🎃 Fall Exclusive Events Around Raleigh You Can’t Miss!

Fall in Raleigh is one of the best times of the year — crisp air, colorful leaves, and a calendar full of amazing local events! Whether you’re after pumpkins, thrills, or cozy seasonal fun, I’ve rounded up the best fall experiences in and around Raleigh — plus insider tips and tricks from my recent visits to help you make the most of each one.

And make sure to stick around until the end — I’ll share the secret to snagging Raleigh’s hardest Christmas tickets to get!

🌾 Best Family Farms Around Raleigh

The Triangle is packed with family farms that go all out for fall. Each has its own charm, but these stand out for their special features:

1. Hill Ridge Farms (Youngsville) – Best Pumpkin Patch

Known for one of the best Christmas light displays in the Triangle, Hill Ridge Farms shines just as bright in the fall. Take a tractor ride out to a massive pumpkin field where everyone gets a free pumpkin with admission!

They’ve got everything from train rides and carousels to a giant slide, bounce houses, and even a few animals to feed.
🕒 Pro tip: Go early! They’re open Wednesday–Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and mornings are less crowded. Check their site for food truck weekends before you go.

2. Phillips Farm (Cary) – Best Games

If variety is your thing, Phillips Farm delivers. There are tons of yard games, climbing structures, bounce zones, and even an apple cannon that shoots across a pond!

Enjoy tractor rides, ATV pulls, a corn maze, gemstone mining, and a giant slide.
🕒 When to go: Open Thursday–Friday afternoons, Saturday 10–6, and Sunday afternoons. Thursdays and Fridays are your best bet for lighter crowds.

3. Page Farms (RDU Area) – Best Location

It’s rare to find a farm this close to the city! Page Farms offers everything from hayrides and shaded ATV pulls to playgrounds and a corn maze with slides inside.

🕒 Timing tip: Open daily (except Mondays) through October 31, but go early in the day and earlier in the season for the best pumpkins. Avoid weekend midday hours — parking can get tricky!

4. Kenney’s Korn Maze (South Garner) – Best Corn Maze

Looking for a real challenge? Kenney’s Korn Maze features towering, dense corn stalks with multiple difficulty levels — plus it’s open after dark for a spooky, illuminated maze experience.

There are also tractor rides, yard games, slides, animals, and even a garden center for pumpkins, produce, and plants.
🕒 Best time to visit: Friday–Sunday afternoons. Sundays are usually the least crowded!

5. Naylor Family Farm (Fuquay-Varina) – Best Animal Experience

With the best petting zoo around, Naylor Family Farm is packed with fun — from a pirate ship playground and ATV pulls to a hayride with live actors.
🕒 Open every day starting in October, making it super easy to fit into your schedule!

6. Spring Haven Farm (Chapel Hill) – Best Pumpkin Carving Experience

Carve pumpkins with baby goats — yes, really! Kids love this one, and the goats happily snack on pumpkin leftovers.

There are other animals, games under covered areas, and tractor rides.
🕒 Tip: Buy tickets early for non-peak hours — it’s small and gets crowded fast.

🎡 NC State Fair – October 16–26

No Raleigh fall is complete without the NC State Fair at the fairgrounds! From thrilling rides to over-the-top fair food (you will regret and love it at the same time), it’s a can’t-miss tradition.

Check out our full State Fair Guide for tips on parking, best times to go, and must-try eats.

👻 Haunted Attractions Around Raleigh

If you love a good scare, these are the spots to check out:

• Clayton Fear Farm – Haunted hayrides and eerie farm trails every Friday and Saturday night.
  
  

• Panic Point (Youngsville) – Haunted forest, cornfield, and multiple haunted trails. Buy tickets early — it gets packed! Fast passes available.
  
  

• Phillips Farm Haunted Experience – Three haunted houses, a wagon ride, and roaming characters Friday & Saturday nights.
  
  

Prefer storytelling over jump scares?
Try the Raleigh Haunted Trolley Tour (includes a nighttime walk through Historic Oakwood Cemetery) or the Raleigh Ghost Tour for eerie tales from downtown landmarks.
Downtown Cary also has its own haunted walking tour worth checking out.

💀 Bonus Tip: For jaw-dropping (and R-rated!) Halloween décor, stroll through Historic Oakwood — one house in particular is famous for going all out.

🍺 Oktoberfests & Fall Festivals

If spooky isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of cozy, festive fun too!

• Oktoberfest Celebrations – Local breweries and parks host beer, food, and music-filled events throughout the Triangle.
  
  

• Falling for Local (Dix Park) – Celebrate local vendors, enjoy tons of food trucks, inflatables for kids, and even ATV pulls. Great for families!
  
  

• Moonlight in the Garden (JC Raulston Arboretum) – Stroll through illuminated gardens at night with live music and food. Tickets sell fast — grab them early!
  
  

🍁 Outdoor Adventures

Raleigh’s parks and trails are stunning in the fall. Some top picks for soaking in the color:

• Lake Johnson & Lake Wheeler – Peaceful trails and water views.
  
  

• Neuse River Greenway Trail – Long scenic stretches perfect for biking or walking.
  
  

• Umstead Park – Miles of wooded trails close to the city.
  
  

• Eno River Trails (Durham) – Arguably the best hiking near the Triangle.
  
  

🎄 Bonus Tip: How to Get Raleigh’s Hardest Christmas Ticket

The Holiday Express at Pullen Park is Raleigh’s most in-demand holiday event — and this year, the process to get tickets has changed!

📅 Tickets go on sale October 14th at 9:00 a.m.
This year, it’s through Ticketmaster (no more virtual queue system).

Here’s how to boost your odds:

1. Log into Ticketmaster by 8:50 a.m.
   
   

2. Search for “Holiday Express at Pullen Park.”
   
   

3. Have your payment ready and select multiple days/times you can attend.
   
   

4. Avoid Friday/Saturday nights (6–7 p.m.) — they sell out first.
   
   

5. Weeknights or later times are easier to grab, but note: 9 p.m. rides can be chilly!
   
   

At 9:00 a.m. sharp, refresh the page and go for it. Let me know in the comments how your ticket hunt goes this year!

🍂 Wrapping Up

From pumpkin patches to haunted trails, Oktoberfests to glowing gardens, fall in Raleigh truly has something for everyone.
Whether you’re planning family fun, date nights, or solo adventures, you’ll find countless ways to make the most of this gorgeous season.

And don’t forget to check out my NC State Fair Guide for insider tips — and stay tuned for my next roundup of the best Christmas events around Raleigh!