It isn't autumn without pumpkins, corn mazes and hay rides
Summer may be over in the Okanagan and the local farmers may be wrapping up harvest season but they are going out with a bang.
After the heat of summer, before you need sweaters and boots, head out to your local farms to shop and have fun. There are so many activities happening before the snow flies, from frolics with your kids through the corn mazes and adults can enjoy fall wine festival events and sign up for their own crazy corn maze event. Add to that list a hay ride and firing gourds into the air with a giant slingshot and you have got some big fun ahead.
Here is your fall fun to do list:
In Kelowna, McMillan Farms has been in operation for 15 years and is a destination pumpkin patch. Loads of pumpkins in every size and shape are available here. They have a corn maze, a hay maze and other fun activities like shooting gourds and apples out of a giant sling shot. And they have hayrides – yeehaw! These can be booked for groups: (250) 448-2336.
www.mcmillanfarms.ca
In Vernon, the legendary O’Keefe Ranch was founded in 1867 and represents the very beginnings of European settlement in the Okanagan Valley. There is so much history here and fun activities too. Every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in October they have Family Daze in the Corn Maze. Frolic through the maze with the kids, visit the farm animals, have a pony ride, a stagecoach ride, enjoy the museums and have lunch at their restaurant on site.
If you need some new material for nightmares and love to be scared, then O-M-G O’Keefe Ranch has something for you. The annual Field of Screams is for adutls only and the theme is “Once Upon A Nightmare” transforming Grimm’s Fairy Tales in a very dark phantasmagoria style”. Gates open at 6 p.m. and mazes at 7 p.m. Check it out on their website.
Also in Vernon, don’t miss the October Family Pumpkin Fest. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October you and your gang can take a ride on the Johnny Popper Train out to the Pumpkin Patch to choose your very own favourite pumpkin in the field. There is so much to do at this destination agritourism farm including visiting with the farm animals, shopping at the gift store, touring the orchards and of course, enjoying a slice of homemade pie in the café (make sure to buy a pie to take home). There is even live music from the Pumpkin Butter Band. Train rides run from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Apple Harvest Festival is also running through September at Davison Orchards with 20 varieties of apples available throughout the season from August to October. If you get there this month you can enjoy the orchard tours, free apple tastings, apple cider donuts, apple pie, caramel apples, and Davison Orchard’s famous cold-pressed apple juice. The Davison’s Apple Harvest Tour with u-pick apples last day is September 24 at 10 and 11 a.m. Go to their website for all the details.
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