There’s something about fall on Long Island that makes me want to get out and do all the things.
After a busy summer of beaches, road trips, and trying to fit as much as possible into those long summer days, fall feels a little different. The weather cools down, the leaves start changing, and suddenly we’re thinking about apple picking, pumpkin patches, cider donuts, fall festivals, and finding somewhere fun to spend a Saturday.
And honestly, this is one of my favorite times of the year to explore as a family.
If you’re looking for fall activities on Long Island with kids, there are so many options that you definitely don’t have to do everything—or spend every fall weekend driving all over the Island.
This guide is about choosing the activities that actually sound fun for your family, whether that’s spending an entire afternoon at a farm, taking a fall walk, finding the perfect pumpkin, enjoying a local festival, or simply grabbing some cider donuts and calling it a successful fall day.
Whether you’re looking for pumpkin patches, apple picking, outdoor adventures, or simply things to do on Long Island in the fall, these are some of the activities I’d put on our family fall bucket list.
Go Apple Picking on Long Island
Apple picking is one of those classic fall activities that never really gets old.
There’s just something different about picking the apples yourself, walking through the orchard, and inevitably coming home with way more apples than you planned.
Long Island has plenty of orchards and farms where families can pick their own apples, particularly as you head farther east.
Harbes Orchard in Riverhead is one popular option for apple picking on Long Island, with different apple varieties available throughout the picking season.
Another option is Lewin Farms in Calverton, where families looking for a more traditional farm experience can combine seasonal picking with other fall activities.
If you’re planning an apple-picking day, I would always check directly with the farm before making the drive. What’s available can change throughout the season depending on weather, crowds, and what’s ready to pick.
And, of course, don’t forget the cider donuts.
Honestly, sometimes I think those are half the reason we go to fall farms in the first place.
A Little Tip Before You Go Apple Picking
Don’t assume every farm works the same way.
Some charge admission, some charge by the bag, and others offer activities separately. Weekend crowds can also get pretty intense once fall really gets going.
If your schedule allows it, going earlier in the day—or even on a weekday—can make the experience much more relaxed.
And wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. An orchard after a rainy day is probably not the place for the brand-new sneakers.
Spend the Day at a Long Island Fall Farm
If you want more than apple picking, make a full day out of visiting one of Long Island’s family farms.
This is probably one of the easiest ways to check several things off your fall bucket list at once.
Depending on the farm and when you visit, you may find:
- Pumpkin picking
- Corn mazes
- Hayrides
- Barnyard animals
- Play areas
- Seasonal food
- Cider donuts
- Farm stands
- Fall photo spots
- Live entertainment or special events
Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck and Waterdrinker Family Farm in Manorville are two well-known options for families looking for that bigger fall-farm experience.
But bigger isn’t always better.
Sometimes a smaller farm with a pumpkin patch, hayride, and a few treats is exactly what we need.
Before choosing one, I like to look at what’s actually included with admission because fall farm visits can get expensive pretty quickly once you’re paying for several people.
MONEY-SAVING TIP: Decide what your family actually wants to do before choosing the farm. If the kids really only care about picking a pumpkin, you may not need the farm with the biggest activity package.
Go Pumpkin Picking on Long Island
Of course, we can’t talk about fall activities on Long Island with kids without pumpkin picking.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin to carve, a tiny one for decorating, or just an excuse to take those adorable fall photos, visiting a pumpkin patch is one of those traditions that really makes it feel like fall.
There are plenty of options for pumpkin picking on Long Island, especially as you head farther into Suffolk County and toward the East End.
Some farms let you pick pumpkins directly from the field, while others have pumpkins gathered into a designated patch. You’ll also find farms that combine pumpkin picking with hayrides, corn mazes, playgrounds, animals, and other activities.
Personally, I think it’s worth deciding what kind of experience you’re looking for before you go.
If you want an entire day of activities, choose one of the bigger farm experiences.
If you really just want pumpkins and a few fall photos, a simpler farm may save you both money and time.
And here’s one lesson I’ve definitely learned about fall weekends on Long Island:
Leave early.
The traffic heading east can become part of the experience—and not in a good way.
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Get Lost in a Long Island Corn Maze
A corn maze sounds so simple until you’re actually standing in the middle of one wondering if you’ve passed the same turn three times.
That’s part of the fun.
Corn mazes on Long Island are especially good for families with school-age kids because everyone can participate. Let the kids lead the way, split into teams if the maze allows it, and see who can figure out how to get out first.
Several Long Island farms include corn mazes as part of their fall activities, although some require a separate ticket.
Before purchasing admission, check whether the maze is included and how difficult it is. Some are designed with younger kids in mind, while others can take quite a while to complete.
And if your sense of direction is anything like mine, maybe don’t promise the kids you’ll be the one getting everyone out. 😂
Take a Fall Hayride
There’s something so simple about a hayride, but kids love them.
You climb aboard, ride around the farm, enjoy the fall scenery, and for a few minutes nobody has to decide what activity you’re doing next.
I’ll take it.
Many Long Island farms offer hayrides during the fall season, and some include them with admission while others charge separately.
If you’re visiting with younger children, a daytime hayride can also be a great alternative to some of the scarier Halloween activities that start popping up later in the season.
Enjoy Fall at Adventureland
Fall fun doesn’t have to mean farms and pumpkin patches.
Adventureland in Farmingdale is another option for families who want to mix amusement park fun into their fall plans.
If you’ve followed our Long Island adventures for a while, you already know Adventureland is one of those local places we come back to.
The park has offered seasonal fall programming and promotions, so I always recommend checking what’s happening before you visit. Fall can be such a nice time to enjoy the park because the weather is cooler than those really hot summer days.
READ NEXT: Adventureland Daylight Savings Discount: The Best Fall Family Activity on Long Island
This is one of the reasons I love having different options on our fall list. Not every kid wants to spend every weekend walking through an orchard, and sometimes rides, games, and amusement park snacks sound pretty good too.
Enjoy the Fall Foliage on Long Island
Not every fall activity needs a ticket.
Some of our best family days are the simple ones.
Pack some snacks, put on comfortable shoes, and head somewhere you can walk and enjoy the cooler weather.
There are plenty of parks, trails, preserves, and outdoor spaces where families can enjoy the fall foliage on Long Island once the leaves start changing.
And with younger kids, you can turn an ordinary walk into a little fall scavenger hunt.
See who can find:
- A red leaf
- A yellow leaf
- An acorn
- A pinecone
- Something orange
- A funny-shaped leaf
- A squirrel
- The biggest leaf you can find
You don’t need to buy anything, and kids have something to focus on besides asking how much farther they have to walk.
Turn Your Fall Walk Into a Little Nature Adventure
If your kids enjoy exploring, you can also bring along something simple like kids’ binoculars, a magnifying glass, or a little nature bag for collecting leaves and other treasures.
I wouldn’t go overboard buying things for a nature walk, though. The whole point is that this can be one of those easy, inexpensive family-friendly fall activities that doesn’t require much planning.
Plan a Fall Picnic
Fall picnic weather might actually be better than summer picnic weather.
No blazing sun.
Fewer complaints about being too hot.
And everything just feels a little cozier.
Pack sandwiches, fruit, snacks, and something warm to drink and head to a local park.
You could even stop at a farm stand first and add some fresh apples or cider donuts to your picnic.
This is also a really easy way to create a fall family outing without spending much money.
Bring a blanket, a ball or outdoor game for the kids, and let everyone enjoy being outside before winter makes outdoor plans a little more complicated.
Look for Long Island Fall Festivals and Community Events
Another thing I love about this time of year is how many Long Island fall festivals and community events start popping up.
Depending on where you live, you may find pumpkin decorating, children’s activities, food vendors, live music, crafts, harvest celebrations, costume events, and plenty of other seasonal activities.
And some of them are completely free to attend.
Others may be free to enter but charge for food or individual activities once you’re there.
Because these events and dates change from year to year, I wouldn’t plan your entire fall around a list you found months ago.
Instead, check your town calendar, local library, parks department, and community event listings as fall gets closer.
By October, you’ll usually find even more things to do on Long Island with kids, especially as fall festivals start overlapping with Halloween events.
Visit a Farm Stand for Fall Treats
You don’t necessarily need to spend an entire day at a farm to enjoy one of my favorite parts of fall.
The food.
Stop at a farm stand and pick up something seasonal.
Fresh apples, cider, pies, donuts, baked goods, local produce—whatever looks good.
This can also be an easy addition to another fall activity.
Maybe you spend the morning taking a walk somewhere, stop at a farm stand on the way home, and suddenly it feels like you had a full fall adventure without planning an entire itinerary.
And yes, if there are fresh cider donuts, they’re probably coming home with us.
Take a Fall Drive Out East
Sometimes the activity is simply the drive.
Once the leaves start changing, heading farther east can make for such a pretty family day.
Pick one main destination rather than trying to stop everywhere.
Maybe it’s an orchard.
Maybe it’s a pumpkin farm.
Maybe it’s lunch somewhere followed by a farm stand.
One thing I would avoid is trying to squeeze five different East End stops into the same Saturday.
Between traffic, parking, and getting everyone in and out of the car, that can turn a relaxing fall day into the exact opposite.
I’d rather choose one or two places we really want to experience and enjoy them without rushing.
Add Some Not-Too-Scary Halloween Fun
As October gets closer, our fall bucket list naturally starts becoming a little more Halloween-focused.
But Halloween activities on Long Island with kids don’t necessarily need to be scary.
Look for things like:
- Daytime Halloween events
- Costume parades
- Pumpkin decorating
- Trick-or-treat events
- Family-friendly haunted walks
- Halloween crafts
- Character events
- Fall amusement park events
Especially with younger kids, I like having options where Halloween feels festive and fun without being too scary.
This is also a topic that deserves its own guide, so rather than turning this entire article into a Halloween events calendar, we can keep this section focused on the types of activities families can look for each year.
Have a Rainy-Day Fall Backup Plan
Fall weather doesn’t always cooperate with our weekend plans.
You can plan the perfect pumpkin-picking day and then wake up Saturday morning to rain.
That doesn’t mean the whole day is ruined.
Keep a few indoor options in mind so you don’t have to start searching for something to do at the last minute.
Museums, indoor play spaces, creative activities, bowling, arcades, and other indoor attractions can all save a rainy fall weekend.
I’ve already put together some of our favorite indoor play places on Long Island, which is a great place to start when outdoor plans aren’t happening.
READ NEXT: Best Indoor Play Long Island Has to Offer
I love this option because you can keep the fall family plans without spending the entire morning staring out the window hoping the rain stops.
Make a Fall Day Trip Out of It
If you’ve already done the pumpkin patches, apple picking, and local Long Island fall activities—or you simply feel like going somewhere different—fall is also one of my favorite seasons for a family road trip.
Cooler temperatures make walking and exploring much more comfortable, and the fall scenery makes the drive part of the experience.
I’ve put together a complete guide to some of our favorite day trips from NYC with kids, including small towns, waterfalls, parks, and other family adventures worth the drive.
READ NEXT: Best Day Trips From NYC With Kids: Family Adventures Worth the Drive
You definitely don’t need to travel far to enjoy fall, but sometimes a free Saturday is the perfect excuse to get in the car and explore somewhere new.
What Should You Pack for a Fall Day Out With Kids?
I’ve learned that fall outings are much easier when I keep a few basics with us.
The temperature can change quite a bit throughout the day, especially if we’re leaving early in the morning and staying out until later in the afternoon.
Depending on what we’re doing, I usually think about bringing:
- Reusable water bottles
- Snacks
- Comfortable shoes
- Light jackets or layers
- Sunscreen
- Hand wipes
- Portable phone charger
- Small first-aid kit
- Extra socks for farm days
- A bag for muddy or wet clothes
- Reusable tote for apples, pumpkins, or anything we pick up
A portable charger is one thing I especially like having on longer days. Between directions, taking pictures and videos, looking up tickets, and checking attraction information, my phone battery can disappear quickly.
And if you want a more complete packing list, I have an entire guide to the travel essentials we like to keep with us on family adventures.
READ NEXT: Your Ultimate Guide to Must-Have Travel Essentials
You don’t need to pack half the house. I just like having enough with us that one wet pair of socks or a dying phone battery doesn’t become the thing everyone remembers about the day.
How Can You Save Money on Fall Activities on Long Island?
This is worth talking about because fall family activities can add up quickly.
Admission.
Parking.
Pumpkins.
Apple bags.
Food.
Hayrides.
Corn mazes.
And somehow everyone wants a cider donut before you’ve even made it through the entrance.
Before visiting a farm or attraction, check exactly what’s included in the admission price.
Sometimes paying a little more for an all-inclusive ticket makes sense if your kids want to do everything.
Other times, you’re better off choosing a smaller farm or activity where you’re only paying for what you actually want to do.
A few other ways I try to keep fall outings reasonable:
- Look for free community fall festivals.
- Pack snacks and water when outside food is permitted.
- Choose one main paid activity for the day.
- Check online for advance-purchase pricing.
- Visit parks and trails for completely free fall days.
- Check your local library for family programs and seasonal events.
- Don’t feel like you have to visit every popular farm you see on Instagram.
That last one is important.
Fall isn’t supposed to become another checklist we’re stressed about finishing.
When Is the Best Time for Fall Activities on Long Island With Kids?
For most families, September and October are the big months for fall activities on Long Island with kids.
Apple picking tends to start first, followed by peak pumpkin season and more Halloween activities as we get closer to October.
But the exact timing changes every year.
Weather affects crops, fall foliage doesn’t follow an exact calendar, and seasonal events can change dates.
That’s why I always recommend checking directly with the farm, park, or attraction before making the drive—especially if there’s one specific activity you’re hoping to do.
For popular farms, I’d also check whether advance tickets or reservations are required.
What If We Only Have One Fall Weekend?
This is probably my favorite way to think about it.
If we only had one free fall weekend on Long Island, I wouldn’t try to do everything.
I’d choose one main fall experience.
For example:
Morning: Apple or pumpkin picking
Lunch: Something easy nearby or food at the farm
Afternoon: Corn maze, hayride, or simply explore
Before heading home: Cider donuts or a farm stand
That’s enough.
You get the pumpkins.
You get the fall photos.
The kids get an activity.
Everyone gets something good to eat.
And you don’t spend the entire day rushing from one place to another.
Sometimes the simplest days are the ones we end up enjoying the most.
Our Long Island Family Fall Bucket List
There are so many fall activities on Long Island with kids that it’s easy to feel like you need to fit everything into September and October.
You don’t.
Pick the things your family actually enjoys.
Go apple picking.
Find the perfect pumpkin.
Get lost in a corn maze.
Take a hayride.
Spend an afternoon at Adventureland.
Walk through the changing leaves.
Find a free local fall festival.
Or just drive out east, grab some cider donuts, and enjoy being together.
That’s really what I love about fall around here.
We don’t need a huge trip or an elaborate plan to make a good family memory. Sometimes all we need is a free Saturday, some comfortable shoes, way too many snacks, and somewhere new to explore.
And if we happen to come home with a bag of apples and a dozen cider donuts?
I’d call that a pretty successful fall day.
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