Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Glens Falls You’ll Love
Looking to fill your fall weekends with seasonal fun with the family? There’s plenty to go around in Glens Falls and close by! We’ve rounded up our top favorite family-friendly fall activities near Glens Falls you can enjoy with the kids or friends.
⭐ Partner Spotlight: Journey Your Way Through a Corn Maze & Explore Fall Attractions at Ellms Family Farm
Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa makes for an easy day trip for Glens Falls families chasing the best family-friendly corn maze in the region. Beyond the flagship maze, a rotating lineup of themed mini mazes gives families more ground to cover, from a storybook-style walk-through to a color-coded rope maze that turns navigation into a relay race.
The farm has a way of keeping the energy up between mazes. Bouncing takes over at the Jumping Pillow and Pumpkin Pad, while the apple cannons draw a crowd of kids testing their aim. Down at the Sound Garden, the mood shifts to something quieter and more playful, with farm tools rigged up as instruments for anyone who wants to make a little noise. The robotic Chicken Show adds a burst of the unexpected, and the farm's animals give visitors a reason to slow down and look around.
For families who like getting their hands dirty, gemstone mining offers a shot at digging up something worth keeping, and the Mini Excavators let visitors move real piles of stone like they're working a construction site.
Add in the ziplines for anyone chasing a bit more speed, and the farm ends up feeling less like a single attraction and more like a full day's worth of different moods and paces.
Ellms Family Farm Highlights
- Corn Maze Variety: The Amazing Maize Corn Maze pairs with three separate Kiddie Corn Mazes.
- Hands-On Fun: Gemstone mining and apple cannons give kids activities beyond the maze and pumpkin patch. There are also tiny tractors, mini excavators, pedal karts, and more.
- Active Play: A jumping giant pillow and pumpkin pad help burn energy between attractions.
- Farm Animals: On-site animals add a hands-on, kid-friendly stop to the visit.
Why It's a Local Favorite
"There was a lot to do here, and my son had a great time playing on the trampolines and ride-on games. The corn maze was a lot of fun as well. Couldn't ask for much more for a fall weekend day trip." - Andrew H. (Google Review)
FAQs About Ellms Family Farm
How far is Ellms Family Farm from Glens Falls?
Ellms Family Farm is roughly a 40-minute drive south of downtown Glens Falls in Ballston Spa, close enough for a full day trip without an early start.
Is Ellms Family Farm home to the best corn maze near Glens Falls?
Visitors regularly single out the farm's corn maze as a standout, and the property has separate Kiddie Corn Mazes, so families with a range of ages can each find a route that fits.
What can younger kids do at Ellms Family Farm besides the corn maze?
Younger visitors can bounce on the jumping giant pillow and pumpkin pad, meet the farm's animals, try their hand at gemstone mining, and much more!
Does Ellms Family Farm get crowded on fall weekends?
The farm draws crowds during peak fall weekends, but visitors note that attractions are spread across the property, which helps keep the visit from feeling overcrowded even on busier days.
Pick Apples & Enjoy Cider Doughnuts at Hicks Orchard
Located in Granville, Hicks Orchard is New York State’s oldest u-pick orchard, and one of the best places to spend a fall afternoon. Families can pick apples, sip on fresh-pressed cider, and snack on warm cider doughnuts.
Younger kids will love visiting with and feeding the goats located just outside their charming shop. Look up when you go inside the store - an old-fashioned model train circles the room overhead! A glass-enclosed honeybee hive lets visitors watch the bees at work, creating honey right inside the store.
Celebrate the Season at Family-Friendly Fall Festivals Near Glens Falls
Family-friendly fall festivals and events abound in and near Glens Falls, most notably the Adirondack Balloon Festival held in late September. This multi-day event features hot air balloon launches, food vendors, and live entertainment.
Come late October, downtown Glens Falls transforms during Boo 2 You, a family-focused Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating, costumed characters, spooky dancers, and an all-around ultra festive atmosphere.
See more top fall festivals >>
Find more fall-centric events >>
Go for a Fall Foliage Hike on Kid-Friendly Trails
Fall is an ideal time to uncover the area’s scenic, flat hiking trails. We recommend Meadowbrook Preserve for a peaceful walk with well-maintained paths that go through meadows and woods, complete with educational signs. Wear boots - this one can get muddy/wet, which the kids will love!
Rush Pond Trail is another top spot - stroller-friendly and wide enough for bikes and walkers, with incredible foliage brightening up the woods every year.
Experience Daytime Thrills at Fright Fest
If you have thrill-seeking kids, head to the Great Escape for Fright Fest - just make sure to visit prior to 5pm, because that’s when the real scares come out! But during the day, it’s all family-friendly fun with Halloween-themed shows, incredible fall decorations, and all your favorite rides.
Cheer on the Adirondack Thunder
The Harding Mazzotti Arena (formerly Cool Insuring Arena) hosts the Adirondack Thunder hockey games, which kick off in October. The games are lively, family-friendly, and affordable. Whether you’re new to the sport or a die-hard hockey fan, Thunder games are always a great way to spend a fall evening together.
Treat the Kids to Pumpkin Ice Cream at Sprinkles
Nothing hits the spot like a seasonal treat. Sprinkles is known for their wide variety of ice cream flavors, and pumpkin is a go-to every fall. Enjoy your sweet reward for bringing the family out for all these great fall adventures!
Go on a Halloween House Hunt
Each October, local homes go all out for the Halloween House Decorating Contest, hosted by the Glens Falls Collaborative. Go to their website to find the map of participating houses and make your way to each one - just remember which is your favorite so you can vote when you get home! The winner is announced at the aforementioned Boo 2 You.
Bonus Suggestion: Take a Scenic Fall Foliage Drive Up to 1 Hour Away
The Glens Falls region is perfectly positioned for a fall foliage drive one hour north or one hour south.
Head north to Ticonderoga for great views of Lake George, and stop at Bicentennial Park, where you can stroll along the La Chute River Walk, check out a covered bridge, and pop into the (free) Ticonderoga Heritage Museum and Visitors Center.
Or, head south to Albany, stopping at Cohoes Falls on the way down to see one of the region’s most scenic hidden gems, particularly in the fall! Continue on to Washington Park for fall foliage walks along winding paths and a small man-made lake.
Note, there is a playground in Washington Park, but it’s being revamped in 2025. It is expected to be finished by fall of this year.
Fall is one of the most vibrant seasons in the Glens Falls region. With so many family-friendly fall activities near Glens Falls, from hands-on farm fun to local festivals and outdoor adventures, it’s easy to build core memories you and your kids will cherish for years.
After you’ve had a blast basking in everything fall with the entire family, you might be ready to leave the kids with Grandma or a sitter for an evening. When you're ready to carve out time for yourself, we have suggestions for that, too!
🍸 See fall date night ideas for Glens Falls >>
