Orlando Fall Family Fun 2024
Fall is finally here. School is back in session, the leaves are starting to change color, and there’s a cool, crisp breeze in the air.
Okay, maybe up north. But here in Orlando, we’re still kicking back with beautiful sunny weather, tropical palm trees, and flip flops.
While our season may look a little different than fall in other parts of the world, here in Central Florida, we love to celebrate autumn. We’re happy to trade in our fresh citrus and pina coladas for pumpkins and apple cider with everyone else (at least for a little while.)
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate autumn and everything it has to offer with your family this year, here are some of our favorite festivals, parties, and events for tons of fall family fun in Orlando this year.
Southern Hill Farms
A trip to Southern Hill Farms is the perfect way to celebrate all things autumn with Orlando fall family fun. Harvest all of the autumnal, warm fuzzies with pumpkins, sunflowers, apple cider, and more.
This ticketed event runs Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can choose pre-cut pumpkins of all shapes and sizes from the pumpkin patch barn, which is also the perfect spot for family photos. If U-pick is more your style, venture out to the sunflower and zinnia fields to choose the perfect blooms for an autumnal bouquet.
Kids of all ages will love attractions at the Kid Zone, including carnival rides like a cyclone swing, carousel, and bungee jump trampolines. Feed friendly farm animals at the petting zoo and take a wagon ride through their blueberry patches.
When you’ve worked up an appetite, grab drinks and snacks from one of the local food trucks stationed onsite. A “must try” includes their signature apple cider donuts, preferably with a cup of frozen or hot apple cider.
You don’t have to worry about missing the big game when you spend the day at Southern Hill Farms; the food truck barn has flat-screen TVs that play college and pro football games all weekend long.
Fiesta in the Park
This year marks the fifty-third Fall Fiesta in the Park event at Lake Eola Park. This beloved free festival brings together hundreds of artists and crafters to showcase and sell their work. It’s the perfect excuse to spend a day at the beautiful Lake Eola Park while supporting local artisans.
Fiesta in the Park is a family-friendly and pet-friendly event, so everyone can enjoy a day in downtown Orlando.
When you need a break from browsing and shopping, grab a seat and enjoy live entertainment on the amphitheater stage. Food vendors are stationed nearby when you need a refreshment, and the beer garden is a great gathering spot for grownups to enjoy a cool, crisp beverage.
Kids will love the AdventHealth for Children Kid’s Zone, full of fun activities and treats that are perfect for keeping little ones entertained.
This year’s Fall Fiesta in the Park event will be held Saturday, November 2, and Sunday, November from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Check out the Fall Fiesta in the Park for a beautiful day in support of our City Beautiful and the talented creatives who make it such a wonderful place to be.
Oktoberfest in Avalon Park
Oktoberfest is a classic fall celebration and Avalon Park’s Oktoberfest event is the perfect way to share it with the whole family. Located in East Orlando, Avalon Park is a charming neighborhood community known for its quaint town center and lively events. Oktoberfest is one of their most popular annual family-friendly and free festivals.
This year, Oktoberfest in Avalon Park is held on Saturday, October 12, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with an adults-only Beer Garden Preview the night before. The festival has two stages, each hosting a variety of polka bands to set the scene for an authentic Oktoberfest celebration. Take in Alpine Dancing by Schuhplatter Gruppe Alpenrose, a German dance studio in Orlando, as well as other community performances.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without great food. The festival will feature a variety of food trucks to satisfy any appetite, including classic German treats like sausages and pretzels.
Kids will love the setup of bounce houses and activities just for them. It’s truly an autumn event that everyone in the family can enjoy!
Happy Frights at Leu Gardens
Fall is often synonymous with Halloween, and while Orlando is known for its super scary and horror-filled events, it’s also a great place for family-friendly holiday fun. One option is the Happy Frights at Leu Gardens, a fun trick-or-treating event for guests of all ages.
There are two Halloween events being held at Leu Gardens this year. It’s first, Happy Frights, is the perfect event to enjoy with younger kids. Haunting Nights is better suited for teenagers and adults. For the sake of family-friendly fun, let’s focus on Happy Frights.
There are still plenty of spooky elements in Happy Frights that will make Halloween-lovers swoon, just at a more age-appropriate level for younger kids. This year, you can look forward to an immersive experience that guides you through 12 worlds of magic and mystery. You may discover giant, deadly plants, a witch and her bubbling cauldrons, hip-hop dancing aliens, and a vibrant Dia de Muertos celebration.
As you’re making your way through the park, kids can trick-or-treat at 8 candy stations along the way. Costumes are encouraged.
This year’s Happy Frights event opens September 27 and takes place on select nights through October 31. Tickets start at $27.90 for children ages 3 – 11 and $29.15 for guests 13 and older.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Of course, if we’re going to talk about family-friendly Halloween celebrations, we have to mention one of our favorites: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party Held at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, this seasonal event has become a favorite amongst Disney enthusiasts and Halloween fans alike.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has something for everyone. Their Boo-to-You Halloween Parade features a masquerade of characters in their spookiest attire, including more than a few dastardly villains and ghouls. This year, the parade is being held at an earlier time (8:15 p.m.) to make it even easier for younger guests to attend.
The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, hosted by the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus, is a must-see show performed on the Cinderella Castle stage. Gather back around the castle later in the evening for the Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, a dazzling fireworks show hosted by none other than Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Throughout your visit, let yourself indulge in specialty Halloween-inspired bites and beverages brewed up just for the event.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a separately ticketed event, and you’ll want to purchase tickets in advance to ensure you can visit on your preferred date. This year, the event is offered on select evenings starting August 9 and running through October 31, from 7:00 p.m. until midnight.
Ticket prices depend on which date you select, but they start at $109 for little ones ages 3 – 9 and $119 for anyone 10 and older.
"Junie B. Jones in BOO...and I Mean It!" at Orlando Family Stage
The beloved literary character Junie B. Jones is back onstage at Orlando Family Stage this fall. The show is making its world premiere in Orlando, having been written just for Orlando Family Stage.
In “Junie B. Jones in BOO...and I Mean It!” the lovable Junie B. is struggling with being afraid of Halloween and some of the ooey-gooey, creepy-crawly, spooky-scary things that come with it.
Orlando Family Stage is Central Florida’s only professional theatre for young audiences, offering engaging theatrical experiences for children of all ages and their families. “Junie B. Jones in BOO...and I Mean It!” is a wonderful way to enjoy the Halloween season with kids in a show designed and directed specifically for younger audience members.
The production runs Saturdays and Sundays starting October 5 through 27 with two shows per day held at family-friendly times.
Fall into Family Fun at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista
When you stay at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista, you’ll be nearby to some of Orlando’s best events and activities for fall family fun. Our comfortable, clean rooms are the perfect place to rest and recharge after a day of enjoying your autumn festivities.
BONUS: Since Orlando fall weather often closely resembles summer weather, a great fall family-fun activity during your stay can be spending time at one of our two sparkling, seasonally-heated swimming pools or our poolside splash pad for fall fun in the sun.
Book your stay soon so you can rest easy knowing you’ll be welcomed and cared for by our incredible staff on your next memory-making visit.
