Fall Festivals For RVers: Celebrate Autumn on the Road

Autumn brings crisp air, vibrant foliage, and festivals celebrating food, music, art, and tradition. For RVers, there’s no reason to put the RV away just yet! This season is ideal: the crowds thin, campgrounds open up, and the heat of summer has faded. And a bonus: fall festivals begin and offer memorable experiences with RV-friendly camping nearby. From New England to the Pacific Northwest and into Canada, here are some standout events between September and November:

1. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

 (New Mexico, October)

This globally renowned festival features mass balloon ascensions, the iconic night balloon glow, and special-shaped balloons drifting against the Sandia Mountains. RVers can camp onsite within the festival grounds—making early booking essential—as spots fill up fast. With daytime balloon launches and evening glows, the event spans several days of skyward wonder and community gatherings.

2. Bayfield Apple Festival

 (Wisconsin, early October)

Held in the charming town on Lake Superior, Bayfield’s Apple Festival is a rich autumn tradition with apple-themed contests, crafts, live music, and parades. Supported by over 150 arts and crafts booths and local orchards, it offers a classic harvest celebration. Nearby RV parks and campgrounds make it ideal for families touring in fall-colored Wisconsin.

3. Huck Finn Jubilee Bluegrass Festival

 (California, early October)

Set at Bonelli Bluffs RV & Camping Resort near San Dimas, the Huck Finn Jubilee is a two-day bluegrass event featuring Americana music, art vendors, hands-on music workshops, and family activities. As the West Coast’s premier bluegrass gathering, it caters directly to RV campers—who can enjoy live music right from their sites.

4. Oktoberfest in Leavenworth

 (Washington, late September–October)

Leavenworth turns Bavarian each fall with an Oktoberfest celebration—filled with accordion music, bratwurst, pretzels, and beer gardens. RV-friendly campgrounds nearby offer full hookups and easy shuttle access to downtown festivities. This alpine-style town makes the Alps feel like the Pacific Northwest.

5. Harvest on the Harbor

 (Portland, Maine, early October)

A food lover’s dream, this culinary festival features lobster dishes, chef competitions, seafood tastings, and local craft markets. Nearby Shore campgrounds and oceanfront RV parks welcome festivalgoers with full service and coastal views. It’s a delicious entry into New England fall flavors.

6. Prince Edward Island International Shellfish Festival

 (Charlottetown, Canada, mid‑September)

This four-day seafood extravaganza showcases chowder tastings, oyster and lobster dishes, celebrity chef events, and folk music stages. RV travelers in eastern Canada can find nearby provincial campgrounds or Harvest Hosts winery sites to enjoy fresh shellfish laid out with maritime charm.

7. Roots, Rants and Roars

 (Elliston, Newfoundland & Labrador, mid‑September)

Set in a coastal fishing village, this unique festival pairs food, culture, music, and landscape. Events include a scenic culinary hike, an open-air feast, and a chef competition focusing on Newfoundland cod. RV visitors can stay nearby and immerse themselves in local traditions and stunning Atlantic views.

8. Whistler Cornucopia

 (British Columbia, Canada, early November)

This culinary festival brings together chefs, winemakers, and food lovers for wine tastings, cooking demos, and elegant dinners—sometimes enjoyed right at nearby campgrounds or Harvest Hosts wine venues. The stunning mountain backdrop and fall colors make it one of Canada’s most scenic food festivals.

Tips for RV Festival Planning

• Book early! Some parks and festival campsites fill months in advance, especially Balloon Fiesta and Leavenworth’s Oktoberfest.
• Stay plugged or boondock? Some events offer electrical hookups; others require boondocking skills (solar, battery, generators). Good thing Ember’s Overland Series features our Max Solar package and our E-Series and Touring Edition have our optional Off-grid Package!
• Check dump and water access, especially if staying multiple days.
• Arrive mid-week when possible, to secure better spots and camp close to the action.
• Pack layers—September through November can bring wide temperature swings.

We know there are more great Fall Festivals we could add to this list. What Fall Festivals are you planning RV trips around? From the colorful balloons over New Mexico to coastal seafood festivals in Canada and Bavarian celebrations in the alpine west, autumn offers a treasure trove of fall festivals made for RV adventures. Whether you’re after bluegrass tunes, craft brews, or harvest flavors, there’s a festival—and an RV-friendly campground—waiting for you this September through November. Get out there, enjoy the season, and make your road trip one to remember!