Although October seems to be all about Halloween, there’s plenty of harvest-themed fun to be had around the Puget Sound this month. For a true bounty-of-the-land experience, visit one of these festivals, or head to one of the farms in our pumpkin patch and corn maze roundup. Happy harvesting!
Friday, October 3
SEATTLE AREA
Fall Harvest Party. Come enjoy freshly pressed apple juice, the PCC Kid Picks Mobile, a bouncy house and more. 6 to 8 p.m. FREE. Meadowbrook Community Center, Seattle (Meadowbrook). seattle.gov
Saturday, October 4
SEATTLE AREA
Seattle Children’s PlayGarden Harvest Festival. Families with special needs and typically developing kids are invited to enjoy a pumpkin patch, fresh cider, scarecrow-making, live music and more. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. FREE, donations welcomed. Seattle Children’s PlayGarden (Mt. Baker). childrensplaygarden.org
NORTH SOUND
Sky Valley Farm Festival. Tour three working farms (beef, dairy and produce) via wagon ride, where you’ll find animals, a corn maze, pumpkin patch, pony rides, info booths and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. FREE. Park at Western Heritage Center at Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Monroe. skyvalleychamber.com
Harvest Festival. Pumpkin and fruit sculpting demonstration, produce power experiments, harvest games and more. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Included with admission. $, free age 12 months and younger. Imagine Children's Museum, Everett. imaginecm.org
SOUTH SOUND
Scarecrow Festival. Scarecrow contest and display, carnival games, hayrides, hay maze, pony or camel rides ($), farm animals, food, KidsZone ($), entertainment and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE. Sehmel Homestead Park, Gig Harbor. penmetparks.org
FARTHER AFIELD
Suncadia Harvest Festival. Pumpkin patch, hay maze, obstacle course, haunted movie theater, pony and wagon rides, family entertainment, food and more. Noon to 5 p.m. weekends through Oct. 12. Historic Nelson Farm at Suncadia Resort, Cle Elum. suncadiaresort.com
Sunday, October 5
EASTSIDE
Fall Festival. Enjoy hands-on activities like wagon rides, butter-making, animal encounters and more. 1 to 4 p.m. $$$, free parents and younger than 12 months. Pre-registration advised. Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park, Redmond. redmondrecreationguide.com
Saturday, October 11
EASTSIDE
Kelsey Creek Farm Fair. Entertainment, heritage demonstrations, Kid’s Corral, tractor-pulled hayrides, pumpkin decorating, barnyard animals and more. No pets. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE, small fee for activities, no ATM on site. Free shuttle from Wilburton Park and Ride and Bannerwood Sports Park. Kelsey Creek Farm Park, Bellevue.farmerjayne.com
NORTH SOUND
Harvest Festival. Craft fair, entertainment, pony rides, train rides, pumpkin painting and more. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sun. FREE, nominal fee for some activities. Country Village, Bothell. countryvillagebothell.com
FARTHER AFIELD
Vashon CiderFest. Sweet or hard cider tasting, apple pressing demonstrations, Vashon Fire and Rescue open house, orchard tours, food, crafts, kids’ activities and more. All day. Most activities FREE. Vashon Island Village Green and various other locations, Vashon Island. vashonciderfest.com
Friday, October 17
EASTSIDE
Camp Korey Fall Festival. Enjoy hay rides, animals, pumpkin patch, food, kids' activities and farm tours. Proceeds support the camp’s programs for kids with serious and life-altering medical conditions. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sun. FREE, fee for some activities. Camp Korey, Carnation. campkorey.org
SOUTH SOUND
Harvest Fest. Arts and crafts, games, pumpkin fun and live entertainment. 5:30 to 7 p.m. FREE. Center at Norpoint, Tacoma. metroparkstacoma.org
FARTHER AFIELD
Bainbridge Gardens Pumpkin Walk. Walk a nature trail lit with nearly 300 glowing, carved pumpkins, plus enjoy games, food, face painting, hay maze, music and more during this fundraiser for Bainbridge Island Boys and Girls Club. Parking is limited; watch for signs for nearby shuttle parking locations. 6 to 8 p.m. through Sat. FREE, suggested donation for activities. Bainbridge Gardens, Bainbridge Island. bainbridgegardens.com
Friday, October 24
SOUTH SOUND
Harvest Fest. Arts and crafts, games, pumpkin fun and live entertainment. 6:30 to 9 p.m. FREE. Portland Avenue Community Center, Tacoma. metroparkstacoma.org
Saturday, October 25
NORTH SOUND
Harvest Festival. Enjoy an afternoon on the beach with games, pumpkin painting, crafts, family square dance (3 to 5:30 p.m.) a haunted boathouse (4 to 7 p.m.) and more. Costumes encouraged. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE, Discover Pass required for parking. Cama Beach State Park, Camano Island. camabeachfoundation.org
Sunday, October 26
SEATTLE AREA
West Seattle Harvest Festival. The streets in the Junction neighborhood will be closed to traffic while visitors enjoy a farmers market, crafts, a kids' costume parade (11:30 a.m.) and trick-or-treating (noon to 2 p.m.). 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. FREE. California Avenue S.W., between S.W. Edmunds Street and S.W. Oregon Street, West Seattle. wsjunction.org
Friday, October 31
Halloween
SOUTH SOUND
Harvest Fest. Arts and crafts, games, pumpkin fun and live entertainment. FREE. 6 to 8 p.m. at Peoples Community Center, Tacoma; 6 to 9 p.m. STAR Center, Tacoma. metroparkstacoma.org
