The Best Fall Family Activities in Boone County, Indiana

There's something about Boone County in the fall — the cornfields turning gold, the smell of wood smoke, apple cider donuts everywhere you turn. If you're looking to fill your weekends with pumpkin patches, hayrides, and small-town festivals, you don't have to leave the county. Here's where to take the family this season.

Zionsville Fall Festival (Lions Park)

This is the marquee community event in Boone County the weekend after Labor Day, and 2026 marks its 73rd year. The festival is the Zionsville Lions Club’s largest fundraiser every year. Proceeds go toward the overall improvement and maintenance of Lions Park and to the club to support its various activities.  

This year, the Fall Festival runs September 11–13 at Lions Park:

• Friday: 5–11 pm (starts with a VIP carnival hour for families with special needs)

• Saturday: 10 am–11 pm. Don't miss the parade, which starts at 10am, from Zionsville Community High School down Main Street

• Sunday: Noon–5 pm, featuring the American Dream Car Show

  
  

Admission to the festival grounds is free; carnival rides require tickets or a wristband. Expect bounce houses, vendors, a full midway of rides, live music, a pet pavilion, and every fair-food classic from elephant ears to fresh-cut tenderloins. On-site parking is $8, or you can park in one of the public lots near Main Street and walk in.

Dull's Tree Farm (Thorntown)

Dull's is the county's go-to destination for a full day of fall fun, and it's worth planning around. The 2026 Pumpkin Harvest runs weekends from September 26 through November 1, with a season-pass holder preview day on September 20. General admission is $21.95, and kids 2 and under get in free. Save a bit by going on a non-peak day (see their website for details). Special Flash Sale: September 7, at 8am - limited quantities: $13.95!

Once you're in, the day includes a pick-your-own pumpkin field, corn maze, hayrides, a pumpkin cannon, ropes range and tire mountain, slides, farm animals, and, of course, apple cider donuts. Every year, they like to add a new activity. Some activities are for a fee and multiple food options are available. They also hold a fireworks show on October 24.

You can also rent a fire pit or gazebo for your time at Pumpkin Harvest. Add on a S'mores kit too for $30! Fire pit rentals start at $50/3 hours and gazebo rentals start at $150/4 hours.

Festival of the Turning Leaves (Thorntown)

The earliest known residents of Thorntown date back to the 1600s, when the French arrived and established a French Indian Trading Post with the Eel River Miami of Kawiakiungi, the Place of Thorns. In 1818, the US Government established the Thorntown Reserve of 64,000 acres and in 1828, the land was taken from them. In 1973, the Society for the Preservation of Our Indian Heritage began the Festival of the Turning Leaves to honor that heritage.

This year, downtown Thorntown transforms for this free, three-day community festival on September 25–27. Expect a parade, live music, craft and food vendors, a children's area, and museum tours through the Thorntown Heritage Museum, all set against Main Street's small-town backdrop.

SullivanMunce Ghost Walk (Zionsville)

For families with older kids who are ready for something a little spookier (but still family-friendly), the SullivanMunce Cultural Center's annual Ghost Walk is a Zionsville tradition.

This year's Ghost Walk will be held on October 2 & 3. The 45-minute tours depart from the center's front lawn every 15 minutes from 6-9pm and lead visitors from site to site through the Village, where local actors in period dress reenact true and legendary ghost stories from Zionsville's history.

Advance reservations are recommended, since time slots regularly sell out. Pre-pay tickets for SullivanMunce members are $15 for adults and $10 for youth and non-member tickets run $17 for adults and $13 for youth, with kids 5 and under free. Prices go up after 4pm on October 1: $20 for adults and $15 for kids.

Night Owl Market (Downtown Lebanon)

Downtown Lebanon's square comes alive after dark for the NEW Night Owl Market on Saturday, October 3, 6–9pm. Local artisan vendors, cozy fall treats, and hand-crafted spooky decor fill the square, with live acoustic music setting the mood as you shop under the moonlight.

Grab a bite, browse the makers, and let the kids soak in the autumn atmosphere. A great pick if you're looking for a slower-paced evening out with the family.

Fright Nights (Maplelawn Farmstead, Zionsville)

Maplelawn Farmstead hosts Fright Nights October 23–24, 7–10pm, and it's built to cover every scare level in one visit. The Fright Barn is the real deal — dark passageways, fog, live actors, and jump scares, not recommended for young kids or anyone sensitive to intense environments (12 and under must be accompanied by an adult). Prefer things a little gentler? The Spooky Stories Barn offers costumed storytellers, soft lighting, and zero jump scares, perfect for younger guests. Recommended for ages 8+.

Round out the night with a hayride, a spooky farmstead tour, a campfire, and s'mores or hot chocolate for an extra charge. Parking and entry are at Mulberry Fields Park, 9645 Whitestown Road.

Timed ticket entry, with sales opening September 15. $12/person, or $15 night of event.

Trick or Trees (Zionsville)

Trick or Trees returns to Elm Street Green Park on Saturday, October 24, 9am–12pm. Dress the kids up and work your way down the Trick-or-Treat Trail collecting goodies from local partners, then warm up at the campfire for marshmallow roasting. There's also hands-on fall activities, science experiments, games, and a walk down the Pumpkin Path — plus a new Scarecrow Decorating Contest this year, with kids voting for their favorite along the trail.

Trick or Trees requires a timed entry ticket and registration is required for all participating kids ($5 resident / $7 nonresident, under 2 free). Registration opens October 1 and spots go fast, so don't wait to sign up.

Halloween Trick-or-Treat Trail (Whitestown)

Whitestown's Anson Acres Park turns into the Trick-or-Treat Trail on Saturday, October 24, 3–8pm. Walk the paved, stroller-friendly trail collecting candy from local businesses, hop on a hayride (running 3:30–7:30pm, loops every 10–15 minutes), roast s'mores over the bonfire, and play fall games. Admission is free.

Families who'd benefit from a lower-sensory experience can register for the Sensory Hour, 3–4pm (lights, loud sounds, and animatronics turned off). Bring a bag for candy — and don't forget your costume.

Mischief on Main (Downtown Lebanon)

Enjoy an evening in Downtown Lebanon on the square with family and friends at Mischief on Meridian on October 24, 5-8pm, with a dedicated time for special needs friends at 4:30pm.

Here's what an evening on the square looks like:

✅ Work your way around Downtown Lebanon, stopping at business after business for candy ✅ Take in costumes from every corner of creativity (yes, including some spooky ones) ✅ Catch street performers keeping the energy going all night ✅ Enter the costume contest ✅ Stop by and pet a few "spooky creatures" if you're feeling brave

So bring the family, bring the candy bags, and come make some mischief in Downtown Lebanon. See you on the square! Follow the event on facebook for updates.

Pumpkins & Hayrides (Lions Park, Zionsville)

Hosted by the Zionsville Lions Club, this free event is traditionally the last one held at Lions Park each year. This year, Pumpkins & Hayrides will be on Sunday, October 25, 2-5pm. Hayrides travel through the park all afternoon, kids can paint a free pumpkin while supplies last, bounce houses, games and a costume contest at 4pm. It's low-key which is perfect for littles who might not make it through a full farm visit.

Go For a Walk or Hike

Zionsville:

• Elm Street Green- easy paved loop. Often has a storywalk from the HMMPL along the path, connects to Lion's Park.

• Starkey Nature Park- a little bit more rugged, but easy to walk paths, porta-potty at parking lot. Can be very muddy after a lot of rain. Connects to the Rail Trail.

• Overley-Worman- nice paved paths, playground, fishing pond, restroom facilities at parking lot. Connects to the Rail Trail.

• Carpenter Nature Preserve - newly opened in 2026. Paved, stone, and grass paths.

Zionsville, Whitestown, Lebanon:

• Big-4 Rail Trail - go for miles along the rail trail. Wide, paved path that runs from Zionsville up to Colfax - 21+ miles!

Outside of Boone County

For apple picking and more Halloween fun, you'll have to head out of Boone County.

• Stuckey Farm - Sheridan

  • Working orchard and cider mill with 37 different varieties of u-pick apples, annual fall festivals, and an all-around family friendly destination.

• Beasley's Orchard - Danville

  • 250 acre farm offering fresh produce and family fun throughout the entire year! They offer seasonal activities including fall festivals and picking your own strawberries, raspberries, zinnias, sunflowers, apples, pumpkins.

• Indianapolis ZooBoo - Indianapolis

  • ZooBoo brings magic and potions, trick-or-treating for kids and adults, fun twists on our rides and more for a ghoulishly good time. And with cooler temperatures, the animals are especially active. Costumes are encouraged!

• Conner Prairie Headless Horseman Festival - Fishers

  • Explore fall family traditions throughout the festival grounds, including fun activities and rides, seasonal treats, specialty drinks, and entertainment to delight everyone. Experience the legend of the of the Headless Horseman on a thrilling Hayride through the woods where frights and fears come to life.

• Harvest Nights at Newfields - Indianapolis

  • The spooky, not scary, spectacle in The Garden at Newfields. Journey through fog-filled forests along The Pumpkin Path of Peril and take in tens of thousands of gourdgeous pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns.

Smashin' Pumpkins (Zionsville)

When all of your fall fun is over, bring your pumpkins to Mulberry Fields to smash them! Join Zionsville Parks and Recreation for Smashin' Pumpkins at Mulberry Fields Park on Saturday, November 7, 11am-1pm. This annual Pumpkin Smash & Compost Bash keeps carved pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns out of the landfill — bring yours to smash and compost into nutrient-rich soil (be sure to review the composting guidelines before you arrive), or grab one on-site with a $2 donation while supplies last.

Highlights include the Smashin' Station, composting education and demos, more food trucks and games, and the crowd favorite: the Epic Pumpkin Drop, courtesy of the Zionsville Fire Department's ladder truck. It's a fun, hands-on way to close out Halloween as a family — and teach the kids a little something about composting along the way.

Planning Your Fall Weekends

Boone County packs a lot of small-town charm into its fall lineup — from Dull's sprawling farm day to the Zionsville Fall Festival's parade-and-carnival energy to all the trick-or-treating fun. Pick two or three, and you've got a season's worth of family memories without ever needing to leave the county line.