15 Fun Things to Do in Center City Philadelphia This Fall

The air is a little crisper and the leaves are turning color and dusting the sidewalks, but luckily there is still plenty of time for outdoor activities in Center City Philadelphia before winter kicks in.

Here are 15 fun things to do in Center City Philadelphia this fall:

1. Oktoberfest/Beer Festivals

Enjoy being outdoors while you can by attending some of the Oktoberfest/Beer Festivals that will be going on in and around Center Philadelphia. There is usually plenty of fun for both adults and kids alike. Check out the 23rd Street Armory Oktoberfest, Roxtoberfest in Roxborough and Bloktoberfest on South Street.

2. Center City District Restaurant Week

If you and your friends or significant other like trying new restaurants, then don’t miss this year’s Center City District Restaurant Week which will last until October 5. More than 110 restaurants are offering signature three-course dinners for $35 per person and some are also offering three-course lunches for $20 per guesut.

3. Apple Festival at Peddler’s Village

Do you and your kids love everything apple? Then you will want to get to Peddler’s Village in Bucks County for its annual Apple Festival.

During this weekend, you will get your fill of apple pies, apple butter, apple cider and caramel apples, oh my! You and your family will also be able to enjoy live music, pie-eating contests as well as arts and crafts for sale. There is always something fun for the kids to do and admissions is free.

4. Longwood Gardens in the Fall

When you think of Longwood Gardens, you probably associate it more with springtime with all the blooming of beautiful flowers or maybe even Christmas time with all the holiday light displays, but did you know it is pretty hopping in the fall time too?

Enjoy the colorful fall foliage in the outdoor gardens and let the kids enjoy the Pumpkin Playground and Garden Railway. Fall has so many beautiful, cool plants and flowers. It is not just the spring time that is known for its colorful plumage.

Also while you are there, amble through the 86-acre, outdoor Meadow Garden which includes three miles of walking and hiking trails and colorful wildflower fields. Make sure everyone is wearing comfortable shoes!

For the horror-loving members of your family who love a good scare during Halloween, the check out these more ghoulish fall activities available:

5. Terror Behind the Walls

If you love haunted houses, then don’t miss this year’s Terror Behind the Walls at the Eastern State Penintentiary that is offering scary thrills on select dates this fall. With all the cool special effects, animatronics and ghoulish props, you will think you are on the set of Hollywood horror film. Throughout the abandoned prison you will be able to experience six separate goose-bumping raising attractions.

6. The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride

Looking for more scary thrills? In Glenn Mills in Delaware County, you can scare yourself still at The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride through October 31, 2018 on select dates. Step into one of the scariest horror movies in Hollywood history that still fascinates people today. The combination of professional performers, pyrotechnics and animatronics will have you screaming your head off. Don’t forget to also check out the Revenge of the Scared Crows Haunted Trail.

7. Pumpkin Picking Fun

Now is the time to get a lot of outdoor fun in and what better way than to take the family out to pick pumpkins. Buying them from the supermarket is just not as fun as heading out to a farm and getting out there and picking your own. There are a lot of family-friendly pumpkin farms in the Philadelphia area like Nonesuch Farm and Shady Brook Farm. Besides plenty of ripe pumpkins, they offer hayrides, cornstalk mazes as well as other fun kid activities and a lot of delicious goodies to enjoy. There is plenty of adult fun too with live music and arts and crafts.

8. The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place

For the littlest of the little in your clan, Halloween at Sesame Place might be the right speed of Halloween fun. Sesame Place will be transformed into a kid-friendly Halloween party central. Dress your little ones in their Halloween costumes and let them enjoy some special Count von-Count rides and the Neighborhood Street Party Halloween Parade. And if you are still having fun at 8 p.m., you will get to experience the special night time parade with cool Halloween lights.

Then if it is rainy or just now quite outdoor, whether check out all the different museums in the Center City Philadelphia area:

9. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

If your kids are more art lovers, then they will love a family trip to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where they can explore the galleries and discuss the work. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is located at 118-128 North Broad Street in Philadelphia.

10. Philadelphia Museum of Art

Of course, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is also a mecca for artists with its over 200 galleries of painting, artifacts and architecture from all over the world and from different time periods. Ask about museum tours to experience the museum to the fullest. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located at 26th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

11. Rodin Museum

At the Rodin Museum, you and your family can check out 124 sculptures as well as bronze casts, drawings and prints, all the work of Auguste Rodin. The Rodin Museum is located at 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.

12. Franklin Institute

At the Franklin Institute, you and your kids can climb up in the giant heart and learn about space exploration and other cool medical and scientific advancements. There are plenty of live shows and hands-on exhibits to keep everyone enthralled. Also be sure to check out the IMAX, planetarium and 3D theater. The Franklin Institute is located at 221 North St. in Philadelphia.

13. Academy of Natural Sciences

Not far from the Franklin Institute is the Academy of Natural Sciences where you can learn more about creatures of our present and past including dinosaurs. Your kids will love digging for fossils and all the other special hands-on activities held there. The Academy of Natural Science is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

14. Please Touch Museum

The Please Touch Museum is completely hand-on for your kids’ enjoyment. There are two floors of interactive exhibits including a kid-size supermarket, hospital and construction zone. And there are always special exhibits going on as well. The Please Touch Museum is located at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, 4231 Avenue of the Republic in Philadelphia.

15. Adventure Aquarium

Just over the river in Camden, your water babies will get a kick out of learning about marine life, from the big guys like sharks and dolphins to the little translucent creatures in the deepest darkest part of the ocean. Adventure Aquarium is located at 1 Riverside Drive in Camden, NJ.

These are just the tip of the iceberg on all the cool fall family events happening in the Philadelphia area. There is absolutely no reason to be holed up in your home on electronics this fall. Get out there and enjoy all the sights and sounds fall has to offer you this year.