Fall events in Vancouver: Halloween, harvest and hay wagons

Fall is here, and it’s bringing fantastic events and activities with it

 

After a “bummer summer” that was practically over before it began, Vancouverites are begrudgingly coming to terms with the fact that fall is upon us. However, with a plethora of seasonal activities happening in the Lower Mainland and beyond, chances are high you’ll find something enjoyable to help usher in the new season.

 

Get your hands dirty at local farms

Fresh produce is only one of many things local farms have to offer. (Image: Flickr / WriterGal39)

 

The Applebarn Farm, September 1 – November 8

 

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, how great will you feel after taking home an entire bag? Find out for yourself at The Applebarn Farm, where visitors can pick a five, 10 or 25-pound bag of apples, with eight different varieties to choose from.

 

When you’re done picking the biggest, sweetest-looking apples in the orchard, you can also choose your own pumpkin, browse a tasty selection of apple products (including freshly made cider) and launch some of your handpicked goodies with the “Pumpkin cannon” and “Apple N’ Corn gun.”

 

Maplewood Farm & Richmond Country Farms, October 8 – October 31

 

No fall season is complete without a trip to see how the abundant harvest came to be. Maplewood Farm, a five-acre sprawl and the last remaining farm on the North Shore, is the perfect location to feed and pet a variety of farm animals. You’ll see rabbits and chickens, a cow being milked and even a “behind the scenes” look at typical farm life operations.

 

Browse stacks of freshly picked fruits and veggies at the Richmond Country Farms’ market, then, beginning October 8, head over to the pumpkin patch where visitors can take a hay wagon ride around the farm before selecting a pumpkin to take home.

 

Sample the bounty

Enjoy some of BC’s best at the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival. (Image: Flickr / miss604)

 

Granville Island Fall Fest, Thursday, September 29

 

With sunny days at the beach behind you, whip up your favourite tried-and-true pie recipe and enter it—and the pie—in the Granville Island Farmers Market’s Second Annual Pie Contest, part of the Granville Island Fall Fest on September 29.

 

While you wait to see if your pie is a winner, peruse the market vendors, watch cooking demonstrations and swing by the children’s area for arts and crafts. Once the pies have been judged and a winner has been chosen, attendees are welcome to sample the offerings, topped with whipped cream.

 

The Fall Okanagan Wine Festival, September 30 – October 9

 

Arguably the star of the British Columbian harvest season, various varietals of desert wines will be celebrated at The Fall Okanagan Wine Festival, beginning September 30. Enjoy a glass of BC wine with freshly prepared local food while learning more about Okanagan wine country. It’s the only festival in North America that takes place during the peak of harvest season.

 

Cranberry Day at Meadows Maze, October 8

 

The arrival of harvest season means dozens of delicious local products are available for tasting. Meadows Maze’s Cranberry Day on October 8 offers visitors the opportunity to harvest their own cranberries from the bog after learning how the berries grow and sampling some homemade cranberry products.

 

After eating your fill of cranberry goodies, navigate your way through a corn maze, take in the view of the Golden Ears Mountains before whizzing down a 40-foot slide or feed some barnyard animals at the petting zoo.

 

Kilby’s Annual Thanksgiving Celebration, October 9 – October 10

 

The shift in seasons also marks the beginning of food-centric holidays and chronic overeating. Kilby Historic Site will help you indulge with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for their Annual Thanksgiving Celebration on October 9 & 10.

 

Stuff yourself with roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, dinner rolls and all the fixings. Just make sure to leave room for dessert. While you digest, watch an apple cider pressing demonstration.

 

Get a Halloween thrill

Take a ride on The Vancouver Trolley Company’s haunted car. (Image: The Vancouver Trolley Company)

Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train, October 7 – October 31

 

It’s never too early to get into the Halloween spirit! Starting October 7, the Circus of Disaster is coming to Stanley Park, and thrill-seekers of all ages can hop aboard the Ghost Train to take a ride through the show. After some spine-tingling fun, riders can enjoy autumn-themed crafts, pumpkin carving and a haunted maze.

 

Hell’s Gate Airtram 4th Annual Pumpkin Drop, October 10

 

Not sure how to dispose of your practice carving pumpkin? Bring it to the 4th Annual Pumpkin Drop at Hell’s Gate Airtram on October 10, where you and your pumpkin get a free ride on the tram.

 

As you glide over the Fraser Canyon, aim for the target below and release your pumpkin from 500 feet in the air for the chance to win a prize. Once your feet are again planted firmly on the ground, explore Hell’s Gate’s fisheries exhibit, pan for gold and sample some homemade fudge.

 

Vancouver Trolley Company’s Haunted Halloween Tour, October 12 – October 31

 

Learn about the spookier side of Vancouver’s history on The Vancouver Trolley Company’s Haunted Halloween tour, starting October 12 and running through October 31. As you ride through the city, your host will share unsettling stories about the neighbourhoods and buildings you pass, and take you for a personal tour through the Mountain View Cemetery and the Vancouver Police Museum.