Four Seasons of Fun: Fall
The Best Fall Activities in Montgomery County
There really is no better place to be than in Montgomery County, Maryland during the fall season. Enjoy a variety of autumn-inspired activities like tasting beer samples at a horse farm or hiking through fall foliage that are sure to make your stay a memorable one! And make sure to add Glenstone Museum to your fall weekend itinerary!
FALL TIP: Pack your layers—it can be a bit chilly in the morning and evening hours during the fall season, but the sun brings the perfect touch of warmth to make any day brighter!
Start planning out the perfect fall family trip by browsing the best places to stay in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Become a Farm-to-Table Foodie
It’s no secret that Montgomery County, Maryland has some of the best eats around. So start digging in!
Farmers Markets: Shop and stroll around at some of the best farmers markets the county has to offer for local food from vendors all around the county.
Produce Picking: Instead of shopping for a bite to eat, why not just pick it yourself? There are plenty of beautiful farms and orchards around the county that are perfect for an all-family outing. Pick from a selection of fresh seasonal autumn produce like apples, pumpkins, tomatoes, and red raspberries.
Oktoberfest Celebrations: Continue your fall food adventure and swing by the Gaithersburg 31st annual Oktoberfest celebration, complete with a parade, live music, great food, a beer garden, and more. There are also other Oktoberfest events going on throughout the county.
Crab Feasts: Of course, no trip to the county is complete without trying the famous Maryland Blue Crab and contrary to popular belief, fall season is prime time for a crab feast! So put on your bib, grab some Old Bay and a mallet, and dig in at some of our favorite spots to grab a delicious crab dish.
Sample Brews like a True Beer Sommelier
Sit back, relax, and enjoy a local ale at some of the best breweries in the county. Sip a beer with horses on a farm at Waredeca Brewing Company, rent a yurt to cozy up by the fire at Lone Oak Farm Brewing Company, sample European ales at Silver Branch Brewing Co., and taste classic beers with a modern twist at Elder Pine. Check out our Q&A interview with a few of our favorite breweries in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Take in Stunning Views with a Glass of Wine
Enjoy a glass of wine with autumn views at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain at Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyards. Sit and sip on an Adirondack chair at Windridge Vineyards while watching the leaves blow in the wind. Take a scenic drive through the changing leaves to Rocklands Farm Winery in the historic Agricultural Reserve. If you want to try something other than wine, go on a Fall Cider Road Trip where you can taste cider made from locally picked apples.
Pick a Pumpkin like a Pro
Taking a pumpkin home to carve is a fall tradition and there’s no better place to pick yours than one of the great farms around the county. Butler’s Orchard and Homestead Farm both have large pumpkin patches for you to choose from as well as fun fall activities like straw mazes, hayloft barns, and scenic hayrides. This year is Butler’s Orchard’s 44th annual Pumpkin Festival running through November. Pick your own pumpkins and other produce, go on a hayride, and shoot pumpkins out of a cannon.
Hike Your Way Through Vibrant Fall Foliage
Fall foliage is beautiful but hiking through it is a whole other experience that everyone must try during their visit to Montgomery County, Maryland.
Sugarloaf Mountain: One of the best hiking spots for those who want an elevated view. The mountain overlooks the surrounding farmland and once you’re at the top, you’ve reached over 1,000 feet of elevation.
Lake Needwood Trails: For that picture-perfect moment, hiking through the Lake Needwood Trails is the way to go. Take in the variety of fall colors of the leaves and snap the best shot of the trees along the beautiful blue lake- we promise you it’s a site to see!
C&O Canal National Historical Park and Great Falls Park: Looking for a different kind of fall hike? Then a hike along the C&O Canal towpath and Great Falls Park is for you. Not only will you get to see jaw-dropping views of the park, but you can also visit the famous Great Falls, stunning falls created over steep, jagged rocks in the river.
Celebrate Halloween with Spooks and Screams
Looking for a night of spooks and screams? Well, you have come to the right place! Montgomery County has so many haunted attractions to make your Halloween a spooky one like the Field of Screams and Markoff’s Haunted Forest. If real-life scares are more your speed, you’re in for a treat—the county has many places that are known to have paranormal activity. Don’t believe us? Go see for yourself!