by Jim Boyle

Gorgeous foliage, spooktacular Halloween adventures, delicious fresh food, and so much more bring Bucks County to life in the fall. With so much to do, bookmark this handy fall guide to make sure you don't miss out on any of the fun!

The 2014 Bucks Happening Fall Guide is brought to you by the brand new ShopRite of Yardley , which is now OPEN in Oxford Oaks Shopping Center! Three hundred well prepared associates are ready to serve you as you shop aisles filled with the freshest varieties of produce, meat and seafood.

Fall Fun

Annual Scarecrow Competition & Display

Peddler’s Village, Lahaska

September 9 – October 27

Fall is here and the scarecrows are coming out. The 35th annual competition kicks off with The Scarecrow Festival September 20 and 21, a weekend of fall family fun including scarecrow-making workshops, pumpkin pie-eating contests, pumpkin painting, live musical entertainment and children's activities. Stroll among the colorful scarecrows on display in the Annual Scarecrow Competition and Display. Pick up a ballot and vote for your favorites. Admission is free.

PumpkinFest at Shady Brook Farm

931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley

September 12-14, September 20-21, daily from September 27 to October 31

Bring the family for a day of Fall Fun down on the Farm at PumpkinFest. Enjoy wagon rides, pick-your-own pumpkins, and lots more family fun. Attractions include an all new Bears Playground, giant jumping pillows and a corn maze. Admission costs $10 per person weekdays, $15 per person weekends.

The Village Renaissance Faire

557 Penns Park Rd, Wrightstown

September 20 – 21, 11:00am – 6:00pm

One weekend every year, watch as the fairgrounds are transformed into the ultimate family festival with stories, intrigues, history, crafts, varied entertainment, and interactive play. Enter the village known as Penn’s Park, which consists of eight stages and various sets: Merchant Squares, Living History Pavilions, food courts, gaming area, multi-cultural enclaves, craft corners, and Kid’s Kingdom. Admission costs $5, children under 5 free.

Annual Yardley Harvest Day

Canal St, Yardley

September 20, 10:00am – 5:00pm

This year’s event marks the 45th year of Yardley Harvest Day. It began as a celebration of the borough, along with crafters, entertainment and food, an event for the whole family. The Yardley Business Association, sponsor of this year’s Yardley Harvest Day, is excited that the event is returning to its roots – a family oriented event with something for everyone. In addition to a wide variety of handmade crafts and good food, there will be many other activities.

Moonlit Fun

Market at DelVal, 2100 Lower State Rd, Doylestown

Fridays and Saturdays from September 26 through October 26th, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Enjoy a night of fun for all ages. Navigate your way through a giant corn maze by flashlight, take a moonlit wagon ride through the orchards, and warm up by cheery bonfires. Live music on Friday nights. Not scary, just fun! Great for families, groups and schools. Bring your own flashlight. Admission is $8 per person.

Zoe’s Monster Mash Birthday Party

Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne

September 27-28, noon-5 p.m.

Celebrate Zoe’s Birthday with a Monster Mash Dance Party at Sesame Place. Join Zoe and everyone’s favorite Sesame Street Monsters for singing, dancing and an all-you-can-eat buffet. Tickets cost $27 for ages 10 and up, $17 for children ages 2 to 9 and free 23 months and under. Registration required.

Warrington Community Day

Lower Nike Park & Upper Nike Park, 3 Folly Rd, Warrington

September 27, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Fireworks at dusk

Warrington Township is celebrating the community and businesses with its annual Community Day event. This year is better than ever with kids’ activities, musical entertainment, great food, a few surprises, and concluding with a fantastic fireworks display.

Chalfont New Britain Fun Family Day

Town Center of New Britain

October 4, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

A family festival at the New Britain Shopping Center. Attendees can expect music, arts, crafts, face painting and more! The event benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County. Admission is free.

Murder Mystery Dinner Train

New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, 32 W. Bridge St, New Hope

October 10, 7 p.m.

The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad and Act 1 Productions bring you another season of mystery on the rails. Food, fun, great staff, and a rolling ride through the country and antics of Act 1 Productions all combined to give you and your family a great night out! Tickets range from $95 to $125 per person. A ticket includes two-hour round trip, a three course meal, and an interactive dining experience.

Newtown Market Day

Court St & Center Ave, Newtown

October 11, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Market Day is a well-attended and wonderful event featuring crafters, artisans, fine arts, entertainment and food. Over 50 crafters will present a wide variety of interesting crafts, and demonstrations will include: chair caning, quilting, and rug hooking. Our latest addition, a Farmer’s Market, will sell fresh-from-the-farm produce. Folk music, children's activities, games, horse-drawn hayrides and a colonial militia encampment will be held throughout the day. Featured this year is a Puppet Theater in the Boone Garden. Local restaurants are participating in our Festival of Foods and Open Hearth Cooking will also be demonstrated.

Historic Fallsington Day

4 Yardley Ave., Fallsington

October 11, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This time-honored event will feature folksingers, puppets shows, jugglers, Colonial dancing, and Native American dancing; demonstrations of Colonial (open-hearth cooking, spinning, basket making, and blacksmithing), craft tables, and book sales; tours of museum buildings, and local churches. Children’s activities, hayrides, bakes sales, a quilt raffle and a wide array of delicious food for sale will add to the festivities. This event is free and open to the public.

38th Annual Historic Bristol Day

Bristol Lions Park, Radcliffe St., Bristol

October 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year's theme will celebrate the influence of the Delaware River to the development of Bristol. Bristol's location on the beautiful Delaware River was important as a hub in the transportation grid of the time and later as an important part of the industrial development of the country. This free, family-friendly street fair features a variety of arts and craft vendors, food vendors and entertainers, children's games, a sailing regatta on the Delaware River, a car show and much more.

Autumn Alive!

312 Broad St., Quakertown

October 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The 15th Annual Autumn Alive! celebration is a day of outdoor fun in Quakertown for the family. Children's activities and crafts, farm-fresh produce, demonstrations, native plant sale, flea market, informational booths from local groups, merchant specials, live music and more. Don’t forget to bring your furry friends for the pet parade.

Autumn in Bucks County House Tour

Trinity Episcopal Church 6587 Upper York Rd, New Hope

October 18, 10 a.m.

Now in its 24th year, rain or shine, Autumn in Bucks County house Tour is a one-day only house celebration featuring five distinctive homes nestled in beautiful Solebury Township and Point Pleasant, plus two bonus locations. Each property dates offers a unique combination of history, architecture, setting, style, and furnishings.

Mercer by Moonlight Tours

Mercer Museum, 84 S. Pine St, Doylestown

October 24, 7 p.m. & 8 p.m.

What lurks in the shadows of the Mercer Castle? Discover the history and folklore of some of the museum’s more chilling or ghoulish objects, including the hearse, the gallows, “witch” doctor’s canes, brooms, and more on this seasonal night time tour. Family friendly for ages 8 and up. Light refreshments following tour. Tickets for non-members are $12 for adults and $10 for youth 12 and under. Tickets for members are $10 for adults and $8 for youth 12 and under.

Light The Night Walk Campaign

Bucks County Community College, Newtown

October 25, 4:30pm [gates open]; 6:30pm [walk starts]

Light the Night is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s signature evening fundraising walk that celebrates and commemorates lives touched by blood cancer. Friends, families, and corporate and community partners form walk teams to raise awareness and money for LLS to continue to fund local cancer research, and to provide patients and their families with critical services. This beautiful evening walk is only 1.5 to 2 miles long.

Fall Festivals

Polish-American Festival

National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, 654 Ferry Rd., Doylestown

September 6 and 7, noon to 8 p.m.

Close out summer with Kielbasa and beer at the 49th Annual Polish-American Family Festival. Hear traditional Polish music, hop on the classic carnival rides and enjoy magic and dance shows. Stop by the Crafter's Village to purchase some handmade goodies. Admission is $12 per person.

Doylestown Arts Festival

Doylestown main streets

September 13-14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Doylestown Arts Festival is a juried festival of a variety of artisans offering the best of the area's culture. This two-day festival is the largest event of the year in the heart of beautiful Doylestown Borough in Bucks County. This annual festival has grown to include more than 150 exhibitors and a food court. Diverse entertainment is presented at numerous locations throughout the downtown area. Live music features solo acts as well as rock, pop, folk, big band and music just for kids. Admission is free.

7th Annual Fall Festival and Open House

Hartzel-Strassburger Homestead, 407 Keystone Drive & Bethlehem Pike, Sellersville

September 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tour the 1840s Hartzel-Strassburger Homestead and visit the summer kitchen. Leisurely wander around the pristine grounds while watching local artisans, and historical demonstrations. Wares will be for sale as well as antiques and collectibles, and refreshments such as pork barbecue, hot dogs, whoopie pies, and so much more. Pet the alpacas and visit the Poultry Club Chickens to learn everything you need to know about raising them! Look at the tobacco which was planted at the homestead in June by the W. S. Hancock Society. All ages will have fun playing the large array of musical instruments (including Native American), replicas from the 1840s to the 1860s. Admission is free.

Buckingham Friends Peace Fair

5684 York Rd, Rts 202 & 263, Lahaska

September 20, 10:30am

Join in a dedication to promoting harmony in the home, the community, the environment, and the world. The Peace Fair provides a comfortable family-friendly atmosphere in which adults and children can learn about how others promote peaceful relations in their organizations and their own lives. Plenty of fun for the whole family with entertainment and food.

MWA Autumn Fest at Shady Brook Farm

Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, PA 19067.

Saturday, September 27th, 2014 10 A.M. – 5 P.M.

MWA is excited to continue their tradition of bringing the community together for a day of shopping, family fun, and charity at their annual fall festival and fundraiser. MWA Autumn Fest will showcase over 120 fine artists and craftsmen, delicious food vendors, live music, family entertainment and fun, as well as MWA’s famous raffle baskets supporting A Brush with Kindness and Bucks for Kids. Come kick off your fall season with us! Stop, shop, and eat all for a goodcause! Make sure to stop by Customers Bank tent to meet Phillies Great Greg “The Bull” Luzinski from 1:00 to 2:00 pm!

New Hope Outdoor Juried Arts and Crafts Festival

New Hope-Solebury High School, 182 W. Bridge St, New Hope

September 27 [10 a.m. – 6 p.m.] & 28 [10 a.m. – 5 p.m.]

Over 200 fine artists and craftsmen will exhibit using media such as oil paintings, water colors, pastels, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, works in wood, wearable art, glass art, photography, and more. Organized by the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce, celebrate 21 years of arts in New Hope. Admission is free and there will be a free shuttle to and from downtown New Hope.

Bensalem Fall Festival

TD Bank Amphitheater, 2400 Byberry Road, Bensalem

September 27 at 11 a.m. (rain date Sept. 28)

Thousands of community members come out each year for Bensalem’s annual fall festival. Amusement rides, a car show, live entertainment and food and local business vendors will keep the whole family busy throughout the day. Top it all off with a concert from Shadows of the 60's, a tribute to Motown, at 6 p.m., followed by a dazzling fireworks display.

Makefield Women’s Association Autumn Fest

Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Rd, Yardley

September 27, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Formerly Harvest Day, the MWA’s Autumn Fest is an annual fine arts and crafts festival held on the open grass fields of Shady Brook Farm. More than 100 unique and talented exhibitors will come together with food vendors, entertainers, community organizations and local businesses for a day of family fun, charity and community celebration. Admission is free for the rain or shine event.

Monster Pumpkin Madness

Market at DelVal, 2100 Lower State Rd, Doylestown

September 27 – 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Join in on two fun-filled days of all things pumpkins! Competitors from all over the area will bring in their prize pumpkins to compete in a weigh-off, and in other categories. There will be wagon rides, inflatable attractions, a corn maze, a rope maze, barnyard animals, crafters, food and more.

United Friends School Fall Festival

United Friends School, 1018 W. Broad St, Quakertown

September 27, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Join United Friends School for its annual Fall Festival. There will be something for everyone including games, zoo animals, performances, demonstrations, activities, artisans, and food tastings from around the world. Everyone is welcome to experience super fun activities like pony rides, making clay creations, the Da Vinci Science Center, a K’NEX table, a Bungee Fun Run, Dunk Tank, Photo Booth, Mum sale and interactive drum circle.

Fall Pumpkin Festival

Froehlich’s Farm & Garden, 3143 York Rd, Furlong

Saturdays and Sundays from September 27 – October 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Take a scenic hayride around the 100 acre farm, find the perfect pumpkin in the huge pumpkin patch, get lost in a corn maze, and so much more! There will also be hot cider and s’mores by the bonfire. Admission is free.

Artoberfest 2014

AoY located at Patterson Farm, 949 Mirror Lake Rd, Yardley

October 3, 7 p.m.-11 p.m., and October 4, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Artists of Yardley will be hosting its annual Artoberfest, kicking off Friday night with a pig roast and live music and continuing Saturday with a live music festival, craft artists, repurpose crafts, chance auction and Abundance Art Show. Craft vendors, art demonstrators, food, and fun will be available throughout the day. Entrance to the event is free.

Apple Festival at Peddler's Village

Peddler’s Village, Lahaska

November 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and November 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Celebrate fall and the local apple harvest all weekend with farm fresh, local apples and a wide variety of apple baked goods and Scrumptious apple treats including country apple butter, apple cider, apple zeppoles, apple fritters and everyone's favorite — apples dipped in caramel! Take home a bushel fresh from the orchard. Juried Artisans sell their wares and demonstrate their skills at the Street Road Green Artisan Area. Live entertainment and apple pie-eating contests add to the festivities of this traditional autumn celebration. Admission is free.

Fall Foods

Apple Picking at Solebury Orchards

325 Creamery Road, New Hope, PA

August 28 to November 2, Thursday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Playwicki Farm Farmers’ Market

2350 Bridgetown Pike, Feasterville

Wednesdays through October 29, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

All the fruits and vegetables at the market are from local farms, grown in-season, in healthy soil, and picked ripe – giving the best possible nutritional content, not to mention the best flavor. You will be buying produce that was picked just hours before your purchase. Other vendors present a wide variety of products ranging from handcrafted soaps to handmade doggie treats.

Wine Tasting and Yoga

Crossing Vineyards, 1853 Wrightstown Rd, Washington Crossing

Sundays from September 7 to November 2, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Enjoy a one-hour Vinyasa yoga class, fun for all levels from beginner to advanced. Then savor a private tasting of Crossing Vineyards’ award-winning wines with assorted cheeses, cured meats and chocolates. Cost: $45 per person. Reservations necessary.

Apple Fun Days

The Market at DelVal, 2100 Lower State Rd, Doylestown

September 14, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Join a super-fun festival surrounding the almighty apple. Festival fun includes pick-your-own apples, wagon rides to the orchard, inflatable attractions, and more! Admission is $3 per person.

Newtown Beerfest

The Stocking Works, 410 S. State St, Newtown

September 20, 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

For all beer lovers, enjoy the Newtown Beerfest as presented by the Newtown Fire Association. Along with beer tasting, there will be food and live music. The 1st Tap Session starts at 12:30 p.m. and costs $75 per person. General admission starts at 2 p.m. and costs $40 per person. Designated Drivers are $10 per person.

Beer Tasting: Oktoberfest Beers

Washington House Restaurant, 136 N. Main St, Sellersville

October 3, 5 p.m.

Kick of October with some Oktoberfest beer! Nine German beer styles will be available for tasting.

Harvest Winemaker’s Dinner

Crossing Vineyards & Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Rd, Washington Crossing

October 25, 7 p.m.

Winemaker Tom Carroll Jr. will offer his thoughts on the 2014 vintage. The evening will feature a five course seasonal menu and will include award-winning wines from the 2014 competition season. Cost is $89 per person. Reservations necessary.

Beer Tasting: Pumpkin Brews

Washington House, 136 N. Main St, Sellersville

October 31, 5 p.m.

Back by popular demand, it’s a Halloween event for adults! Taste an assortment of this year’s best pumpkin beers.

Nouveau Festival: Bucks County Wine Trail

Crossing Vineyards, 1853 Wrightstown Rd, Washington Crossing

November 15 – 16, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Celebrate the release of Crossing Vineyards’ 2013 “Le Nouveau.” Admission is free and wine tastings are available.

Halloween

Ghost Tours of New Hope

Main St. & Ferry St., New Hope

Fridays and Saturdays in September and October, tour starts at 8 p.m.

Follow a lantern-led “walk” along picturesque streets where you’ll learn about the doings of such places as the towpath itself; or see the phantom hitchhiker who may pass you in the moonlight; or see the historic inn where Aaron Burr appears from time to time and stares with sightless eyes…. Plus new exciting stories have been added to the tour! Cost is $10 per person.

The Count's Halloween Spooktacular

Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne

September 20-October 26

Come in costume and play in a not-too-spooky Halloween haven featuring two new Halloween shows, themed mazes and a Sesame Street character hayride. Don’t miss exciting rides, the Neighborhood Street Party Halloween Parade, the all-new Cookie’s Monster Land, and everyone’s favorite furry friends dressed up in costume. Regular park admission prices.

Festival of Fears

The V.E. Club, 130 Davisville Road, Warminster

September 26 to October 26, Fridays and Saturdays 7:15 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sundays 7:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Come out and feel the fear! Too scary to come alone, so be sure to bring friends and family. The Festival of Fears, the scariest haunted house in Bucks County includes a haunted hayride, a haunted corn maze, live bands, bonfires, and tons of food.

Valley of Fear's Original Haunted Hayride

Phoenix Sport Club, 301 W. Bristol Rd, Feasterville

September 26 – November 2, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Celebrate the 25th Year of Fear! New this season is the Operation Z zombie paintball hunt. You mission is to march on foot to remote forest outposts with multiple firing positions to destroy the zombie hoards. There is also the Zombie Escape Maze, a Scary Tales haunted forest walk, and the original haunted hayride. Admission prices vary.

Haunted House in the Hollow

Active Acres Farm, 881 Highland Road, Newtown

Fridays through Sundays, September 27 to November 1, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Midnight Productions presents the House in the Hollow, Sleepy Hollow Hayride and Field of Fright, a nationally acclaimed haunted attraction that has been in operation and entertaining guests for more than 22 years. With a perfect blend of state-of-the-art technology, cutting-edge special effects, and a cast of talented and well-trained performers, the House in the Hollow is an attraction that is a Halloween season staple for many, near and far. If you survive, gather with friends and family by the bonfires with refreshments and live entertainment. Admission prices vary.

HorrorFest at Shady Brook Farm

931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley

Fridays through Sundays, September 27 to November 1

In a dark corner of eastern Pennsylvania awaits Bucks County’s most haunted farm. HorrorFest features four thrilling attractions: the Hayride of Horror, Barn of Horror, 3-D Alien Encounter, and Carnage Corn Maze. Can you handle the harvest?

Trick or Treat Trains

New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, 32 W. Bridge St, New Hope

October 18th – 20th & 25th – 27th, 6:15pm

Bring the kids to ride aboard this spooky train! Children of all ages are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite Halloween costumes, helping to make the train a scary sight. Afterwards, trick or treat around the New Hope train station for more surprises. Trick or Treat bags and assorted toys and candy will be given out on board as well as at the station.

Canal-O-Ween

Delaware Canal, N. Edgewater Ave, Yardley

October 26 – November 1

Carving, lighting, and strolling by jack-o-lanterns since 2009! A week-long traditional-style Halloween lighting of jack-o-lanterns along the Delaware Canal. Bucks County residents can enjoy the beauty of the season within the natural setting of the Canal itself. The carve-a-thon is scheduled for Sunday October 26 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Family Friendly Halloween & Witch Trial

Pennsbury Manor, 400 Pennsbury Memorial Rd, Morrisville

October 26, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Enjoy trick-or-treating, fall activities and games during this free event. In 1684, Margaret Mattson was accused by her neighbors of witchcraft. William Penn presided over the trial. Is she guilty or innocent?

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