Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, runs September 11 to October 31, 2026. It is a fall festival built around visiting craftspeople, cowboy music and storytelling, seasonal food and more than 20,000 pumpkins. The after-dark part, called Pumpkins In The City, begins September 18, so September 11 to 17 is a daytime-focused stretch. The park has not published a list of new attractions for 2026 that we could verify, so treat the festival as a returning favorite rather than a brand new event.
This is not a haunted house event. Silver Dollar City lists no scare zones or haunted houses for Harvest Festival, which makes it a good fit for families, grandparents and anyone who wants fall atmosphere without costumed scare actors. Festival activities are included with regular park admission, with no separate festival ticket. Because operating days and hours vary through the fall, check the park calendar before you plan your day.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri
- Dates: September 11 to October 31, 2026 (check the park calendar for operating days)
- Event nights: Pumpkins In The City starts September 18; check the park calendar for days
- Haunted houses: n/a
- Scare zones: n/a
- New for 2026: not announced
- Ticket: included with admission
What’s new for 2026
We could not find a verified list of new houses, zones or shows for Harvest Festival 2026. The park’s own festival listing mentions new foods without naming them, so plan to browse the food stands when you arrive rather than expecting a specific dish.
The returning headliners are the ones the park promotes: more than 20,000 pumpkins across the park, the Garden of Giants in Wilson’s Farm with pumpkins that can weigh over 1,000 pounds, master pumpkin carver Barry Brown carving in real time, and the nightly blacklight dance party in Pumpkin Plaza. Echo Hollow concerts are also on the schedule, as noted below.
Haunted houses and scare zones
There are none. Harvest Festival is a pumpkin and craft festival, not a Halloween scare event, and we are not listing any haunted houses or scare zones because the park does not advertise them.
The closest thing to an after-dark theme is Pumpkins In The City. Once the sun sets, carved, sculpted, life-size and themed pumpkin displays glow around the park. There is also a Woodland Hike after dark, according to one Branson travel guide, so check the park calendar to see whether it runs on your day. If you want scare content, our hub page linked below lists haunted events at other parks.
Daytime and family activities
Daytime is the heart of the festival. Hundreds of demonstrating crafters set up around the park, and the park’s resident master craftsmen show blacksmithing, glassblowing, pottery and more. Cowboy programming brings western music and stories to the streets and stages. Cowboy Camp has included guest appearances, such as Buck Taylor of Gunsmoke and Yellowstone, so check the schedule if that interests you.
The food is a big part of the trip. Expect pumpkin flavors both sweet and savory, hearty soups and stews, pumpkin pie, apple dumplings, spiced cider and pumpkin coffee. A Tasting Passport lets you sample several pumpkin dishes. Echo Hollow concerts are included with admission. The dates listed by one guide are Diamond Rio on September 12, Aaron Tippin on September 19 and Sara Evans on September 26. Rides such as Outlaw Run and Fire In The Hole keep operating, and night rides are part of Pumpkins In The City from September 18.
Tickets, passes and Fast Lane
Harvest Festival is included with a regular Silver Dollar City ticket, and there is no separate festival fee. Ticket types change from year to year, so check the ticket page on the park’s website for current prices and any multi-day or season pass options before you buy.
We did not verify a Fast Lane style skip-the-line product or specific season pass perks for the festival, so confirm those on the park site. Buying online ahead of time is the simplest way to avoid a ticket-window line on busy weekends. Lodging is also in demand in fall, and one guide suggests booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead.
Tips for your visit
Midweek visits tend to have shorter lines than weekends, but operating days vary, so check the park calendar first. Because the park does not run every day in the fall, do not assume it is open on a given weekday.
Plan for two sessions if you want to see both halves of the festival. Spend the day with the crafters and food, take a break, then return for the glowing pumpkins after sunset. Pumpkins In The City begins September 18, so earlier visits will not include the full after-dark experience.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring layers, since Ozark temperatures can change quickly between afternoon and evening. Because there are no scare actors, the festival works for young children, but ride height requirements still apply to coasters like Outlaw Run and Fire In The Hole, so check them on the park website.
Explore more: every theme park Halloween event for 2026, by state.
Harvest Festival 2026 at Silver Dollar City FAQs
When does Harvest Festival 2026 start and end?
Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City runs September 11 to October 31, 2026. The after-dark Pumpkins In The City portion begins September 18. The park does not operate every day, so check the park calendar for open days and hours.
Is Harvest Festival included with park admission?
Yes. Festival activities, including the craft demonstrations, cowboy programming and Echo Hollow concerts, are included with regular Silver Dollar City admission. There is no separate festival ticket. Check the park’s ticket page for current prices.
Is Harvest Festival too scary for kids?
No. It is a pumpkin and craft festival with no haunted houses or scare zones listed. The evening pumpkin displays and blacklight dance party are family friendly. Ride height requirements still apply to the coasters.
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Photo: Jzeid / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.