If There’s One Fall Festival You Attend in Alaska, Make It the Fall Harvest Festival

Fall in Alaska might be my favorite time of year. I love the temperature change, the slower pace, and I especially love watching the colors change as we drift into winter. This time of year brings many autumnal adventures, including fall festivals. There’s one particular fall festival in Alaska that’s worthy of a road trip, and it’s Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm. Every year, this local farm hosts one of the most cherished events in the state. Let’s check it out:

Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm in Palmer, Alaska, located in the shadow of the massive and gorgeous Pioneer Peak, is the place to go this September. Offering fresh produce for over 40 years at their u-pick farm, it’s one of the best places in the state to harvest your own fruits and vegetables, with pumpkin picking being a highlight of the autumn season.

The farm’s Fall Harvest Festival has been a beloved annual festivity since 2005, and 2025 marks its 20th celebration, taking place on September 13, 20, and 27, with free admission for kids 2 and under.

The Fall Harvest Festival is a tradition for everyone who loves celebrating the changing seasons, featuring all your favorite autumn goodies like apple cider, hayrides, and a corn maze. It’s the perfect family event, with plenty of activities and rides for the littlest members of your family. Pedal tractors, wagon rides, and cattle train rides are always a hit, along with face painting, a zip line, and even a few barnyard animals to love on.

And the food! Oh, the food. Caramel apples, cider donuts, and hot coffee are just a few of the tasty treats that await you. There are food trucks each day of the festival, serving up local fare, too. Come hungry, because there will be so many options, and all of them will get you in the fall spirit. Nothing says fall is here more than that first cider donut of the year.

It’s hard to choose a favorite activity: the giant jump pad, bazooka ball, or spending time with the animals up close? You’ll want to do it all. You’ll see cows, goats, rabbits, reindeer, and more. The whole farm could easily take an entire day to explore, but the event runs only from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., so you’ll want to arrive right when they open to make the most of your visit.

Whether you want to join in on the games, indulge in the food, or just pick out your Halloween pumpkin, this is the place to go this year! You and your family won’t want to miss it. To learn more about the fall festival or purchase tickets, visit the official website of Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm. The farm also hosts events throughout the year, including Fright Night at Halloween and a Country Christmas celebration for the holiday season.

Have you been to Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm or another fall festival in Alaska? Share your favorite through our nomination form, and use Only In Your State’s itinerary planner to help plan your visit.