Source / Autumn Glow Festival & DenisTangneyJr via Getty Images
Schenectady, New York has already earned its spot as the town nobody can say correctly on the first try.
But now it’s giving us a much better reason to actually learn how, because its oldest surviving farmstead is about to become the backdrop for one of the most visually stunning fall festivals in the entire state.
The Autumn Glow Festival takes over Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction this September through November, transforming 300-year-old farmland into a glowing trail of over 1,000 handcrafted Chinese lanterns.
Autumn Glow – Schenectady, NY
Nestled in between the early days of the fall and riding comfortably into the final days near Halloween, it’s once again set to be one of the most sought after experiences in New York to close out 2026.
Here are all the details and how to get tickets before the cooler weather creeps around!
A farm that’s been standing since 1705
Jan Mabee and his wife Anna Boorsboom set up shop here in 1705, back when the Mohawk Valley was still mostly untamed wilderness and “neighbors” meant whoever was closest by several miles.
They raised eight kids on this land, and somehow the family held onto it for three centuries straight, which makes Mabee Farm the oldest surviving farmstead in the entire valley, and honestly, one of the oldest anything still standing in this part of the state.
You can feel that history the second you step onto the property.
There’s a hand-pegged Dutch barn, pine floors worn smooth by 300 years of footsteps, and leftover traces of a 1600s fur trading post buried in the farm’s earliest chapters.
The Schenectady County Historical Society has kept the whole site intact as a working time capsule of early Dutch settlement, so when the lanterns go up for Autumn Glow, you’re not just walking through a random field decorated for fall.
You’re walking through three centuries of actual history that happens to look incredible lit up at night.
Source / Schenectady County Historical Society
What you’ll actually see on the walk
Picture this: the sun drops behind the Mohawk River, the farm’s silhouette goes dark, and suddenly the entire property erupts into color.
The Autumn Glow Festival sends visitors on a roughly 90-minute walking route weaving through fields and farm structures, all of it lit by towering silk lanterns shaped like glowing creatures, illuminated tunnels you walk straight through, and hundreds of smaller lanterns lining the paths in between.
Each lantern is handcrafted using a centuries-old Chinese tradition that traces back as far as the Han Dynasty, when round lanterns were lit to honor the full moon and mark the turning of the seasons.
Seeing that tradition staged against a 1705 Dutch farmstead is a genuinely odd, wonderful pairing, two completely different histories glowing side by side under the same sky.
Along the route, expect more than just lanterns to look at:
Live entertainment and seasonal performances scattered throughout the walk
Sugar painting demonstrations, a nod to another old-world craft tradition
A lighted scarecrow competition featuring work from local artists
Wish jars, a bounce house, and a dinosaur ride for younger visitors
Seasonal food and drink vendors set up along the grounds
Source / Autumn Glow Festival
When to go and what it costs
The 2026 run kicks off August 27 and continues Thursdays through Sundays into November, with gates open from 6:30 pm to 10 pm and last entry at 9 pm.
Plan for about an hour to an hour and a half to complete the full walk-through comfortably.
Tickets start around $14, with kids ages 0 to 2 admitted free, making this one of the more budget-friendly fall festivals within striking distance of the city.
The event runs rain or shine, though extreme weather may push a reschedule, so it’s worth double-checking conditions if you’re driving up from the city!
Making it a full Schenectady weekend
Since you’re already making the trip, it’s worth stretching this into a proper overnight rather than a quick there-and-back.
A few Schenectady staples worth building around the festival:
Proctors Theatre, a beautifully restored 1926 venue still hosting Broadway shows and concerts
Central Park Rose Gardens, home to over 4,500 rose bushes across 200-plus varieties
The Mohawk River waterfront, ideal for a scenic morning walk or kayak before heading to the farm at dusk
Little Italy District, the city’s go-to spot for a proper dinner before or after the lantern walk
Getting there from NYC
Mabee Farm sits about three hours north of Manhattan by car, making this an easy weekend escape without needing to burn a vacation day.
If you’d rather skip the driving, Amtrak runs directly from Penn Station to Schenectady Station in roughly the same amount of time, dropping you right in the heart of the city, close enough to grab dinner in Little Italy before heading out to the farm for the evening lantern walk.
🎟️ Learn more about the Autumn Glow Festival and buy your tickets here!