When the weather starts getting cooler and the leaves start to drop, there’s nothing I’d rather do than spend a day outside. A special autumnal spirit just sort of takes over during fall in Maryland. While you could simply set foot outside your door and let your feet take you where they will beneath the colorful leaves, there are also plenty of outdoor festivities set to happen in our great state this fall that shouldn’t be missed. Here is our list of seven of the best fall festivals in Maryland that are happening this spooky season and are sure to put you and your family in the autumn mood!

1. The Maryland Renaissance Festival -Select dates between Aug. 31 and Oct. 20, 2024

When Marylanders think of autumn weekends, they think of turkey legs, costumes, jousting, and cold mead in wooden mugs. The Maryland Renaissance Festival is annually listed among the nation’s best. The Ren Fest runs every weekend from the end of August until October 20, stopping just before Halloween, so there are plenty of opportunities to put on your favorite corset and stroll about beneath the falling leaves. It's a great way to celebrate fall in Maryland.

2. The Maryland Corn Maze - Select dates between Sept. 14 and Nov. 3, 2024

Every year Maryland families gather to get lost in this 8-acre corn maze in Gambrills. This festival runs from mid-September to early November and has tons of family-friendly activities to partake in, including ziplines, games, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, and of course the massive corn maze you can spend hours exploring!

3. Summers Farm Fall Festival - Sept. 14 through Oct. 31, 2024

Summers Farm in Braddock Heights, Maryland boasts another famous corn maze, but with perhaps a more carnival-like atmosphere. They have a whole autumn village set up starting in September, with fresh-baked cookies and apple blasting - an exciting game you have to experience to understand. This is one of the most fun fall festivals in Maryland.

4. Ghost Tours of the Haunted Savage Mill -Held on select dates throughout the year.

Maryland is famous for its prolific ghost tours, which can be found all across the state. Savage Mill’s tour, however, is one of my favorites. On select dates throughout the year, you can explore the spooky history of this fascinating old cotton mill after dark. You may want to wait until spooky season to get the best out of this tour, though!

5. The Mid-Autumn Festival - Sept. 17, 2024

The Mid-Autumn Festival, known also as the Moon Festival, is celebrated across Asia and is one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture. The harvest moon is celebrated with tons of lanterns, traditional dances, and the exchange of mooncakes. This year the Vietnamese American Services are holding a Mid-Autumn celebration in Silver Spring on September 17th! This is one of the most beautiful fall festivals in Maryland!

6. The Autumn Glory Festival of Garrett County - Oct 9-13, 2024

For 57 years, Garrett County has held an annual Autumn Glory Festival that is the pride and joy of the community. This year the small town of Oakland, Maryland is hosting the event, and this small town has been frequently listed as one of the best places to view the fall foliage. The festival runs for four days and promises live music, a parade, farmers' markets, and the staple that kicked the whole thing off half a century ago - turkey dinner platters. That sounds amazing to me!

7. Zoo Boo! at the Maryland Zoo - Oct. 28-29, 2024

Some of the most fun a kid (or a grown-up) can have is putting on an animal costume and heading down to the zoo to keep the animals company on Halloween. Zoo Boo! at the Maryland Zoo is a family-friendly way to spend the days before the trick-or-treating starts, and it’s a lot of fun if you’ve ever wanted to know what the animals get up to around this spookiest of holidays.

Have you ever attended any of the above best fall festivals in Maryland? What are some of your favorite autumn events to attend in Maryland?

If you’ve ever wanted to study up on the haunted happenings of the Old Line State, then Bookshop.org has exactly what you need for a fireside read this October!