Fall Activities in Philadelphia 2026
By: Sophia Hughes
Photo by Mick Kirchman on Unsplash
While I am sad that the long, hot days of summer are gone, I am excited to start wearing my favorite sweaters and go on long walks to admire the leaves changing colors. And as someone who lives in the suburbs and commutes to Temple for school, I love going to pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and picking apples at local farms near me. But I started wondering: what is there to do with my friends who live in the city?
So, if you’re like me and don’t know what places are hosting various fall activities in Philadelphia, here’s a list to send to your friends.
Located on the Delaware River waterfront, Morgan’s Pier is doing daily pumpkin carvings and serving fall food, festive drinks, and other activities until October 31st. You can carve pumpkins from four to eight pm Monday through Thursday and eleven to four pm Friday through Sunday while sipping on a warm or frozen apple cider and eating their signature Fall Feast sandwich. To carve a small pumpkin costs $5 and a large pumpkin costs $10. If you are of age and have a pet dog, they do a “Yappy Hour” every Monday during their Fall Fest. This is the perfect opportunity for you to dress up your dog and get a fall-themed cocktail. And, finally, at the end of the month, to conclude the month-long celebration, they are hosting the ultimate Halloween Bash. They will have free hot dogs, a DJ, and costume prizes! You can find more information about their events on their Instagram @morganspier.
Do you live in the city and miss going to a pumpkin patch or don’t want to commute an hour to the suburbs? Well, Cityside Pumpkin Patch recreated the experience at Liberty Point, which is also on the waterfront. You can buy tickets for the pumpkin patch here to reserve a time slot in advance. General admission and a pumpkin cost $22.50 per person, but regular general admission costs $13.90. You can pick more pumpkins that vary in price once you're there, but the pick plus a pumpkin grants you one pumpkin, and it’s important to note that it’s first come, first served. When you’re done or waiting for your turn to pick pumpkins, they have other activities on site, like their Pumpkin Smashing zone or Scarecrow Archery. This would be perfect to do with a group of friends, or it could make a very cute fall-themed date night with your partner.
Looking for another fun date night idea or want to impress your friends with your amazing (or amazingly awful) mini golf skills? At Franklin Square, there will be Spooky Mini Golf! They do a daytime tee time from ten a.m. to five p.m., but host a nighttime tee time from five p.m. to 10 p.m. that is more geared towards adults. It features animated props, decor, spooky music, strobe lights, and fog to really set the mood. And if you’re of age, they also have a Boo-zy Bar that serves “creepy cocktails, bone-chilling brews, and wicked wines”. You can even play in your costume, post a picture of you playing online, and tag them @franklinsquarephilly for a chance to win a weekly Boo Basket. If that doesn’t encourage you to go, then I don’t know what else to say! If you plan on going, tickets are required in advance for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Adult tickets cost $15, and I would recommend that if you’re going with a group of people, to buy your tickets in advance just to be sure that you can play.
Halloween Nights at the Eastern State Penitentiary
Now, I am not a fan of haunted houses, but I know friends love going to the Eastern State Penitentiary for their Halloween Nights. America’s first penitentiary hosts some of the scariest events that are perfect for thrill-seekers. It features five haunted houses, historic tours in the dark, themed bars and lounges, and live performances all inside the abandoned ten-acre prison. If you want the full experience, you can wear a glow-in-the-dark necklace, which indicates to the actors that you are okay with being grabbed, as they may separate you from your group and send you into hidden passageways. But if you don’t want to be grabbed, you don’t have to wear the necklace, and you can also take it off any time during the night. They also have a 40-minute VIP flashlight tour where you can walk through the cellblocks and other spaces not open to the public. All ticket and pricing information can be found here.
Whether you are looking for a relaxing time sitting by the waterfront and carving pumpkins or looking for something scarier, I hope this gave you some ideas of things to do with your friends or a partner. Maybe one of these weekends you will find me at Morgan’s Pier with a hot cider and carving a pumpkin to relax after midterms.
