First things first, check the Macaroni Kid Calendar for free and low-cost things to do in our area. Not a subscriber? Sign up and you’ll get the goods each week directly in your email in-box. It’s free. No sales. No gimmicks. Just plain fun.
Pumpkin Patches, Farms and Orchards
π Summers Farm
π Gaver Farm
π Catoctin Mountain Orchard
π Pryor’s Orchard
π Brookefield Pumpkins
π Green Meadows Farm
Special Dates to Remember
π The Great Frederick Fair will be held the week of September 16th!
π Fall Festival at Summer’s Farm on September 17th!
π Rick Steves (author and popular public television host) will be at the Weinberg Center for the Arts on September 8th!
π Summer’s Farm Fall Festival (and famous corn maze!) opens for the season on September 17th!
π Frederick’s Oktoberfest will be held on September 30th and October 1st!
π Check out Fall-themed crafts and more at the Catoctin Colorfest on October 8th-9th.
π The Sunflower Festival at Summer’s Farm will be held the last weekend in August and first week of September!
π The Green Meadows Farm Barnyard Bash will be held on September 2nd and October 7th!
π The Halloween Parade in downtown Middletown will be held on October 29th!
π FREE Movie on the Creek: The Nightmare Before Christmas on October 19th!
Trick or Treat Events
π¦Έπ» Halloween in Downtown Frederick will be held on October 29th!
π§Middletown’s Color Me Autumn event on October 22nd will feature trick-or-treating, kids activities, music, and food!
π« Green Meadows Farm will hold their Trail of Jack-o-lanterns and Trick-or-Treating on weekends in October!
π¦Έπ» Trick-or-Treat through history at Rose Hill Manor on October 28th-29th!
Just outside of Frederick
π Butler's Orchard Pick your own pumpkins, fall events for the kids, including the 41st Pumpkin Festival beginning on September 25th!
π Baugher’s Orchard in Westminster, MD is open for pick-your-own pumpkins and their Fall Festival! Check out their petting zoo and playground, too.
π Great County Farms has lots to offer this fall! πCorn Maze and Apple Harvest in September then come back in October for the π Pumpkin Harvest Festival.
π Pick your own apples at Rock Hill Orchard.
π₯Ύ π§ π³ π¦ Take a Hike
Monocacy National Battlefield Trails
10 Hiking Destinations in Frederick County
Frederick Favorites
Take a ghost tour in historic Frederick!
Check out one of Frederick County Wineries: Linganore Winecellars, Elk Ridge Vineyards, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyards.
Rent a moonbounce from Backyard Inflatables
Head to MeLand Play on a rainy day for an indoor playground
πCheck out the largest miniature world model train displays in the country Roads and Rails
Zipline courses at TreeTrekkers
π Enjoy a good old fashioned train ride through the beautiful farmland and countryside on the Walkersville Southern Railroad
π Take a drive and check out the three covered bridges located in Frederick
π πEveryday activities and special fall events at Green Meadows
Head to Mccutcheons for some of their delicious jam for your breakfast toast
Pick up lunch fromπ₯¨ π Pretzel and Pizza Creations and head to Baker Park for a picnic lunch
π΅π½βοΈ Explore Downtown Frederick with Monthly Scavenger Hunts by Surelocked In Escape Games
πΏPopcorn makes every movie better! Stop at Original Popcorn House for gourmet popcorn.
π¨ πSaturday morning patio painting, To-Go kits or limited in person studio hours, Hot Fired Arts has it all for your creative needs!
π₯€ Tasty beverages from North Market Pop Shop will add some fun to your fall!π§Έ Start your Christmas list early with a visit to Dancing Bear Toys!
πPick up a new book Curious Iguana and find a bench Carroll Creek.
π§ΊPicnic lunch at Monocacy Village Park with sandwiches π₯ͺ from 7th Street Sandwich.
π¦Everyone loves a crabfest! Get them ready to eat from Avery's Maryland Grille.
πΉLearn how to do a kick flip at the Skatepark.
π’ Tap into your adrenaline at Adventure Park.
π Take in the wildlife at Catoctin Wildlife Preserve.
π’ Observe the turtle and take some time to learn about the wildlife at Fountain Rock Park Nature Center.
π Visit all the playgrounds that Frederick County has to offer.
π¦ Visit Frederick Fudge & IceCream for all your sweet tooth needs.
βοΈ Latte for the parents and hot chocolate for the kids at Frederick Coffee Company.
πΆπΌβοΈLace up your sneakers and head out for Self Guided Tour of Frederick.
π» Pick up some fall flowers at Mar-Lu View.
π© Donuts are the best way to start the weekend, especially with Glory Doughnuts.
π Pick out some of your favorite fall themed library books and schedule a curbside pickup with Frederick County Public Library.
π£ Grab the fishing poles and hit up one of these spots, Freshwater Fishing Hotspots.
Stay at home activities
βοΈ Fall Kids Crafts
π Gifts kids can make
π§ Fall Themed Snacks
π· Spider Web Slime
π· Plant spring bulbs
ππ Rake leaves together. Jump in the pile, then rake them up again!
βοΈEnjoy those rays of sun and make a paper plate suncatcher
πTry your hand at Geocaching
π At-Home Sports and Activities That Stretch Your Mind and Body, Game On!
π₯³ There’s always something to celebrate, look to the National Day Calendar for ideas
ππΎβοΈ Register for an upcoming race, run, or ride. Many of these types of events are very family-friendly with shorter routes as an option, discounted (or free) registration for children, and fun after-parties. As a bonus, some of these types of events are fundraisers as well.
πΆ πΊπ» Make a playlist of Halloween-themed songs and have a dance party in your living room. Some of our favorites:
- "This is Halloween" by Danny Elfman from The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack
- "Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett
- "Thriller" by Michael Jackson
- "Some Kind of Monster" by Neon Trees
- "Season of the Witch" by Donovan
- "Bark at the Moon" by Ozzy Osbourne
- "My Beloved Monster" by Eels from the Shrek soundtrack
- "The Time Warp" from the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack
- "The Monster" by Eminem (feat. Rihanna)
- "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell
- "The Devil's Chasing Me" by Reverend Horton Heat
ππ»βοΈTry a 30-day fitness challenge. Check out the monthly "More More" column in Macaroni Kid Family Fitness and Wellness for the "Our Family Moves" challenge for the month.
πΆπ½βοΈπΆπΌβοΈTake a family walk around the neighborhood before or after dinner. It's a great way to connect while enjoying the changing scenery.
π» Read ghost stories by the fire.
π₯ Get creative with you s’more and try some of these S'mores Alternatives.
π π Check out these 40 Apple Activities for Kids.
π Tackle a DIY project idea from Home Depot.
π Reach out to your first responders and find what they need. Take up a neighborhood collection.
π€ Collection donations for the Heartly House. Follow them on Facebook for an updated list of needs.