by Paula S. Thompson

Created on: September 10, 2009

Fall in Buffalo, NY is characterized by its beautiful foliage, bountiful harvests, and plethora of fall festivals and celebrations. Even as the weather becomes cooler, there are still many things going on in Buffalo, both indoors and outdoors.

One of the great outdoor fall attractions in Buffalo is the Great Pumpkin Farm, located at 11199 Main St. in the Buffalo suburb of Clarence. The Farm is open daily from late September to Halloween time, but most of the fun occurs during the weekend festivals. Among the weekend festivities are the annual barbecue cookoff, a dog sport show, the World Pumpkin Weigh-Off, the Pumpkin Olympics, and a pumpkin catapult contest. There is also the Boo Barn for youngsters, and the Haunted House and Museum for the older crowd.

Fall brings football season, and there are many options for the local football fan. Local high school football games become weekend traditions, especially when it comes to rivalries, for students and alumni alike; it's a very popular and inexpensive way to enjoy a Friday night. Another inexpensive option is catching a college game with the MAC champion University at Buffalo (UB) Bulls at UB Stadium in Amherst, another Buffalo suburb. UB's program has made a complete turnaround in the last few years, and this is a great way to see some local talent and some of the up-and-coming national stars.

Of course, no look at football would be complete without mentioning the Buffalo Bills. The local National Football League (NFL) franchise plays at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, just south of Buffalo. While the Bills seems to be constantly in a "rebuilding phase," they do provide great entertainment and play against some of the best athletes the NFL has to offer.

Fall is also a great time to take in some of Buffalo's cultural offerings. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, located at 1285 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo, features educational programs for children and adults alike, and often features new exhibits in the fall. Another top draw in Buffalo is the Buffalo Museum of Science, located at 1020 Humboldt Pkwy. in Buffalo. The Museum features everyday exhibits such as Dinosaurs & Co., Our Place in Space, and Western New York Woodlands, as well as traveling exhibits, which recently included Body Worlds.

The Buffalo Zoo is another place to explore in the fall. Located at 300 Parkside Ave. in Buffalo (adjacent to Delaware Park), the Zoo is the third-oldest in the U.S. and features a wide variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In October, the Zoo hosts "Howl-O-Ween Hayrides" on weekends for families, with hayrides, treat stations, games, and costume parades.

These are just some of the fun things you can do in Buffalo, NY in the fall.

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