Five Favorite Activities for Fall Fun in Gettysburg, PA
Published August 28, 2017
Autumn is just around the bend which means that cool crisp air, pumpkin spiced everything, and the holidays will be here before you know it. Even if the days are getting shorter, we still know that there is much to see and do in Gettysburg to help usher in this beautiful season. Here are our top five picks for fall fun.
#1. Visit the Gettysburg Area Vineyards
Adams County PA has no shortage of wineries and vineyards and many of them have storefronts right here in downtown! So whether you want to get away from it all in the serene vineyards or prefer to stay in the downtown area, the great wineries have you covered!
Reid’s Orchard & Winery
The orchards are located in Ortanna, PA and if you need to escape to a peaceful, quiet location, this is it. They also host a different local band or musician every Saturday and Sunday afternoon through October 1st. At their downtown location next to Mr. G’s on Baltimore Street, enjoy the Tasting Room and Cider House Café. Sit for a while and sip on some wine or cider as you enjoy more live local music on select dates through November 11th.
Adams County Winery
Check out the original farm winery in Ortanna – the fifth oldest in all of Pennsylvania – where the grapes are grown and transformed into the tasty vino we know you’ll enjoy! In fact, while you’re there, be sure to take a tour of the winemaking process before stopping by the tasting room. If you prefer to stay in town, their Chambersburg Street tasting room is the perfect place to stop for a sample. With a huge selection from which to choose, the hardest part will be deciding which ones to leave on the shelves!
Our Gettysburg Hotel Wine and Dine package is the perfect way to treat yourself to a lovely evening of food, historic wine, and great atmosphere. This package includes overnight accommodations, welcome gift, a tour and tasting at Adams County Winery, and dinner and breakfast at One Lincoln.
Wine and Dine Package Details
Hauser Estate Winery
Looking for a spectacular view? Check out the 360-degree glass enclosed tasting room from their hilltop location in Biglerville! While you’re there, sample not only their wines but their famous Jack’s Hard Cider. Visit 19 On The Square in downtown Gettysburg to sample their huge assortment. Be sure to pick up a few bottles to help you relax after an action packed day experiencing our little town!
Knob Hall Winery
Located southwest of Gettysburg in Clear Spring, MD, they welcome visitors for guided tours of their vineyards. And who knows, their peacocks, guineas, chicken, and puppies may come along! Enjoy the serenity and peace of this beautiful landscape and their 200-year-old Bank Barn tasting room. Visit their tasting room on Chambersburg Street and sample their award-winning vintages. Just be sure you abide by their #1 Rule: Wine should be fun!
#2. Follow the Fun to a Festival
The cool fall weather makes this the season to enjoy some of the best and most well-known festivals in Southern Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland. These are three of our favorites!
The National Apple Harvest Festival
Running October 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th, there is something for every family member to taste, see and enjoy! Apples are available every way from cider and apple sauce to pies and other scrumptious desserts. The attractions are not limited to only apple lovers; there will be classic cars, steam engines, live entertainment, demonstrations, chainsaw carving, craft vendors and so much delicious food! Be sure to wear your stretchy pants if you want to enjoy it all!
We still have rooms available for the National Apple Harvest Festival weekends. Book direct on hotel website for the best-guaranteed rates during this quintessential fall weekend festival.
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Colorfest
For one weekend only, October 14th and 15th, visit our neighbors in Thurmont, Maryland as they celebrate Colorfest! This festival is for anyone who is a craft, art or handmade item lover! Visit hundreds of booths strewn throughout Thurmont to find goods of every category, including household items, home décor, health and beauty products, homemade food… the list is endless. It’s a day full of shopping fun and you won’t want to miss out – mark your calendar today!
Salsa on the Square
Join the party as Project Gettysburg-Leon celebrates with live entertainment by Hector Rosado and his band, the Orquestra A-CHE, delicious food from local businesses, live music, and dancing in the streets! The event is held on Carlisle Street on September 8th from 5:30-11:00 p.m. The most exciting portion of the evening will be when Gettysburg Mayor, Ted Streeter, declares “Hispanic Heritage Day”! It’s a day to celebrate and recognize everything that the Hispanic and Latin American culture has done for this country and our town. Come join the fun!
#3. Partake of a Period Party
Party like it 1980 or 1865 – in Gettysburg, we leave that up to you! Check out our two favorite options for stepping back in time as far as you’d like and having a “ball” while you do it.
Adams County Arts Council Totally 80’s Costume Party
Join the nostalgia and fun as you step back in time to the 1980s at the Totally 80s Costume Party hosted by the Adams County Arts Council at the Gettysburg Hotel! Big hair, bold patterns, bright colors, and leg warmers reunite under one roof. The fun includes live music by the Josh Squared Band, crazy dancing, a costume contest with cash prizes, silent auction, and options for dinner and the party or the party only! Tickets can be purchased at adamsarts.org or by calling 717.334.5006.
Civil War Ball
Want to go further back in time? Experience either or both of the Remembrance Day Balls taking place at the Gettysburg Hotel this November. On the 17th, delight at a Masquerade Ball as those living in 1865 would have when you come dressed as any figure who lived prior to that time. Disguise yourself as Cleopatra, Martha Washington, Zorro, a lady in waiting from the Court of Louis XVI, as a Roman senator or bring a group as the Three Musketeers! The possibilities are endless. On the 18th, come dressed in 1860’s evening attire or soldier’s uniform to experience this recreation of the Prince of Wales Ball. The packages include dinner and dancing, music by The Fleeting Moments Waltz and Quickstep Orchestra and Susan deGuardiola will be the dance master again this year.
#4. Cheer at a Concert
The Majestic Theater is where you want to be if you plan to experience a concert this fall. As one of the key cultural hubs in Gettysburg, they work hard to bring spectacular acts from all around the globe to our small town.
Kenny Garrett Quintet – September 21st at 8:00 pm
Experience jazz, blues, and R&B at their finest when you listen to the incredible music of Kenny Garrett. This Grammy Award winning saxophonist will melt you in an instant with his distinctive melodies and sound.
Red Hot Chili Pipers – September 26th at 7:30 pm
Are you ready for bagrock? Join this band of bagpipe rock artists as they perform with an instrument you may not have thought could sound so hot! Join them as they cover a number of musical genres from Scottish melodies and traditional hymns to incredible versions of classic rock anthems, such as “We Will Rock You” by Queen. It’ll be a night you’re sure to remember.
Vienna Boys Choir – October 13th at 7:30pm
You may never hear as pure a tone or lovely a melody as you will this night. Secure your tickets now to experience the incredible repertoire of this group, renowned as the world’s preeminent boys choir. Delighting you with medieval, classical and polka melodies, as well as waltzes and even Broadway numbers, you’re sure to feel the spirit and passion these boys have for their craft.
Make a night of it with dinner at One Lincoln! View our menu and make reservations.
#5. Travel Through Time on a Tour of Gettysburg, PA
The battlefields are the obvious first thought when it comes to touring Gettysburg, but have you ever thought of the civilian aspect of the battle and the lives of those who lived here during the battle? Their stories are interesting, harrowing, and inspiring. Check out these few great options for how to experience their real life stories.
Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital
Christ Lutheran Church – October 7th and 14th, November 18th and December 9th
During the Battle of Gettysburg, Christ Lutheran Church was quickly selected and transformed into a hospital where at least 140 wounded soldiers took shelter from the battle and were treated for their injuries. At this experience, you’ll hear Civil War era music, listen to readings from wounded soldiers who were left behind, a citizen nurse’s recounting what she underwent, and find out what happened after the armies left.
Walking Tours of Downtown Gettysburg with Gettysburg Licensed Town Historians
Tours run daily starting between 10:00 and 2:30 pm. The Licensed Town Historians are located on Lincoln Square, next to The Inn at Lincoln Square and by the Lincoln Statue.
With a wide variety of tours, the vast history of this town is sure to surprise even the most avid historian. With nine different tour options including President Abraham Lincoln’s Visit – Gettysburg Address, 8 Miles from Slavery (Black History Tour), Unsung Heroes Tour, and even one about Eisenhower and Gettysburg, there is definitely something for everyone to learn.
Our Memories of Lincoln package is the perfect getaway for those interested in following in the footsteps of President Lincoln during his historic 1863 visit to Gettysburg. Including overnight accommodations, dinner and breakfast at One Lincoln, and a special historical gift, this is the perfect way to tour the town and enjoy its rich history.
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Guided In-Town Horse-drawn Carriage Tours
Gettysburg Heritage Center – Select Dates through October 28th
Join Victorian Carriage Company as they partner with the Gettysburg Heritage Center to take you on a 30-minute horse-drawn tour with historian Ken Rich. Experience the first-hand accounts of soldiers and civilians who endured the battle and lived through the aftermath. It’s a unique way to experience the history of our downtown.
