From apples to papayas to oysters, check out these fall events in York and Adams counties

It’s time for fall festivals in York and Adams Counties.

Whether you’re looking to sample craft beer and wine or are looking for a family-friendly event, there are plenty of fall festivals on offer from now until the end of October.

One celebrates Latin culture. Another focuses on apple picking. Still another centers the festivities on oysters.

Here are some festivals worth visiting this fall:

Dills Tavern Distillery Grand Opening

When: Saturday, September 7

Opening hours: from 10:00 to 16:00

Where: Dills Tavern, 303 N. Baltimore St., Dillsburg

Dills Tavern in northern York County hosts the grand opening of the Eichelberger Distillery.

According to a Facebook post by the Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society, the event will include the branding of a barrel of whiskey with the official Eichelberger Distillery at Dills Tavern brand.

Other attractions include early 19th-century music and games.

Stewartstown Railway celebrates 140th birthday

When: Saturday, September 7

Where: 21 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Stewartstown

Cost: $1.40 per ticket

According to a Facebook post, the southern York County Railway will be hosting a birthday party, where guests will be able to eat cake, treat themselves to ice cream and drink sweets.

Tickets for the train ride cost $1.40. Rides are at 11:00, 11:45, 12:30 and 14:00.

Those interested can reserve seats online or pay cash at the station.

Gettysburg Wine and Music Festival

When: Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8

Opening hours: On Saturday from 11:00 to 18:00, on Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00

Where: 3340 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg

Cost: $30 for one-day general admission, $50 for a two-day ticket; $35 at the gate; or $15 for a youth or designated driver. Children 12 and under are free.

During the festival at Granite Hill Camping Resort, guests will be able to taste and purchase wine from 27 wineries and distilleries, according to a press release.

The event also includes concerts, handicraft stands and food stalls.

For more information, visit www.gettysburgwineandmusicfestival.com.

Latin Music Festival

When: Saturday, September 14

Opening hours: from 10:00 to 21:00

Where: Penn Park, 100 W. College Ave.

Celebrate Latin culture at this festival featuring food trucks, live music, singers, dancers and vendors.

Festival participants will be able to taste both traditional dishes and their modern interpretations.

It is presented by the non-profit organization For the Love Inc.

Snack Town Fall Festival

When: Saturday, September 14

Opening hours: from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where: Moul Field, 151 Moul Avenue, Hanover

According to the website, the free event will feature food trucks, a beer garden for guests over 21, family attractions, craft stands and live music.

This will be the 20th anniversary of Rocky 98.5’s Battle of the Bands. The contest was previously held at York Fair. Now it’s moved to Hanover.

The finalists of the Battle of the Bands competition are: The Rust Hounds, Colin Alvarez Band and Heads or Tails Experience.

For more information, visit snacktownfallfest.com.

Historic East Berlin Autumn Festival

When: Saturday, September 14

When: from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: East Berlin Area Community Center, 405 North Ave., East Berlin

The festival will feature food trucks, book sales and 30 local artisans. Items for sale will include chainsaw crafts, homemade candy, antique reproductions and more, according to a Facebook post.

For more information, visit the community center’s Facebook page.

New Freedom Festival

When: Saturday, September 21

Opening hours: from 10:00 to 17:00

Where: New Freedom Center, Pa.

The fall festival includes live entertainment, an Oktoberfest tent with local breweries, pumpkin painting, animals, arts and crafts, food and more. It starts at 10 a.m., according to a Facebook post.

For more information, visit www.newfreedomheritage.org.

Sweet Potato Festival

When: Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22

Opening hours: Saturday from 9:00 to 16:00, Sunday from 11:00 to 16:00

Where: Thomason’s Olde Thyme Herb Farm and Gift Shop, 170 Stoney Point Road, Reading Township

During the 11th edition of the event, you can listen to live music, taste sweet potato fries, soup, funnel cake and whoopie pies.

For more information, visit the company’s Facebook page.

Shrewsbury Autumn Fire Festival

When: Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28

Opening hours: Friday from 3:00pm to 8:00pm, Saturday from 11:00am to 8:00pm

Where: 21 W. Forrest Ave., Shrewsbury

The two-day event will feature food trucks, a beer garden, fairground rides and live entertainment. A fireworks display will take place on Friday at 8pm.

For more information, visit shrewsburyfire.com.

Horn Farm Center’s Wild and Unusual Papaya Festival

When: Saturday, September 28

Opening hours: from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Horn Farm Agricultural Education Center, 4945 Horn Road, Hellam Township

Cost: $7 for general admission (offsite parking with shuttle); $15 for VIP ticket (onsite parking); or $20 for premium early bird admission (9:00-10:00 a.m. only with onsite parking)

This flagship event is currently part of the Wild & Uncommon Weekend and features a range of activities including a cooking class, hikes and an after-party.

Tickets must be purchased in advance for the festival. They are available here: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/horn-farm-center/pawpaw-festival

The festival features local vendors, food trucks, plant nurseries, and educational activities.

For a full list of classes, visit hornfarmcenter.org.

Fall Festival at Hueter Greenhouses

When: Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29

Opening hours: from 10:00 to 17:00

Where: 3465 Deininger Road, Springettsbury Borough

According to the company’s Facebook page, the harvest season will be celebrated with food stands, craft booths, live music, photo opportunities, a bonfire and marshmallow roast, and more.

Pumpkins, fall flowers, hay and other items will be available for sale, according to reports.

For more information, visit the company’s Facebook page.

Oktoberfest at Wyndridge Farm

When: From noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 6th

Where: 885 S. Pleasant Ave., Dallastown, PA

The free event will feature live music, apple decorating, hay wagon rides and a mug-holding contest.

For more information, visit wyndridge.com.

National Apple Picking Festival

When: October 5 and 6; October 12 and 13

Opening hours: Saturdays from 8:00 to 18:00, Sundays from 8:00 to 17:00

Where: South Mountain Fairgrounds, 615 Narrows Road, Menallen Township

Cost: $10 for ages 12 and older; $9 for seniors ages 60 and older; $9 for military with ID (at the gate); $17 for two-day flexible admission for ages 12 and older; children under 12 are free.

Head to the South Mountain Fairgrounds for entertainment, food, horse-drawn carriage rides and arts and crafts. This family-friendly event includes pony rides, a petting zoo and puppet shows.

During the festival, you can enjoy all kinds of apple delicacies, including butter, cider, jelly and applesauce.

According to the website, the majority of the money raised during the event goes back to the community and other local, state and national charities.

For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.appleharvest.com.

Fall Drinking & Enjoying 2024

When: Saturday, October 12th

Opening hours: 13:30 to 17:00

Where: York City Centre

Stroll through downtown York, visit businesses, and sample artisan beverages and food. Stops along the way include the Colonial Complex – York History Center and the newly renovated Yorktowne Hotel.

Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Downtown York Inc.

For more information, visit downtownyorkpa.com.

Yorktoberfest

When: Saturday, October 12th

Opening hours: From noon to 5:00 p.m.

Where: York Memorial Park, Vander Avenue

Cost: Ticket prices range from $11.50 to $79.75

During the event, participants have the opportunity to taste wine and beer while listening to live music.

Between 20 and 30 breweries from the region will take part in it.

For more information, visit yorktoberfest.com.

Oyster Festival

When: Sunday, October 20

Opening hours: from 11:00 to 16:00

Where: Colonial Complex, 157 W. Market St. (on Pershing Avenue between Market and Philadelphia Streets)

This year marks the 50th annual York County History Center Oyster Festival. According to its website, the festival began after oyster shells were discovered during an archaeological dig behind the Plough Tavern.

Attendees can enjoy seafood including oysters in the shell and steamed shrimp, as well as desserts such as York County apple fritters. Local food, beer and wine are also served.

The event programme includes live concerts, children’s activities, demonstrations and performances by craftsmen.

For more information, visit yorkhistorycenter.org.

New Oxford Harvest Day Festival and Parade

When: Saturday, October 26

Opening hours: from 10:00 to 16:00

Where: New Oxford Circle, New Oxford

New Oxford is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and the festival will include an exhibition dedicated to the heritage and history of the borough.

The event will feature artists, craft stands, a kids’ zone, food and many other attractions.

The parade will begin at 3:00 p.m. at New Oxford High School.

For more information, visit newoxford.org.

2nd Annual Dover Fall Food Truck Festival

When: Sunday, October 27

Where: from 11:00 to 15:00

Where: Brookside Park, 4054 Fox Run Road, Dover Borough

According to a Facebook post, the free event will feature more than 10 food trucks, live music, and a haunted house.

Teresa Boeckel is a trends reporter for the York Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Contact her at [email protected], by phone at 717-771-2031 or on X (formerly known as Twitter) @teresaboeckel.

This article originally appeared in the York Daily Record: 2024 fall festivals in York and Adams counties focus on harvest and fun