Things to Do in Philadelphia in September, October 2017

Brecknock Orchard - Mohnton, PA
A 65 acre fruit and vegetable farm located northeast of the intersection of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and U.S. Route 222 in Lancaster County.It is family owned and operated by the Martin Family, started by Earl Martin in 1994 and taken over by Daryl and his wife Andrea in 1996.Pick your own apples from mid-September through early November.In total, they grow more than 40 apple varieties.Pumpkin picking available starting in mid-September.The Farm Market offers homemade jams, jellies and fruit butters. Fall festivals on Saturdays and Columbus Day starting in late September.The festival includes caramel apples, soap making demonstrations, applesauce demonstrations, children’s crafts, straw maze, hayride farm tours, swing set, pumpkin toss and other games.They are closed on Sundays.

Cherry Hill Orchards - Lancaster, PA
More than 25 varieties of apples for picking when ripe from August until November.In total, they grow more than 40 varieties of apples.They also have PYO pumpkins in the fall.Cherry Hill is owned by the Haas Family, who have operated it since 1971.

County Line Orchard - Kempton, PA
Nine varieties of apples ripen in September and October for PYO.September offerings include Gala, Honeycrisp and Jonathan.Pick Rome, Ida Red, Suncrisp and more in October.They grow in total approximately 25 varieties of apples and have several acres of certified organic apples.About the farm: A stone mill was constructed on the property in the 19th Century.The land was farmed for much of the 20th Century by the Lenhart family.The first apple trees were planted in 1982.The current owner, Todd Smith, purchased the orchard in 1987.They are open Friday through Sunday from their summer opening through the end of the harvest.They are located on the Berks/Lehigh County line.

Active Acres Farm - Newtown, PA
Home of the famous Sleepy Hollow Hayride and additional nighttime haunt beginning every Saturday and Sunday starting in early October.  Pick your own pumpkins, hayrides and a corn field maze at this 230 acre working farm in Bucks County. They operate their pumpkin patch and hayrides on Saturdays and Sundays in the fall. They feature pumpkins, BBQ, pizza, and refreshments in addition to pony rides, farm animals, mood bounce, duck races, and more. The haunted house is at night.

Froehlich’s Farm - Furlong, PA
Their fall festival runs Saturday and Sunday beginning late September.  Enjoy a 3 acre corn maze, hayride, 4 acre pumpkin patch and fall festival throughout October.

Hellerick’s Family Farm - Doylestown, PA
Their fall festival starts in September.  A Bucks County family farm with 18 acres of fun has a fall harvest festival with hayrides, pumpkin field, pumpkin rolling, 5 acre maze, farm animals, children’s farm activities and jr. farmer fun area for those under 5 years old. It runs from the middle of September through early November. They also have a nighttime Harvest Moon Hayride for the whole family and an aerial adventure park.  The address is 5500 North Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902. It is 43 miles north of downtown Philadelphia.

Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride - Glen Mills, PA
This fantastic haunt opens their season on Friday and Saturday beginning in late September.  Advertised as America’s most horrifying motel, Bates Motel has been operating as a haunted attraction for over 30 years. It is truly one of the great haunted attractions in America. Bates Motel built detailed Hollywood styled movie sets such as putting a New England type church onsite. They have other 100 foot scenes, amazing pyrotechnics and around 100 actors. Save money and purchase the combo ticket for $35. Individual tickets to the Bates Motel, Corn Maze or Haunted Hayride run $15, $15, and $15 respectively. Child ticket prices are less. Doors open at 6:30 and close at 10:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. Doors close at 9:30 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and other nights. Bates runs most nights in October.  Bates has over 45,000 Facebook likes.  Also they have a great laser tag event.

Bloodshed Farms Fear Fest - Columbus, NJ
Attraction opens in early October.  Open every Friday and Saturday night and most Sunday’s in October. They have individual attraction tickets or a combo ticket for $30.  Check web page for ticket and discount options.  The combo gets you into 4 attractions.  See the Trail of Terror, Hellsgate, Last Ride, and Clown Phobia.

Boston Haunted Manor - Lancaster, PA
Boston Haunted Manor will be closed this fall.  It is a premier home-based haunted attraction and Halloween display with walk-thru graveyard, creepy characters, special effects, animatronics, and scary music.This Halloween come see Sinister and Vilette, the Creepy Caretakers of BHM, on the east side of Lancaster for the best tricks ‘n treats in town!  Admission to the walk-thru portion of the attraction is a food or toy donation to the Pet Pantry of Lancaster/Lost Paws. Monetary donations can be made directly to the Pet Pantry of Lancaster.

Ghost Tour of Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia’s most haunted locations are on the schedule for this candlelit walking tour. In 2013, Budget Travel Magazine called this tour one of the 15 Places Your Kids Should See Before 15. Clocking in at about 90 minutes, these tours take guests to sites steeped in history both educational and eerie. Adults are $17 and children 4 to 12 are $10. Tours depart from Signers Garden at 5th and Chestnut. Group and private tours are available.

Grim Philly Twilight Tours - Philadelphia, PA
All things dark and sinister in Philadelphia are on the grisly menu for those brave enough to take the tours offered by Grim Philly Twilight Tours. With a variety of tours covering a myriad of topics, no patron will have a lack of choices for their bloody, historical education. Philadelphia residents voted this the best city tour in 2013 for PHL17’s Philly HOT LIST awards. Prices and tour running times are dependent on the tour, or tours, chosen. Their Vampires, Sex and Ghosts! Tour was featured on The Layover, Anthony Bourdain’s television series on the Travel Channel. It costs $19.99 per person and departs from Independence Visitor Center. Other tours include Serial Killers, Blood & Beer!; Grim Philly’s Riverboat Cruise Pirates, Rum Runners, and the Jersey Devil Riverboat; and a variety of seasonal events.

Spirits of ’76 Ghost Tour - Philadelphia, PA
They say this tour is one part history and two part haunts. Developed by the same group that did the popular Constitutional Walking Tour in Philly, that makes sense. Are you ready to explore haunted Philadelphia? Boasting stops at over twenty historic locations, it takes guests through the history and haunted locations of one of America’s most influential cities. Stops include Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Washington Square Park, various churches and cemeteries, and the Second Bank of the United States. Learn about the only prisoner to escape from Eastern State Penitentiary, the dancing statute of Benjamin Franklin, and some of the folklore of Edgar Allan Poe when he lived in the city. You will also see film locations from some of the nation’s most popular movies, including the Sixth Sense, National Treasure and Shooter. Tours meet at Mrs. K’s Koffee Shop at 325 Chestnut Street in Old City. Everyone gets a free glow stick. The tour lasts approximately 75 minutes. Tickets are $17.50 for adults and $12.50 for children. Tickets available for purchase online. Private and group tours are available year round.