Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
More info: http://www.balloonfiesta.com/
Date: October 1-9, 2016
Admission fee: $8 for adults, free for children twelve and under
Why kids love it: Your children will literally be eyes wide, jaw agape when they see the hundreds of hot air balloons dotting the sky.
Why parents love it: Your kids won’t be the only ones entranced. All of those big, colorful, whimsical balloons make for great photos and memories. The nighttime show, with balloons lighting up the sky, is the stuff dreams are made of.
Don’t miss: Balloon Glows, when the balloons’ burners are all lit at the same time. It’s followed by a huge fireworks display.
Come Out With Pride Orlando
More info: http://comeoutwithpride.com/
Date: October 8, 2016
Admission fee: General admission is free. $75 per person for the VIP Experience
Why kids love it: The afternoon festival is a great party, which includes over 100 vendors, live music and tons of great food. Bonus: they’ll be psyched about visiting Disneyworld or Sea World the next day.
Why parents love it: Orlando’s pride festival is considered one of the best in the country, with tons of entertainment and a multitude of full bars and beer tents. With so much to see, you’ll have plenty to do until the parade at 4 PM.
Don’t miss: Dinner and Fireworks, which is a five-course meal followed by an incredible fireworks show over Lake Eola.
Hoes Down Festival
More info: http://www.hoesdown.org/
Date: October 1, 2016
Admission fee: $20 online ($25 at the gate) for adults, $5 for children age two to twelve
Why kids love it: There’s so much for kids to do here, the hard part will be figuring out where to start. There are farm tours, ice cream making, circus performances, and a special kids’ area with crafts, pumpkin carving, and a petting zoo. There’s also a water roller coaster, a hay fort, and an obstacle course.
Why parents love it: With wine tasting, shows, and agricultural workshops that teach you all about farming, you’ll be just as busy as the little ones.
Don’t miss: The Nighttime Storywalk, where you explore the farm by lantern, as guides and musicians share a harvest tale.
Pumpkin Festival Laconia
More info: http://pumpkinfestival2011.org/
Date: October 22, 2016
Admission fee: Free
Why kids love it: Your children will be in awe of the world-record breaking numbers of jack-o’-lanterns that line the streets of this small New Hampshire town. We’re talking in the tens of thousands. It’s truly magical. There’s even bowling and a costume parade during the day.
Why parents love it: Grownups will be equally impressed with the pumpkin displays, especially knowing how hard it is just to carve a smiley face into their own kids’ pumpkins. Parents can also take part in trail races, eat great food, and browse the craft market.
Don’t miss: The Pumpkin Dump Derby, in which groups of college kids compete to clean up the pumpkin display and win money for their charity of choice.
Santa Fe Harvest Festival
More info: https://golondrinas.org/festivals/harvest-festival/
Date: October 1-2, 2016
Admission fee: $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and teenagers, free for children twelve and under
Why kids love it: At this Southwest cultural fest, located at the historic El Rancho de las Golondrinas, kids can help stomp grapes, go on a mule-drawn wagon ride, and help time-warped “villagers” make tortillas and molasses. Think Colonial Williamsburg, in the Southwest.
Why parents love it: The grounds of this museum are beautiful, with over 300 historical buildings dating back to the 1700s, beautiful ponds, agricultural fields, and farm animals. You’ll really feel like you’ve been transported back to eighteenth and nineteenth century New Mexico, thanks to the volunteers playing the part.
Don’t miss: Shopping for locally made New Mexico crafts.
North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival
More info: http://www.ncpecanfestival.com/index.cfm
Date: November 5, 2016
Admission fee: Free
Why kids love it: At this celebration of the locally grown pecan, there’s an entire kids’ block with huge bounce houses, games, a train, and a NASCAR simulator. And, of course, what would any festival be without a parade…a pecan parade with its own queen.
Why parents love it: In addition to the plethora of nutty treats, there are cooking contests, a car and tractor show, and live music. Plus, you can stay in Myrtle Beach and enjoy the seaside oasis as well.
Don’t miss: A heavenly slice of pecan pie.
Northern Decadence Vermont
More info: http://www.northerndecadence.com/
Date: September 11, 2016
Admission fee: $5 for adults, free for children 5 and under
Why kids love it: Vermont is known for some of its tasty exports like maple syrup, gourmet ice cream, specialty cheeses and more. This gay pride festival is also a food fest, where kids can sample some local favorites while watching the colorful, festive parade.
Vermont has the best things in life: Maple syrup, gourmet ice cream, award-winning cheeses, microbrews, wines, sauces and other specialty foods. Beautiful natural scenery, world-class restaurants, family attractions, shopping, entertainment, arts and culture.
Why parents love it: Grownups will be equally as excited to sample some of Vermont’s finest foods, as well as the various microbrews. Plus, the state’s renowned natural beauty can’t be beat.
Don’t miss: Sipping a beer from world-renowned Alchemist Brewery
All images via their respective event websites unless otherwise noted.
