage of farms that host fall festivities, and people of all ages flock to spend a few hours basking in glorious fall bliss. Some great farms to visit include Elizabeth Farms in Lititz, Cherry Crest Farm in Ronks, Oregon Dairy in Lititz, The Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, and Corn Cob Acres in Mountville.

Ticket prices range from $7.00 – $23.00, depending on the location you choose. Locations like Elizabeth Farms and The Amish Farm and House charge less but also have fewer activities. While Cherry Crest is the most expensive option at $23.00, they have many different activities that will keep both kiddos and adults busy for hours!

2. Walk the adorable small town streets and window shop!

Lancaster County is mostly known for its Amish community and sprawling farmland; however, Lancaster County is home to some adorable small towns. For instance, my hometown of Elizabethtown is known for being home to Elizabethtown College and the M&M Mars factory that makes delicious candy. It’s got a very charming downtown area with niche shops. Another close-by town is Manheim, which hosts the annual Santa Run in December. It’s an up and coming town that’s becoming more appealing each year. Two other very quaint and adorable small towns in the nearby area are Ephrata and Lititz. Lititz was voted the Coolest Small Town in America a few years back and it doesn’t disappoint! It hosts events like the Fire and Ice Festival as well as the annual Chocolate Walk and 4th of July celebration.

Other fun, small towns include Bird-in-Hand, East Earl (famous for Shady Maple!), Strasburg, Marietta, and Intercourse (Yes, that truly is the name of the town).

3. Grab a fall-flavored coffee

For some reason, Lancaster County has an abundance of coffee shops, and boy do they know good coffee! You can probably find one in every small town in Lancaster County. If not, there will definitely be one in the next town over! Everyone has different coffee preferences, but something fun is many of the coffee shops promote yummy fall-flavored beverages. Some might be as traditional as a pumpkin spice latte or frozen hot chocolate. Others offer more unique flavors like maple or lavender. Two coffee shops in my hometown of Elizabethtown (EVO 206 and Folklore) both offer yummy drinks as well as a fun atmosphere! In Mount Joy, Idea Coffee and The Copper Cup offer great options. Ephrata boasts houses fun coffee shops like Stonehouse Café, Cocalico Coffee Crafters, and Griddle & Grind (which is also known for their delicious crepes).

Beyond these three towns, some other fun small town coffee shops include Corner Coffee in Intercourse (across from Kitchen Kettle Village), New Holland Coffee (The shop is one of the prettiest I’ve ever been to!), The Speckled Hen in Strasburg, and Café Arabella in Lititz (this one is about as quaint as you can get!)

4. Photo shoot in a local park or town square

If you love a good photo shoot, head out to some beautiful spots in small Pennsylvania towns. From parks to town squares to town green spaces, there are plenty in the area, fit with beautiful trees and adorable shops. Some even are lined with brick or cobblestone, adding to the historic appeal many of these towns already offer.

If you’re looking for quaint town squares and streets, check out Strasburg, Lititz, Ephrata, Marietta, Maytown. In Elizabethtown, Masonic Village offers gorgeous scenery and nature to take beautiful pictures in, and in Lititz, Lititz Springs Park boasts one of the prettiest parks in Lancaster County.

5. Run a fall-themed 5k

Running in the fall in a small town is a lot of fun for many reasons: The weather is cooler, you get to see some beautiful scenery, and you receive the help of friendly locals! While not technically in the fall, the Bird-in-Hand Half-Marathon and 5K happens at the tail-end of summer. The race takes place throughout the gorgeous farmland in the area and local Amish members help to pass out water and encouragement as runners pass by.

Other fun races throughout small towns in Lancaster County, PA include Oregon Dairy’s Corn Pickin’ 5k, the Haunted 5k in Akron, as well as the Haunted 5k & 10k in Manheim, the Zombie Fun Run at Field of Screams in Mountville, the Great Turkey Chase on Thanksgiving morning in Elizabethtown, and the annual Pretzel Twist Race in Lititz.

6. Eat some delicious small town food

One of the largest draws of small towns in the unique food options restaurants offer, and there are a lot! While many have a similar type of menu, here are some historic, unique, and/or cozy restaurants to check out to increase the fall vibes.

  • Shady Maple Smorgasbord, East Earl, PA
  • Whisk Cafe, Elizabethtown, PA
  • Bube’s Brewery, Mount Joy, PA
  • Bulls Head Public House, Lititz, PA
  • McCleary’s Public House, Marietta, PA
  • Miller’s Smorgasbord, Ronks, PA
  • Shank’s Tavern, Marietta, PA
  • The Log Cabin, Lititz, PA
  • Kountry Korner Drive-In, Reinholds, PA
  • Loxley’s, Lancaster, PA
  • The Pantry, Lancaster, PA
  • TJ Rockwells, Elizabethtown, PA
  • Hennigan’s Restaurant and Bar, Mount Joy, PA
  • Reflections, Leola, PA
  • Lititz Family Cupboard, Lititz, PA
  • Brickerville House, Lititz, PA
  • Olde Lincoln House, Ephrata, PA
  • John Wright Restaurant, Columbia, PA
  • Tomato Pie Café, Lititz, PA

7. Go for a hike or hit a local trail

While Lancaster County has beautiful farmland, it’s also got beautiful forests and mountains, and there is some amazing hiking to do in the local area. Trout Run Nature Preserve is tucked back in the forested area near Quarryville and surrounded by gorgeous trees, streams, rock, and farmland. Chickies Rock Park spans two local townships and also provides an overlook with a gazebo that looks out over the Susquehanna River. Lancaster County Central Park offers many different hiking trails that run across fields, through woods, and along creeks. You’ll also want to check out the Theodore A. Parker III Natural Area, a 100-acre park located in Quarryville.

8. Attend a fair or festival

There’s nothing like small town charm and that includes attending a fair or festival! While most fairs take place during the summer month, there are some that go into the fall months. The Ephrata Fair is the largest street fair in Pennsylvania and is a great way to begin the fall season. There are tons of activities and lots of delicious foods. The Denver Fair and Solanco Fair are also both popular events that occur at the beginning of Fall.

Some fun fall festivals you may want to check out are Fall Farm Days at the Amish Farm and House, FallFest at Nissley Vineyard in Bainbridge, Old Fashioned Days in Bainbridge, Boo Bash at Kitchen Kettle Village, and Harvest Days at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster.

9. Get spooked at some haunted attractions

You might not think of haunted attractions when you hear “Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,” but Lancaster County actually is home to two of the nation’s most popular haunted attractions. Field of Screams has been rated highly by USA Today, Time Magazine, and the Travel Channel. With so many small towns around, it’s almost surprising this attractions exists, but it’s incredibly popular and people from all over the country come to visit it. It features a variety of frightening activities that will potentially scare the pants off of you!

Another haunted attraction that’s also been ranked rather well is Jason’s Woods in Lancaster. The venue is known for its haunted hayride and Lost Trail. Some other haunted-esque activities include the Strasburg Ghost Tour, Murder Mysteries at haunted Bube’s Brewery in Mount Joy, and Historic Rock Ford Plantation in Lancaster, which hosts multiple events to help you get your paranormal fix.

10. Visit a small town Pennsylvania farmers’ market

Here in Lancaster County, we are one of the agricultural capitals of the United States! There are many small towns which not only have farmers’ markets, but also have roadside stands fit with homemade root beer, meadow tea, baked goods, fresh produce, and beautiful flowers. My favorite is Masonic Village Farm Market, in my hometown. They also offer apple picking, which draws plenty of crowds. Another local favorite is Roots Market in Manheim. There, you can find all kinds of small town goodies like pretzels, whoopie pies, deli meats, produce, handcrafted goods, furniture, home décor, and clothing among many others. They even hold an auction that usually lasts for a few hours. Better plenty now though, because they are only open on Tuesdays. Similar to Roots is the Green Dragon in Ephrata, also only open one day a week on Fridays. You can also find flowers and antiques.

Some other farmers’ markets and roadside stands you should check out include Lapp’s Farm Market in Lancaster, Kauffman’s Fruit & Farm Market in Bird-in-Hand (you’ve gotta try their apple cider and cider donuts), Old Heritage Root Beer in Ronks, Hoover’s Farm Market in Lititz, Reiff’s Farm Market in Ephrata, Village Farm Market in Ephrata, Creekside Farm Market in Manheim, and Red Hill Farm Market between Bainbridge and Middletown. Check out Discover Lancaster’s great list of even more farmers’ markets, produce and roadside stands.

11. Go for a drive to see the fall foliage and other scenery

Also lovingly known as “Amish Country,” Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is home to some of the most beautiful and fertile farmland in the country. It also is considered one of the prettiest states for fall foliage. Pair both of those with historic covered bridges and you’ve got a recipe for a perfect Sunday drive. Check out this fun route that runs all over Lancaster County, spanning more than 100 miles of beauty. Make sure you stop in at some good restaurants and roadside stands along the way!

12. Attend a football game

Ah, what’s better than attending a high school football game on a Friday in a small, rural town? Not much at all. Even better if you grab some local grub before or after the game. From my apartment, which is only half a mile from our local high school and football stadium, I can hear the band play and the announcer make calls. It’s pretty cool. Watching it in person is even better. The band. The team. The cheerleader. The very colorful fans. The moms selling crockpot hot dogs. It all makes for such a fun experience.

While it’s not technically in Lancaster County, attending a Penn State football game is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. State College, Pennsylvania is technically considered a small town since its population is under 40,000. While my future husband taught ROTC for two years at Penn State, State College became like a second home to me. I got to attend three games last year (2022) and each time was such a blast! Tickets can be expensive, but honestly if you’ve never gone, it’s worth it for the experience, even just once.

13. Try an adult fall beverage at a local bar or brewery

I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of most Pennsylvania wine, but in Lancaster County, our small towns have some pretty great breweries. The top two on my list are actually located in a neighboring county (Dauphin) and both are situated in another small town called Hummelstown. Englewood Brewing not only has good beer, they also make wood fire oven pizzas and put on some great shows. You MUST try the gigantic pretzel. Rubber Soul Brewing is about five minutes away and doesn’t disappoint either! Funck Brewing and Moo-Duck in Elizabethtown are both popular spots for locals to enjoy. Both are part of the Lancaster County Brewers Guild. You can check out the full list of breweries here.

14. Gaze in awe at the architecture

Something to know about many of these small towns in Lancaster County is that pretty much all of them are old. Like, really old. I’m talking 200+ years old. There are some gorgeous buildings ranging in a variety of architectural styles from Georgian to Colonial, Federal to Classic Revival, Queen Ann to Beaux Arts.

There are some pretty interesting sites to visit, such as the Hans Herr House, which is the oldest house in Lancaster County. One of our many claims to fame is Wheatland, the home of the 15th president James Buchanan. Each year the mansion decorates and hosts a beautiful event called Yuletide to help get you in the Christmas spirit. A fascinating place visit and an absolute must-see is the Ephrata Cloister, which has a rich and somewhat strange history and you will learn a lot when you visit. Head on over to historic Marietta and step inside the Union Meeting House for a haunted evening (and it’s free!). Finally, make your way to Masonic Village to check out the historic buildings that were built 120 years ago.

If you’ve got a few days to spend, you will definitely want to be in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania small towns enjoying all that fall has to offer. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

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