Whether you want to stay close to home here in Eastern Iowa or take a little road trip, there are plenty of places to visit with the family this fall! Here are a few of your options:

Fun Places in Iowa to Check Out With the Family This Fall

Whether you want to stay close to home here in Eastern Iowa or take a little road trip, there are plenty of places to visit with the family this fall! Here are a few of your options!

If your family is into spookier fall activities, you can check out a list of Iowa haunted attractions HERE!

Adventureland Phantom Fall Fest

  • Adventureland in Altoona
  • Weekends September 30th through October 30th
    • Fridays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., & Sundays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • "Come early for family-friendly fun, festive food and enjoy your favorite coasters and rides during the day! Then, when the sun goes down, the Phantom takes screams to the extreme with four haunted houses and three scare zones. Creepy characters create hair-raising haunts as they prowl the park after dark."
  • Guests 17-years-old and younger must be accompanied by an adult chaperone beginning at 6 p.m.
  • Tickets start at $39.99

Allen's Orchard

  • 5801 N 10th St, Marion
  • Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Featuring u-pick apples, the Orchard Store, swings, a playground, goats, yard games, and weekend hayrack rides

Amana Oktoberfest

  • Amana Colonies
  • September 30th through October 2nd
  • "Join us for Oktoberfest in the Amana Colonies on September 30th – October 2nd, 2022! Enjoy beer, live music, games, German food, and so much more all through the Colonies during this festival weekend."
  • Also featuring a parade and kids' activities

Anamosa Pumpkinfest

  • Main Street in Anamosa
  • Saturday, October 1st beginning at 8 a.m.
  • "Enjoy the fun of a true Main Street Festival that includes pumpkin carving displays, a 5k run, kids games, food, arts and craft vendors, car show, a parade and most amazing of all, GIANT pumpkins, watermelons and other gourds."

Bart's Farm and Pumpkin Patch

  • 7307 Alburnett Rd, Marion
  • Open Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to dark and Saturday & Sunday from 9 a.m. to dark
  • Featuring weekend hay rides & pony rides, a corn maze, pumpkins, and a petting farm

Bass Farms

  • 840 Bass Lane, Mount Vernon
  • Open Saturdays & Sundays in September & October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Featuring mini-golf, a corn maze, hay rack rides, ice cream, pumpkins, a farm store, games, a playground, face painting, and more
  • Admission $10 per person - ages 2 and under are free

The Big Apple Orchard

  • 1115 US-30 W, Mount Vernon
  • Open Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Featuring u-pick apples and an orchard store with a bakery

Blank Park Zoo Night Eyes

  • Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines
  • October 20th to 23rd & 27th to 30th
  • "Roam through enchanted lighted displays, a merry-not-scary treat safari, and enjoy live entertainment and games, all while learning more about and supporting wildlife."
  • Tickets go on sale October 1st for $8 - a one-day ticket sale with $5 tickets will happen September 27th

Bloomsbury Farm

  • 3260 69th St, Atkins
  • Open Fridays through Sundays in October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Featuring u-pick pumpkins, a corn maze, mini golf, games, a play area, a petting zoo, food, drinks, and more
  • Tickets are $15.95 online or $19.95 at the gate - ages 2 and under are free

Colony Acres Pumpkin Patch

  • 1150 S Front St, North Liberty
  • Open Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Featuring a corn maze, a play area, games, weekend hayrack rides, food, pumpkins, and more
  • Tickets are $12 on weekdays and $14 on weekends - ages 2 and under are free

Dark Harvest Halloween Parade

  • Saturday, October 22nd at 6:30 p.m.
  • NewBo & Czech Village Districts in Cedar Rapids

Frightening Fridays

  • NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids
  • Dates/Movies
    • October 7th - Gremlins
    • October 14th - Scooby Doo Monsters Unleashed
    • October 28th - Coco
  • "Join us in the Market Yard every Friday night in October for a spooky Halloween movie! Enjoy the brisk fall air at these free and family-friendly events.
    Movies begin at sunset, remember to bring something to sit on! Don't forget to wear your best movie-themed costumes to compete in our weekly costume contests! Support our Shopkeepers and get your movie viewing snacks and beverages inside the Market. No outside food or beverages are allowed in the Market Yard."

Kroul Farms

  • 245 Highway 1 S, Mount Vernon
  • Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • "Pull your wagon through the spooky graveyard and past the haunted old car. See how tall you are this year on the big 'how tall this fall' sign and take your picture as Frankenstein. The 3-acre corn maze is quite a challenge, so a smaller version is made out of round bales for the little ones. Visit the chickens and talk about the way eggs are made, or watch the cows eat their dinner and understand how crops are used for food."

The Pumpkin Express - Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad

  • Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum in Boone
  • October 1st, 8th, & 15th from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
  • "Take the family on this one hour and thirty minute journey (across our 156′ tall Bass Point Creek High Bridge, and the Des Moines River Bridge) to the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad’s pumpkin patch. Once at the patch, children will be able to select their perfect pumpkin before returning to town. On the return trip, children will receive an activity booklet and a treat."
  • Tickets are $22 for ages 2 and up

Sass Family Farm

  • 3060 160th St, Riverside
  • Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • "Sass Family Farm has a ton of Fall produce, haunted barn, straw maze, antique & craft shopping, petting zoo, playground area, balloon jump, hayrack rides around the haunted fields and so much more!"

SodaFest

  • Northside Oktoberfest in the Pagliai's Pizza Parking Lot in Iowa City
  • October 8th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • "The Iowa Children's Museum team once again will lead programming for SodaFest with a number of activities planned, including pumpkin decorating, creative construction play with their beloved Blue Blocks, inflatables and much more! And back again by popular demand ... Living Characters will create a custom balloon animal/object for each participating kiddo!!"
  • A $5 ticket includes a specialty acrylic tasting soda glass and unlimited samples of sodas

Wilson's Orchard & Farm

  • 4823 Dingleberry Rd NE, Iowa City
  • Open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Featuring u-pick pumpkins & apples, food, drinks, and a farm store

Palisades-Kepler State Park in the Fall

I took a drive out to Palisades-Kepler State Park in Mount Vernon to capture some of the beautiful fall colors before winter takes over. I hope you enjoy the scenery as much as I did!

The Funniest Lies Iowa Parents Have Told Their Kids

We took to Facebook to ask parents share with us some of the funny lies they've told their children over the years. Here are some of our favorite responses!

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