Our Guide to Fun Fall Activities in Billings and the Surrounding Area

Fall brings savory foods, seasonal specialty beers, coffee cups brimming with tasty hot drinks, and the return of crockpots and steamy bowls of spicy chili. There are also plenty of fun activities to celebrate the season in and around Billings. Many are perfect for families or a fun date idea.

Here is a roundup of Fun Fall Billings Activities you can add to your calendar. 

Billings Sunflower Festival - September 15 & 16

A first for Billings, the Sunflower Festival is the brainchild of local resident Aubrey Hopkins. Located on Shiloh Road just south of Grand, the 1/2 acre sunflower field will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday. Guests can enjoy coffee in the morning, live music, a food truck, and get to cut their own sunflowers to take home. This will undoubtedly be an Instagram-worthy event. Find out more HERE or on their Facebook Events Page HERE.

The pumpkin patch at T&C Farms - Opens September 22nd.

For a classic pumpkin patch experience, head southwest of Laurel a couple of miles to T&C Farms. The family-run operation is a working farm with a large patch of pumpkins, a petting zoo, a corn maze, various outdoor games, a cute barrel-style train ride for the kids, and more.

You can ride the tractor-drawn haywagon (which passes scenically by the Yellowstone River) to pick your own pumpkins from the field or you can shop from a variety of already-picked pumpkins at the rustic store on-site. They also have squash, Indian corn, mini pumpkins, corn stalks, etc. for decor purposes. Their website doesn't appear to be completely up-to-date (it says "open tomorrow", when they open September 22 this year), but it does include directions and a few more details HERE.

Spend a fall day at ZooMontana.

September and October are great times to visit ZooMontana. Many of the animals are more active this time of year. Plus, it's much more comfortable for us humans to stroll the grounds when it's not 100 degrees. Plenty of foliage offers a scenic backdrop and there are lots of new things at the zoo, including the new sensory guides throughout the park and the impressive new Waterfowl Refuge. 

The Maize at Grandpa's Farm - Open Now

One of the most popular seasonal attractions in Billings, The Maize at Grandpa's Farm is now open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through September, with extended dates and hours in October (including the "haunted" nights at the corn maze).

The maze this year celebrates the 30th anniversary of The Nightmare Before Christmas, with the design incorporating Jack and Sally. They have a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, a sunflower garden, and more fun stuff for guests of all ages.

Downtown Billings Harvest Festival - October 14

One of the DBA's signature events, Harvest Festival 2023 will include "a rich diversity of arts and crafts, mums, pumpkins, face painting, balloon twisting, baked goods, and the final offerings of locally grown goods." It's the final farmers' market of the season and as the day progresses you can enjoy live music, the beer garden, food trucks, and much more.

Catch a high school or RMC football game.

Home-town football games are a fun way to spend a Friday night (or a sunny Saturday afternoon up at Rocky Bowl). Tickets are cheap, concessions support local sports, and in smaller towns, home games are like a community reunion.

Got an event you'd like us to add to this list? Send me an email with details and we'll share the updates. Michael.Foth@Townsquaremedia.com