Autumn brings a whole new adventure to Keuka and its surrounding communities. The nip in the air is like a gentle tap on the shoulder, reminding you to pause and notice the season turning. It slips in quietly, carrying that mix of crispness and comfort. There’s a freshness to it, almost like the world is taking a deep breath after the heat of summer. You catch the scent of drying leaves, maybe a hint of woodsmoke curling from a neighbor’s chimney, and it feels like the season is wrapping the town in a quilt of coziness. That little bite in the breeze isn’t harsh—it’s an invitation to linger over a mug of cider, to take a walk under the trees, to savor the slowing rhythm of autumn.
Take a drive on the knolls just above Keuka and you’ll find yourself surrounded by the very essence of fall. The air is sweet and full, carrying the mouthwatering aroma of grapes ripening in the vineyards and apples hanging heavy in the orchards, waiting for careful hands to gather them in. Windows rolled down, you can almost taste the season in each breath. Along the roadside, the trees have begun their annual performance, slipping into their autumn gowns of crimson, amber, and gold. Their leaves rustle and sway with the gentle breeze, as if whispering that change is here, but in the most beautiful way.
At the heart of fall, the festivals arrive like a celebration written in color and scent. The streets come alive with rows of local artisans, their tables spread with handcrafted treasures—woven baskets, pottery still smelling faintly of clay, candles poured with care, and autumn soaps that will lather with the whisper of timeless tales. Everything seems to tell stories of home. Everywhere you look, pumpkins crowd together, some round and plump, others tall and lopsided, each one with its own character waiting to be chosen. Mums line the walkways in bursts of amber, burgundy, and gold, their petals glowing like tiny suns against the crisp air. And then there are the harvest stands, heavy with the season’s bounty—apples that shine like jewels, jars of honey catching the light, and vegetables stacked in abundance. Laughter drifts through the crowd, and the air itself seems stitched with warmth, even as the breeze carries that familiar autumn nip. A fall festival isn’t just an event—it’s a gathering of season, spirit, and community, woven together under the glow of changing leaves.
Numerous fall festivals are coming up over the next couple months in the communities around Keuka. I’ve provided a list of a few September Festivals below (and apologies to any event I missed!) Note to vendors: Some of the Festivals listed below are still taking vendor applications, so check out their FB page.
With a pumpkin latte in hand, I invite you to mark your September calendars, gather up some family and friends and fall in love with Keuka this fall! (And watch for the October list of events coming at the end of September!
Glenn H Curtiss Museum’s Wings and Wheels Seaplane and Car Show
September 13th Starts at 9:00 AM
Depot Park, Hammondsport, NY
Heron Hill Winery Fall Festival
September 13th 1:00 – 4:00 PM
9301 County Route 76, Hammondsport, NY
Hammondsport Heritage Day Presented by
Fred & Harriett Taylor Memorial Library
Sept 20th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
21 William St, Hammondsport, NY
Fall Car Show at The Windmill
September 20th 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
3900 New York 14A, Penn Yan, NY
Fall Festival at LWL Gift Shop
September 27th 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
161 County Route 23, 14815-9724
·The Greater Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce Octoberfest
September 27th 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Hammondsport Fireman’s Pavillion, Hammpndsport, NY
