Kent County, Del., is an excellent place to explore your love of fall. With vibrant colored leaves and plentiful outdoor experiences, you and your family can form new memories and lasting traditions. Whether you are from out of state or a Delaware native, the Quaint Villages of Kent County have something for everyone this fall.
Why Visit Kent County?
When adding activities to your Delaware county to-do lists, Kent County can provide you and your family with year-round fun and culture. Traveling to Kent County allows you to experience several unique aspects of Delaware life.
- Historical sites: As the country's first state, Delaware has a wealth of history. Dover itself is over 300 years old. You can explore several museums, allowing you and your family to learn more about the area, and the county is full of art exhibits representing Kent County's culture.
- Outdoor amenities: In Kent County, you can enjoy nature and fresh air during your fall days. You can enjoy Delaware's beautiful waterways by kayaking, canoeing or fishing at the local ponds. Parks and campsites let you take in the fresh air and enjoy the natural sights.
- Amish markets: Kent County has a strong Amish presence, bringing citizens and visitors to markets filled with their goods. Here, you can discover authentic Amish cuisine and foods as well as handcrafted goods, including furniture and fabrics.
8 Fall Events and Attractions in Kent County
Delaware and Kent County have so many things you can do this fall. The county is rich with local traditions and annual activities, so you can spend the season discovering what makes this area so outstanding.
1. Fall Saturday Extras
Fifer Orchards is a great place to go apple picking and purchase local produce and delicacies at their farm store. During the fall, they offer additional activities each Saturday, which they announce the Wednesday before on their social media pages. Fall Saturday Extras allow the orchards to partner with local artisans and organizations to provide activities the whole family can enjoy. Some past events include:
- Farm tours
- Farm animal exhibits
- Train rides pulled by tractors
- Live music
- Food trucks
- Face paint
- Cooking demonstrations or educational presentations
You can search their weekly offerings for an extras event that suits your family and what you're looking for this fall.
2. Pumpkin Patch Sundays
Visiting the pumpkin patch and selecting the perfect ones to decorate your home is a fall staple. On each Sunday throughout October, Loblolly Acres offers pumpkin picking and other seasonal activities the whole family can participate in. Spend your Sunday afternoon enjoying the October weather, getting hayrides, eating food from local vendors and food trucks, playing yard games and listening to live music.
3. Riverwalk Farmers Markets
The Riverwalk Farmers Market in Downtown Milford is the longest-running one in the state, and 2022 will mark its 27th year. This seasonal market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May to October, with an additional fall market continuing through November. If you are looking for fresh produce and local goodies, this farmers market can be the perfect morning excursion for you and your family.
4. Cider Fest
Kent County has abundant local breweries, wineries and distilleries. You can explore Rebel Seed Cidery during its Cider Fest — a day event full of food, cider, games and music. You can bring the whole family to enjoy the local scenery and charm while sampling award winning cider and a unique food menu.
5. Children's Halloween Fantasy Trail
When looking for activities for kids in Delaware, consider the Children's Halloween Fantasy Trail in Brecknock County Park. This event is perfect for young children who love Halloween. Here, kids will embark into an enchanted forest, where they'll encounter their favorite book and TV characters and receive treats. When they finish, they'll also get a complimentary trick-or-treat bag with more candy.
6. Trunk-or-Treat
Trunk-or-treat is a community twist on trick-or-treating. This Dover event asks local organizations and community members to decorate the trunks for Halloween and hand out candy to participants. With free admission and parking, trunk-or-treating is an excellent opportunity to discover locally owned businesses. Trunks can enter a decoration competition to win the scariest, funniest and most creative titles.
7. Dark Dover Lantern Tour
For family outings in Delaware that cater to teens and older kids, you can participate in the Dark Dover Lantern Tours. These walking tours take place in late October to get your family in the spooky Halloween mood. You'll learn about Dover's dark past through true murder stories and creepy local legends on these tours.
8. Open Cockpit Day
Families and history buffs can head down to Dover's Air Mobility Command Museum for Open Cockpit Day. Here, you can explore the planes hosted by the museum and their cockpits. Tour guides will take guests from plane to plane to discuss their history and share stories about their trips. Many guides are retired crew members who can add personal tales and details to their tours.
People of all ages can enjoy Open Cockpit Day. This event takes place every third Saturday of the month, but comes to a close for the year in October, making it the perfect fall activity for your family this year.
Blackbird Creek Fall Festival
When you find yourself in Delaware's Kent County, hop one county over to explore more of what the state offers each fall. The Blackbird Creek Fall Festival celebrates Delaware's natural waterways and estuaries, promoting local conservation and stewardship practices. The Delaware National Estuaries Research Reserve hosts it at the Blackbird Creek Reserve each year on the third Saturday in October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With many activities and informational sessions, the festival also helps highlight Delaware's cultural traditions.
While the events and attractions vary each year, here are some examples of what you can expect.
- Booths and displays from local vendors.
- Canoeing and kayaking.
- Guided habitat walks.
- Hayrides.
- Craft stations and face painting.
- Birdwatching and fishing.
Download Our Trip Planner and View Other Events
Delaware's Quaint Villages can help your family build new traditions and discover new experiences this fall. Whether traveling from another state or exploring from within the Quaint Villages, the Kent County Tourism Corporation can help connect you with your next adventure.
Request a free visitor guide today and start planning your next fall family activity in Kent County.