🍂What’s Inside: A categorized guide to fall things to do near Columbia, including fall activities, apple orchards, pumpkin picking places, fall festivals, and more!
Have you been searching for the best “fall activities near me”?
We have gathered all the fall fun in one place! Pick some pumpkins, spend a day at a farm, hike over a trail covered in colorful leaves, indulge in some cider donuts, or attend a fall festival. There are so many places near Columbia, SC to visit for a little fall family adventure, and that’s just what you’ll find here: a list of awesome fall things to do near you!
What are the Best Fall Activities Near Me?
This Guide to Fall in Columbia Includes:
Favorite Fall Activities: Columbia, SC
- Spend Saturday with the Gamecocks
- South Carolina State Fair
- Spend the Day at Clinton Sease Farm and explore the corn maze
- Shop Local at a Farmers’ Market Near Columbia
- Are you looking for Halloween Events? We have a huge Halloween Guide full of Halloween activities, things to do, and trick-or-treating events, including The Best Halloween Events for Babies and Toddlers in Columbia, SC. We’ll be updating for 2025 throughout the season.
Fall Events and Festivals Near Columbia, SC
Fairs, festivals, and outdoor events are a pretty splendid way to spend a fall day. Hot dog and funnel cake, live music, and happy kids all make fall festivities awesome. We have a full list of Fall Festivals near Columbia, SC. Some we love include the Fall Festival Fun at Cottle Strawberry Farm, Clinton Sease Farm, the South Carolina State Fair.
Where to Play this Fall
Places to Play Outdoors
Is there anything better than bringing the kids to the playground on a crisp fall day? Or, maybe you’d prefer a leisurely walk under a beautiful canopy of trees? You’ll find all that and more near Columbia. Check out these great parks and playgrounds near Columbia.
Raining? Play Indoors
Did you know we have a whole guide about things to do indoors in Columbia? So, if it’s raining or even just a bit too cold, there are lots of places you can head for some fun this fall. You can browse them all in our guide and even sort by the type of activity you’d like to try!
See some Animals: Visit a Zoo or Farm
Fall is a great time to spend the day learning about some animal friends. Check out both Riverbanks Zoo and check out their Boo at the Zoo event and Eudora Farms, or try one of these petting zoos where you can bring the kids to pet and play with animals.
Fall Treats
Visit one of the locally owned coffee shops in Columbia for delicious coffee and fall treats. There’s nothing cozier as the weather cools down than the perfect cup of coffee and snickerdoodle cookie, except maybe something pumpkin-flavored. Pumpkin muffin anyone?
Fall Day Trips and Travel
Fall weather lends itself to fabulous outdoor adventures. Check out these great day trip ideas from Columbia that are perfect for family fun this fall!
- Head to Bee City Zoo for amazing animal interactions. You’ll get to pet kangaroos, feed monkeys, and lots more!
- Explore history in a “most charming small town,” Newberry, SC.
- Check out Revolutionary War history in historic Camden, SC.
- View the elk at Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee. The fall is a great time to see the elk!
- Check out the hawk migration that happens every fall at Caesars Head State Park or visit the Carolina Raptor Center to see these amazing creatures up close.
- Spend the day in Landrum, SC. Enjoy the small-town downtown plus fabulous food, hiking, and more!
- Drive to the top of Sassafras Mountain for amazing views from the highest point in South Carolina.
For more great day trips, don’t miss our list of South Carolina Day Trips and WNC Day Trips. If you’re exploring small towns, don’t miss this list of Upstate, SC Day Trip Towns.
Drive to the Upstate and check out Where to Find Fall Leaves to help you find gorgeous fall colors near the Upstate.
Thinking a weekend getaway might be fun? Here’s a list of Incredible Vacation Rentals Where You Can See Fall Colors and Vacation Rental Cabins With Private Indoor Pools.
Fall Fun on the Farm: Visit farms near Columbia, SC
Visit a farm or orchard near Columbia for traditional fall activities and fun! These farms offer various things to do with your family that include corn mazes, pumpkin picking, hayrides, and a lot more.
Farms and Orchards with Family Fun Near Columbia
Open April – June for strawberry season Monday through Friday
Open summer months but hours vary. Be sure to check their website before heading out.
Open October for pumpkin season
Lever Farms is located in Newberry County and is a working farm that is open seasonally to the public. The pumpkin patch and strawberry patch offer U-pick, and visitors can pick from the vine or select pre-picked for purchase. In the fall, there is a corn maze, an educational wagon ride, farm animals to view, and more.
Offers:
Spring field trips
Fall field trips
U-Pick Strawberries (April – June)
U-Pick Pumpkins (October)
Corn Maze (fall)
Prices:
Contact Lever Farms for specific pricing
Wagon Ride to U-Pick Patch Pricing:
$4 + tax ages 3 & up
Ages 2 and under are free
Fall pumpkin season 2025: (October – November is typical)
Spring strawberry season opens in early April
Summer Peach Festival held in July
McLeod Farms is a produce farm founded in 1916 in McBee, SC. Along with their u-pick patches, they offer a market with a variety of goods to purchase. They also offer school field trips.
Their strawberry and pumpkin u-pick patches are off the vine.
Offers:
U pick strawberry patch (April – May)
U pick pumpkin patch (October)
Corn maze (October to November)
Wagon rides
Summer Peach Festival (July)
Fall Festivities:
Wagon Ride to U-Pick Pumpkin Patch is included in Corn Maze admission: 2025 pricing TBD
Sara's Farm Adventure
100 Greenhouse Road , Trenton, SC
Opening Day: September 19th, 2025
Open from September 19th – November 26th for Pumpkin Fest
Here’s our Kidding Around articles on Sara’s Farm Adventure
Fall at Sara’s: Jack-o-lantern Lane and Pumpkin Fest
Santa’s Southern Lights at Sara’s Farm Adventure
Offers:
Pumpkin Fest– pumpkin patch, corn maze, flower fields, hayride
Lots of kid activities (jump pillow, outdoor games, etc)
Upick Sunflowers
Jack O’ Lantern Lane– Thousands of carved pumpkins
Goat Daddy's Farm
144 Tomahawk Trail , Elgin, SC
Pet, feed, and learn about animals at Goat Daddy’s Farm. We would suggest setting aside at least 1 to 2 hours of your day in order to get the full Goat Daddy’s experience! There is so much to see and learn and even some opportunities for hands-on experiences!
Don’t forget to ask about the goat milk soap and lots more farm goodies.
This farm also offers events such as kids’ camps, goat care classes, yoga classes and more!
Birthday Parties: Party packages start at $500 and include
- 30 guests, pavilion set up
- free form exploration of the farm
Meador Acres Chestnuts LLC
803.807.8455 meadoracres@yahoo.com 5525 Fish Hatchery Road, Pelion, SC
Meador Acres opens in the fall for chestnut season.
Meador Acres was established in 2010 and is a chestnut grove located in Pelion, SC that offers u pick chestnuts during the fall season once they are ready to harvest.
Contact the orchard to schedule a time to U-Pick and to check availability and pricing.
Offers:
- Animal Displays and Demonstrations
- Orchard
- U-Pick
- Tours
- Honey Bees
- Farm Ducks & Chickens
Doko Farm is a working farm that was established in 1839 and specializes in pasture-raised heritage meats. The farm hosts special events throughout the year and gives farm tours by appointment.
Offers:
Spring Farm Fest (April)
AG and Art Tour (June)
Harvest Market at Doko Farm (November)
Farm tours
School tours
Volunteer opportunities
Purchasable pasture-raised heritage meats
Adventure Farm in Barnwell, South Carolina, is a seasonal family farm attraction offering a variety of activities and events.
Fall Festival (September 19th – October 31st, 2025) includes:
- pumpkin picking
- hay rides
- jumping pillow
- potato sack slide
- private campfires with s’mores kits
Cost of Admission: $13 GA; other activities have additional costs
The farm hosts field trips and group outings with hands-on farm experiences and seasonal fun.
Special events during the fall
Adopt-a-Pet Day (October 4th, 2025),
Pumpkin Carving Contest (October 18th, 2025)
Teen Takeover Night (October 25th, 2025)
Clinton Sease Farm
382 Olde Farm Road, Lexington , SC
Clinton Sease Farm is located in Lexington, SC and was established in 1940. The farm has expanded since the early 2000s to include several public attractions, including a corn maze, birthday parties, and school tours.
Fall Fun:
- Sunflower Weekends-begin in September (check their Facebook)
- Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch: September – November
Tickets for mazes include all mazes, playground access, an obstacle course, unlimited wagon rides, and a visit to the pumpkin patch (pumpkin purchased separately).
Note: The pumpkin patch has placed pumpkins, not pumpkins on the vine.
School Tours available:
Pumpkin Patch Tour (October-November)
Strawberry Patch Tour (April – May)
Birthday Parties at Clinton Sease:
- Available April through June, August, and September
- Include helter-skelter picnic tables, wagon ride, feeding animals, playground, and obstacle course.
- Bring your own decorations, food, drinks, plates, cups, napkins, utensils, cake, cake cutter, candles, lighter, and tablecloth.
- Fishing party, strawberry party, fall party, and more
- Party prices start around $400
Pets are not allowed.
Cottle Strawberry Farm
9560 Garners Ferry Road, Hopkins, SC
Fall Season Opening: September 19th – November 16th, 2025
Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday weather permitting
Cottle Strawberry Farm has loads of u-pick strawberries in the spring. They also have pre-picked options.
In the fall, visit Cottle Strawberry Farms for u-pick and pre-picked pumpkins, as well as a large selection of mums.
- Pumpkins
- Corn maze
- Wagon rides
- 30+ attractions
- Strawberries (Spring)
Farm Admission (age 2+): $13 +fees online and $16 at the farm
10 am until dark
Cottle Strawberry Farms has two locations:
- 9560 Garners Ferry Road, Hopkins, SC 29061| 803.695.1714 (closest to Columbia, SC)
- 3712 W. Palmetto Street, Florence, SC 29501 | 843.317.0031
Explore a Pumpkin Patch
We have pumpkins! Find all the pumpkin patches, big and small, local and day trip destinations, in our Columbia, SC Pumpkin Patch Guide!
Looking for Apple Orchards?
Some of our favorites are:
- Jeter Mountain Farm, with a super fun INDOOR playground that’s totally free
- Grandad’s Apples, where you can shoot an apple cannon and enjoy amazing cider donuts
- Stepp’s Apple Orchard in Hendersonville, NC has pumpkin donuts, upick apples, and a corn maze
Looking for more things to do? Here’s our huge guide to Columbia, SC.