FOX59/CBS4's guide to fun fall activities in central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS - Fall has arrived in central Indiana, as the Midwest marked the meteorological turning of the seasons on Sept. 1.




Now that pumpkin patches, apple orchards and farms are beginning to open up for the fall, FOX59/CBS4 has you covered with complete guides to the best fall events and attractions central Indiana has to offer.




Check out our map of the area's best pumpkin patches, apple orchards and tree farms below:








Looking for even more fall fun in central Indiana? We've compiled a by-county list of the top fall events in the area, ensuring you're able to find something to enjoy near your neighborhood:

Marion County

• ZooBoo at Indy Zoo
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 24-Nov.2
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Indianapolis Zoo (1200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: A signature fall event in the Indianapolis area, ZooBoo at the Indianapolis Zoo features a "Trick-or-Treat Trail," a "Spook-Tack-Ular Train Ride" and "Mirror Maze." ZooBoo also boasts a "Foodie Trail" and an "Adult Trick-or-Treat Trail," where free alcohol samples will be available. An elephant pumpkin smash and the "Scarecrow Photo Safari" are also among ZooBoo's most notable attractions.
  
  
  
  

• Harvest Nights at Newfields
  
  
  
  • Date: Sept. 26-Nov. 2
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Newfields (4000 N. Michigan Rd., Indianapolis)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Newfields describes Harvest Nights as a "spooky, not scary, spectacle in The Garden at Newfields. Harvest Nights boasts ten of thousands of pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. Fifty "larger-than-life, handmade mushrooms by Kara Kent and artists from Expo Design" will make up the "Fungi Forest," which is newest addition to Harvest Nights at Newfields.
  
  
  
  

• Locally made: Indy's Fall Fest
  
  
  
  • Date: Oct. 8
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Indy Art Center (820 E 67th St., Indianapolis)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Event organizers call Indy's Fall Fest "a lively afternoon filled with art, food and fall fun." Hands-on art activities, displays from more than 60 local and regional artists and other artisanal goods will be available for patrons to view and participate in. Local food trucks and wine vendors will also be set up at the events. Pumpkin painting and make-it-take-it projects are also listed among the event's attractions.
  
  
  
  

• Indianapolis GermanFest at Anthenaeum
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 4-17
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Multiple Marion County desitinations
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Indianapolis GermanFest boasts arts and crafts events, Durstig games, live wiener dog races, traditional food and beverages and a Kinderland kids area. Stein-holding and sausage-eating competitions are also hallmarks of the event.
  
  
  
  

• Irvington Halloween Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 18-25
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: East Washington Street and South Audubon Road in Irvington
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Since 1927, Halloween festivals have been held on Irvington's historic streets. The original Irvington Halloween Festival was a one-night event. The event has since expanded to a weeklong extravaganza. This year's Irvington Halloween Festival will feature a wellness fair, Halloween ball, blood drive, spooky organ concert, art auction, horror shorts movie night, parade, zombie bike ride, vampire run and more.
  
  
  
  

• Pike Township Trustee's Office Fall Fest
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 20
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Pike Government Building Parking Lot (5665 N. Lafayette Rd., Indianapolis)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: The Pike Township Trustee's Office Fall Fest will feature food trucks, bounce houses, face painters and clothing giveaways this year. Representatives from community resource groups will also be in attendance at the festival. The Pike Township Trustee's Office indicated that fire trucks "and other cool vehicles" will make appearances at the event as well.
  
  
  
  

Hendricks County

• Beasley's Orchard Festivals
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 20-21, Sept. 27-28, Oct. 4-5, Oct. 11-12, Oct. 18-19, Oct. 25-26, Nov. 1-2
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: 2304 E. Main St., Danville
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Beasley's Orchard in Danville hosts multiple festivals during the fall, most of which have different themes. This year's themes are hometown heroes, dog days at the maze, Halloweekend and Dia De Los Muertos. Beasley's Orchard also has a standalone Heartland Apple Festival, which features puppet shows, balloon magic and face painting. This year's Heartland Apple Festival is the 39th iteration of the event at Beasley's Orchard.
  
  
  
  

Hamilton County

• Conner Prairie Headless Horseman Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 2-26
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Conner Prairie (13400 Allisonville Rd., Fishers)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: The Headless Horseman Festival at Conner Prairie has something for everyone, including a "Trail of Terror" scary maze, "Eerie Illusions" magic show, live music, barrel train rides through a musical pumpkin patch and a "Perilous Plunge" down a dry tubing hill. Food and drink options will also be available at the event at its Apple Store and Sleepy Hollow Tavern. The event will also feature Sun King's exclusive Headless Horseman beer.
  
  
  
  

• Atlanta New Earth Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 27-28
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Main Street, Atlanta
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: According to event organizers, the Atlanta New Earth Festival has been known to draw crowds to 80,000 to 100,000 visitors each year. Food trucks and craft vendors are staples of the event. Local farmers and greenhouses also sell canned and fresh-baked goods during the festival. Other businesses sell boutique clothing, indoor/outdoor decor and jewelry. Live music, antique tractor displays and rides on the historic Nickel Plate Express are also among the event's hallmarks.
  
  
  
  

• Potter's Bridge Fall Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 4
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Potter's Bridge Park (19401 N. Allisonville Rd., Noblesville)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: The Potter's Bridge Fall Festival boasts more than 40 arts and crafts booths, a climbing wall, food and live music. Event organizers indicated that "exhibitor" booths will also be set up during the event.
  
  
  
  

• Indianapolis Colts Fall Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 18
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Russell Farms (12290 E. 191st St., Noblesville)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: The Colts are hosting two fall fests this year, and one of them will be Russell Farms in Noblesville. The Colts indicated that the events will offer "special autumn season entertainment for the whole family." Both Colts Fall fests will feature corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides, carnival rides, appearances by team mascot "Blue" and Colts giveaways.
  
  
  
  

Madison County

• Frankton Heritage Days Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 19-21
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Downtown Frankton (parking locations vary, shuttle service available)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: 2025 marks the 50th celebration of the Frankton Heritage Festival. This year's festival will boast helicopter rides, food vendors, carnival rides and games, live music, prince and princess contests and a "golf cart poker run."
  
  
  
  

Hancock County

• Riley Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 2-5
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Downtown Greenfield
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: The Riley Festival is an annual celebration of Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley's birthday. According to event organizers, Riley Festival is one of the largest craft festivals in Indiana. This year's event will feature food, commercial and flea market booths. More than 460 exhibitors will be set up around Hancock County's 100-year-old courthouse. Riley Festival begins annually on the first Thursday in October. Each year, one of Riley's poems is selected as the festival's theme. The festival theme for 2025 is based on Riley's poem "The Yellowbird." Riley Festival also boasts a parade, quilt show and little miss and mister pageants.
  
  
  
  

• Indianapolis Colts Fall Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 27
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Lark Ranch (1611 N. Meridian Rd., Greenfield)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: The Colts are hosting two fall fests this year, and one of them will be Lark Ranch in Greenfield. The Colts indicated that the events will offer "special autumn season entertainment for the whole family." Both Colts Fall fests will feature corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides, carnival rides, appearances by team mascot "Blue" and Colts giveaways.
  
  
  
  

Johnson County

• Hoosier Fall Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 18-19
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Johnson County Fairgrounds (250 Fairground St., Franklin)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: This year's Hoosier Fall Festival will feature more than 200 vendors. According to event organizers, admission to Hoosier Fall Festival is free. Food and beverage trucks will also be positioned throughout the Johnson County Fairgrounds during the event.
  
  
  
  

• Greenwood Monster Mash
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 17
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Craig Park (10 E. Smith Valley Rd., Greenwood)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: This year's Greenwood Monster Mash will feature trick-or-treating, inflatable bounce houses, music, dancing, food trucks and a hayride. Personnel from local police and fire departments will also make appearances during the event.
  
  
  
  

• Bargersville Harvest Moon Fall Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 20
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: 24 N. Main St., Bargersville
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: The 2025 Bargersville Harvest Moon Fall Festival will feature a car cruise-in, craft vendors, food trucks and live music. The event's free concerts will begin at 1 p.m. and run through 9 p.m.
  
  
  
  

Morgan County

• Morgan County Fall Foliage Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 9-13
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Martinsville
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Events will be held daily from Oct. 9-13 as part of this year's Morgan County Fall Foliage Festival. Among the events planned for this year's festival are a parade, customer appreciation night, 5K Run/Walk, scholarship queen pageant, car show and cornhole tournament. The theme for this year's Morgan County Fall Foliage Festival is "An Autumn Jubilee."
  
  
  
  

Grant County

• James Dean Fall Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 26-28
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: 104 N. Main St., Fairmount
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: The James Dean Museum has sponsored the James Dean Festival since 1975. The event has traditionally been held during the last week of September. It features a car show parade, carnival, vendors and a James Dean look-alike contest.
  
  
  
  

• Marion Fall Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 4
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: 1 Matter Park Circle, Marion
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: This year's Marion Fall Festival will feature music, food vendors and arts and crafts activities. The event will also boast carnival games, inflatables, face painting, balloon art and a costume contest.
  
  
  
  

Parke County

• Parke County Covered Bridge Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 10-19
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Countywide
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Parke County officials have dubbed their covered bridge festival as "Indiana's largest festival." The festival features activities in Bloomingdale, Montezuma, Mecca, Billie Creek, Bridgeton, Mansfield, Rosedale and Tangier. The festival is headquartered in Rockville. Each of the festival's locations features picturesque historic buildings and covered bridges and food options. Select locations also boast craft vendors and wood carvings.
  
  
  
  

Orange County

• Orange County Pumpkin Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 1-5
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Downtown French Lick
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: The Orange County Pumpkin Festival will mark its 57th year in existent in 2025. The festival features live music, 50/50 raffles, bingo, a pumpkin princess pageant, pickleball tournament, soup supper, book sale and parade.
  
  
  
  

Bartholomew County

• Columbus Spooktacular Craft Extravaganza
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 18-19
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Bartholomew County Fairgrounds (750 W 200 S, Columbus)
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Approximately 50 vendors will gather at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds for the two-day craft extravaganza. The types of vendors will range from local crafters and artists to food trucks. Raffle items and gift bags will be up for grabs during the event. The extravaganza will begin at 9 a.m. daily and support local small businesses and food banks.
  
  
  
  

Owen County

• McCormick's Creek State Falloween
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 25-26
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: 250 McCormick's Creek Park Road, Spencer
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Falloween at McCormick's Creek State Park is held at the park's nature center, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The event boasts craft-making, pumpkin-carving, a spider-spoofing hike, hayrides, a trick-or-treat trail, an owl prowl hike, and leaf bandana-making.
  
  
  
  

Putnam County

• Cloverween Fall Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 27
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: 205 Market St., Cloverdale
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Event organizers call Cloverween Fall Festival "a spooktacular day of family fun." Cloverween Fall Festival features a masquerade parade, games, food, live music and local crafts.
  
  
  
  

Montgomery County

• Crawfordsville Oktoberfest
  
  
  
  • Dates: TBD
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: 100 W. Pike St., Crawfordsville
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Crawfordsville's Oktoberfest is somewhat of a newcomer on central Indiana's fall festivals scene. The event is now in its seventh year, and it features German food, Bavarian games, brats, beer, live music, a beer stein hoist competition, a chicken dance, a costume contest and a corn hole tournament.
  
  
  
  

Tippecanoe County

• Feast of the Hunter's Moon
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 11-12
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: 3129 South River Road, West Lafayette
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: Feast of the Hunter's Moon is an annual 18th century reenactment that is held at Fort Ouiatenon - the first fortified European outpost in the territory that is now the State of Indiana. The reenactment - which is now in its 58th year - features activities on the banks of the Wabash River, including French and Native American music and dance, fife and drum corps performances, military drills, fashion shows, children's blanket trade, costume try-ons, candle-dipping, story-telling, bead bracelet-making, cross-cut sawing and axe throwing.
  
  
  
  

Lawrence County

• Mitchell Persimmon Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Sept. 20-27
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: 643 W. Main St., Mitchell
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: 2025 marks the 78th annual Persimmon Festival in Mitchell. The event features amusement park rides, a 5K, 50/50 raffles, food vendors, a persimmon pudding contest and live music.
  
  
  
  

Franklin County

• Metamora Canal Days Autumn Festival
  
  
  
  • Dates: Oct. 3-5
  
  
  
  
  
  • Location: Main Street, Metamora
  
  
  
  
  
  • Description: For more than 50 years, the Metamora Canal Days Autumn Festival has been held along Main Street in Metamora during the first weekend in October. The event features food vendors, antiques and collectible sales and craft tents.