2023 Fall Weekend Guide

Top Events

• Blues in the 'Burg - Just as the name would suggest, this event on Saturday in Brownsburg features the sweet sounds of blues music from award-winning acts from around the country as well as food, a beer and wine garden and kids activities.
• Danville Tri Kappa Presents Fair On the Square - This massive two-day event in Danville includes more than 100 vendor booths selling home decor items, handmade creations and even produce.
• Puppy Pool Party at Splash Island - This annual party at Splash Island outdoor waterpark in Plainfield is truly for the dogs that love the water.

Top Things to Do

Discover Parks

• McCloud Prairie Maze - One of the top options for outdoor fun, McCloud Nature Park, also will debut a new attraction for the season this weekend -- a squirrel-inspired prairie maze.
• Top Trails - The best way to experience the natural beauty of Hendricks County is to grab some hiking shoes and explore.
• Parks & Gardens - This short window between summer and fall traditionally provides the best weather to experience some of our top outdoor attractions.

Top Events

• Medieval Festival - Enjoy a free community event for the entire family as you go back in time to watch and even participate in equestrian games, archery, a ship building contest and more along with enjoying a pig roast. Dressing for the event in period costume is encouraged.
• Quaker Day Festival - Come help the Plainfield community celebrate its heritage during this long-time event that features a parade, food and craft vendors, a car show and more.

Top Things to Do

An Apple a Day

• Beasley's Orchard - October remains without a doubt the busiest month for Beasley's Orchard, so if you want to avoid the crowds, visit this weekend before the rush begins. You can still enjoy all the wonderful aspects of this fall family attraction including u-pick apples, their Barnyard Bonanza family activity area and more.

Top Events

• Alpaca Farm Open House - Explore this family-owned farm in Brownsburg for this free event and learn more about the gentle alpaca that call it home.
• Indiana Guitar Show & Music Gear Expo - This two-day show remains the single largest musical event to occur in Indiana every year and features about 80 dealers from across the country.
• Venardos Circus - This new event in 2023 at The Shops at Perry Crossing brings a national Broadway-style, animal-free traveling circus to Indiana for the first time ever!
• Bowwow Bash - This fun event for dogs and their owners includes temporary dog parks, splash areas, contests, food, entertainment and more.

Top Things to Do

Kickoff to Fall

• Top Orchards - If you visit Hendricks County in September or October, Beasley's Orchard and Hogan Farms have to be at the top of your to-do list.
• Fall Treats - This is the time of year to find pumpkin treats. Check out our list
• Hiking, Biking & Horse Riding Trails - While the weather is still nice, make sure to get out and enjoy nature on one of our paved or natural trails.

Top Events

• Heartland Apple Festival - The biggest event of the season kicks off at Beasley's Orchard in Danville with tons of family fun including live entertainment, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, apple cannons, food and craft vendors and tons of children's activities.
• Venardos Circus - This new event in 2023 at The Shops at Perry Crossing brings a national Broadway-style, animal-free traveling circus to Indiana for the first time ever!

Top Things to Do

Farm Fresh Weekend

• Hogan Farms - Located in Brownsburg, this family-owned farm is open for the season featuring hayrides, a pumpkin patch and corn maze.
• Beasley's Orchard - This family-owned apple orchard ramps up its fall activities featuring a corn maze, children's activities and hayrides to the pumpkin patch.

Top Events

• Hendricks County International Festival - This free event for the entire family celebrates various cultures throughout the world through food, live dance and music performances, interactive booths and more. And it moves to a new location this year at The Shops at Perry Crossing.
• Heartland Apple Festival - If you missed it last weekend, this is the final weekend of this event at Beasley's Orchard in Danville. Hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, apple cannons, live entertainment, children's activities, food and event vendors and so much more.
• Fall Harvest Festival - Celebrate the fall harvest season with food, games and fun including a chili cook-off at W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park.
• Harvest Moon Festival - This family event in Avon offers numerous activities such as apple launching, pumpkin painting, wagon rides and numerous vendors.
• Fall Harvest Days at Nehemiah Ranch - Free family event in Avon held the first three Saturdays in October. Hayrides, pumpkin patch, live music, food and more.

Top Things to Do

Downtown Danville Square

• Mayberry Cafe - No visit to Danville would be complete without a visit to this Andy Griffith Show-inspired, destination restaurant.
• Hendricks County Historical Museum - Any weekend trip to Danville should include touring the museum, which served as the old sheriff's residence and county jail until the 1970s. Open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, it is well worth your time.

Top Events

• Beasley's Dog Daze at the Maze -  Enjoy a weekend at Hendricks County's most popular fall attraction, Beasley's Orchard, with your dogs. Costume contests, pet adoption and more in addition to this Danville attraction's usual fall activities.
• Fall Harvest Days at Nehemiah Ranch - You have another chance to enjoy this free family event in Avon. Hayrides, a pumpkin patch, live music, food and more provides the perfect setting for a fall celebration.
• Championship Saturday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park - If you are a motorsports fan, this is the last event of the season to get your fix in as the oval track will crown multiple champions with tons of action including the USAC Silver Crown National Championships, National Pavement Midget Championships and even Sprint Cars.

Top Things to Do

Fall Break Getaway

• uPaint Pottery Studio - As you get ready for Halloween, uPaint in Plainfield has a variety of seasonal pottery that your family can paint, make memories and use to decorate your home.
• McCloud Prairie Maze - If you haven't visited this unique fall maze yet at McCloud Nature Park in North Salem, you're running out of time. It's free, fun and different than traditional corn mazes.
• Horseback Riding at Natural Valley Ranch - Another tradition that makes a trip to Hendricks County so much fun can be found just outside of Brownsburg on this beautiful ranch that bursts with color this time of year. Reserve your spot in advance and enjoy a guided horseback ride (no prior riding experience necessary) through the scenic woods at Natural Valley.
• Hotels With Indoor Pools - When the kids still have energy to burn, having an indoor pool at your hotel will give you the perfect opportunity to relax poolside watching them swim and play. 

Top Events

• Fall Colors Festival & Fall Colors Run - A celebration of fall in one of Hendricks County's most beautiful places to see fall foliage. Visit McCloud Nature Park in North Salem and take in everything that makes fall great free of charge including numerous family activities and games. And it all starts at 8:45 a.m. with 5K & 10K runs.
• Doctoberfest - This annual event celebrating all things Doctor Who is back! Activities include a costume competition, custom action figure contest and a celebrity appearance, plus shop vendors to pick up the latest Doctor Who merchandise, enjoy games and win prizes.
• Halloweekend at Beasley's Orchard - A costume contest and pumpkin-carving contest will be added to the orchard's usual fall activities.
• Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show - This annual three-day event provides collectors a one-stop shop to the finest gems, minerals, jewelry, beads, fossils and meteorites found anywhere.

Top Things to Do

Fall Color

• The Tie Dye Lab - One of our favorite and most unique DIY studios can be found in Avon where you can bring your family and tie dye just about anything.
• Best Places to See Fall Foliage - This tends to be one of the best weekends to see peak fall color in Hendricks County, and we have a lot of great places to experience that natural phenomenon including one of the best places in the region at McCloud Nature Park.

Top Events

Last Chance

• McCloud Prairie Maze - It's the last weekend for McCloud Nature Park's most popular fall attraction.
• Hogan Farms - This family-owned farm featuring hayrides, a pumpkin patch and corn maze will close for the season after this weekend.

Top Things to Do

Fall Friends Getaway

• Avon Haunted Bridge - Pass under this legendary bridge in Avon to find out if the local stories are true.
• Breweries - Celebrate the weekend before Halloween by sampling seasonal brews at our 2 local breweries - Brew Link Brewing and Nigh Brewpub, both in Plainfield.
• Red Curb Improv Comedy Theatre - Laugh the night away at this improv club in Avon that hosts two Saturday shows (a PG-version and adult version) where the hilarious performers make up their acts on the spot oftentimes based on audience suggestions.