Autumn has arrived in Festival Country Indiana, and that means great leaf-viewing opportunities and plenty of fall fun like corn mazes, pumpkin patches and fall festivals. You're going to love autumn South of Indy.
Festival Country, located just south of Indianapolis, is home to three cool corn mazes. The Mike Kaiser Poor Farm Haunted Corn Maze in Franklin is an experience, with fog, strobe lights and scares. The farm is open every Friday and Saturday night in October, weather permitting.
Another great maze is at Kelsay Farms in Whiteland. This farm offers a complete fall experience a straw bale mountain that the kids love to climb, a corn maze, kiddie train rides, and a barn full of corn grain to roll around in. The farm is open the last weekend in September to the last weekend in October.
Also, enjoy the Harvest Adventures Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch at Dougherty Family Farms in Franklin. In addition to the corn maze and pumpkin patch, there’s a free petting zoo. It's open daily from late September to the end of October.
Another spot for fall fun is Waterman's Family Farm in Greenwood, where their Fall Harvest Festival is Tuesday through Sunday from late September through the end of October. They offer hayrides, a straw bale playground, miniature train rides, farm animals, a pumpkin patch and more.
I also love heading to The Apple Works in Trafalgar for fresh-off-the-tree apples, as well as apple dumplings, caramel apples, apple pie, pumpkins pie and pumpkin bread. This orchard is also home to concerts each weekend in September and October. Add in a U-pick pumpkin patch and kid’s attractions like a U-pick pumpkin patch, a super slide and a bamboo maze, and it all adds up to a good time.
Whiteland Orchard, like The Apple Works, is a great spot for apples and pumpkins.
The leaves usually start changing color in late September, are at peak color from mid-October to mid-November.
There’s no better way to enjoy the season than a fall drive through Festival Country, which is between Indy and Brown County. Check out this fall drive put together by locals who know Festival Country.
If you want to get out of the car and enjoy the colors in a more active way, enjoy a nature walk at Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area, Johnson County Park, and Laura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow. I also enjoy kayaking at Blue’s Canoe Livery in Edinburgh, which, in the fall, usually stays open on weekends through September, but call or check their Facebook page.
This is also the perfect time to head out to Mallow Run Winery and enjoy some wine and cider tasting on a crisp autumn day or head to downtown Franklin and sample wines from River City Winery. Festival Country is also home to a thriving craft brew scene. The wineries and brewpubs can be found here.
Finally, Festival Country Indiana earned its name by being the place for festivals and events, so check out the many great fall events. Enjoy a fall weekend getaway by staying at a B&B or hotel in Festival Country.