Mt. Airy Orchard
With October comes all things fall, at least for me it does.
As the weather cools, I hang up my “Boo Ya’ll” ghost-shaped door sign, light a pumpkin-scented candle and pull my cozy sweaters out of storage. I’m sad to see summer go and hate to see winter coming, but, boy, do I love what’s in between.
The time has come to break out that flannel shirt and prepare for full mugs of apple cider and pumpkin spice lattes. Hayrides, corn mazes, apple picking, beer drinking, the Harrisburg area has it all, and I’ve personally participated in many of the area’s autumn offerings.
For a one-stop fall shop, drive the winding road down to Mt. Airy Orchards in Dillsburg, a 25-minute drive from Harrisburg. Once you see the apple trees, you’ll know you’re in the right place.
And while cell service may be spotty when you get there, Karen Paulus, who owns the orchard with her husband Dan, thinks it’s probably for the best that people unplug and enjoy nature.
“People come because they want to make memories with their families,” Paulus said.
There are plenty of ways to do just that at the orchard.
There’s something about picking apples in the crisp air that feels like fall. Mt. Airy has rows and rows of trees for perusing, with favorites like Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples ready for the plucking. The farm also offers pick-your-own pumpkins. Additionally, peaches, berries and other produce is grown seasonally and sold in their market store.
And while the farm started as simply that, a farm, when the Paulus family purchased it in 1999, Mt. Airy, formerly called Paulus Orchards, has grown to include so much more.
Today, the farm features family and kids’ activities like a corn maze, giant jumping pillow and a mega slide. There are also tube slides, pedal carts, rubber duck races, rat rollers and human foosball, among other activities in their fall fun admission area.
According to Paulus, each year, they try to add a new feature to the farm to attract visitors and keep families coming back.
If you’re a fall foodie, the concession stands sell hot chicken corn soup, spiced apple chili, apple pie milkshakes, apple dumplings and apple cider donuts and slushies. Everything is homemade, and many of the menu items use produce from the farm.
While a fall day at Mt. Airy includes lots of fun and food, Paulus hopes that it’s also an educational experience for young visitors.
“It’s good for kids to come out and see where their food comes from,” she said. “I really do love teaching people about agriculture.”
Harvest Hops
Maybe the perfect fall day for you looks a little more low-key, but still spent outside.
Back in Harrisburg, the Senators are inviting the community to FNB Field on City Island on Oct. 14 for an afternoon of sampling craft beer.
The team is hosting its second annual Senstoberfest, featuring around 40 local breweries and over 100 different beers to sample.
“We saw a need for an event like this in the central PA area,” said Nathan Rovenolt, director of business development for the Senators. “There are a lot of great breweries in the area, and we have the venue.”
Last year, the event drew over 1,000 attendees and, for this year, Rovenolt expects that number to double.
Breweries will offer fall flavors like Oktoberfestbiers, stouts, pumpkin beers and porters, as well as plenty of non-fall-themed brews. Vendors will be pouring around the stadium, and beer sampling is included with admission. In addition to beer, a few wineries and distilleries will participate. Food will also be on site with options like chicken sandwiches, pulled pork and hot dogs, among other bites. A DJ will “keep the vibes going throughout the event,” Rovenolt said.
Adding to those good “vibes,” proceeds from Senstoberfest will benefit the Harrisburg River Rescue.
For those who’d like to purchase VIP tickets to the fest, Rovenolt recommends doing that ahead of time. For general admission, attendees can buy tickets in advance or at the gate. The event takes place from 2 to 5 p.m.
“It’s going to be a fun atmosphere,” he said. “People will get exposure to new breweries, and having the breweries come and get their name out helps them grow as well.”
Also on Oct. 14 is the Downtown Hershey Association’s Choctoberfest, featuring food, live music, beer and chocolate, with activities for all ages. The day will include the 3rd annual Chocolate Cake Baking Competition, which also allows chocolate-lovers to taste-test for a fee.
Other Choctoberfest activities include paired chocolate and beer as well as distilleries, meaderies and wineries on site. Additional family-friendly events include face painting, inflatable hatchet throwing, miniature horses, make-and-take art and more.
Visit ChocolateTown Square Park between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the fall fun.
“Bring your lederhosen and dirndl and join us for a day in downtown Hershey, Pa.,” said Michelle Emerick, executive director of Downtown Hershey Association.
Maybe even make it a full day of fests and visit Choctoberfest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then head to Senstoberfest at 2 p.m. What’s better than enjoying a fall day while supporting local?
Pumpkins, Please
At the Pennsboro Pumpkin Fest, visitors of all ages can get in on the fall vibes.
For over 20 years, East Pennsboro Township has held the festival, which brings thousands of attendees to Adams-Ricci Park in Enola. This year, on Oct. 7 and 8, the festival will feature around 180 vendors, including community groups, businesses and craft vendors. The entry fee is just right—free.
For 2023, the township estimates that about 43,000 people will attend. According to Caroline Grove, recreation coordinator for the township, the festival has continually grown over the years.
“It’s a good community event that brings everyone together,” Grove said. “It’s a family friendly, wholesome environment.”
In addition to the rows and rows of vendor tents to browse, there will be live music and dance performances and plenty of activities for kids. The pony rides, petting zoo, pumpkin painting and inflatables are always popular among young visitors, Grove said.
Food trucks and vendors will offer snacks, meals and sweet treats, like pumpkin funnel cakes.
For fall fun that lasts all season long, take a trip to Lancaster County to visit Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, a little over an hour drive from Harrisburg.
Cherry Crest is known for its huge corn maze, which has been voted among the top 10 in the country over the last several years. But the farm also has tons of other kids’ activities, pick-your-own pumpkins, flowers, popcorn and live music and entertainment.
To close out the fall season, they’ll host their Pumpkin Madness Festival on Nov. 4, where attendees can smash, drop and throw pumpkins with activities like pumpkin bowling, putt-putt and chucking.
If you’re as much of a fall fanatic as I am, start filling up your calendar with events like these for the month because the season always seems to come and go too quickly. Although a pumpkin spice candle burning into the winter months never hurt anyone.
Fall Frolic
Throw on a sweater and visit these places and events, mentioned in the story.
Mt. Airy Orchards, 522 E. Mt. Airy Rd., Dillsburg, www.mtairyorchards.com
Senstoberfest, FNB Field, City Island, Harrisburg, www.milb.com/harrisburg
Choctoberfest, ChocolateTown Square Park, Chocolate and Cocoa avenues, www.downtownhershey.com. To enter the 3rd annual Chocolate Cake Baking Competition, visit https://forms.gle/HBPouv3QKDbCeP9B8.
Pennsboro Pumpkinfest, Adams-Ricci Park, 100 E. Penn Dr., Enola, www.eastpennsboro.net
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, 150 Cherry Hill Rd., Ronks, www.cherrycrestfarm.com
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