Harvest Time on the Trails of History

It seems as if autumn came early this year, at least in the Laurel Highlands. The fall color peaked a little sooner than usual and the nights were chilly before September was gone. Summer wasn’t really over, but thoughts of fall traditions had started their annual dance.

PHMC/Somerset Historical Center

On the Trails of History, fall means it’s time for harvest and Halloween programs. With haunted hayrides, moonlight tours, open hearth cooking, and more, there’s a program to suit anyone’s interest and help usher in that mystical (to me, at least) transition from summer to winter. Somerset Historical Center’s Mountain Craft Days and Old Economy Village’s Erntefest started off our harvest season in September but there’s a great variety of programs still to come this month.

PHMC/Old Economy Village

Crisp autumn air filled with the smell of a wood fire, pyramids of bright orange pumpkins or scarlet apples, and the taste of apple butter cooked over an open fire. Sound like a good way to spend a Saturday or Sunday? Check out the 50th annual Harvest Days (with the Pumpkin Patch) at Landis Valley Museum (tomorrow and Sunday) or Harvest Day at Washington Crossing Historic Park (Oct. 18). (For a great review of last year's event at Landis Valley, go here).

If homemade food is mostly what you’re looking for, try Apple Dumpling Day at Ephrata Cloister (Oct. 9-10), Hearth Cooking at Hope Lodge (Oct. 17), or Cider Making and Smoking Meats at Pennsbury Manor (Oct. 25).

PHMC/Eckley Miners' Village

For those of you looking for something spookier with your history, we can scare up a program or two. Visit Eckley Miners’ Village for Halloween Lantern Tours (Oct. 16-18 and Oct. 23-25) or Graeme Park for Haunted Moonlight Tours (Oct. 16-17) and Ghostly Gatherings (Oct. 22-24). Bushy Run Battlefield has a Haunted History Hayride on (Oct. 24). On Oct. 31, you’ll find a Halloween Program at Pennsbury Manor or Night of the Great Pumpkin at the State Museum of Pennsylvania.

Of course you can always find excellent tours, beautiful vistas, and friendly people at any site on the Pennsylvania Trails of History. We’re looking forward to your visit.