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Fall in Atlanta: 10 Fun Things to Do

ByPaige Watts

Fall is one of my favorite times to get out and explore Atlanta. Once the weather cools down, there are plenty of fun ways to enjoy the season, from colorful hikes and pumpkin patches to ghost tours and fall festivals.

As an Atlanta local, I look forward to these fall activities every year. Whether you want to see the leaves change, get into the Halloween spirit, or just spend a crisp fall day outside, there’s plenty going on around the city.

If you’re planning your fall in Atlanta, these are the activities, festivals, and seasonal events I recommend starting with.

Happy fall, y’all!

Dozens of orange pumpkins in different sizes are arranged on wooden pallets across a straw covered pumpkin patch in Atlanta, Georgia. Rows of pumpkins stretch toward the roadside, creating a seasonal fall display.

Best Things to Do During Fall in Atlanta

Atlanta is one of the best fall destinations in the South, so you won’t have any trouble finding something fun to do this fall. Here are a few of my favorite Atlanta fall activities.

1. Go Pumpkin Picking

Pumpkin patch in Smyrna, Georgia with scattered orange and green pumpkins on pallets. A glowing sign reads "PUMPKINS Are Here." People browse under a cloudy sky.

Does fall really start if you haven’t picked your pumpkin yet?

The best place to pick a pumpkin is always a local pumpkin patch. Luckily, the Atlanta area has plenty of pumpkin patches to choose from. You can venture out to the mountains for a pumpkin, or you can find a patch closer to the city.

Personally, I like to stick close to home for my pumpkin picking, just for ease of transport, so we usually hit up one of the pumpkin patches in Smyrna.

If you’re looking for something that’s more of an outing, there’s Berry Patch Farms in Woodstock, Randy’s Pumpkin Patch in Lawrenceville, and many others that typically offer hay rides and more experiences than just picking a pumpkin. These are perfect for a family fun day our a fall date activity!

Book titled "What's With Atlanta?" by Paige Watts on a marble table. Surrounding it are a notebook, pen, and tulips.

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2. Take a Ghost Tour

Bulloch Hall in Roswell, Georgia, a white two-story house with columns illuminated at night, surrounded by trees. The house centered against a dark background.

I love a good ghost tour any time of the year, but they’re especially fun during the fall gearing up for Halloween. My friends and I love to do a “ghouls’ night out” in the fall and hit up a new ghost tour.

You don’t really think of Atlanta as a place for hauntings, and certainly the city isn’t as haunted as other southern cities like Savannah or San Antonio. But Atlanta still has some good ghost stories if you know where to look (and I know just where to look)!

  • In Roswell is the popular Roswell Ghost Tour led by professional paranormal investigators. On this tour, you’ll find out which part of the city is built on forgotten graves.
  • Marietta has its share of ghosts thanks to its extensive Civil War history. You can learn about them on the Ghosts of Marietta walking tour.
  • And over in Decatur, you can take the Decatur Ghost Tour led by a professional psychic medium and paranormal investigator.

Check out the most haunted spots in Atlanta here.

3. See the Fall Colors in the Appalachians

A narrow dirt off-roading trail winds through dense trees and shrubs covered in red, orange, yellow, and green fall foliage. The bright blue sky above the wooded path makes the autumn colors stand out along the Tray Mountain Road Trail near Helen, Georgia.

North Georgia is the perfect place to watch the leaves change color. And fall is the perfect time to hike because both the summer heat and the bugs have subsided, leaving you to enjoy your hike. We tend to do a lot of hiking this time of year!

The North Georgia Mountains are just a quick day trip from Atlanta, with tons of hiking trails less than a 2 hour drive from the city. Check out mountain towns like Ellijay, Helen, and Dahlonega for some of my favorite trails.

And there are so many trails to choose from! On Tray Mountain, you can hike part of the Appalachian Trail. Amicalola Falls has a gorgeous 729-foot tall waterfall. Blackberry Mountain Clear Creek Trail is an easy hike with rapids and small waterfalls. And the trails of Tallulah Gorge follow along the impressive 2 mile long 1,000 foot deep canyon (I love this hike in the fall).

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4. Take an Apple Picking Day Trip

Display of white paper bags filled with red and green apples arranged on rustic wooden crates at the Panorama Orchards indoor apple market in Ellijay, Georgia. The bags are labeled with a farm logo and different sizes such as "1/2 peck," and people wearing red shirts and green aprons work in the background. The setting evokes a fresh, farm-to-market atmosphere.

Up in the mountains, the small town of Ellijay is known as the Apple Capital of Georgia. The local apple orchards of Ellijay where you can pick your own apples are just a short 2-hour drive from Atlanta.

You can also shop for all things apple — from apple cider to apple salsa to apple pastries — at the orchards’ own markets and roadside stalls. Check out popular pick-your-own apple orchards like B.J. Reece Orchards or R & A Orchards.

Grab some jugs of apple cider, a dozen apple cider donuts, your freshly-picked bushel, and jars of local honey, jam, jellies, and salsas as a unique souvenir to take home with you.

Kevin and I always take a little date up to Ellijay in the fall to pick up some apple cider, hot sauce, homemade noodles, and spaghetti sauce. It’s definitely my favorite fall tradition!

5. Enjoy a Fall Festival

Outdoor artisan market at the Smyrna Jonquil Festival in Smyrna, Georgia with white vendor tents set up along a paved walkway, as visitors browse handmade goods and walk through the sunny plaza lined with trees.

Atlanta has tons of festivals all year-round, so you won’t have any trouble finding a fall festival to attend. These festivals provide plenty of food, music, art, and entertainment that everyone can enjoy.

Popular Atlanta fall festivals include:

6. Attend Boo at the Zoo

sits beside giant orange letters spelling "BOO", posing with her hands on her cheeks while white cartoon ghosts decorate the Halloween display at Boo at the Zoo at Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia. Signs behind her include the headings "Bears will be bears." and "Enrichment in action.", adding a playful seasonal touch to the animal exhibit area.

Zoo Atlanta‘s annual Halloween festival Boo at the Zoo is full of fun treats for the kids and the animals. Kids can go trick-or-treating at the candy stations around the zoo, and the animals get pumpkins to munch on.

The weather is great during the fall, both for us and for the animals. For us, it’s not so sweltering to walk around in the sun. For the animals, it’s the perfect time between warm and cool that you can see animals from all different climates.

The zoo’s warm climate animals like the monkeys and gorillas are still outside, meanwhile colder climate animals like red pandas and alpacas start to venture out to play.

The best part is, Boo at the Zoo is included in your General Admission ticket!

TIP: If you plan on visiting multiple Atlanta attractions during your fall trip, I recommend getting the Atlanta CityPASS to save on entry to Zoo Atlanta and other top museums.

7. Get Lost in a Corn Maze

A narrow dirt path winds through a tall green corn maze, with dense corn stalks rising on both sides at Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze in Dawsonville, Georgia. Bright blue sky and scattered white clouds are visible above the rows, giving the maze a sunny, rural setting.

You’ll have to venture a bit outside the city to find a good corn maze, but that just means it’s another fall road trip opportunity.

Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch has a nice big maze for you to get lost in — just don’t get too corn-fused! Once you make it through the scavenger hunt in the big corn maze, you can learn some corn facts in the maze of knowledge.

On weekend nights in October, you can even try to make it through their haunted trail.

And don’t forget to pick out your perfect pumpkin, shoot the corn canon, feed the goats, take a hayride, and have a bonfire! There’s so much to do!

8. Take a Cemetery Stroll

Two ornate stone mausoleums with pointed Gothic arches stand along a brick path in the landscaped Historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. One mausoleum is marked "E H MARSH 1890", with trimmed shrubs, monuments, and a cloudy sky surrounding the historic burial structures.

The Historic Oakland Foundation of Atlanta’s Historic Oakland Cemetery hosts Sunday In the Park each year, celebrating the cemetery’s unique Victorian concept of a garden cemetery. You can dress up in Victorian-era costumes and enjoy crafts, music, and educational demonstrations.

Fall is also the perfect time to take a tour of the cemetery, guided or otherwise; though you can typically expect the cemetery’s popular guided Halloween tour to sell out, so make sure you reserve your tickets early.

Atlanta has plenty of other historic cemeteries that you can explore during spooky season, too; check out Atlanta’s best cemeteries here.

9. Make it Out of a Haunted House Alive

The words "NETHERWORLD Haunted House" are projected in pale lettering across the exterior of a large building at night in Atlanta, Georgia. A small winged figure sits along the roofline above the sign, adding to the spooky haunted attraction setting.

Netherworld Haunted House has been Atlanta’s favorite haunted house year after year, with people coming from far and wide to be terrified by its unique monstrous creations.

This place has movie-production-level make up and costuming. There’s a reason it’s considered Atlanta’s scariest haunted house. But even if you’re a scaredy cat like me, you should experience it at least once.

The theme changes each year, so you never know what thrills are in store. Check out this year’s themes to prepare yourself for the horror.

10. Party Through Halloween

Paige and Kevin pose together outdoors at night in coordinated Halloween costumes, with Paige wearing a black and white checkered outfit and white boots, and Kevin dressed in a blue and gold colonial style coat with yellow breeches. Parked cars and dim street lighting fill the background at the Halloween in the Highlands Pub Crawl in Virginia Highland in Atlanta, Georgia.

Put on your best costume and hit the town for some bar hopping, pub crawling, and good old-fashioned boisterous fun!

There’s no shortage of organized pub crawls and costume contests on Halloween weekend in Atlanta. Check out this Trick or Drink Atlanta Halloween Bar Crawl in Midtown for a really fun night out!

Now all you have to do is don your best costume and decide where you want to go!

Book your Atlanta Halloween bar crawl here.

Fall Activities in Atlanta Map

Ready to explore Atlanta in the fall? Check out the map below for all my favorite fall spots in and around the city.

I hope you have an amazing time discovering fall in Atlanta!

Why Visit Atlanta in the Fall

Here in the South, fall means warm weather but with less humidity, so you’ll get sunny days that won’t make you feel like you’re melting. It makes exploring Atlanta’s top sights so much more enjoyable!

When the leaves change, the city is covered in vibrant colors. But it doesn’t last very long, so you’ll want to get out and enjoy the fall colors while you can!

There are fewer crowds in Atlanta during the fall, and the autumn off-season is one of the best times to visit Atlanta.

The spooky season is in full gear in Atlanta. You’ll find plenty of haunted spots, pumpkin picking, Halloween parties, and fall festivities all around the city.

There are so many reasons to visit Atlanta this fall! So go out and start exploring!

What’s the Weather Like During Fall in Atlanta?

Fall in Atlanta is as refreshing as a crisp apple and as cozy as your favorite sweater! The cooler temperatures are a breath of fresh air compared to the scorching summer heat.

From September to November, the temperatures gradually dip. You can expect daytime temperatures to hover in the 70s and 80s °F. This sweet spot makes it so you can enjoy outdoor activities without breaking a sweat. Evenings are a little cooler as well.

Starting in November, daytime temperatures hit the low 60s and 70s °F. Nighttime temperatures are downright chilly.

Fall also brings a few rain showers, so don’t forget to pack a small umbrella or a raincoat just in case.

Read next: 10 Incredible Fall Destinations in Georgia

Fall in Atlanta FAQ

What is fall like in Atlanta?

Fall in Atlanta is pleasantly warm, with temperatures in the high 70s °F. Cooler weather in the fall is a much welcome reprieve after the sweltering heat of summer!

Is fall a good time to visit Atlanta?

Fall is one of the best times to visit Atlanta! The weather is nice, there are plenty of fall activities, and Atlanta attractions are less crowded.

Is Atlanta pretty in the fall?

Atlanta is beautiful during the fall! The city has a ton of tree coverage, so you can watch the leaves change colors without even having to leave the city.

Does Atlanta get fall colors?

Atlanta gets fall colors starting in early October to mid-November, with the peak in late October and early November. The leaves change color fast, so blink and you may miss it!

Laptop and tablet showing a travel itinerary for Atlanta. The laptop displays a day schedule, while the tablet shows a cityscape with "Atlanta" text.

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Save on Atlanta’s Top Attractions

Want to save big on Atlanta’s top attractions? with the Atlanta CityPASS, you can save up to 50% on the cost of entrance tickets to 5 top Atlanta museums and attractions!

Get admission to your choice of 5 from the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and Zoo Atlanta, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Get your Atlanta CityPASS here.

Top Atlanta Tours

A guided tour is always a good way to get to know a city! Check out these top Atlanta tours.

Where to Stay in Atlanta

Find the perfect place to rest your head on your Atlanta vacation!

More Fall Fun in Atlanta

Find even more fun fall activities in and around Atlanta, Georgia! Check out these posts for your autumn inspiration:

Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

  • Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
  • Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
  • Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
  • Save on Attractions: Save 50% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.

Cheers!

Paige

Top Things to Do During Fall in Atlanta, Georgia

What’s your favorite fall activity in Atlanta, Georgia? Let me know in the comments!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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