September is a great month for traveling in Pennsylvania. As the seasons shift from summer to autumn and the kids head back to school, the events this month will give you one last time to have some summer fun before the weather begins to turn cold again.
Take some time to explore my top picks for things to do in Pennsylvania in September, and then get out and explore this great state.
(Article Updated August 13, 2024, for Pennsylvania events in September 2024.)
Great Allentown Fair in Allentown – August 28 – September 2
The Great Allentown Fair, one of the country’s oldest fairs, returns this month to the Lehigh Valley for its 172nd year.
The fair will feature everything you expect from a great county fair including carnival rides, delicious food, competitions, and much more. There will even be drive-in last light shows several evenings.
In addition to the other festivities, there will also be a ton of live entertainment, including a demolition derby and concerts by Cheap Trip, Penatonix, and Brad Paisley.
Find out more about the fair on their website.
La Festa Italiana in Scranton – August 30 – September 2
La Festa Italiana brings thousands of visitors into downtown Scranton for this annual Italian festival.
Visitors can listen to live music, eat delicious Italian food, and shop for Italian-themed gifts, all while enjoying the beauty of downtown Scranton’s Courtyard Square.
And, if you need to burn off some calories from all of the delicious Italian food, there will also be a 5k race.
For more information on La Festa Italiana, visit the event’s website.
Kipona Festival in Harrisburg – August 31 – September 2
Kipona Festival, an annual tradition in downtown Harrisburg, will return once again this Labor Day Weekend for its 108th year. This three-day festival features many great vendors and lots of delicious food along the banks of the Susquehanna River.
There will also be a Native American Pow-Wow, wirewalkers, live entertainment, and more.
For more information, visit the festival’s website.
Lesher’s Sunflower Field in Chambersburg – First Week of September
Every year around Labor Day Weekend, the Lesher’s Sunflower Field near Chambersburg, PA blooms. This is very likely the largest sunflower field in PA and is an incredible site to see.
Visitors can explore this incredible spot for free, and you can even clip your own flowers for a nominal fee (bring cash).
For more information, check out our article on the field which is updated with dates and location each year.
Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square – September 7-8
Head to the Mushroom Capital of the World in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, for their annual Mushroom Festival. Drawing upwards of 100,000 people every year, this festival is a fantastic destination for those that love mushrooms.
Visitors can watch the mushroom eating contest, sample a variety of mushroom-themed foods, watch mushroom cooking competitions, check out the kids activities, and much, much more.
For more information, check out the festival’s website.
September 11 Anniversary Memorial in Shanksville – September 11
Believe it or not, 2024 marks the 23nd anniversary of the September 11th attacks. At the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, they are holding their annual ceremony to commemorate this tragedy.
While events are still being ironed out for this year’s event, in the past there have been candles placed out on the site, including a large spotlight into the sky, on the night of September 10th.
Then on the morning of the 11th, the annual remembrance ceremony will be held at the crash site.
For more information on the events happening during this commemoration, visit the National Park Service’s website. For those that can’t make it to Shanksville, the ceremony will also be live-streamed.
Bloomsburg Fair in Bloomsburg – September 20 -28
Now in its 169th year, the Bloomsburg Fair is one of the largest fairs in Pennsylvania. Drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy at this great event.
In addition to the normal fair trappings of great food and fun rides, visitors can catch live music, ride a ski lift, check out livestock, and much more. There will also be great concerts throughout the event including by The Beach Boys, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and Casting Crowns.
For more information, visit BloomsburgFair.com.
Washington and Greene Counties Covered Bridge Festival – September 21-22
Held at 10 different sites within these two southwestern Pennsylvania counties, the Washington and Greene Counties Covered Bridge Festival will be returning in 2024. This festival celebrates a few of the approximately two dozen historic covered bridges in the two counties.
The event is held at 10 different covered bridges in Washington County and Greene County and features vendors, delicious local food, and live entertainment, as well as the chance to explore these beautiful and historic structures.
For more information, visit the event’s website.
Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival in Bethlehem – September 27-29
The Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival will once again be held in Bethlehem, PA this September. Featuring many stages with continuous music, a parade, a haggis competition, Celtic vendors, a pipe band competition, and kid’s crafts, there’s a bit of something for everyone at this Scottish festival.
The highlight of the festival, however, is the US National Highland Athletic Championships. Come out and cheer on the athletes as they compete in a variety of unusual athletic events.
For more information about the festival, visit CelticFest.org.
Harvest of the Arts in Carlisle – September 28
Every September, downtown Carlisle comes alive with Harvest of the Arts, now in its 42nd year.
This one-day street fair brings over 100 artists into town, giving visitors a great chance to browse and purchase some great new art. You can even stop by and say hi to me at my booth, Jim Cheney Photography!
In addition to great art, you’ll find live music, European sports cars, delicious food, and kids’ activities.
Find out more on the event’s website.
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival – All Month
The annual Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival returns this year and will be held every weekend in September (as well as the last weekend in August).
The festival is held in West Newton, a short distance southeast of the city, and will transport you to a Renaissance-era European village, complete with era shops, restaurants, and costumed actors. There are also dozens of fabulous shows held every day.
For more information, visit the festival’s website.
Looking for other things to do in Pennsylvania? Check out our list of things to do in August, things to do in PA in October, and our favorite fall festivals in Pennsylvania.
Do you know of a great event happening in Pennsylvania in September? Let us know in the comments section below!
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