Fall Fun in the Alle-Kiski Valley |
New Kensington Fall Fest, Oakmont Gyro Fest, and Lower Burrell’s festival offer three October outings |
October weekends fill up quickly, especially once the costumes come out and the kids start counting down to Halloween.
If you’re looking for a reason to spend a Saturday close to home, there’s fall fun coming up in New Kensington, Oakmont, and Lower Burrell.
These three outings offer a little variety: a downtown market, a weekend of Greek food, and a park full of festival activities.
New Kensington Fall Fest — Saturday, October 17, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Start the morning in downtown New Kensington, where Olde Towne Overhaul and the New Ken Downtown Partnership are bringing together a farmers and artisan market with seasonal activities.
Browse the market, then make time for the costume contest, pumpkin patch, gourd racing, and face painting.
It’s a chance to enjoy the season while spending some time with the businesses and vendors helping keep downtown busy.
Families can also stop at Peoples Library, 880 Barnes Street, for trick-or-treating from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
If the kids still have energy afterward, the library’s Halloween Fun program runs from 1:00–2:00 p.m. with treats and a spooky craft.
That gives you a simple Saturday plan: arrive for the market, work in a library visit, and let the morning unfold from there.
Oakmont Gyro Fest — Saturday and Sunday, October 17–18, noon–6:00 p.m. each day.
If your idea of a good fall outing starts with something delicious, Oakmont’s Gyro Fest gives you two days to work it into your weekend.
The festival takes place at Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, 12 Washington Avenue, in its outdoor event center.
Expect gyros, Greek specialties, and pastries, with frozen half pans of select dishes also available to purchase.
Admission is free, and the event runs rain or shine.
You could stop in after New Kensington’s morning festival on Saturday, or save Oakmont for a Sunday lunch or early dinner.
For questions, follow the linked organizer’s festival page or call the church at 412-828-4144.
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 Kotecki Memorial Park entrance in Lower Burrell. Photo: City of Lower Burrell. |
Lower Burrell Fall Festival — Saturday, October 24, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
The following weekend, head to Kotecki Memorial Park on Wildlife Lodge Road for Lower Burrell’s fall festival.
Admission and children’s events are free, making this an easy option for families who want to enjoy a few hours outdoors.
Trunk-or-treating, a costume contest, potato sack races, vendors, food trucks, and music are on the schedule.
There’s also a tent decorating contest, a basket raffle, and a 50/50.
Bring the costumes and leave yourself some time to browse rather than making this just a quick candy stop.
With the festival running into the afternoon, you can choose a visit that works around lunch, naps, or whatever else Saturday already holds.
Choose the outing that fits your family, bring your appetite, and check the organizer’s announcement for weather updates before heading out. |
30 Comments
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Is the pumpkin patch free to pick or do you pay per pumpkin? Asking before I show up with three excited kids and an empty wallet.
October weekends go so fast. Good to have options close by without driving an hour away.
Good to see Olde Towne Overhaul keeping things going downtown. That stretch really needed some life brought back to it.
My daughter has been asking to do something fun this weekend and this is exactly what I was looking for. The library craft thing sounds perfect for her age.
Free admission at the Gyro Fest is great. Greek festivals can get pricey sometimes so this is a pleasant surprise.
October weekends go fast. Glad someone puts these all in one place so I can actually plan ahead.
Greek Orthodox churches do festivals better than anyone. Always clean, always friendly, always good food.
That church does amazing food. Glad more people around here are finding out about it.
Such a nice little Saturday plan laid out right there. Market, library, then Oakmont for lunch. Done.
Wish it ran a little later than 1pm on Saturday for New Ken. Some of us are slow starters on the weekend.
Frozen half pans to take home is such a good idea. The spanakopita from that church is incredible.
Doing the market in the morning and then swinging over to Oakmont for gyros in the afternoon sounds like a perfect day actually.
Frozen half pans to take home is such a good idea. Greek food reheats great and saves me from cooking Sunday night.
My kids are already asking about the costume contest. Do they judge by age group or just all together?
A costume contest AND a pumpkin patch AND face painting all in one morning? That is a full day for a five year old.
We do the Gyro Fest every single year. Get there early on Saturday because the line for gyros gets long fast.
Would be nice if Lower Burrell had something on this list too. The article mentions it but then kind of drops it.
Two days for Gyro Fest is smart. Saturday is always packed so Sunday is the move.
Lower Burrell is in the headline but I only see New Ken and Oakmont events here. Did I miss something?
New Ken downtown has really been picking things up lately. Nice to see events like this bringing people out.
Rain or shine is the magic phrase. Nothing worse than showing up and everything is cancelled.
Dormition church puts on a great spread every year. The pastries alone are worth the trip.
9am is early for a Saturday but I guess that's what coffee is for. Might try to make it to New Ken.
Peoples Library doing trick or treating is such a nice touch. Smart way to get kids in the door too.
Gyro Fest is free AND rain or shine? No excuses not to go honestly.
We did the New Ken Fall Fest last year and the face painting line moved really fast. Kids loved it.
Gourd racing?? I need to know more about this immediately.
Love that Peoples Library is getting in on the fun. More reasons to get the kids in there!
The Gyro Fest at Dormition is so good. Been going for years. The pastries alone are worth the trip.
Gourd racing?! I need to know more about this. My kids are already obsessed.