Family-Friendly Fall Fun in the Lehigh Valley

When you live in one of Kay Builders vibrant communities in the Lehigh Valley, you’re conveniently close to many fun activities. For example, the Lehigh Valley is one of the greatest places to celebrate fall with your family. In addition to spectacular fall colors (which typically peak in mid-October), you’ll also find outstanding hiking, hawk migrations, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, amazing festivals, spooky haunts, and a virtually endless list of fun things to do!

Here’s our recommendations for family-friendly activities in the Lehigh Valley this autumn:

Outdoor Hiking & Nature

The Lehigh Valley is known for its natural beauty. Autumn is a great time to get outside and enjoy the spectacular fall colors. Check out these amazing hikes:

• Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor: The D&L Trail features 165 miles of hiking or biking amidst beautiful fall foliage. D&L’s site offers an interactive map where you can plan the perfect trip for you and your family.

• Hawk Mountain Conservation Area: During the autumn migration, about 18,000 raptors pass by Hawk Mountain. The flights usually peak in September, when you may see as many as 3,000 hawks in one day! There’s also hiking with remarkable views. Some of the hikes will be a little challenging for young kids, so use this trail guide to plan your trip.

• Lehigh Gap Nature Center: If you want amazing vistas of fall colors, this is a great spot to try. They have a variety of hikes from flat-moderate to steep, so check out their trail guides to find the right hike for you and your family.

• Blue Mountain Resort: If you want incredible leaf views with less hiking, try Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton. On weekends in October during Foliage Fest, you can ride the chairlift to the top of the mountain, pick a pumpkin in the pumpkin patch, paint and/or carve a pumpkin, enjoy food and drinks, and listen to live music.  

• Lehigh Valley Covered Bridge Tour: If you want more than just leaves, check out this self-guided tour of 7 historic covered bridges in the area. NOTE: The popular covered bridge in the Lehigh Parkway in Allentown is currently under refurbishment (as of September, 2025).

Apple Orchards & Pumpkin Picking

Fall is a great time to stroll around a pumpkin patch, pick apples, drink some cider, and maybe take a hayride. Here are some popular spots:

• Grim's Orchard & Family Farms (Breinigsville): Grim’s has become a very popular fall festival location. While you can pick apples and vegetables every day, things really ramp up on the weekends during their Fall Festival (Sept 6-Nov 2) which includes a giant corn maze, hay rides, goat snuggling, bounce pillows, cattle train, play corral, plus food and drink and more!

• Seiple Farms (Bath): Pick your own pumpkins, gourds, squash, Indian corn and popcorn. Purchase apples, apple cider, corn stalks, straw bales and mums. During weekends from September 20th to October 26th, Seiple has a 40 acre pumpkin patch, 20 acre corn maze, visiting farm animals, pony rides, amusement rides, and food trucks.

• Raub's Farm Market (Easton): Raub’s Fall Fun features a large 14-acre corn maze, hay rides, pumpkin patch and seasonal treats.

Fun Festivals & Sweet Treats

While you’re out looking at leaves, why not check out a local festival?  The Lehigh Valley is full of fall festivals, events, and delectable treats. For example:

• Lehigh Valley Zoo (Schnecksville):Walking around the zoo on a fall day is fun in itself (and there’s some great hiking and leaf views in this area too!) But their “Boo at the Zoo” event (weekends starting October 11th) is a must if you have young kids. Dress in costume (adults too!) and bring your treat bags to go trick-or-treating at multiple candy stations throughout the zoo. Enjoy music and crafts, meet your favorite villains, and of course visit all the animals!

• PA Bacon Fest (Easton): This popular event (Nov 1-2) has been named one of the country’s “Can’t Miss Bacon Festivals” by Parade.com. You’ll enjoy delicious food (did we mention BACON?!), live music, cooking demos, and lots of family-friendly activities.

• Oktoberfest at SteelStacks (Bethlehem): This free festival (held October 3-5, 10-12) features great beer, German food, live music, talented local artisans, and fun events like the fan-favorite dachshund races!

Spooky Fun

Halloween frights are all part of the fun, and the Lehigh Valley doesn’t disappoint. Here are few of the more family-friendly options:

• Dorney Park: Dorney Park offers two very different Halloween options. Their “Tricks and Treats” event (select nights starting Sept 13th) is a family-friendly event with fun activities, a Trick or Treat Trail, live shows, and world-class family rides. Their “Haunt” event (Ages 13 and up, select nights starting Sept 12th) is a fright-filled adventure with sinister scare zones, live shows, terrifying haunted mazes, exhilarating live shows, and fun rides.

• Mystery History Walking Tour (Bethlehem): Get ready to explore the depths of Bethlehem’s Colonial Industrial Quarter to discover dark secrets including unsolved murders and eerie premonitions. Tours run September 5th - October 31st.

• Crystal Cave: Crystal Cave is fun any time, but their Ghost Lantern Tours are unique Halloween fun. Guides wearing Victorian clothing present the original, lantern-led tour from the 1870’s and talk about some spooky, unexplained incidents that have happened in the cave over the years.  Ghost Lantern Tours run Fridays and Saturdays in October starting Oct 10th.

Feeling the Fall Fun Yet? That’s just a small taste of what the Lehigh Valley has to offer: lots of natural beauty, great people, and lots of fun stuff to do. That’s 3 reasons why we at Kay Builders love this area so much! Ready to build your dream home in the Lehigh Valley so you can be close to all the fun? Let’s talk about how we can build you an amazing CUSTOM-i-ZABLE home with no tricks - only treats!

Call us at 484-353-6100 or submit our online form to learn more about our communities. Soon you can call the Lehigh Valley home and enjoy everything this amazing area has to offer all year long!