13 of My Favorite Things to Do With Kids on Long Island This Fall
There is just something about fall on Long Island. The air finally gets a little cooler (most days!), the leaves begin to change, farm stands fill up with pumpkins and apples, and suddenly I want to spend every possible weekend outside with my family.
Honestly, I could probably make a list of 50 things I love doing on Long Island in the fall, but these 13 are the ones that come to mind first.
We are lucky to live in a place where fall gives us so much to do and so much beauty while we do it! We can head out East for a full day at a farm, wander through the woods close to home, catch a local show, dig into some Long Island history, get a little spooky for Halloween, or simply collect leaves and make something at the kitchen table.
Here are 13 of my favorite ways to enjoy fall with kids on Long Island.
1. Spend a Fall Day at a Long Island Farm
Apple picking, pumpkin picking, corn mazes, wagon rides, cider donuts... do I really have to choose just one?
A trip to a local farm is probably one of my favorite Long Island fall traditions because every farm offers something a little different. Some are simple pick-your-own experiences, while others can easily turn into a full-day outing with mazes, rides, play areas, animals, food and plenty of fall treats.
A few of our favorites and other great local options include:
Harbes Family Farm - Mattituck - Harbes is one of our favorites when we want to make a whole day of it. Harbes has several locations, so check which one has the activities you're looking for before heading out. Depending on the location and season, you'll find apple and pumpkin picking, corn mazes, wagon rides and plenty of other farm fun. Visit Harbes Family Farm
Lewin Farms in Calverton - A longtime Long Island favorite for pick-your-own produce, with apple and pumpkin picking during the fall season along with its corn maze. Visit Lewin Farms
Wickham's Fruit Farm in Cutchogue - A beautiful North Fork orchard and a great choice when you're looking for a more traditional pick-your-own experience. Visit Wickham's Fruit Farm
Woodside Orchards in Aquebogue and Jamesport - Our Family Favorite! This family-run orchard is another favorite for seasonal U-pick apples and plenty of apple goodies. Apple picking returns in September, with picking days varying between the two locations. Visit Woodside Orchards
Windy Acre Orchard in Calverton - Another fun local choice for seasonal picking and a fall farm day with kids.https://www.facebook.com/p/Windy-Acres-Orchard-and-Farm-61576552734481/
Thera Farms in Brentwood - If you don't want to make the drive all the way out east or spend an entire day at one of the larger farms, Thera Farms is a great smaller option. Located on the grounds of the Sisters of St. Joseph, it has a relaxed, local-farm feel that's perfect for a half-day outing. It's one of those places where you can still get that "day at the farm" feeling a little closer to home.https://www.facebook.com/TheraFarms/
One Long Island parent tip: check each farm's website or social media before leaving home. What's available to pick can change quickly, and activities vary by farm, location and weekend. Fall weekends can also get VERY crowded, so heading out early or choosing one of the smaller farms can make for a much more relaxed day.
2. Make a Stop at Jericho Cider Mill
Not every fall outing has to be an all-day event.
Jericho Cider Mill is one of my favorite ways to get a little taste of fall without making the drive all the way out east.
Stop in for fresh apple cider, grab some cider donuts or a pie, pick up a few fall goodies and make it part of an easy afternoon with the kids. The cider mill's history goes all the way back to the early 1800s, so there's some Long Island history mixed into those donuts, too.
It's simple, it's local and sometimes cider and donuts are all you really need to declare it a successful fall day.
3. Step Back in Time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration and the Long Island Fair
Fall is a wonderful time to visit Old Bethpage Village Restoration, where families can step back in time and experience what Long Island life was like in the 19th century.
But there's an extra reason to visit this fall: the Long Island Fair returns September 25, 26 and 27, 2026.
The annual fair brings farm animals, games, circus attractions, live music, historic demonstrations, craft vendors, food and more to the grounds of Old Bethpage Village Restoration.
There's something about an old-fashioned county fair that just belongs in the fall.
Visit Old Bethpage Village Restoration
2026 Long Island Fair information and tickets
4. Take a Fall Walk Through a Local Park or Preserve
You don't need an elaborate plan to have a great fall day. Sometimes one of my favorite things to do is put on sneakers, grab a water bottle and head into the woods.
Let the kids look for acorns, collect interesting leaves, search for mushrooms, listen for birds or see how many different colors they can find. Fall completely transforms some of our favorite Long Island trails.
A few favorites are:
Connetquot River State Park Preserve in Oakdale - A beautiful place for trails, wildlife and fall scenery. Plan a visit to Connetquot River State Park Preserve
Massapequa Preserve - Trails, lakes, streams and wetlands make this a great place to explore close to home. Learn more about Massapequa Preserve
Twin Lakes Preserve in Wantagh - A smaller local preserve that's perfect for an easy family walk. It's open from dawn to dusk. Visit Twin Lakes Preserve
West Hills County Park in Melville - Wooded trails make this especially beautiful in fall, and you can even make your way to Jayne's Hill, Long Island's highest natural point. Visit West Hills County Park
There doesn't need to be an agenda. Just walk, explore and see what you find.
5. Spend an Afternoon at Tackapausha Museum and Preserve
Tackapausha Museum and Preserve in Seaford is one of those local spots that makes an easy family outing feel like a mini adventure.
Walk the trails through the preserve and then head into the museum, where kids can learn about Long Island's natural world and see live animals. It's a great combination of colorful trails, animals, fresh air and something educational without it feeling like school.
Visit Tackapausha Museum and Preserve
6. Collect Leaves and Make Leaf Rubbings
This one costs practically nothing and is one of those old-school activities kids still love.
Take a walk around your neighborhood, backyard or one of the preserves above and collect leaves in different shapes and sizes. Bring them home, place them underneath a piece of paper and rub over them with the side of a crayon.
Use reds, oranges and yellows for traditional fall pictures, or forget the rules entirely and create purple, blue and hot-pink leaves.
Turn the finished rubbings into cards, garlands, bookmarks or simply hang them on the refrigerator. It's also a fun way to extend your outdoor adventure once you get home.
7. Have a Spooky Meal at Haunted House of Hamburgers
For Halloween atmosphere without actually having to walk through a haunted house, head to Haunted House of Hamburgers in Farmingdale.
It's a fun way to turn an ordinary lunch or dinner into part of your Halloween festivities. The spooky décor and Halloween theme make the restaurant itself part of the experience, while burgers and other family-friendly favorites keep everyone fed.
Sometimes you just need a little Halloween with a side of fries. Make sure to call ahead for reservations and availability as they get VERY busy this time of year.
Visit Haunted House of Hamburgers
8. Host a Pumpkin-Carving Party
Instead of everyone carving pumpkins separately this year, turn it into a party!
Set up your own little "pumpkin patch" in the backyard before everyone arrives and let each child choose a pumpkin. Cover a table and put out carving tools for older kids, along with paint, stickers, markers and other no-carve decorating supplies for younger children.
Put foil pans around the table to collect pumpkin seeds and all those delightfully slimy pumpkin guts. When everyone is finished, add candles or battery-operated lights and line up the creations for a glowing pumpkin display.
Serve some fun fall foods, put on a Halloween playlist and enjoy an afternoon together. We'll have some fun fall recipes coming soon, too!
9. Catch a Show at Hardscrabble Theater
Not every fall outing has to involve a pumpkin!
Head to Hardscrabble Theater in Farmingdale and see what's happening on stage. Hardscrabble is a local nonprofit community theater with mainstage productions as well as children's theater and children's classes.
There is something special about introducing kids to live theater. Instead of watching a story on a screen, they're sitting right there as the characters, sets and story come to life in front of them.
Check the current schedule before planning your visit to find a performance or children's program that's a good fit for your family.
See what's happening at Hardscrabble Theater
10. Have a Not-So-Scary Halloween Adventure
Halloween is one of my favorite parts of fall, but not every kid wants someone jumping out at them from a dark corner. Frankly, not every parent does either!
Luckily, Long Island has some Halloween experiences that give kids all the spooky-season fun without going full nightmare fuel.
Gateway's Not So Scary Kids Adventure in Bellport is designed for younger children who aren't quite ready for the nighttime Haunted Playhouse. Kids can explore a well-lit Halloween-themed experience with fun characters along the way.
Gateway's Not So Scary Kids Adventure
Another fun option is the Haunted Tree House at Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead. Designed for kids ages 3–11, the Halloween experience includes the Haunted Tree House along with activities like pumpkin decorating, crafts and an animal encounter. It's a fun excuse to head to the aquarium in costume and add a little Halloween spirit to a day of seeing the animals.
Long Island Aquarium Haunted Tree House
Save the truly terrifying haunted houses for the big kids and grown-ups who actually enjoy paying someone to scare them!
11. Have a Simple Fall Day at Home
Some of my favorite fall memories aren't the big outings at all.
Bake an apple crisp with some of the apples you picked. Make hot cider or cocoa. Decorate pumpkins. Rake up a giant pile of leaves and let the kids destroy your hard work approximately three seconds later.
Have a backyard fire, make s'mores, watch a Halloween movie, cook something together or take dinner outside on one of those perfect cool fall evenings.
Fall doesn't have to mean filling every weekend with somewhere to go.
Sometimes the best plan is simply opening the door and enjoying the season right where you are.
12. Dig Into Long Island's Spooky History and Local Legends
You don't have to visit a haunted house to find something spooky on Long Island. We have centuries of ghost stories, mysterious places and local legends of our own, and fall is the perfect time to explore a few of them.
I especially love this idea for older kids. Read one of the stories together, visit the place connected to it and talk about which parts are documented history and which parts have become folklore over generations. Let the kids decide what they believe!
A few places and legends to explore:
Lake Ronkonkoma and the Lady of the Lake - Long Island's largest freshwater lake has inspired several legends, including the famous story of the "Lady of the Lake." There are different versions of the tale, which generally involve a young woman, a forbidden love and her death in the lake. It's one of Long Island's most enduring pieces of folklore. Families can visit Lake Ronkonkoma County Park on the lake's northern shore. Visit Lake Ronkonkoma County Park
Mount Misery, Sweet Hollow Road and West Hills - If you grew up on Long Island, chances are you've heard at least one strange story connected to this area. Tales of ghosts, UFOs and unexplained happenings have become part of local lore. Instead of chasing ghosts down dark roads, make it a daytime adventure at West Hills County Park, where you can explore the trails and then see if the kids want to hear the legends afterward. Explore West Hills County Park
Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay - Here's where spooky stories and real Long Island history collide. The historic Townsend family home has deep Revolutionary War and Culper Spy Ring connections, and Raynham Hall even offers Historic Spirits programming alongside its regular historic tours. Visit Raynham Hall Museum
Fire Island Lighthouse - Lighthouses already come with the perfect ingredients for a good spooky story: crashing waves, shipwrecks, foggy nights and a lonely tower by the sea. Ghost stories have long circulated around the lighthouse, but its real maritime history is fascinating enough on its own. Families can explore the museums and nature trails or climb the tower, with age and height requirements applying to the climb. Plan a visit to the Fire Island Lighthouse they also have some fun events planned all season long.
Pick a legend, look it up together and see how many versions of the story you can find. Then talk about what's history, what's folklore and what might have grown a little more dramatic every time somebody retold it.
And if nothing else, you'll have some excellent material for telling spooky stories around the fire later that night.
13. Check Our Macaroni KID Calendar All Season Long
Of course, this list barely scratches the surface of everything happening on Long Island this fall.
There are fall festivals, Halloween events, trunk-or-treats, library programs, nature programs, farm events, community celebrations, shows and plenty of other family-friendly activities happening throughout September and October.
Be sure to check our Macaroni KID events calendar throughout the season. We're adding local family-friendly events regularly, so when Saturday morning rolls around and everyone asks, "What are we doing today?" you'll have somewhere to start.
Because Long Island fall doesn't last forever. Grab the sweatshirts, pick some apples, walk through the leaves, carve a pumpkin, hear a ghost story, get a little spooky and make the most of it while it's here.
