October might be one of the best months of the year to be in Western New York. The leaves begin changing, pumpkins fill the farms, cider and donuts are everywhere, and communities throughout the region celebrate the arrival of fall with festivals, hayrides, haunted attractions, craft shows and Halloween events.

Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly afternoon, a scenic fall drive, a festival with food and entertainment, or something a little scarier after dark, there are plenty of options. Here are some of the fall events worth putting on your October calendar.

The Great Pumpkin Farm — Clarence

Great Pumpkin Farm is one of Western New York’s signature fall destinations. Located at 11199 Main Street in Clarence, the farm’s 2026 Fall Festival runs September 19 through October 31, with festival weekends running 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Weekday admission is free, while weekend festival admission is $20.

There is plenty to do beyond picking out a pumpkin. Weekend admission includes attractions such as hayrides through the Enchanted Forest, the Pumpkin Hill Slide, pedal-kart rides, live entertainment, the Big Oak Express Train, Boo Barn and more. There are also additional attractions including the 5-acre corn maze, apple cannons and Zombie Train.

October schedule

• October 3–4: World Pumpkin Weigh-Off, Bubble Show, Zombies in the Maze and Pumpkin Olympics.
• October 10–12: Checkers the Inventor, Clowns in the Cornmaze and Pumpkin Olympics.
• October 17–18: Reptile Days featuring Caveman Critters. Shows are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
• October 24–25: Bubble Show and Zombies in the Maze.
• October 31: Halloween finale with costume contests and Zombies in the Maze.

One of the biggest annual attractions is the World Pumpkin Weigh-Off, scheduled for Saturday, October 3 at noon.

For anyone looking for a traditional fall outing, Great Pumpkin Farm offers just about everything you’d expect: pumpkins, hayrides, corn mazes, cider, donuts, farm animals and Halloween attractions.

Ellicottville Fall Festival — October 10–11

Ellicottville Fall Festival is another October tradition that should be on any Western New York fall calendar.

The 2026 Ellicottville Fall Festival takes place Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11. The village turns into a large outdoor celebration featuring a four-block arts and crafts show, food, shopping, live entertainment and fall activities.

At Holiday Valley, visitors can take the chairlift to the top of the mountain for food, drinks, music and spectacular views of the surrounding fall foliage. The chairlift is scheduled to run noon to 4 p.m. both days.

The festival is especially appealing because you can make an entire day out of it. Walk through the village, browse the craft vendors, grab lunch, visit the local shops and restaurants, and then head up the mountain for the scenery.

For music, additional Fall Festival entertainment is scheduled at local establishments throughout the weekend, including performances at Villaggio on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

If you’re looking for fall colors, small-town atmosphere and plenty of things happening in one location, Ellicottville is one of the major October destinations in WNY.

Haunted Forest — Clarence

If pumpkins and hayrides aren’t enough and you’re looking for something scarier, The Haunted Forest at 11199 Main Street in Clarence provides an evening Halloween experience.

The attraction features nighttime haunted experiences, including haunted trails and other scare attractions. Current listings show the attraction operating on Thursday through Sunday evenings, with hours generally beginning around 7 p.m. and extending later on Friday and Saturday nights.

The convenient part is that it is located at the same Main Street address as the Great Pumpkin Farm, making it possible to enjoy a fall festival during the day and return for a Halloween experience after dark.

👻 Becker Farms Haunted Hayride — Gasport

For a classic haunted hayride experience, head north to Becker Farms Haunted Hay Rides in Gasport.

Becker Farms @ Night is scheduled for October 16–18, October 23–25 and October 30, 2026. The evening experience includes a wagon ride through the woods, a walk-through scare attraction and the option to reserve a private campfire. The published event schedule lists the nighttime experience from approximately 6–10 p.m., with the haunted hayride event itself running into the evening.

This is a good choice for people who want more than just a haunted house. You get the combination of a farm setting, wagon ride, Halloween scares and a campfire atmosphere.

🚜 A Traditional Fall Farm Experience

For something less frightening, Western New York has plenty of farms where you can spend an afternoon enjoying pumpkins, animals, corn mazes and hayrides.

Kelkenberg Farm in Clarence Center is another local farm destination offering fall activities, while Awald Farms – Giant Pumpkin Farm in North Collins provides another option for pumpkins and a traditional fall farm atmosphere.

For families with younger children, these smaller farm experiences can provide a quieter alternative to the larger festivals.

🎃 Make October a Western New York Fall Tradition

The great thing about October in Western New York is that you don’t have to choose just one event.

You could spend October 3 at the Great Pumpkin Farm watching giant pumpkins compete in the World Pumpkin Weigh-Off, return the following weekend for Ellicottville’s Fall Festival, and then spend an October evening at Becker Farms for a haunted hayride.

And if Halloween is your thing, the final two weekends of October provide plenty of opportunities to visit haunted attractions, corn mazes and Halloween-themed events.

From the mountains of Ellicottville to the pumpkin fields of Clarence and the farms of Niagara County, October provides plenty of reasons to get outside and enjoy Western New York.

So grab a sweatshirt, a cup of hot apple cider and maybe a pumpkin or two — fall has arrived in WNY. 🍎🎃