Please note: This post is out of date, but we are in the process of updating and simplifying it for 2023.
Puget Sound Autumn Activities
Here are a few of the ways to spice up your Autumn in the Puget Sound area:
- Going to a small pumpkin farm, taking a stroll, picking a pumpkin, and carving it.
- Sampling some local ciders. Autumn abounds with cider events. Look for the Gig Harbor Cider Swig or take a trip to Finn River in Chimacum (in the evening for entertainment).
- Taking a walk in the fall leaves. I’m going to force myself to get outside on a lovely autumn day, find a park, and do some serious leaf-stomping this year.
- Turkey Trots: In Person or Virtual: I hate to say it, but I’ve not used this “opportunity” to get into better shape. But it’s time to start. I can do a virtual turkey trot at turtle-pace without feeling any shame.
- Craft Shows and Fairs. Get an early start on your holiday shopping with craft fairs that start in Autumn.
- Trying to go to a local park to try to view the salmon. In Kitsap county, WSU usually holds salmon tours. This year, they’re hosting virtual events, but that doesn’t stop one from going to try to view the salmon on your own.
- Other than that, I’ll be celebrating fall by making some seriously yummy butternut squash soup, photographing birds, finding a good book to read, taking a bike ride on a trail somewhere.
Oktoberfest
If you’re a beer lover, this is a great area with lots of local microbrews. And plenty of Oktoberfest events to choose from. Here are a few of them on our radar:
- Fremont Oktoberfest: This one happens late September annually at the wonderful Fremont Brewing. Over 100 beers and ciders plus entertainment.
- Oktoberfest Northwest happens in early October at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup. German biers, brats, entertainment, games, and more.
- If you really want to celebrate Bavarian-style and want to take a trip out of the Puget Sound area, you can’t beat Leavenworth Oktoberfest. Celebrate over three weekends from late September to mid-October.
Cider Time
Autumn is a great time for cider!
- We heartily recommend going to Finn River and having a flight of cider. Go in the evening for entertainment and try some of the food. My favorite is the vegan pecan burger with kimchi.
- The annual Cider Swig is back on. Formerly the Gig Harbor Cider Swig, it’s now at Le May’s Car Museum in Tacoma. This is a great chance to taste a bunch of local ciders.
- In October, you can go to the Olympic Peninsula Apple and Cider Festival and taste the ciders of the region.
- Vashon Ciderfest happens early in October.
Go Pumpkin Hunting
Autumn, of course, is the time for pumpkin hunting — here’s a guide topumpkin farms and festivals in the area.
- Remlinger Farms in Carnation holds its annual pumpin festival weekends through the end of October. Aside from the pumpkin patch, it also features rides and entertainment throughout the day.
- Pheasant Fields Farms in Silverdale is now normally open only by appointment, but they are open every day during October so you can pick a pumpkin. I recall wistfully when they used to have a “haunted farm,” which my kids (who are no longer kids) missed when it went away. Generally, though, they’ve had some farm animals and a corn maze.
- Also in Kitsap, little Scandia Patch in Poulsbo is usually open for pumpkin picking in October.
- Hunter Farms in Union has an annual pumpkin patch throughout October. When I was there one October, they offered farm animal viewing, tractor rides and lots of food. In the past, they’ve hosted an annual pumpkin catapult contest, but I couldn’t find information on that this year.
- Craven Farm in Snohomish has a great pumpkin patch mid September through the end of October.. I recall with fondness the year we went here and a baby chick went to sleep nestled in the crook of her arm. “What do I DO???” she asked.
- Biringer Farms in Arlington has a U-Pick pumpkin patch and corn maze every year.
- Carleton Farms in Lake Stevens usually hosts a weekend pumpkin patch in October.
- If real pumpkins aren’t your thing, but you like arts and crafts, Tacoma Glassblowing hosts several Glass Pumpkin Patches at various venues throughout September and October.
Northwest Glass Pumpkin Patch
Instead of having eight small glass pumpkin patch events, Tacoma Glassblowing has rented a large space in Tacoma and is having one BIG shop where you can buy glass Pumpkins this year. Tickets are by reservation. Click here for more information.
Paranormal Adventures
Autumn glows but also lends itself to ghost stories. If you want to learn more about PNW hauntings, or are a Bigfoot Believer, here are some Puget Sound Autumn events to satisfy your supernatural inclinations.
- Port Gamble Paranormal hosts things like ghost walks. I believe that in 2023, their ghost walks took place during the Summer, but in November, they’ll have their annual Ghost Conference.
- Take a ghost tour. There are several area groups that do ghost tours. We mentioned some of them in our post on the subject.
- If, somehow, you do not believe in ghosts but you DO believe in Bigfoot, you can attend the annual Sasquatch Summit in November in Quinault.
Halloween Festivities
We’re still updating this part of the post. Come back soon.
Thanksgiving
How to spend Thanksgiving Day? Watching football or parades, overeating and falling asleep?
Many people go volunteer on Thanksgiving — so much so that usually shelters and food backs are overrun with volunteers. If you want to help, are unable to volunteer and want to help, donations to your local food bank — nonperishable food or money — is a way to help. But consider that they may need your help just as much or more at time of the year that are NOT Thanksgiving.
Turkey Trots
Ahhh…the annual burning of calories pre-Thanksgiving. I’m still in the process of updating this part of the post.
Craft Shows
Seattle Autumn events include the beginnings of holiday craft shows, in case you want to get a head start on your holiday shopping.
Here are a few annual craft and gift shows that we know of:
- The Tacoma Holiday Food and Gift Festival happens annually at the Tacoma Dome in late October. Tons of vendors.
- Gobble Up Seattle is Urban Craft Uprising’s annual craft food fair. Every year in November at Magnuson Park Hangar 30 in Seattle, UCU presents this wonderful food show.
- Also at Magnuson Park Hangar 30 in Seattle, in November you can shop for your love of fantasy, Anime, or Animal Crossing at Geek Craft Expo.
Some Other Miscellaneous Ideas for Puget Sound Autumn Activities
Here are some other miscellaneous ideas for Puget Sound area and Seattle Autumn events to to this season.
Cultural Festivals
Usually, throughout the year, the Seattle Center holds its Festál series of cultural events. For 2020, they’ve been either canceled or turned into virtual events. The popular Dia de Muertos festival is one such event. On November 1, there will be a virtual presentation all day.
Fall Colors
Though perhaps Seattle doesn’t have the fall colors of New England, there are places to catch autumn colors around here. Perhaps the best place is the Washington Park Arboretum. The Japanese gardens, in particular, show stunning fall foliage. While I haven’t been there for many years, in my younger days, I recall frequently stomping through maple leaves in Autumn on the trails at Carkeek Park.
Welcome Fall with Luminata at Greenlake
At the Autumn Equinox Fremont Arts Council holds its annual lantern festival at Greenlake.
Fall Events From Our Calendar
Below are any events from the “Autumn Festivities ” portion of our events calendar. They’re some selected events that we’ve either chosen to add, or that hosts of local events have added.
Forever Twilight in Forks Festival
Spirit of Halloweentown
Greenlake Luminata
CIDER SWIG - the Greater Peninsula Cider Festival
Leavenworth Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest Northwest
Leavenworth Oktoberfest
Northwest Trek Pumpkin Chomp and Stomp
