Though pumpkin spice queens (such as myself) have been observing fall since Starbucks debuted its famous PSL in late August, it hasn’t technically been fall until today. Now that the autumnal equinox has passed, colorful leaves, cool weather and cups of warm cider are undeniable. Looking for festive ways to celebrate the season? We’ve got a few suggestions for things to do around the region and at home.

Bike or hike through the foliage

Greenbriar Cemetery in Ohiopyle. Photo by Holly Riley via Unsplash.

I bought a bike rack for my car in June with the intention of hitting the trails nearby. It’s still sitting in the box in my living room – 85 degrees is too hot for a bike ride if you ask me. But as we all know, it doesn’t start getting truly cold in Pittsburgh until the end of October. Autumn is the perfect time to spend time in nature, both because of the mild temperatures and the stunning views.

Head to Ohiopyle and hop on the Great Allegheny Passage, or stay a little closer to home — the city’s interactive guide to parks and trails is super handy. Fall Run Park in Shaler may be just your speed if you’re looking for a chill oasis to walk through with your dogs or kids. Sally Quinn’s article about 10 great nature trails in and around Pittsburgh is a great place to start if you’re new to being an outdoorsy type (like me). If you’re feeling extra brave, a walk through Allegheny Cemetery as the sun goes down is lovely this time of year.

Get in the spirit with a movie

Screenshot from “When Harry Met Sally” (1989).
Screenshot from “When Harry Met Sally” (1989).

Movies are crucial to setting the vibe of the season. There are plenty of choices to stream, of course, but you can also find a few places to see fall flicks in theaters if you do feel like leaving your couch. Here are some of the ones I can’t wait to watch. 

Tomorrow, Sept. 23, through Sept.29, Lawrenceville’s Row House Cinema will show four quintessentially autumn movies for its Pumpkin Spice Latte week: “Clue” (1985 version), “Good Will Hunting,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and, best of all, “When Harry Met Sally.” You can’t miss the changing leaves and cozy sweaters in these films. It’ll be even better if Bierport has pumpkin beer available.

The Oaks in Oakmont also has fall/Halloween plans on the calendar. Catch the beloved (by millennials) Disney Channel movie “Halloweentown,” along with “Beetlejuice,” “Practical Magic,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “The Addams Family,” “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Shining,” all at various times through the end of October.

You can also watch “Casper” and “Cabin Fever” for free on Oct. 15 at the Schenley Park Visitor Center. The Rangos Giant Cinema at the Carnegie Science Center is playing George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29.

Bake with the season (for fun only)

Freshly baked pumpkin scones. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash.

Baking before Thanksgiving (and the holiday cookie season) begins allows you to truly take your time and be creative. Since there’s no pressure to impress anyone with the perfect pie or hundreds of holiday cookies, you can experiment with new recipes and flavors. Have you ever tried pumpkin focaccia? As a self-proclaimed pop culture nerd, I love to get out my “Harry Potter,” “Gilmore Girls” and “Eat What You Watch” cookbooks and whip up recipes from my favorite shows and movies. 

Many of Pittsburgh’s farmers’ markets run through the end of October, and some through November. Visit Pittsburgh has a roundup of all the city markets that is really handy for planning, and Phipps offers a downloadable “what’s in season in Pittsburgh” guide for produce.

Visit Kennywood for Phantom Fall Fest

Photo courtesy of Kennywood Park.

A trip to Kennywood for what was formerly known as Phantom Fright Nights is a Pittsburgh Halloween season staple. Phantom Fall Fest lets visitors who aren’t interested in being scared spend time with friendly fall characters in a “unique autumn atmosphere” during the day. At 6 p.m., the park transforms into a thrilling haunt-fest with mazes, haunted houses and “evil inhabitants.” All of the best parts of Kennywood — the rides and the food — are open as usual. Try the new “mAlice in Wonderland” maze this year … if you dare. (I’ll be hitting the road promptly at 6 p.m.).

Pick pumpkins and more in our guide to the best fall festivals

Photo courtesy of the Trax Farms Facebook page.

I saved the best for last. Fall festivals contain all the greatest parts of the autumn season. You’ve got the fresh country air, hayrides, pumpkin patches, seasonal beverages like cider and hot chocolate, caramel apples and maybe a corn maze or two. What could be better? There seem to be more festivals this year than ever before, and they’re happening all over the Pittsburgh region.

September 

October

And don’t miss our Weekly Event Guides and article on Two fall beer festivals geared to sports fans and Halloween enthusiasts.

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Cristina HoltzerDigital Editor

Cristina Holtzer is NEXTpittsburgh's Digital Editor. When she’s not laughing too hard at TikTok, Crissy can be found working on her novel or playing the Sims. Read her work in Everyday Health, The Kitchn, Pittsburgh Magazine, Inc and more.