GO PUMPKIN PICKING
Chappell Farms
From September 10th to October 31st Chappell Farms hosts a Fall Festival that is perfect for the whole family! Located at the intersection of Highway 11 and Highway 93, this farm is full of amazing fall-themed attractions that will surely make you feel in the fall spirit. These attractions include pumpkin picking, visiting the farm lookout, enjoying the tricycle tract, seeing farm animals, and so much more! Admission includes one pick-your-own pumpkin. You can get your fall festival tickets to Chappell Farms here!
GO APPLE PICKING
BARRIE HILL FARMS
For over 40 years, Barrie Hill Farms has offered its customers a peaceful backdrop to pick their own farm fresh crops. This local favourite found in Springwater offers a fantastic pumpkin picking selection and a pick-your-own apple selection, offering Honeycrisp, Cortland, McIntosh, Zestar, and Sunrise apples! Visit their site for more information.
GO ON A FALL HIKE
AWENDA PROVINCIAL PARK
Spanning more than 2,900 hectares and located along the shores of Georgian Bay, Awenda Provincial park offers you the chance to fully submerge yourself in the fall season! This nature-filled environment offers numerous trails ranging from 1 to 13 kilometres long, perfect for admiring the changing leaves and breathing in the fresh fall air. Visit their site for more information.
Halloween Costume Contest
October 31st is just around the corner, which means Halloween costume planning is in full swing! To make this season more interesting, try hosting a Halloween costume contest to bring together family and friends. If you aren’t set on a costume idea just yet, try visiting this website for a few ideas!
Bake Anything With Pumpkin
It won’t truly feel like autumn until you light your fall-scented candles and begin baking your favourite fall recipes! Make your home smell like pumpkin, cinnamon, and ground nutmeg with this delicious pumpkin bread recipe!
Carve Pumpkins
After hand-picking your own pumpkin, spend the evening carving them with your loved ones. For those families who feel extra competitive, capture a photo of your dressed-up Jack-O’-Lanterns and submit the picture to Pumpkin Masters Contest to have the chance of claiming the top prize of $5,000. This competition is open to all Canadians and runs from October 1st – November 2nd.
DIY Fall Crafts
If you’re looking to decorate your home for the fall season, but are hoping to give things your own creative touch, try making a few do-it-yourself fall crafts. Gather some supplies from your local craft store to create a DIY fall wreath, a candy corn banner, a rope pumpkin centerpiece, or DIY potpourri. Visit HGTV for even more DIY fall craft ideas!
Make Chilli
Fall sweater weather would not be complete without a warm bowl of chilli! If you’re up for the challenge, try making this Autumn Pumpkin Chilli recipe instead of making a traditional pot of chilli. Visit Taste Of Home Website for the full recipe.
Attend One Fall Event In Simcoe County
The diverse and family-oriented Simcoe County is full of an abundance of fall-themed cultural festivals and events. Keep your family entertained all season long with any of these fantastic events:
- Plan to attend Haunted Harbour at Friday Harbour in Innisfil between October 20th – October 31st for a “spook-tacular” event!
- Visit the Pumpkinferno at Haunted Harbour in Penetanguishene between October 6th – 30th to admire thousands of carved pumpkins along a 2km trail on the 19th-century Discovery Harbour site.
- Make the trip to Elmvale to enjoy Pumpkin Mania at Rounds Ranch between September 17th – October 30th. This fall-centric event is filled with pumpkin games, wagon rides, pony rides, and much more!
Visit Tourism Barrie for a more detailed list of other events happening in Simcoe County!
Sip Hot Apple Cider
Gather around your family’s outdoor fire pit with a warm cup of apple cider to truly feel in the fall spirit! Use these ingredients to try and make this simple apple cider recipe that will surely impress your loved ones:
- 10 apples, cored and cut into slices
- 1 orange, peeled
- 3 cinnamon sticks or 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons of ground cloves
Visit Old World Garden Farms apple cider recipe for detailed instructions on how to create this cozy drink.
Navigate A Corn Maze
Visit the locally-owned Rounds Ranch to get lost in their Confusion Corn Maze! This family-oriented activity is perfect for children who are filled with curiosity and a desire to find new adventures. On Saturday nights in October, bring your flashlight and try to solve Rounds Ranch’s interactive night-time corn maze! This 125-acre farm is ideally located just 25 minutes north of Barrie! Visit their site for more information on all their fall-themed events.
Bring Out The Fall Decorations
To properly welcome fall into your home, fill your space with warm tones and natural elements to transition into this new season. Find a bouquet of colourful fall flowers to display on your kitchen table, fill your front porch with pumpkins and antique accents, and craft cozy corners in your home. Visit this website for 55 different ideas on how to welcome Autumn into your home.