Fall may be the most beautiful time of year in the Finger Lakes.
The vineyards are in harvest, the hillsides turn red, orange and gold, waterfalls are framed by changing leaves, and towns throughout the region fill their calendars with festivals, farm events, scenic train rides and seasonal celebrations.
If you're planning a Finger Lakes getaway this September or October, don't build your trip around just one attraction. Some of the best weekends combine a festival or special event with a waterfall hike, winery stop, scenic drive and a little time to simply enjoy the view.
Here are some of the best things happening around the Finger Lakes in fall 2026.
September 25–27: One of the Biggest Fall Weekends of the Season
If you're looking for a weekend when there is a lot happening at once, September 25–27 is a good one.
Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival
September 25–27, 2026 | Downtown Ithaca
Downtown Ithaca's annual Apple Harvest Festival fills the Commons and surrounding streets with local farms, apple growers, cider, baked goods, craft vendors, food and live entertainment.
Admission is free, and the festival runs all three days.
Explore the Apple Harvest Festival →
Naples Grape Festival
September 26–27, 2026 | Naples
The Naples Grape Festival is another classic Finger Lakes harvest tradition, with live music, food, arts and crafts, local products, wine and, naturally, plenty of grape pie.
Explore the Naples Grape Festival →
Balloons on the Ridge
September 25–27, 2026 | Lodi / Seneca Lake
This one is especially interesting for visitors staying along the east side of Seneca Lake.
Balloons on the Ridge brings hot-air balloons to the Seneca Lake area, creating one of the most photogenic fall events of the season. Scheduled activities include balloon flights, live music, food and balloon-related events, with flights dependent on weather conditions.
Balloons on the Ridge Details →
Take a Fall Train Ride Through the Finger Lakes
One of the more unusual ways to see the Finger Lakes is aboard the Finger Lakes Rail Experience.
September excursions include wine, lakeside and evening passenger experiences, while October shifts toward seasonal fall-foliage rides.
It's a great option for visitors who want to enjoy the scenery without spending another day behind the wheel.
See the Rail Experience Schedule →
October 3: Falls Harvest Festival in Montour Falls
October 3, 2026 | Montour Falls
For guests staying around Watkins Glen and Seneca Lake, this is one of the easiest fall events to add to a trip.
The Falls Harvest Festival takes over Main Street in Montour Falls with local craft and food vendors, live entertainment and family activities.
One of the highlights is the setting itself: the festival takes place beneath dramatic Shequaga Falls in the center of the village.
Falls Harvest Festival Details →
Make a Weekend of It
Pair the festival with Watkins Glen State Park, a drive along Seneca Lake and an afternoon at nearby wineries or breweries.
Don't Miss Watkins Glen State Park in Fall
Even without a festival happening, Watkins Glen State Park is one of the signature Finger Lakes experiences.
The famous Gorge Trail winds past waterfalls, stone bridges, stairways and towering rock walls.
In autumn, the contrast between the dark gorge walls, waterfalls and brilliant foliage can be spectacular.
Wear shoes with good traction and leave yourself more time than you think you'll need. This is one of those places where rushing defeats the point.
The Gorge Trail is seasonal, so fall visitors should check current trail conditions before heading out.
Visit Watkins Glen State Park →
October 4: Wineglass Marathon
Fall isn't just festival season.
The Wineglass Marathon returns in October, with its point-to-point course finishing in Corning.
It has become one of the region's major annual sporting events and brings runners and spectators from well beyond the Finger Lakes.
Even if you aren't running, Corning can make a fun fall day trip, particularly when combined with the Corning Museum of Glass, downtown Market Street or a scenic drive through the Southern Tier.
October 10–11: Bristol Mountain Fall Festival
October 10–11, 2026 | Bristol Mountain
For a completely different perspective on fall foliage, head toward the Bristol Hills.
The Bristol Mountain Fall Festival combines seasonal activities, food and entertainment with the mountain's popular Fall Sky Rides.
A chairlift ride above the colorful Bristol Hills gives visitors one of the most unusual foliage views in the Finger Lakes.
Bristol Mountain Fall Festival →
This is an especially natural addition to a Canandaigua or Naples itinerary.
Spend the morning exploring Canandaigua, head toward Bristol Mountain for the afternoon and finish the day with dinner overlooking Canandaigua Lake.
October: Greater Ithaca Art Trail Open Studio Weekends
If wineries and waterfalls aren't enough, fall is also one of the best times to explore the region's art community.
During the Greater Ithaca Art Trail Open Studio Weekends, participating area artists open their studios to visitors.
Rather than visiting one destination, the event essentially turns the back roads around Ithaca and Tompkins County into a self-guided fall driving tour.
Explore the Greater Ithaca Art Trail →
Pick Apples, Find a Pumpkin & Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Fall in the Finger Lakes doesn't require a major festival.
Pick'n Patch in Stanley, between Canandaigua and Geneva, offers classic fall farm activities including pumpkins, apples, a corn maze and family attractions.
Earlier in the season, the farm also hosts its annual sunflower celebration, making late summer and early fall an especially fun time to visit.
Sometimes the best Finger Lakes fall memories aren't complicated.
Bike Through the Fall Colors
The Finger Lakes don't have to be experienced through a car window.
Cycling or e-biking can turn the landscape itself into the attraction.
Build a day around a scenic route, waterfall or small town. Stop for lunch, visit a winery or brewery, and leave enough time to actually enjoy the views.
For a group of friends, it can also be a great change of pace from spending the entire day moving between tasting rooms.
Take a Quiet Fall Hike
Some of the best autumn experiences aren't scheduled at all.
Beyond Watkins Glen, the Finger Lakes are filled with state parks, forests, waterfalls and trails ranging from easy walks to full-day hikes.
Leave a little room in your itinerary for the weather to decide the day.
Wake up, grab coffee, look outside and head wherever the foliage looks best.
Experience Harvest Season on Seneca Lake
Fall is also harvest season in Finger Lakes wine country.
Wineries around Seneca Lake stay busy throughout September and October with vineyard activity, tastings, live music, food experiences and seasonal events.
Explore the Seneca Lake Wine Trail →
Rather than attempting to circle the entire lake in a day, pick one section and slow down.
On the east side of Seneca Lake, wineries, breweries and restaurants are close enough together that you can build an entire afternoon around just a few miles of Route 414.
And during harvest, you're seeing the Finger Lakes wine industry during one of its busiest and most interesting times of year.
Where to Stay for a Finger Lakes Fall Getaway
VRFLX offers vacation homes near Seneca Lake and Canandaigua Lake, giving you two very different home bases for exploring the region.
Make your vacation rental part of the trip. A comfortable home base gives you somewhere to relax between waterfall hikes, wineries, festivals and fall adventures.
Our Seneca-area properties make a convenient home base for Watkins Glen, the east side of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, Montour Falls and many of the events above.
Our Canandaigua-area home puts you closer to Bristol Mountain, Naples and the western Finger Lakes.
Not sure which VRFLX property fits your trip? Use our Find Your Stay guide to compare locations, group sizes and amenities.
Whether you're planning a family getaway, girls' weekend, couples' trip or vacation with friends, having a real home base gives everyone room to reconnect after the day's adventures.
Cook dinner together.
Sit around the fire.
Relax in the hot tub.
And figure out which part of the Finger Lakes you're exploring tomorrow.
Quick Guide: Finger Lakes Fall Events 2026
Use this at-a-glance guide to plan your trip. Click any event name for more information.
| Date | Event | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 25–27 | Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival → | Ithaca |
| Sept. 25–27 | Balloons on the Ridge → | Lodi / Seneca Lake |
| Sept. 26–27 | Naples Grape Festival → | Naples |
| Through Oct. 31 | Pick'n Patch Fall Festival → | Stanley |
| October | Finger Lakes Rail Experience Fall Rides → | Finger Lakes |
| Oct. 3 | Falls Harvest Festival → | Montour Falls |
| Oct. 4 | Wineglass Marathon → | Bath–Corning |
| Oct. 10–11 | Bristol Mountain Fall Festival → | Bristol Mountain |
| October | Greater Ithaca Art Trail Open Studios → | Ithaca / Tompkins County |