Whether you’re a local or just visiting, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to embrace the season and celebrate with family. Here are 12 must-attend family-friendly events that will make your fall in the Springfield area one to remember.
Cider Days
Head to Springfield’s Historic Walnut Street to celebrate the fall season at Cider Days. The two-day festival features live performances, delicious food, arts and crafts and apple cider.
Why It’s Family Friendly: The variety of food and merchandise vendors, live entertainment, and the whole family can come, including your pups!
When: Sept. 21–22, 2024
Where: Walnut Street Historic District in Springfield
Gardener’s Orchard Fall Festival
Gardener’s Orchard has become a fall destination for all things pumpkin. You can pick pumpkins from their patch, and the farm offers several activities and delicious homemade snacks.
Why It’s Family Friendly: The corn maze, petting zoo, hay rides, jump pad, hay tower, corn pit and more.
When: Aug. 31–Oct. 28, 2024
Where: 4455 W. Farm Road 2, Brighton
Related Post: Fall Festivals You Have To Attend This Year
Silver Dollar City’s Crafts & Harvest Festival
Photo courtesy of Silver Dollar City
Experience Silver Dollar City’s Harvest Festival, which features Craft Days, each week filled with new artisans, and Pumpkins In The City by night, with thousands of illuminated pumpkins and non-frightful fun for the entire family.
Why It’s Family Friendly: The selection of rides, live shows and food.
When: Sept. 13–Oct. 26, 2024
Where: 399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy, Branson
MO Food Truck Festival
Food trucks and foodies will gather this September in Springfield for the 10th Annual Missouri Food Truck Festival. This one-day event will feature the best gourmet food trucks, carts and trailers from around Missouri and beyond. It features the brightest and most inspired street chefs, bringing everything from burgers, cajun, BBQ, pizza, tacos, Italian, Asian, Jamaican, and sweet treats.
Why It’s Family Friendly: The wide open space, variety of cuisine and live music.
When: 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sept. 14, 2024
Where: 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield
Black Walnut Festival
The Black Walnut Festival will take place this year at Stockton City Park. The festival is filled with good food, crafts, various vendors, great music and a large parade Saturday afternoon.
Why It’s Family Friendly: The parade, the variety of snacks and sweets, the bake-off, contests and more.
When: Sept. 26–28, 2024
Where: East Spring Street, Stockton
Fair Grove Heritage Reunion
An annual craft fair, the Fair Grove Heritage Reunion is attended by thousands of people every year enjoying the sights, sounds and food each day. Attend the parade, listen to live music, and see live demonstrations at a historic blacksmith shop, sawmill and the restored Wommack Mill. Attendance is free.
Why It’s Family Friendly: Educational demonstrations and activities, parade and live music.
When: Sept. 28–Sept. 29, 2024
Where: 38 S. Main St., Fair Grove
Republic Pumpkin Daze
Pumpkin Daze is held on the first Friday and Saturday in October each year. There’s no better way to experience the spirit of autumn in the Ozarks. Enjoy fall arts and crafts vendors, pumpkin displays, contests, fall food and more.
Why It’s Family Friendly: The dedicated kid’s area, pumpkin contests, outdoor activities, food trucks and more.
When: Oct. 4–Oct. 5, 2024
Where: 300 E. Hines St., Republic
Rutledge-Wilson Harvest Fest
A Midwest fall tradition, weekends in October at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park includes a pumpkin patch, a 2.5-mile corn maze, harvest hoops, hayrides, cow train, inflatables, pony rides, farm animals, kettle corn, and more!
Why It’s Family Friendly: The inflatables, cow train, pumpkin patch, pony rides, farm animals and more.
When: Oct. 5–6, 12–13, 19–20, 26–27, 2024.
Where: 3825 W. Farm Road 146, Springfield
Apple Butter Makin’ Days
Apple Butter Makin’ Days, one of Missouri’s most popular festivals, has been held on the courthouse square in Mount Vernon each October since 1967. Join thousands of people, from serious mustache cultivators to competitive bubble gum blowers, and enjoy all the festival has to offer. Whether you’re watching a wiener dog race, tasting local food or learning the secrets to excellent apple butter, you’re guaranteed a good time.
Why It’s Family Friendly: Delicious apple butter, fun and games and kids activities.
When: October 11–13, 2024
Where: 319 E. Dallas St., Mount Vernon
Pets & Pumpkins Family Festival
The Pets and Pumpkins Family Festival returns to the downtown square. Enjoy a day of fun for the entire family, including pets! Entry into the event is $2 per person/pet. With paid admission, attendees can participate in all activities, including a costume contest and walking parade.
Why It’s Family Friendly: The costume contest, cute pets and walking parade.
When: 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Oct. 19, 2024
Where: Downtown Springfield
Millsap Farm Pizza Nights
Every Thursday night around 6 p.m. from May through October, Millsap Farm invites pizza club members to the farm for handmade pizza. Their delicious wood-fired pizzas are cooked in their handmade New Mexico-style horno wood-fired earthen oven at 800 degrees, taking less than two minutes to cook. Grab some pizza slices, set up a picnic blanket, and relax under the trees while listening to live music.
Why It’s Family Friendly: The pizza, the casual outdoor atmosphere.
When: Thursdays through the end of October 2024
Where: 6593 Emu Lane, Springfield
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