Gorgeous foliage, spooktacular Halloween adventures, delicious fresh food, and so much more bring Montgomery County to life in the fall. With so much to do, bookmark this handy fall guide to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun!

The 2015 Montgomery County Fall Guide is presented by Black Sheep Pottery – an interactive Studio Clay Arts Center that skillfully integrates a master design-build ceramic arts commissions studio & gallery, Pottery Arts School & Camp programs and regional community giving projects.

Black Sheep Pottery creative arts and functional wares are embraced by the greater Montgomery County on the tables, in the kitchens and at the offices of esteemed business and organizations. Projects in the news serving the community include the design-build restaurant tableware at Mainland Inn Harleysville, 17th century interpretation redware pie plates, keepers and utensils of historic heritage, design & renovation in kitchen sites at the Colonial Plantation and Valley Forge Park, Lansdale Octoberfest steins in support of the Lansdale Library fundraiser, and arts after school lessons by design for the YMCA and MELC classrooms bridging art literary and youth education enrichment.

Nationally recognized for excellence in the ceramic arts 2009-2015, The Pottery Arts School and Camp program at Black Sheep Pottery offers fun & creative clay arts, pottery wheel and tile classes, ceramic holiday workshops and one-on-one advanced study to enrich the student experience year round to residents, scouts and community event groups of all ages & interests in clay. Students learn directly from master artists immersed in the multi-room professionally equipped studio that houses 12 pottery wheels, 5 kilns, a glaze lab, slab rollers, extruders, dies, molds and unlimited resources for learning and making, including a catalog reference library that supports the near 30,000 year rich history of ceramics and clay arts.

Skillfully handmade pottery, tile, ceramic vessels and sculpture by resident artist, Nicole Dubrow, and guest artists are on display and available for purchase throughout the year in the Black Sheep Pottery Gallery, located in the heart of Skippack Village. Works for sale represent the fine craftsmanship and fabrication services the pottery delivers to contemporary and heritage custom designs orders.

The Black Sheep Pottery Gallery hosts on calendar exhibitions highlighting cultural community groups and expressions within the ceramic arts. The Gallery Welcomes three exhibits this fall 2015: “The Student Exhibition”, September 25th thru October 4th, highlighting the National K12 Scholars program work during Black Sheep Pottery summer programs, “Celebrating Fraktur on the ceramic surface”, opens October 10th thru November 13th, and “The Keeping Room”, annual Holiday Show and Sale, November 27 thru January 30th, 2015. For details on upcoming public exhibitions visit www.blacksheeppottery.org.

“Love takes shape here!” – master potter and artist, Nicole Dubrow, Black Sheep Pottery.

Fall Fun

Merrymead Farms
Come out to one of Montco’s most beloved farms to enjoy Harvest Days which are happening all throughout October! Check out the schedule, times and activities for our local residents to enjoy. Click here to visit the Merrymead website for more information.

Fall Harvest Day Weekends 2015
Harvest Days are held every Saturday and Sunday during the month of October. Saturdays: 11:00am to 5:00pm & Sundays 12:00pm to 5:00pm. All Harvest Day food and activities are CASH ONLY!

Fall Activities Include:

Scenic Tractor Hayrides Around the Farm
Wagon Rides for Children
700ft. cornstalk Tunnel
Children’s Games
Pumpkin Painting
*Sat. Oct. 11th – Worcester Fire Dept. Equipment Display
Face Painting
Inflatable’s
Harvest Slinger
Farm Animals
5 Acre Cornfield Maze
Hayrides & Cornstalk Tunnel from 12pm – 8pm
5 Acre Cornfield Maze from 12pm – 4pm
Moonlight Maze from 6pm – 8pm (Must bring your flashlight!)
Sunday – Hayrides & Cornstalk Tunnel from 12pm – 4pm
5 Acre Cornfield Maze from 12pm – 4pm

The Storytelling & Lighting of the “Great Pumpkin”

Friday September 25th, 2015

6:45 PM Music by Steve Pullara – Children’s Entertainer
7:30 PM Storytelling & Lighting
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Hayrides (Additional Charge)

Admission – $2.00 per person (Cash Only!) Great Family Fun!!

Please note – If there has been significant recent rainfall our extra field parking becomes flooded, so please call ahead to confirm scheduled event. 610-584-4410

Hayrides at Prophecy Creek Park

Bring the entire family for a hayride to the upper field at Prophecy Creek Park where a bonfire, spooky storyteller, and a witch serving up hot cider out of a caldron will be awaiting your arrival! This fun and festive local event is the perfect thing to do with the families and kids!

$7 per person 12+
$4 for children 3-11
FREE for children 2 and under
CASH ONLY, PLEASE!

Hayrides at Prophecy Creek Park
Friday, October 23rd
6pm-9pm
205 W. Skippack Pike
Blue Bell, PA 19002l
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Mutts & Martinis Fundraiser at MaGerk’s Fort Washington

Fort Washington’s favorite neighborhood pub is opening up their patio to all our four legged friends on a special day this September! On Saturday, September 26th, MaGerk’s Pub & Grille in Fort Washington will host their 1st annual Mutts & Martinis event to help raise funds for Home At Last Dog Rescue. From 12pm-4pm, the outgoing staff and owners at MaGerk’s will open cater to all our residents and their furry best friends. During the 4 hour fundraiser, 15% of all sales generated on the patio will be donated directly back to the people and adoptable pets at Home At Last Dog Rescue. Click here to learn more….
Saturday, September 26th (12pm-5pm)
MaGerk’s Pub & Grille, Fort Washington
582 S. Bethlehem Pike
Fort Washington, PA 19034

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Kohler Farms

The pumpkins are looking great and ready to be picked, the team at MH was just there to grab some of our own. Stop by and take a hayride out to the patch because there is plenty to do once you get out there. Pick your pumpkins, get lost in the corn maze, and little ones can play in the corn table or run through the hay maze. Hayrides will begin on Saturday, September 26th and will run every weekend through October from 10am – 5pm. Check out our Hayride link for more info. Don’t forget to stop in to the store for some home grown apples, an unbelievable selection of Fall flowers and of course, some of the best Pumpkin ice cream in town!

Kohler Farms
1262 Limekiln Pike, Horsham, Pennsylvania
Monday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
(215) 646-4941

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Northern Star Farms

Fall Fest at Northern Star Farms includes all your favorites like moonlit hayrides, a petting zoo for the kids, pumpkin patches, bonfires and a corn maze as well. However, what might make this local farm stand out from all the rest is the addition of their launching cannon. Come blow off some steam or just have some fun launching apples and small pumpkins at targets down range. It’s an interesting twist on celebrating Fall, one that we will definitely be checking out!

As this is a family business composed of a small, personal staff, all of the activities throughout the year are by reservation only, with the exception of our weekend fall fest which runs from 9am to 5pm both Saturday and Sunday throughout October.

At a very reasonable $10.00/person (infants are free), the slow moving 40 minute moonlit hayride covers Northern Farms 230 acres. This is not a haunted hayrdie, but it is an excellent chance to get off your feet and unwind with the kids. Finish up the ride with a bonfire, smore’s and cider!

Moonlit Hayrides

Celebrate fall differently this year with a group Moonlit Hayride at Northern Star Farm. Perfect for people of all ages, school and college students, families, neighborhoods, scout and church groups. This is NOT a Haunted hayride. By reservation only, with the exception of our weekend Fall Fest which runs from 9 am to 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday throughout October.

Relax and enjoy a leisurely hay ride out over our 230 acre farm. You’ll have the opportunity to observe the wild animals that inhabit the area, and stop by the Witch’s House. Bring your flashlight for the 7 acre corn maze by moonlight, and follow it all up with a bonfire.

Feel free to bring your own food and beverages.

Groups of 20 – 29: $12.00/person (infants are free)
For larger groups of 30 or more, contact us for pricing.

Fall Fest at Northern Star Farms
96 Third Ave East
Trappe, Pennsylvania 19426
#215-859-7302
Visit their website for more info: Northern Star Farms

Maple Acres Farm

Hayrides at Maple Acres Farm in Plymouth Meeting will take place every Saturday and Sunday this Fall! Cost to ride is $2 per child and $3 per adult. Additional rides may be offered depending on wagon availability. If you’re looking for fresh produce and a local spot to pick your own veggies, Maple Acres is a great spot to check out. Feel free to call after 12:30pm the day of to get details on the days schedule.

#610-828-7395
2656 Narcissa Road
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania 19462
Follow On Facebook: Maple Acres Farm

Fall Events at PHS Meadowbrook Farm

Autumn Plant Sale at Meadowbrook Farm (September 12th @ 10am-5pm)
Kick off fall in the company of fellow plant enthusiasts as we prepare for the cool weather of autumn. Enjoy special offers on plants, talk to the knowledgeable staff about why September is one of the best times to plant trees, and watch demonstrations on planting an autumn container garden.

Celebrate October at Meadowbrook Farm (October 10th, 10am – 5pm)
Enjoy family activities, pumpkin launching and refreshments with PHS Meadowbrook Farm staff. Celebrate the tail-end of the outdoor gardening season. Learn which plants you should bring in for the season and when and how to plant fall bulbs for spring color.

Free. No pre-registration required.

1633 Washington Ln Meadowbrook, PA 19046
(215) 887-5900
Meadowbrook Farms: http://meadowbrookfarm.org/

Varner Farms

Saturday & Sundays, September 27th-October 26th
Keeping it fresh and local is what Varner Farms is all about! Bring the family out to support this great local farm all throughout October! Visitors are able to take a ride on their horse-drawn & tractor-drawn wagon rides which tour the expansive 90 acre farm. See below for a list of fall activities and check out Varner Farms for more info.

What to Do

Pumpkin painting
Make your own scarecrow
Face painting
Farm Animals
Mini Straw Bale Maze
Pedal Tractors
Cattle Roping
Kiddy Wagon Train
Fresh Local Veggies & Produce

Varner Farms
746 S. Trappe Road
Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426

Scarecrow Walk

The 8th Annual Scarecrow Walk & Design Contest is going down this October at Morris Arboretum! Event dates are Saturday October 3rd through Sunday October 18th. This years theme is “Famous Art and Artists”! Bring the family and kids out to see more than 30 scarecrows aligned down Oak Allee, and then vote for your favorite.

Check out our preview video and get excited for this year’s creative entries!

Morris Arboretum of the Univeristy of Pennsylvania
100 E. Northwestern Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19118
#215-247-5777

Fall Festivals

4th Annual Friends Craft Marketplace at Pennypacker Mills

The Friends of Pennypacker Mills will be hosting their 3rd Annual Craft Marketplace this September in Schwenksville, and our entire community is encouraged to attend! This local event is a great chance to support our community while getting some early holiday shopping done. The Marketplace will be filled with great gift ideas! or stopping in for some awesome gift ideas. Over 50 craftsman will be on hand this year to showcase everything from jewelry to home decor, artwork, pottery, books, cards and so much more! After shopping you’ll also be able to take a tour of the turn-of-the-20th Century mansion and have a bite to eat from local food vendors. Best of all, this event is free to the public as is the ample parking. Come out for a great time while shopping smart and supporting our community, see you there!

Pennypacker Mills
5 Haldeman Rd., Schwenksville PA 19473
#610-287-9349
Website: www.historicsites.montcopa.org/pennypackermills
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The 42nd Annual Apple Butter Frolic

Mark your calendars! This popular autumn festival is an opportunity to learn how Mennonites and their neighbors lived a hundred or more years ago, and it’s great fun for young and old alike. It also raises important funds to support the mission of the Mennonite Heritage Center.
Apples and butter, it’s a win win! The 42nd annual Apple Butter Frolic is happening Saturday, October 3rd from 9:30am-4pm at the Mennonite heritage Center in Harleysville. This popular autumn festival has been enjoyed by the local community for the last 40 years, and you won’t want to miss it in 2015! The Frolic is an opportunity to learn how Mennonites and their neighbors lived more than 100 years ago, and it’s a great time for all ages! It also raises important funds to support the mission of the Mennonite Heritage Center.

HOURS
9:30 am – 4:00 pm
The event will be held rain or shine.

ADMISSION
Adult (ages 13 & older) — $8.00
Child (ages 6-12) — $2.00
Under 6 Free
Please No Pets

*Pancake & Apple Sausage Breakfast served 7:30-10:30 am
Adult — $8.00
Child (ages 8 & under) — $4.00

ATM will be available for cash withdrawals on site.

FEATURES

Apple Foods Tent
Folk Craft Demonstrations
Delicious PA German Food
Children’s Activities
Horse and Wagon Rides
Farming Demonstrations
Sheep Herding
Silent Auction
Apple Baking Contest
Grandma’s Kitchen Dinner (see menu below)

*PARKING available at Indian Valley Middle School, 130 Maple Ave., Harleysville, with shuttle to the nearby Frolic on the MHC campus. Handicap parking at site.

Scarecrow Making at Norristown Farm Park

Bring the kids out to Norristown Farm Park this Saturday to create your very own scarecrow! You can learn how this Sunday, October 4th at 1pm. Families can have fun making and dressing their very own scarecrow. Be sure to bring clothes and a hat for your scarecrow, the Farm Park will supply straw! The best of the best will be selected to make featured appearances at the Park in the Dark night hike event on October 17th. Admission is free, but costs $5 per scarecrow. Pre-registration is required.

Event Details
Scarecrow Making
Sunday, October 4th, 2014
Norristown Farm Park
2500 Upper Farm Rd, Norristown, PA
Times: 1:00pm
Admission: $5 per scarecrow
#610-270-0215

Ages: Adults with or without children (5 years and up); fee $5 per scarecrow; pre-registration required; meet at the park office.

Fall Fun in Skippack Village

Skippack Days
Montgomery County’s most adorable town is hosting their 42 annual Skippack Days event this October! You won’t want to miss the weekend long celebration that bring local residents, food and craft vendors from all across our area together for a community fun in Fall! Aside from the usual charm that Skippack Village has always offered, you will also find a ton of fall festivities happening throughout the main strip which helps make this weekend the most popular time ever for Skippack. Activities start at
10am and end at 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th. Check below to see what else is happening this October in the Village!

Children’s Halloween Parade
Dress the kids up in their favorite Halloween costumes and head on over to Skippack Village on October 17th! The Halloween Parade begins at 10am at Hotel Fiesole and ends at Mal’s Diner with a treat and craft. Registration is recommended but people who do not register will not be turned away. To register, go to Mal’s American Diner and fill out the registration form or call Mal’s Diner at #610-584-0900 for more info.

Skippack Food Truck Festival
A festival of food trucks can only mean that our community will be treated to some of the best bites, snacks and dishes available to our residents on September 26th! In addition to this community celebration of food, live music will be provided by Chestnut Grove, AlyCat and Hidden Agenda. Plus a best of the bite food contest, local & crafts and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy!

Tickets Available at the Gate! Kids under 12 FREE.

RAIN DATE 9/27

Saturday, September 26th
11am – 8pm
Blue Comet Motorcycle Club
4042 Mensch Rd,.
Skippack, PA 19474

Whitpain Township Community Festival

Whitpain Township has a ton of exciting things in store for the 2014 Whitpain Community Festival! This year’s event will take place at Montgomery County Community College on September 26th, from 11am-9pm. Headlining performance by Fort Washington School of Rock, Ashley Leone, The Sofa Kings, and Matt McAndrew, runner up on Season 7 of The Voice! Check out the Whitpain Township Community Festival Facebook page for more info on this event and more this Fall. The annual local festival is free to all who wish to attend!

Timeline of Events

11am – Vending area opens, Children’s games and activities, inflatable rides, Pumpkin Patch and food court opens
12pm – Music and dance performances begin
12-4pm – Petting Zoo / Pony Rides / Hayrides / Game Truck – Rolling Game Station
4pm – School of Rock
5pm – The Sofa Kings
6pm – Ashley Leone
7pm – Matt McAndrew, The Voice: Season 7 Runner-up
9pm – Fireworks and festival close

Fall at Elmwood Park Zoo

Harvest Fest at Elmwood Park Zoo

Einstein Medical Center Montgomery presents Elmwood Park Zoo’s annual Harvest Fest each Sunday from September 20th through November 1st. The fall-themed festival will take place every Sunday from 12:00pm to 3:00pm up until November 8th. Visitors to the zoo can expect to find games, crafts, food specials, rides, hay-bale and corn mazes, animal interactions, bison feeding and so much more! Guests will also have an opportunity to build their own scarecrow to be entered into EPZ’s Scarecrow Contest!

Check back soon for details regarding additional performances. Harvest Fest is free with Zoo admission. For more information, contact Guest Services at #610.277.3825 x 222 or visit, http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org.

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Creepy Campout at Elmwood Park Zoo!
Summer may be over, but the Zoo continues camping at this spooky sleepover happening on October 9th! Learn about the frightening creatures that used to roam the Earth at an animal show featuring creepy, crawly creatures and scaly, slithery friends!

Remember your ZooSnooze experience long after it ends with a souvenir campout kit! For just $19.95, your kit includes a ZooSnooze t-shirt, animal print binoculars, a safari hat, and a ZooSnooze flashlight – A $32 value!

Private ZooSnoozes available for groups of 25 or more! Contact Guest Services to schedule your private overnight adventure! All groups receive EPZ member rates.

The Morris Arboretum

Fall Festival

Don’t miss a weekend of autumn fun at the Morris Arboretum! The Fall Festival is happening on Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th from 10am-3pm. This annual event has become a tradition for many local families as the Arboretum offers so many great things to do for the young ones.

Saturday, October 3rd – 10:00am – 3:00pm
Sunday, October 4th – 10:00am – 3:00pm
Free with admission. Some activities have an additional fee, see below.

Activities include:

Make your own scarecrow
($20 or $15 if you recycle your frame from a previous year. All materials included.)
Take home a pumpkin (market price)
Pumpkin painting (free)
Henna Art 11:00am – 2:00pm (additional fee)
Apple tasting (free)
Apples for purchase (market price)
Special Animal Guests will be visiting from 12pm-3pm both days

Fall Food

Oktoberfest at Elmwood Park Zoo

Elmwood Park Zoo and The Greatest Beers of the World present the Zoo’s 8th annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 12th from 12:00 to 4:00pm. Oktoberfest is a beer tasting festival that connects guests with dozens of fantastic brews from all over the globe.

Tickets are just $45 each and include unlimited beer samples, live music by funk/rock jam band Great Big House, animal encounters, raffles, and much more! Designated driver tickets are available for $15 each (DD ticket holders will not be permitted to sample any beer).

Also joining this year’s Oktoberfest are Steve Morrison and Kathy Romano of 93.3 WMMR’s Preston and Steve Show! These popular radio personalities will be on-site from 12:00 to 2:00pm! CLICK HERE to grab your tickets!!!

Barktoberfest

The Upper Merion Farmers Market is calling all dogs in the local community to come out for Barktoberfest! On Saturday October 3rd, our four legged friends and their owners are encouraged to participate in the market’s 3rd annual Barktoberfest celebration. Barktoberfest will feature contests, costume judging, and canine portraits. The events begin at 11am with a musical dog contest that is akin to musical chairs. In this contest, the dogs that can sit the fastest win the competition. Following this Barktoberfest challenge, dogs are invited to participate in a costume contest that will be judged by local elected officials in Upper Merion Township. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be distributed to the local animal shelters that frequent the farmers market each week. All dogs that participate in Barktoberfest will receive a bandana scarf and a small bag of dog treats.

Oktoberfest!

Join the Upper Merion Farmers’ Market as they celebrate Oktoberfest with Swedesburg Volunteer Fire Company (MONTCO 49)! The following food will be on hand for just $8: Knockwurst, German Potato Salad, Sauerkraut, Hard Pretzels, and Birch Beer. Live entertainment will also be featured! Proceeds benefit UMFM and Swedesburg VFCSaturday. Event takes place on October 10th form 9:00am – 1:00pm.

Upper Merion Farmers Market
175 West Valley Forge Road
King of Prussia,PA 19406
Website: http://www.UpperMerionFarmersMarket.org/
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Bavarian Oktoberfest at St. Catherine in Horsham

St. Catherine’s authentic Bavarian Oktoberfest will be featuring classic German music by the famous Schuhplattlers Bavarian Dancers. The festivities will be held from 6pm-10pm on Saturday, October 3rd. Check out what you can expect to eat and drink below…Prost!

Food and Beverages ala carte Menu:

Bratwurst (pork) $5
Weiswurst (veal):$5
Wieners and rolls: $2
German Potato Salad: $2
Sauerkraut: $2
Pork BBQ and Platters: $TBD
German Beer (12 oz.): $4
Domestic Beer(12 oz.): $3
Glass of Wine: $3
Kegged Root Beer, Lemonade,
Iced tea, Water: $2
Coffee: $1

Adult tickets sold after September 27th will be $6, under 21 (ages 6-20) tickets will be $3.

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Conshohocken Beer Festival

The beer will be flowing in Conshohocken on October 17th as more than 40 breweries head to the borough for it’s annual Beer Festival! Come try selected brews from some of our areas most reputable breweries and stick around for some great food, games and live music.

Where & When
Location: A.A. Garthwaite Stadium
Address: Harry St and E 11th Ave, Conshohocken, PA 19428
October 17th
Times: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Follow the Conshohocken Beerfest on Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest announcements and details. Cheers Conshy!

Designated Driver: Available All Day, $10.00 per tickets

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Lapp’s Narberth Farmers Market
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Lapp’s Apple Festival
Taste everything that’s wonderful about apple season right here in Narberth. Lancaster apples are in season, and the Lapp family is inviting you to come to the Narberth Farmers Market to watch them make fresh applesauce to take home, along with some freshly baked apple pies, apple dumplings, apple fritters, and fresh apple cider. They’ll also have roast pork sandwiches, free samples, and so much more!

Event Date: Saturday, September 5th, from 8am-4pm
36 N. Narberth Avenue
Narberth, PA

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St. Philip’s International Food Festival

St. Philip Orthodox Christian Church of Souderton is proudly hosting its 4th Annual International Food Festival this September! The Festival will feature an eclectic mix of classic dishes from Greece, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Romania, Russia, and the USA. Entrees range in price from $9 to $11, and portions of this events proceeds will help support a numerous amount of local charities and non-profit organizations. Come expand your culinary horizons with some amazing ethnic food and fun for all!

International Food Festival
St Philip Orthodox Church
1970 Clearview Rd , Souderton, PA
Friday & Saturday, September 18th & 19th
12:00pm – 8:00 pm
More Info: (215) 721-4947

2015 Montgomery County Fall Guide, presented by Black Sheep Pottery

Fall Fun

Fall Festivals