Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival & Halloween Events

The Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival Play by Day Glow by Night event is the highlight of fall in Georgia. During the day enjoy the family-friendly park attractions and fall entertainment. After dusk experience the park in a whole new light and enjoy plenty of not-so-spooky glowing fun. The festival begins in mid-September and continues until the beginning of November every year. The Stone Mountain pumpkin festival is a great place to welcome in the fall weather, enjoy the outdoors and experience Halloween.

Stone Mountain Park, Georgia

Stone Mountain Park is located less than 30 minutes east of Atlanta, Georgia. The park is Georgia’s most popular attraction and includes a wide variety of family friendly activities. The gates to the park are open daily from 5am to midnight. Attractions and events are seasonal and vary by day. The Stone Mountain Halloween and Pumpkin Festival is our favorite fall activity and Snow Mountain is our favorite for winter. Check their calendar when planning your visit.

Stone Mountain Resort

When visiting Stone Mountain Park we prefer to stay overnight in the park. This allows more time at attractions with less driving. Our favorite place to stay is the Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort. This lakefront hotel offers amazing views, a seasonal shuttle to attractions, multiple pools and two championship level golf courses. All rooms include private balconies with nature, pool, or lake views. The resort offers multiple dining options featuring indoor, outdoor, and poolside dining.

Other hotel options nearby include the Holiday Inn Express located just one mile from the park entrance and the Hampton Inn located 4 miles away.

The Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain

The fall festival begins on September 19th this year and runs through Halloween. Admission to the event is included with an attraction pass or annual membership. Attraction passes are currently $19.95 for those age 3 and up. The Skyride and the Skyhike can be added for an additional $5 each. The attraction pass includes both the day and night festival activities along with access to the scenic railroad, Dinosaur Explore, the Historic Square, mini golf and the 4-D Wizard of Oz experience.

During our daytime visit Payton enjoyed the treetop obstacle course, the scenic train ride, the magical 4-D movie experience, the pie eating contest and more. There are many shops and cafes for refreshments during your visit. There are also add-on meal options available with your ticket price. We enjoyed lunch onsite and chose to return to our hotel for dinner. This provided a much needed rest before the glowing activities came to life.

Spending Halloween at Stone Mountain Park

Halloween at Stone Mountain Park is perfect for family friendly not-so-spooky fun. At dusk the park literally comes to life in an amazing glow. Everything takes on a whole new light. The trees, the dinosaurs, the story book characters and more come to life in glow-in-the-dark adventures. Jack’s giant pumpkin tree is a sight to behold and comes alive at night with singing and entertainment.

Children are encouraged to wear their costumes during the Pumpkin Festival both day and night. Costume contests are held during the day that include dancing and prizes. There is also a Halloween parade that children (and adults) can take part in. This was a highlight for us during our visit.

Take an enchanted evening stroll through classic storybook tales that come to life with over 40 newly imagined scenes featuring massive carved pumpkin displays, glowing lights, rolling fog, boundless bubbles, and plenty of not-so-spooky, glow-in-the-dark adventures after sunset!

Things to do at Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain Train

Except during inclement weather, the Stone Mountain scenic train is one many attractions offered year round at the park. The train ride lasts approximately 30 minutes as you enjoy a 5 mile loop around the mountain. The cars are open open-air and provide spectacular views of Stone Mountain. The full size locomotive from the 1940’s provides a glimpse into the past and admission is included in the attraction pass.

Ropes Course

The SkyHike ropes course is a seasonal activity from March 28-November 8. Admission can be added to the attraction pass for $5. This attraction in a quarter mile long and is one of the nation’s largest family adventure courses. No two hikes are ever the same as you are able to choose your own course and change direction at any time. There are beginner courses 12 feet high, intermediates at 24 feet, and the courageous super challenge that is 40 feet off the ground (4 stories high)! Close toed shoes are required and the minimum height for participation is 44 inches.

Stone Mountain Lake

Stone Mountain Park includes a beautiful 323-acre lake that provides many recreational activities. The REI Boathouse offers kayak, canoe, stand up paddle board, and pedal boat rentals. Classes are also available for beginners. Boating excursions are available to cruise around the lake in a custom pontoon boat while enjoying the sights. Fishing is also an option on the lake. You may bring your own boat or fish from the shoreline.

Covered Bridges and Grist Mills

As a homeschool family we strive to include history and education in our travels when possible. The covered bridge, grist mill and quarry exhibit provide just that. The Washington W. King covered bridge was originally constructed in Athens, Georgia in 1891. After two severe floods in 1910 and 1963, the damaged bridge caused safety concerns. In 1965 the bridge was partially dissembled and brought to Stone Mountain where it was re-assembled atop new cement and granite piers. It now connects the park to a beautiful island across Stone Mountain Lake.

In 1965 the grist mill was also relocated to the park from it original site near Ellijay, Georgia. This area is one of the most peaceful and most photographed areas within the park. It provides a fabulous setting for picnics and relaxing.

Quarry Exhibit at Stone Mountain

The quarry exhibit is an outdoor display created to tell the story of an industry that played a significant role in the history of Stone Mountain. Over the years 7,654,700 cubic feet of granite was removed from the mountain. That is enough granite to stretch from the North Pole to the South Pole one foot wide.

Nearly every state has a building that uses Stone Mountain granite. Not to mention it was shipped all over the world. The granite was used in the federal gold depository at Fort Knox, the Panama Canal, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, and in the foundation of the Lincoln Memorial just to name a few. The exhibit also describes the process quarrying and the changes in technology over time. The exhibit is both educational and interesting for children and adults.

Summit Skyride and Stone Mountain at Sunset

The Summit Skyride is also a seasonal activity from March 28 – December 31 and is available for an additional $5. The high-speed cable car carries guests more than 825 feet to the top of Stone Mountain. During our winter visit we chose to enjoy the Skyride as the weather was cold that day. The views are amazing and well worth the fee. During our fall visit we chose to hike to the top. Either way you travel, a visit to the top provides amazing views of the Atlanta skyline, the Appalachian Mountains and more up to 60 miles away.

Sunset from the top of Stone Mountain provides a spectacular view as the sun fades beyond the Atlanta skyline. After our hike to the top we definitely needed a break. The view provided the perfect environment to rest and prepare for the descent. After a fun filled day of excitement and entertainment it was a peaceful intermission before the park came to life after dark.

Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival & Halloween

Stone Mountain provides many fun family activities throughout the year. However, the Play by Day Glow by Night Pumpkin Festival is one of our favorites. The pumpkins, pies, halloween contest and outdoor activities are sure to get you into the fall spirit.

Looking for more fall activities in the area? Oktoberfest in Helen is just 1.5 hours northeast of Stone Mountain. For wine tastings, spa treatments and luxury accommodations Chateau Elan is merely 45 minutes away. The northeastern region of Georgia provides a plethora of options in any season!

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