Fall Family Fun in Rochester

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Please see below for all kinds of great places to go this fall in Rochester! (Click on the name of the venue to get to the description.)

Quick Links:

Pick-Your-Own Apples in greater Rochester
Halloween 2008 events, festivals, and activities around Rochester

Signs of Fall in Upstate New York's Great Outdoors - What to notice when you take a hike with your family in the fall - by Linda Bender, Genesee Country Nature Center

Wondering where are the best places to take family photos in Rochester's Fall? Click here for suggestions from one of Rochester's premiere photographers, Honey DeLapa.

Apples, pumpkins, and other harvest produce

In addition to viewing the list below, please see our SPECTACULAR LIST OF PICK-YOUR-OWN APPLES. And make sure to check out the Wickham Farms article about selecting the right pumpkin!

• Alasa Farm, corner of Red Mill and Shaker Roads (off Route 14 N from Route 104) in Alton, NY, 315-483-6321
  U-Pick apples from mid-September through the end of October, with history and animals to boot!
  
  
• The Apple Farm - 1640 Victor-Holcomb Rd (Route 444), Victor, NY, 14564  585-924-3420F map
  A tractor ride out to the apples, some picking and then back to the ranch for cider, the best donuts around and some rolling down the hill with the other kids. The place is set back so much from the road that there is a small hill right in front that the kids love to roll, run or hop down. Note: We (the editors of KidsOutAndAbout.com) have taken the kids there for the past 3 years and they always have a wonderful time.
  
  
• Bauman's Farm Market and Cider Mill, 1340 5 Mile Line Road, Webster, NY, 716-671-2820F map
  35-ft tall cornstalk teepee, straw maize, miniature goats, Loppy the rabbit, and watch you don't step on the free-range red chickens. Mr. Magic performs every Saturday and Sunday in October from 12-6. They offer preschool and grade-school tours for $2/child; call for more info.
  
  
• Brown's Berry Patch, Waterport, NY, 585-682-5569
  Brown's Berry Patch ranked #6 on our survey of the Top Places to Take Kids in the greater Rochester area. In addition to great picking fields starting in the spring, they have an inexpensive Barnyard Adventure playground that is worth the couple of $ to go in. Parents can ride a great huge (and safe) slide with their kids. And kids remember that, even years later. Worth the trip from either Rochester or Buffalo. map
  
  
• Chase Farms, 459 Pannell Road, Fairport; 315-986-3691F map
  A KidsOutAndAbout reader writes: We have had preschool field trips there for years. They do a great potato picking field trip, have a small corn maze and goats to visit. They are currently doing you-pick raspberries (until the first hard frost) and I'm not sure what else."
  
  
• Cobble Creek Farm, 5161 West Ridge Road, Spencerport; 315-986-3691F map
  A corn maze, fall hay ride, fresh homegrown produce and pumpkins, various farm animals to pet and a large seasonal garden center.
  
  

• Green Acre Farms, 3460 Latta Rd, Greece, NY,585-234-0252
  Call their U-pick hotline to hear the varieties available now and for any other info. They also have a teepee and hay bales out for kids to climb on, and for parents to sit on.
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• Gro-Moore Farms, 2811 E. Henrietta Road Henrietta, NY, 585-359-3310 F map
  Kids Haunted House, petting zoo with goat walk, pumpkin slide. On the weekends, fun for the whole family: Super Slide, mini golf, tractor-drawn wagon rides, big bale maze, pumpkin painting, trike track, straw crawl, and a huge selection of traditional fall food.
  
  
• Kelly's Fruit Farm, 611 Wilder Rd, Hilton, NY, 585-392-8102
  A KidsOutAndAbout reader writes: "It's a great place to take kids of all ages. They have a working apple cider press where you can see them make the cider and get a free sample! They also have pick your own pumpkins and apples. They have, penny candy, baked goods, and produce." You can book a tour for groups (10 or over).
  
  
• Lagoner Farms, 6895 Lake Ave, Williamson, NY. 314-589-4899.
  Pick your own apples, pumpkin painting, wagon rides, an apple sling shot, teepee, a cider barrel express train ride, a straw bale maze and other activities.
  
  
• Long Acre Farms, 1342 Eddy Road, Macedon, NY. 315-986-9821.
  All kinds of produce, craft fun, and a great corn maze. See the KidsOutAndabout.com article about the A-Mazing Allens from Long Acre Farms by Jackie Perrin.
  
  
• McCracken Farms, White Road, Brockport, NY, 585-637-7037 - Open Saturdays and Sundays in October 2008 starting first weekend in October. Includes play areas, a quiet ride through woodland trails and covered bridge to pumpkin patch, demonstrations by MY Farm, and animal displays. Face painting, & food available. Admission is $5; children 2 and under are free. (Extra charge for pumpkins.) Group night rides with campfire available by appointment.
  
  
• Orchard View Country Market, 10006 Ridge Road, North Rose, NY 14516, (315) 587-2245
  Fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the season. During October, they offer "Halloween Haven" to frighten and delighten. They are located on the corner of Lake Bluff and Ridge Roads in North Rose, New York, along the Seaway Trail.
  
  
• Powers Farm Market - 161 Marsh Road, Pittsford, NY, 585-586-4631 F map
  Powers has three enormous teepee structures that are corn husks on the outside and fun on the inside. As you walk in, it is dark until you see the illumination of hundreds of decorated pumpkins. There are so many different faces, shapes and sizes. The teepees are also decorated with black lights and skeletons and the like. After that, stroll into the store to pick up a pumpkin or two. They also have a petting zoo.
  
      Note from reader: Powers Farm market is famous for the family friendly free tee-pees each year, their magnificent farm market, and kid-pleasing petting farm, but they also have a great hayride, that has a few "haunted" surprises, but for ALL ages! All pulled by a tractor, driven by fun, participatroy drivers, and with honest to goodness bales of hay for seats. $3.25 per person, kids 1 and under free. (Yummy homeade donuts too, none better anywhere!)
  
  
• Schutt's Apple Mill, 1063 Plank Rd, Webster, NY, 585-872-2924
  
  
• Springdale Farm, Spencerport, NY, 585-352-5320
  Springdale Farm is a premiere agricultural education facility open to the public for family activities and outdoor recreation with its nature trails, duck pond and many farm festivals. In 2004 and 2005, Springdale Farm opened two new facilities: a 13,000 square-foot Dairy Barn and a 9,500 square-foot Visitor Education Center.
  
  
• Stokoe Farms, Scottsville, NY, 585-889-0770
  The Stokoe Farms folks' goal is to recreate fun farm activities we enjoyed as children growing up, whether it was a wagon ride to the fields, picking the pumpkins, finding our way through the corn fields, building tunnels in the straw mow, jumping in the hay, playing in grain bins, or feeding the farm animals. Weekends only!
  
  
• The Apple Shed, 3391 Maple Ridge Rd, Newark NY, 14513 (315) 331-6294
  
  
• VanDorn Fruit Farm 1282 West Ave, Hilton, NY, 585-392-8264 F map
  A KidsOutAndAbout reader writes: "VanDorn Apple Farm in Hilton is a small, family owned apple farm. We have gone there for probably 12 years to pick apples. The people are very nice and you can drive your car back to the orchard and pick in virtual privacy. If you're really adventuresome, you can continue 45 minutes to the west and visit the American Falls in Niagara Falls."
  
  Whittier Fruit Farm, 219 Whittier Road, Rochester, NY 585-594-9054 F map
  For apple picking, free wagon rides into the orchards on weekends. They sell popcorn and ice cream, and have playground equipment for the children to play on when they're waiting.
  
  
• Wickham Farms, 1821 Route 250 (north of Whalen), Penfield NY, (585) 377-FARM
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  Free garden train display, carved pumpkin display hut, and antique tractor. Miniature golf ($4), three-acre corn maze ($4, $12 per family), and an ice cream shop in its barn. Weekend attractions are a kiddie train ride ($1), and hay rides ($1.50 each or 4 for $5). Pick your own pumpkins. Squash, gourds, and ornamental corn are also for sale. They are THE pumpkin experts: See their article on how to select the right pumpkin. When you go, look for the big red barn! For group reservations, contact (585) 377-FARM (3276).
  
  
• Zarpentine Farms, Hilton, NY, 585-392-3611 F map
  The MAiZE is 22 acres with 4 1/2 miles of trails. There are also "pick your own" pumpkins, a kiddie maze, and horse-drawn wagon rides. The farm market offers fresh apples, pears, veggies and an assortment of fresh baked goods. The market is open from 10a.m - 6p.m. daily. The MAiZE is open Fridays 6p.m.-10p.m., Saturdays 10a.m.-10p.m. Sundays 11a.m - 6p.m. Group rates and team building programs also available. Daily drawings for free stuff.
  Comment from reader: Corn Maze at Zarpentine Farm's in Hilton is wonderful, but not great for young kids! A lot of walking. They might get bored easily. 22 acres, they say about 7 miles if you do the whole maze. We did it last Sat. in about 2 1/2 hours....boy were we tired. Groups of 10 or more are $5 a person, if booked ahead. It was a lot of fun.
  
  
• List of Monroe County Apple Growers
  
• List of Wayne County Apple Growers
  
• List of Orleans County Apple Growers
  
• List of Genesee County Apple Growers
  
• List of Yates County Apple Growers
  
• List of Ontario County Apple Growers
  
• List of Livingston County Apple Growers
  
  
  

Corn Mazes

• Bauman's Farm Market and Cider Mill, Webster, NY, 585-671-2820
  
  
• Brown's Berry Patch, 14264 Route 18 Waterport, New York 14571, 585-682-5569. Three-acre corn maze in addition to their Barnyard Adventure and fruit picking
  
  
• Cobble Creek Farm, Spencerport, NY, 585-352-8484
  
  
• Long Acre Farms, Amazing Maize Maze, 1342 Eddy Road in Macedon, NY. Email: getlost@longacrefarms.com. Info line: 315-986-9821.
  
  
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• Wickham Farms, 1821 Route 250, Penfield, (585)377-FARM - Mazes every day, including weekdays, in October.
  
  
• Zarpentine Farms, 163 Burritt Rd Hilton, NY, 585-392-3611
  
  
  

Fall foliage/outdoor activities

Click here for a great list of the best fall hikes, compiled by Footprint Press's Sue Freeman, author of Take a Hike!.

• Arcade & Attica Train Ride, Arcade, NY, 585-492-3100
  A KOA reader writes: We were looking for something different to do with the kids (ok with 5 kids) for a good value and an excellent time. We found it! Since our kids have never been on a train before, this was extra special. They had smiles plastered on their faces for the entire 2 hour train ride. Highly recommended and worth the drive (75 miles from Rochester to Arcade -- a scenic and pretty ride for sure).
  
  
• Grossman's Country Nursery, Route 250, Penfield, (585)377-1982 - Fall Family Fun each weekend in October - click here for information about upcoming events from Grossman's on our calendar.
  
  
• Ganondagan, Route 41, Victor, NY
  A KidsOutAndAbout reader writes: "There is a great little hike, with markers to indicate what the Seneca's used each type of plant for - my 4-yr-old is WAY into me reading the signs and pointing out the plants). Plus, kids can see the longhouse (when open) and have guided tours by Seneca natives."
  
  
• Letchworth State Park, Mt. Morris, NY, 585-493-3600
  Letchworth is one of the most breathtaking places to hike and picnic in the Rochester area, especially in the fall. The gorge just lights up with color, and the view of the three waterfalls is priceless. Many miles of hiking trails frame both sides of the Genesee river.
  
  
• Stokoe Farms, Scottsville, NY, 585-889-0770
  The Stokoe Farms folks' goal is to recreate fun farm activities we enjoyed as children growing up, whether it was a wagon ride to the fields, picking the pumpkins, finding our way through the corn fields, building tunnels in the straw mow, jumping in the hay, playing in grain bins, or feeding the farm animals.
  
  

• Fall Family Fun Weekends in October at The Garden Factory, 2126 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 585-247-6236
  Mostly for ages 2-10. All weekends include Rides, Carnival Games with prizes and Arts and Crafts! Kids come in your costumes! You will get a free Trick-or-Treat bag with candy! Parents, don't forget your cameras!
  
  
• Brown's Berry Patch, Waterport, NY, 585-682-5569
  Brown's Berry Patch ranked #6 on our survey of the Top Places to Take Kids in the greater Rochester area. In addition to great picking fields starting in the spring, they have an inexpensive Barnyard Adventure playground that is worth the couple of $ to go in. Parents can ride a great huge (and safe) slide with their kids. And kids remember that, even years later. Worth the trip from either Rochester or Buffalo. map
  
  

Halloween Festivals

The annual Valentown Spooktacular. Spooky Things are happening again this year at Valentown Square. No guides, no hayrides and no flashlights - just you and the creatures that dwell in the woods and structures at the Ghost City of Valentown. This event runs Fridays and Saturdays, in October. Located in Victor, across from Eastview Mall.

Powers Farm Market - 161 Marsh Road, Pittsford, NY, 585-586-4631 F map
Powers has three enormous teepee structures that are corn husks on the outside and fun on the inside. As you walk in, it is dark until you see the illumination of hundreds of decorated pumpkins. There are so many different faces, shapes and sizes. The teepees are also decorated with black lights and skeletons and the like. After that, stroll into the store to pick up a pumpkin or two. They also have a petting zoo.
    Note from reader: Powers Farm market is famous for the hamily friendly free tee-pees each year, their magnificent farm market, and kid-pleasing petting farm, but they also have a great hayride, that has a few "haunted" surprises, but for ALL ages! All pulled by a tractor, driven by fun, participatroy drivers, and with honest to goodness bales of hay for seats. $3.00 per person, kids 1 and under free. (Yummy homeade donuts too, none better anywhere!)

Halloween Parties

Webster Christian School - 675 Holt Road, Webster, NY, 585-872-5150F map
Almost every year, Webster Christian School has a Harvest Party on Halloween with inside carnival type games for the kids (they win candy!). From 6:00 - 7:30 pm. (And YES, wear your NON-scary costumes!) Admission price: One bag of candy per family. Call to make sure that they are having it this year.

Other Events

When the Souls Rise is a beautiful music & dance event on October 18 and 19, 2008,sponsored by Present Tense Dance, composer Ward Hartenstein, and Drumcliffe Irish Arts, at School of the Arts, 45 Prince Street, Rochester, NY. "When the Souls Rise" celebrates the mysterious and haunting nature of Halloween without the ghoulishness often associated with the holiday. This original production provides a fantastic occasion for children and adults to enjoy the unearthly and mysterious spirit of Halloween. Through dance, music, and drama, the stories of the souls are revealed and celebrated in this lively and enchanting tale.

Moonlight Maze at Long Acre Farms in Macedon

The Sixth Annual Smiling Pumpkin Party is on October 18, 2008 at the East Side YMCA, to benefit Golisano Children's Hospital.

The Rochester Children's Theatre is putting on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on two Saturdays, October 18 and October 25, 2008 both at 2 p.m. RCT brings this classic tale of the Headless Horseman to life in Nazareth College's "Haunted Grove," and the production even features a real, live horse! Although recommended for ages seven and up, this family-friendly version is both silly and spooky. Click the link for more information and to order tickets.

Kids and I Halloween Paddle
Come carve pumpkins and kayak around Canadice Lake for a spooky paddle. All equipment, instruction, dinner and pumpkin provided! October 26, 3:00 to 6:30pm Cost: $60.00 Adults, $25.00 children. To register and for more information go to www.adventureoutny.com or call 585.329.3664.

Please click here to email us if you know of another Halloween event here in the greater Rochester area!

And don't forget your kids' teeth! Click here for some helpful Halloween candy tips from dentist Jay Parnes, DDS, of Fairport.

Please click here to email us if you know of another fall or Halloween event here in the greater Rochester area!

Please tell us where your family likes to go in the fall!