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Are you looking for fun things to do in the fall in Hamilton County Indiana? Fall in Indiana is one of the BEST seasons of the year. The foliage is stunning, the weather is perfect (jeans and a sweatshirt anyone?), and there are SO many fall activities in Hamilton County that you’ll never be bored!
In fact, I typically have to pick and choose each year as there are so many fall activities near me that I can’t possibly do them all. So, some years I might visit the Headless Horseman at Conner Prairie while other years I have fun on a ghost tour.
Regardless of which fun fall things to do in Hamilton County that YOU pick, I’m confident that with just a little planning, you and your family will have a fantastic fall!
1. Enjoy the fall foliage at Potters Bridge
For outstanding fall foliage in Hamilton County, Potters Bridge in Noblesville is the place to be. This little park north of downtown has a wonderful walking/biking trail (paved) through the woods and along the White River. It’s a lovely walk any time of the year, but it’s especially beautiful in the fall.
The bridge itself is an old covered bridge that crosses the White River and is closed to motor vehicles. It’s a great place for fall pictures or just enjoying a warm fall day! There’s even a little playground for kids near the park’s entrance. And if you time it right you can join in the fun at the Potter’s Bridge Festival.
Potter’s Bridge, 19401 Allisonville Rd. Noblesville, IN
2. Check out the downtown Noblesville scarecrows
Downtown Noblesville is one of the best, most revitalized downtowns in Indiana, so it’s no surprise that they go all out in the fall. While strolling the streets sipping a decadent Chai Latte from Noble Coffee, check out the scarecrows.
Every year the scarecrows are a little bit different and it’s fun to find them all and then decide which one you like best! True to the small-town vibe of Noblesville, anyone can enter the scarecrow contest and create their own scarecrow. They go up at the end of September and are on display until October 31st.
3. Take a ride on the Nickel Plate Express
If you have someone in your family who is a train aficionado, then visiting the Nickel Plate Express should be high on your list of things to do in the fall in Hamilton County.
In addition to checking out all the old train cars, all throughout the fall, you can enjoy fall-themed rides every weekend on restored 1950s passenger cars. From fall dinners to haunted rides, there is something for everyone. The trips begin at Forest Park in Noblesville and head north for 65+ minute rides.
Indiana Transportation Museum, 825 Park Drive, Noblesville, IN
4. Pick a pumpkin at Russell Farms
Pumpkin patches are synonymous with fall fun, and the best one to visit in Hamilton County is Russell Farms. Located in north Noblesville, Russell Farms is the perfect place to select your family pumpkins while enjoying a full day of fall fun.
For one admission price you can get lost in the corn mazes, pet animals at the petting zoo, check out the farm exhibits, play on the unique playgrounds, and more.
I’ve been here many times through the years for school field trips, pumpkin picking and just enjoying some fall fun with the family. Although it’s open to everyone, it’s especially geared toward elementary school-aged kids and younger. Lots of fun to be had for that age group!
Russell Farms, 12290 E. 191st St. Noblesville, IN
5. Get scared (a little) at the Headless Horseman Festival
My all-time favorite of the many things to do in the fall in Hamilton County Indiana is to spend an evening at Conner Prairie at the Headless Horseman Festival. It’s truly one of the best festivals I’ve been to (in Indiana and beyond). Plus, every year Conner Prairie adds something new and fun so although we have nostalgic favorite activities, it also feels fresh each year.
Of course, a hayride where you *might* encounter the headless horseman is a must, and the wagons run from early in the evening until late so you can decide how scary you want your experience to be!
The puppet show by Stevens Puppets is always a hoot. Dan, the puppeteer, knows his audience well and does a great job playing to the crowd. The little ones especially love his hijinks and jokes.
This year my teenager really enjoyed the haunted maze. We waited until dusk so that it was dark by the time we emerged and boy did we time it perfectly. It was super fun and just the right amount of scary for kids.
Insider tip: the line for the haunted maze gets really long, so get in line by 7:15 – 7:30 if you want to enjoy it in the dark.
Other favorite activities include the Tubes of Terror, the scarecrow contest, various carnival games, magic shows, storytelling, and more.
And of course, the food! With a nice variety of food trucks (BBQ, Java House Coffee, bagel sandwiches, donuts, kettle corn, and more) you won’t go hungry. We indulged in the hot chocolate and also tried the special Sun King beer “Ichabrewed Crane” created especially for this festival. Yum!
If you only do one fall festival, I highly recommend this one as it’s the best of the fall activities in Hamilton County! Make Conner Prairie’s Headless Horseman one of your annual family traditions.
Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Rd. Fishers, IN
6. Check out other Hamilton County fall festivals
In addition to the Headless Horseman, there are many other fall festivals in Hamilton County. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed not to find at least one every weekend during the fall months.
A few favorites include the Carmel International Arts Festival, Potter’s Bridge Fall Festival, and the AgriPark Fall Festival. Add in all the fall festivals in nearby Indianapolis and you could realistically visit one every weekend all fall!
Dates change a bit from year to year, so do a quick Google search “Fall Festivals in Hamilton County Indiana” to see what pops up for the current year.
7. Walk or Bike on the Monon Trail
The crowning jewel of central Indiana’s rails-to-trails program, walking or biking on the Monon Trail is such a great way to spend a fall afternoon in Hamilton County.
Although you can take the trail all the way to downtown Indianapolis, the Hamilton County portion begins in Carmel at the 96th Street trailhead. From there, you can make your way through Carmel and Westfield all the way to Sheridan if you desire.
There are plenty of great places to stop for a break – especially in Carmel in the Midtown area. You could grab a beer at Sun King or a pizza at Bazbeaux, or just hop off the trail and explore downtown Carmel. Fun!
Monon Trail, Main St. Carmel, IN
8. Strawtown Koteewi Park
Want to walk through the trees? Ride horseback through the woods? Try your hand at archery? All of these are fun fall things to do in Indiana at Strawtown Koteewi Park.
If you’d like to get away from the crowds and really feel like you are on a mini-day trip, head north to Strawtown Koteewi Park and spend a fall afternoon exploring. There aren’t really any restaurants nearby, so you might want to pack a picnic, or if it’s a cool morning, pick up hot coffee at Dark Side Coffee House in Cicero on your way.
I’m a huge fan of Koteewi for sunny fall afternoons – not only will you have a great time, it’s also a wonderful spot for fall pictures! And, if you have your own kayaks, there is even a small lake for kayaking which is a great activity in the early fall!
Strawtown Koteewi Park, 12302 Strawtown Ave. Noblesville, IN
9. Visit a winery
What could be better than sitting outside in the sunshine, listening to live music, and sipping on a delicious glass of wine? Not much, right? Luckily there are several Hamilton County Wineries where you can do just that this fall.
Spencer Farm Winery
Tucked away amongst soccer fields and lovely homes is Spencer Farm Winery. The winery is located in an old farmhouse with ample indoor and porch seating, but where it really shines is the outdoor lawn.
The expansive lawn allows for small or large groups to grab a glass of wine and a plate of charcuterie and enjoy a lazy fall afternoon. Most weekend evenings you can also enjoy live music so you can maintain that relaxed feeling all night!
Spencer Farm Winery, 7177 E. 161st St. Noblesville, IN
Urban Vines Winery & Brewery
My favorite Hamilton County winery is definitely Urban Vines Winery & Brewery. They have a nice selection of wines with frequent changes (please bring back the Hopped Up Chardonnay!) as well as their own beer, wine slushies, and sometimes even ciders!
The atmosphere is casual chic and they host frequent fun trivia, bingo, and craft nights as well as live music every weekend. Start with a tasting and once you’ve found a wine you love, grab a glass and head out to the covered patio or the lawn. There’s plenty of seating and it’s always a lively atmosphere. If it’s a cool evening you might even find a spot near a firepit.
Kids are welcome and we’ve been known to grab sodas for them from home, bring games, and move our family game nights to the winery for a change of scenery!
Urban Vines Winery & Brewery, 303 E. 161st St. Westfield, IN
🍷Related post: Looking for more wineries in Hamilton County? Check out this post – Raise a Toast to Hamilton County Wineries
10. Spend an evening outside at Midtown Plaza Carmel
Fall is the time of year when I want to eat every meal outside – or at least enjoy drinks outdoors in the afternoon or evening, and Midtown Plaza in Carmel is a perfect place to do just that!
As a fairly recent development in Carmel, if you haven’t visited Midtown Plaza, then this fall is the time to check it out. Anchored by Sun King Spirits on one side and the hand-crafted style Fork + Ale House on the other, it’s easy to grab a drink or outdoor table and soak up the fun.
Every weekend there is something happening – from live music to outdoor movies. Plus, you can always relax in the fun and unique seating or play some outdoor games like ping pong or cornhole – whatever is currently set up outside.
Midtown Plaza, 365 Monon Blvd. Carmel, IN
11. Get spooked during a ghost walk
Did you know you can join a ghost walk tour in Hamilton County? Well, you can, and fall is the best time to participate in this spooky adventure.
Unseenpress.com offers several ghost walk tours and investigations in Indiana and two of them are in Hamilton County! There is a Westfield Haunted Underground Railroad tour and a Nefarious Noblesville Ghost walk. Book one and join a group of folks eager to learn the fascinating ghostly history of several spots in Hamilton County Indiana.
So far, I’ve been on the Westfield Haunted Underground Railroad tour and it was a ton of fun! Not only did I learn about the ghosts that haunt Westfield, but I also learned quite a bit about the history of the city. Since we had recently been to the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site near Richmond, IN, the tidbits about the Quakers and the Underground Railroad were particularly interesting.
At some point in the near future, I plan on checking out the Nefarious Noblesville Ghost Walk too!
12. Enjoy a fall-flavored beverage at a local coffee shop
Is it really fall before you’ve enjoyed a fall-flavored beverage like a pumpkin spice latte? I think not.
Although there is a time and place for your neighborhood Starbucks, I love adding a fall-themed drink from a local coffee shop to my list of regular things to do in the fall in Hamilton County. After all, we have some amazing local coffee shops!
So grab something yummy before you head out to any of your other fall activities or just add a little fun to your day of running errands!
13. Take a walk in a Hamilton County park
One of the easiest ways to enjoy the gorgeous fall weather and fall colors in Hamilton County Indiana is to simply take a walk in a park. The county has some really fantastic parks with lovely trails.
A few personal favorites include Forest Park, MacGregor Park on the edge of Westfield, Cox Hall Gardens in Carmel, and Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers. Pick a park and head out to enjoy a few hours outside!
We try to take our pup for a walk at MacGregor Park several times a week and it’s fun to see how much the trees change as the fall progresses.
14. Enjoy a concert at Ruoff Music Center
I love going to concerts, and we are lucky to have a fabulous venue in Hamilton County. Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center (affectionately still called Deer Creek by those of us who have lived in the county for years) has ALL the big-name musicians that are on tour.
We’ve seen everyone from Jimmy Buffet to the Smashing Pumpkins at Ruoff and enjoyed all of them. It’s an outdoor venue but the concerts will continue until the weather starts to turn. There will still be quite a few in September and if we are lucky, a couple in October.
Take a look at the schedule, grab your tickets, and get ready for a fun night of music, drinks, and a crazy atmosphere!
Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center, 12880 East 146th St. Noblesville, IN
FAQs: Fun Fall Things to Do in Hamilton County Indiana
Where is Hamilton County?
Hamilton County is in the center of Indiana, just north of Indianapolis. It is considered an Indianapolis suburb.
What towns are in Hamilton County?
Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Arcadia, Atlanta, Cicero and Sheridan.
What is Hamilton County Indiana famous for?
Hamilton County is often recognized as one of the best places to live in Indiana.
Where to stay in Hamilton County Indiana
With its close proximity to Indianapolis, the huge Grand Park Sports Complex, and the many fun things to do in the fall in Hamilton County, there are plenty of places to stay!
All of the larger towns have several nicer chain hotels, so it’s really up to you where you’d like to be based. If you want a bougie experience, check out the Hotel Carmichael in downtown Carmel – you’ll be able to walk to delicious restaurants and have easy access to the Monon Trail. It’s one of Marriott’s Autograph Collection hotels.
Another great option would be the Embassy Suites in Noblesville by Hamilton Town Center. Right off of I-69, it’s a great location for any of your Hamilton County adventures! My final pick would be the new Hyatt Place in Fishers District.
My Top 3 Picks: Where to Stay in Hamilton County Indiana
#1 TOP PICK
#2 PICK
#3 PICK
Conclusion: Top Fall Activities in Hamilton County Indiana
Hopefully, this post has generated plenty of ideas for having fun this fall in Hamilton County. Luckily for you, these fun ideas are just a start! Pick a few, put them on your calendar, and have a fantastic fall visiting Hamilton County Indiana!
Whether you are looking for things to do in the fall in Hamilton County Indiana for a day trip or weekend getaway or you live in one of the cities and are looking for things to do nearby, this extensive list of suggestions should keep you busy all fall!
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