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Harvest festivals, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, oh my!

Local fun for the entire family

Grab a pumpkin at your local farm this fall. File photo

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Looking for a fun way to welcome Fall? Harvest festivals throughout the Puget Sound area can turn any Oct. weekend into a celebration.

PIERCE COUNTY

Metro Parks Tacoma (www.metroparkstacoma.org/harvestfest) is sponsoring four separate harvest festivals this year featuring arts and crafts, carnival games, live entertainment and more. They are:

  • Harvest Fest at Norpoint, 5:30-7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16, Center at Norpoint, 4818 Nassau Ave. NE, Tacoma, free admission, 253.404.3900
  • Harvest Fest at Portland Avenue Community Center, 6:30-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, Portland Avenue Community Center, 3513 E. Portland Ave., Tacoma, free admission, 253.591.5391
  • Harvest Fest at STAR Center, 6-8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30, STAR Center, 3873 S. 66th St., Tacoma, free admission, 253.404.3939
  • Harvest Fest at People's Community Center, 6-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30, People's Community Center, 1602 MLK Jr. Way, Tacoma, free admission, 253.591.5321


Mill at Lattin’s Country Farm. Photo credit: Leah Jones

There are several harvest festivals in other parts of Pierce County as well.

Spooner Farms 21st Annual Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily, Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, Spooner Farms, 9710 State Route 162 E., Puyallup, free admission, 253.840.2059. This year, the Spooner Farms Harvest Festival will feature a pumpkin patch, corn maze, food, games - even a pumpkin Sling Shot. For more information, download the Harvest Festival brochure at (www.spoonerberries.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/2015-Spooner-Harvest-Festival-Flyer.pdf).

Fife Harvest Festival, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, Dacca Park, 54th Ave. E., Fife, free admission, 253.896.8652, www.eventbrite.com/e/tahoma-farms-harvest-fest-2015-tickets-18425762953. Sponsored by the Fife Towing Company, the Fife Harvest Festival will include a farmers market, u-pick pumpkin patch, beer and wine garden, and a scavenger hunt with prizes.

Orting Pumpkin Fest, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, Orting City Park, Orting, free admission, www.tacomaevents.com/pumpkin-festival.html. The Orting Pumpkin Fest features edible and non-edible items made from pumpkins, live music, hayrides, a beer garden, arts and crafts, a car show, and even a Pumpkin Pals on Parade for little ones dressed up like pumpkins.

Tahoma Farms Harvest Fest, Noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, Tahoma Farms, 21108 Orville Rd. E., Orting, Admission: $20/car, www.eventbrite.com/e/tahoma-farms-harvest-fest-2015-tickets-18425762953?aff=erelexporg. The admission fee includes a u-pick pumpkin. Tickets are available online and at the door.

PenMet Parks Scarecrow Festival, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, Sehmel Homestead Park, 10123 78th Ave. NW, Gig Harbor, free admission, 253.530.0833, www.penmetparks.org/recreation-events/special-events/scarecrow-festival. While admission is free, a few activities charge a small fee. According to their website, "The festival is an autumn celebration with live entertainment and music, farm animals, hay rides, camel & pony rides, hay maze, carnival games and food and fair treat vendors. The Scarecrow Festival features a community Scarecrow Competition with entries created by local businesses, community groups and families. Groups compete for cash prizes for best of show and people's choice." Scarecrow Competition entry forms can be downloaded from the website.

THURSTON COUNTY

Harvest Festival Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily, Sept. 26 to Oct. 31, Schilter Family Farm, 141 Nisqually Cutoff Rd. SE, Olympia, Admission: $5 (for ages 3 and older), $20 (family pass, up to six people), 360.459.4023, schilterfamilyfarm.com/fall/. A grand assortment of fun activities, including a hay ride, a petting farm, pedal tractors ... even a Berry Bounce Jumping Pillow.

Apple Festival at Lattin's Country Cider Mill and Farm, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 28 to Oct. 31, Lattin's Country Cider Mill and Farm, 9402 Rich Rd. SE, Olympia, free admission; $5 parking, 360.491.7328, lattinscider.com/applefestival.html. U-pick pumpkins, apple tasting, animal train, face painting, games, petting farm, pony rides, bobbing for apples, fresh pressed cider, and lots of good things to eat.

KITSAP COUNTY

Harvest Fest 2015, Noon to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday, Oct. 22-23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25, Miracle Ranch Camp, 15999 Sidney Rd. SW, Port Orchard, free admission, 253.851.4410, www.cristacamps.com/harvest-fest. "Celebrate Fall with the Ol' Time Harvest Fest at Miracle Ranch! This event is the quintessential family-friendly fall outing, with activities to keep your family in the harvest spirit." The free admission includes lots of fun activities, including arts and crafts, carnival games, and a rodeo at 4:30 p.m. daily. Other activities charge a modest fee, and food will be available for purchase as well.

Bainbridge Gardens' 22nd Annual Pumpkin Walk, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17, Bainbridge Gardens, 9415 Miller Road NE, Bainbridge Island, free admission, 206.842.5888, www.bainbridgegardens.com/PumpkinWalk.html. Three hundred lighted, carved pumpkins light the walks at Bainbridge Gardens. Hay maze, bounce house, face painting and carnival games make this a fun event for the entire family. Donations benefit the Bainbridge Island Boys' and Girls' Club.

MORE FALL FESTIVALS
By Leah Jones

Whether you want to press your own apple cider, pick the perfect pumpkin, challenge yourself in a corn maze, or take your shot at zombies, there are plenty of nearby fall events to choose from. Pick your favorite, or if you're like me, try to attend them all.

Steilacoom Apple Squeeze
Head to the beautiful Puget Sound for a day of fun at the 42nd annual Steilacoom Apple Squeeze. Make your own cider with hand-operated presses and enjoy music, pony rides and other fun-filled activities. There will be apple treats available for purchase along with other apple vendors. This is a local favorite, so arrive early to avoid crowds. Sunday Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 1715 Lafayette St., Steilacoom, 253.584.4133

Steilacoom Apples and Cider Kid's Club
This will be two hours full of fun fall activities for ages 5-10. (Children under 5 must be accompanied by a parent.) Children will also have an opportunity to explore the museum and check out the wagon shop. Sept. 26, 1-3 p.m., 1801 Rainier St., Steilacoom, www.steilacoomhistorical.org

Rutledge Corn Maze
This farm features a large corn maze and some hauntingly good attractions. It's great for the older kids, or kids at heart, as well as little ones.  You can take your family on a corn train to the pumpkin patch, entertain younger children with a story about "Spookley the Square Pumpkin," or get your heart pumping with a haunted corn maze or their new Zombie Paintball Apocalypse.  Hop on a "Zombie fighting vehicle" and try to shoot the undead before they take over the farm! The corn maze is open now and the haunted maze and zombie paintball open Sept. 18.  The pumpkin patch will open Saturday, Oct. 3. 302 93rd Ave. SE, Olympia, 360.357.3700, www.rutledgecornmaze.com, open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but events vary so call or check the website for specific information.

Lattin's Country Cider Mill and Farm
Featuring National award winning cider and amazing apple fritters, this cute little farm is a family favorite of ours.  We love to visit and feed the farm animals and buy fresh produce and baked goods from their store.  Each weekend they will have an animal train, face painting, pony rides and bobbing for apples. Starting Sept. 28 there will be wagon rides to their pumpkin patch. 9402 Rich Rd. SE, Olympia, Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hunter Family Farm
This farm will feature wagon rides, a hay maze, a giant slide, along with a junior and giant corn maze during weekdays. On weekends they will add in camel rides, a pillow jump, kiddie train, an ATV adventure, carousel, pumpkin sling shot, pony rides and more. There will also be a goat walk, small animal pens, a holiday shop and barns for you to enjoy. Make sure to bring your camera for all those fall photo opportunities.  Open daily Oct. 3-31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 401 Yelm Highway SE, Olympia, 360.456.0466, www.hunterfamilyfarm.com

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