With numerous methods to relish cool weather pursuits in Crawford County, craft your personal autumn escape! An ideal spot for fall exploration, constructing your own journey may include leaf viewing, tours of orchards and farms, eerie plays and events, and more. It’s the season for pumpkin spice, harvesting apples, warm cocoa, and a trip to Crawford County during the autumn. Explore the choices below to shape your own unforgettable experience!
Fall in Love with Fall
Red, yellow, orange… the hues of autumn are visible throughout Crawford County, particularly in our stunning parks and green spaces. From chasing fall colors with your camera to seasonal hunting and fishing in our woods and waterways, there are numerous opportunities to fully enjoy the gorgeous fall season. We wish to share some of our top spots for viewing fall foliage!
Diamond Park, located in the heart of Meadville, was gifted to the city from David Mead in 1795 and is one of the most utilized public spaces in the city. With a picturesque gazebo and fountain, this park creates an idyllic picture in the heart of town. Nearby Cora Clark Park is another park that includes a nature trail where you can walk with your pet or loved one and soak up the scenery!
For a relaxing location to picnic or enjoy playground fun for the kids, check out Stainbrook Park near Woodcock Creek Lake. This spot offers great fishing and lovely sights! For another local park experience, visit Oil Creek State Park. Not only is this the site of the first commercial oil well, it’s also a stunning natural landscape. The park includes trails, camping historical signage and more for an educational and beautiful fall getaway.
For a little more space to stretch out and enjoy the countryside, visit Maurice K Goddard State Park, an almost 3000-acre park with a combination of paved and off-the-beaten path trails for hikers and bikers of all experience levels. The waterways that feed into the park’s Lake Wilhelm are excellent for fishing and boating and other recreational options. Home to whitetail deer, squirrels, coyotes and even pheasants and grouse, the adjoining state game lands are an amazing spot for hunting. Make sure you apply for a Pennsylvania hunting license!
If you’re looking for even more space to see fall leaves, book a visit to Pymatuning State Park. Home to the state’s biggest man-made lake, this 17,000-acre+ state park has thousands of acres to explore. With a wide variety of fishing, boating, swimming and camping options, no wonder it’s one of the most visited parks in Pennsylvania!
Pumpkins, Apples and Gourds, Oh My!
Nothing speaks of autumn like selecting pumpkins from a pumpkin patch or walking through an apple orchard. Crawford County’s agricultural economy offers a range of farms, orchards, and markets that are diligently working to cultivate excellent produce while caring for the environment!
Come out and pick your very own basket of fruit at two Meadville-based orchards! Heagy’s Orchard offers up peach, pear and apple trees for picking and purchasing just south of town. Davenport Fruit Farm, located just east of Meadville, is an orchard, farm and event space that offers up cider and caramel apples along with their apple trees. They also offer live music on the weekends and beautiful outdoor seating where you can sip your cider with friends and family.
A local favorite includes Al’s Melons, which is so much more than melons! As the largest greenhouse in Crawford County, the Conneaut Lake-based produce farm hosts Fallfest weekends which include a corn maze, horse-drawn wagon rides, toddler train rides and pumpkin sling shots. Hickory Grove Orchard in Linesville is the perfect place to pick up some apples and fruit trees. They feature an array of varieties to choose from along with their well-known apple cider!
Port Farms, our regional neighbor in Waterford, Pa., is a four-generation family farm with fall fun galore. Their Fall Harvest Festival runs from September into mid-October with activities such as hay wagon rides, an 8-acre corn maze, animal exhibits and tire forts. Be sure to check out their ‘not so spooky’ Halloween weekend and Free Flower Fridays along with their live music events. Port Farms is a magical autumn adventure!
Enjoy a Crisp Fall Day in Town
If you’re seeking a cozy autumn day, Crawford County has countless ways to make it unforgettable. Grab apple cider or hot chocolate at one of the local cafes like Pampered Palate Cafe & Bistro, French Creek Coffee & Tea Co., Cup N Spoon or JT’s Coffee & Tea Corner. Once you have your warm drink, explore some of the great shops and urban neighborhoods to find festive fall decor, enjoy locally-made seasonal treats or shop for scarves, wraps and other cool-weather clothing.
Visit the sister-owned Woolen Mill Clothier to find high-quality clothing items and receive high-quality service from their wonderful employees! Also check out fall clothing, accessories and home decor at the always-trendy and bold Chateau Christine. Dress up your home for fall by visiting French Creek Framing & Fine Art or Trolley Antiques; and grab a fall treat like pumpkin bars at Save Room for Dessert or coffee shortbread and pumpkin whoopie pies at Kristen’s Cookies! There are countless ways to celebrate fall.
Check Out These Festive Events
Crawford County hosts some great annual events to finish out the calendar year. Whether it’s rain or shine, there’s plenty to do at the 32nd Annual Pumpkin Fest in Conneaut Lake with crafts, festival food, amusement rides, pumpkin drops and their annual Fall Pumpkin Fest Parade. This is one of the largest fall festivals in northwestern Pennsylvania! Halloween fans can get dressed up and collect candy at Meadville’s 56th Annual Halloween Parade. This year is Super Hero & Villains, so get out your capes and masks get festive. Also, don’t forget to book a ticket to Ghost Lake for a heart-stopping walk at Conneaut Lake. This is a terrifying event you won’t soon forget!
So Much To Do, So Little Time
These are only some examples of the seasonal possibilities available in Crawford County. Whether it’s rainy or sunny, there are so many excellent ways to make this short season memorable. For more options, explore our fall events or download our mobile app and design your own personal itinerary. You’ll uncover something for everyone to enjoy the season here. With numerous ways to relish fall and so many fun activities to engage in, you’ll wish to return each season!