Fall Into the First State’s Autumn Spirit 

Autumn in Delaware is an ideal time to visit. Put on your favorite hooded sweater, sip a cup of warm cider, and enjoy some great events around the Diamond State. For the next few months,  fantastic activities fill up Delaware’s fall calendar. If you are looking for some fall fun, check out these top picks in the state.             

Sea Witch Festival, Rehoboth Beach

When you think of autumn, you might have visions of pumpkins and fall leaves. Rehoboth Beach has a unique spin on the Halloween festivities. The fall season means it is time for the annual Sea Witch Festival. Each year, the Sea Witch and her friends parade throughout the downtown area. You can enjoy treat-or treating, a costume parade for both humans and dogs, and a vendor area.

The festival features many family-friendly activities, including horse shows, competitions, games, and live entertainment. While you are there, try some of the local food fare. The local vendors set up along the beach for a weekend of spooky fun.

Blackbird Creek Fall Festival, Townsend

If you have little one, you will definitely want to check out this fall cultural festival. On the third Saturday of October, the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve holds a festival to celebrate the importance of estuaries with the local community. Your children can check out the hayrides, mazes, and scavenger hunts. Admission is free for the entire event, but you will need cash for the local vendors. Attendees are welcomed to try some non-traditional fall activities like kayaking and canoeing. The festival also offers guided tours that take visitors along the trails. You can get a unique look at the native habitat and learn about the traditions of the Native Americans in the area.

Plein Air Brandywine Valley, Delaware

The Winterthur Museum has plenty of fall activities to enjoy. In the Plein Air section, the public is welcomed to see the works of local artists during the weeklong paint-a-thon. This yearly event gives local artists the chance to put their talent to the canvas as they recreate the beauty of the autumn scenery. If you are looking for a real look at the fall foliage, you can see the changing landscape through the eyes of a camera lens in the photography gallery. For those wanting to take a little piece of Delaware’s art community home, you can even purchase some of the artwork too.

Boo At The Zoo, Wilmington

Halloween is a fun time for children of all ages. The Brandywine Zoo is just the place for some tricks and treats for the family. Many families head to the zoo as a safe alternative to treat-or-treating on Halloween night. The zoo offers a unique chance for the kids to search for candy on selected nights. If you are a zoo member, you can get in for free. If you are not a member, the admission is only $5 per person. In addition to the candy and fall decorations, you can see the animals at night and enjoy live entertainment throughout the property.                                                

First State Heritage Park 18th Century Market, Dover

The fall is a great time to take a trip to the historic part of Dover. This state park is the home to the 18th-century Market every year during the fall season. If you are looking to break out your petticoat or don a tri-corner hat, here’s your opportunity. This market is your chance to purchase handmade replica items from the 18th century, or you might even find an authentic relic from that period. You can enjoy the comic performance of the Colonial Conjurer or be entertained by Signora Bella as she juggles knives and flaming torches on a tightrope. Guests will enjoy watching the craftsmen (and women) make their wares, including woodworking, basket weaving, spinning, and glassmaking. Admission to the market is free. 

Fifer’s Fall Festival, Camden                      

Fifer Orchards Farm has been celebrating Charlie Brown and his Great Pumpkin for over 50 years. The farm recreates the favorite holiday story every autumn season. Many generations of families have considered this to be a tradition in the area. Families can enjoy pumpkin painting, decorative corn displays, hayrides, and warm cider. You can even pick up some homemade pies, jams, and cider donuts in the farm’s country store. On Saturdays, purchase a wristband for admission to the special holiday events. Guests can then explore the Corn Maze Fun Park, take a narrated tour of the farm on a tractor wagon ride, or let the little ones ride on the tractor train. When you have finished enjoying the festivities, you get a complimentary pumpkin to take home in honor of Charlie Brown.                     

Paranormal Investigation at Fort Delaware, Delaware City

If you are looking for some real ghosts, you need to visit Fort Delaware during October. Throughout the month, you can search for the paranormal on a chilly autumn night. Fort Delaware’s ghost tours are over three hours. You will take a boat to the Fort to learn about the spooky history of the property. These fun activities will get you involved in actual ghost hunting. You can even use data recorders, temperature sensors, and electronic magnetic field detectors to spot an otherworldly visitor. Fort Delaware offers these tours for guests 13 years and up.

Hauntings In History Walking Tour, New Castle

For those not wanting to hunt down a ghost, how about a good old fashioned haunted tale? The New Castle Hauntings in History Walking Tour takes place every Friday and Saturday of October. This one hour tour will explore the supernatural side of the town, and you can learn about the infamous Amstel House and the Lady in Blue. As you travel down the Victorian streets, you will hear stories about hauntings and crimes that took place in this 360-year-old town. This one way to get into the Halloween spirit without the cheesy plastic pumpkins. 

Delaware is one state you will want to visit this fall. There are plenty of activities that extend between pumpkin carving and fall leaves. Make sure to bundle up and enjoy the seasonal charms of the First State.