It’s that time of the year, again. When the cool, crisp breezes start, leaves turn shades of red, orange, and yellow, and it’s socially acceptable to drink pumpkin spice lattes. Fall is officially upon us.
There are countless activities used to celebrate the fall season. Here are a few that are worth trying and a link where this can be done in the surrounding area:
- Halloween/Trunk-or-Treating
One of the most well-known fall activities, Halloween, is a great way to celebrate the season. For Halloween, kids and adults dress up as their favorite characters from movies, shows, cartoons, plays, etc.
Kids go around with pillowcases, plastic jack-o-lanterns, or some other candy catcher, to get candy from as many houses in their neighborhood as possible.
However, depending on the neighborhood, this part can be a flop. Some neighborhoods have better candy(such as types and sizes) and some neighborhoods don’t have as many houses participate in the fun.
So, to get a better experience, I would scope out multiple neighborhoods to trick-or-treat at and a few friends to go with.
It’s the same concept for trunk-or-treating, but the trunks of cars are used instead of houses. The trunks are usually themed (ex. Coraline-themed car) as well. The fun part about trunk-or-treating is that it happens before and during Halloween. So, more chances for candy and fun.
“Trunk-or-treat in Fort Wayne Indiana” for events*
2. Apple Picking/Apple-Cider and Apple-Cider Doughnuts
My fellow foodies, I have something just for you. With the fall season comes fall flavors, one of my favorites being apples and apple cider.
If you’re looking for a healthier way to celebrate fall while also getting a tasty treat, apple picking is just the thing for you. For those who like to indulge in all things sugar, a cup of apple cider(hot or cold) with an apple cider doughnut(or a few) is an excellent combination.
3. Fall Farm Festivals
Festivals have a bunch of fun activities all in one place! These usually include produce(like pumpkins) corn mazes, hay rides, food, and more. One of my favorite farms to go to enjoy these things is the Kuehnert Dairy Farm.
Three of my favorite places there(mind you, I was younger when I last went there) the “Staw Mountain” or a bunch of hay bales stacked on top of each other that people can climb, the baby calves area where you can look at and pet baby cows, and the corn maze.
4. Haunted Houses, Haunted Forests
If you love the thrill of jumpscares, this one’s for you. Simply put, a haunted house is a place where people dress up as scary creatures(ex. ghosts, werewolves, clowns) to scare you(and you usually pay for this experience).
Most haunted houses or haunted forests follow a storyline or theme but still keep things relatively vague, so what you encounter in these places is still a surprise. Whether it’s for moral support, or just to see the looks of terror on other people’s faces, these “haunted” places can be entertaining with a group.
“Fort Wayne Haunted Castle and Black Forest”
5. Pumpkin-Picking
Looking for decorations to spice up the fall season? Pumpkins are an excellent choice! Pumpkins come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. It’s fun to look for something that will give a pop of color on your porch.
Pumpkin picking also feels more personal than buying one at the store because you’re the one who cuts the pumpkin of your choice off the vine. This is something for those who don’t mind getting their hands a bit dirty.
“Linnemeier Farms on 10109 Bethel Rd.”
6. Making Jack-O-lanterns
If you’re not satisfied with pumpkins ‘ plain appearance, there’s a popular way to zhuzh them up at home. This does get messy, but it’s all part of the fun.
First, you have to cut out and around the stem of your pumpkin(save this later). Then, you scoop out the pumpkin insides, using a spoon or even your hands.
After that, sketch a face on the pumpkin and cut the shape of the face out. Lastly, place a candle(preferably of battery-powered one so the pumpkin doesn’t light on fire) inside the pumpkin after lighting it and put the stem back on top of the pumpkin.
Voila! You just made a jack-o-lantern! I would suggest making these closer to Halloween so they don’t start decomposing.
For more information about different fall activities to do around Fort Wayne, click here: https://www.visitfortwayne.com/things-to-do/seasonal/fall/
