Fall has arrived, and there’s a lot to enjoy in our northwest corner this month. Here’s a look at some seasonal events and farms to visit. Be sure to check online for updates as more pumpkin patches open, and also visit the websites and social media pages for the farms included here. Enjoy!

Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms: See what it takes to run a farm, from growing crops to feeding animals, during this weekend farm tour Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6. Fun-filled activities for everyone including educational exhibits, farm tours, harvest markets, gardening demonstrations, free samples, kids activities, corn and hay mazes, animal exhibits, pumpkin patches and more. Free admission to all sites.

Local farms include: Cascadian Farm, 55931 State Route 20, Rockport; Double O Ranch/Ovenell’s Heritage Inn & Log Cabins ~ Cattle Ranch & Meat Sales, 46276 Concrete Sauk Valley Road, Concrete; Eagle Haven Winery/Perkins Apple Orchard, 8243 Sims Road, Sedro-Woolley; Gordon Skagit Farms, 25598 McLean Road, Mt. Vernon; Sauk Farm LLC, 51497 Concrete Sauk Valley Road, Concrete; Schuh Farms, 15565 State Route 536 Mount Vernon; RoozenGaarde, 15867 Beaver Marsh Road, Mount Vernon; South Fork Farms, 19115 Dike Road, Mount Vernon; and Taylor Shellfish, 2182 Chuckanut Drive, Bow.

For a complete list of participating farms and more, see www.festivaloffamilyfarms.com.

Mama’s Garden Harvest Festival: Operated by mothers committed to healthy food, this farm’s annual fall festival has grown into a community celebration with pumpkins, games, face painting, crafts, wagon rides, and more. Stop by Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6 at 2600 Valley Highway, north of Acme. The farm stand is open daily. For more information, see www.mamasgarden.org.

Cloud Mountain’s Annual Fall Fruit Festival: Join Cloud Mountain Farm Center for their 30th annual Fall Fruit Festival, Saturday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This family-friendly event features tastings of over 200 varieties of fruits and vegetables all grown at Cloud Mountain Farm Center. Live music and children’s activities will be available. Goat Mountain Pizza will be serving food and Mallard Ice Cream will be scooping ice cream made with Cloud Mountain fruit. There will be pumpkins and squash, fruit, vegetables, and cider for sale, specials in the nursery, and Keenan’s at the Pier will be doing cooking demonstrations and tasting samples. Admission per car. Cloud Mountain Farm Center is located at 6906 Goodwin Road in Everson. For more information, see cloudmountainfarmcenter.org.

Whidbey Island Grown Week: This annual week celebrating farmers and producers on Whidbey Island goes through Oct. 6. Events include a cider festival, harvest faire, farm to table dinner, harvest festival, cooking demonstration, and more. For a full schedule, see https://whidbeycamanoislands.com/event/whidbey-island-grown-week-2019/.

Bellewood Acres: Home to a 25,000 tree apple orchard, Bellewood offers a variety of u-pick and we-pick apples, cider, pumpkin patch, apple train bin rides, distillery tours, corn maze, bakery, restaurant and more. Open daily at 6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden. For more information, call (360) 318-7720 or see bellewoodfarms.com.

Sample the Apple and Pear Harvest: Presented by the Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation on Saturday, Oct. 12, the annual event will have a somewhat new format this year. There will be cider and apple variety tasting going on starting at 10:45 a.m. so that you can get a taste of varieties and learn where your favorites are in the Fruit Garden before the picking begins. There will be time for picking fruit, followed by three educational talks in succession: Our Antique Apple Collection, Kiwi Growing and our New Kiwi Trellis, and Figs and Medlars. Anyone may attend the educational sessions.

The WWFRF Fruit Display Garden contains one of the largest and most varied collections of antique apple trees in western Washington, with over 30 heritage apple varieties growing on site. The WSU Washington Research and Extension Center is located at 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon. For more information, see www.nwfruit.org.

Gordon Skagit Farms: Open daily in October, this farm offers the most beautiful displays with diverse varieties of pumpkins and squash, and gourds of all shapes, sizes and colors. Cider, wreaths, and other fall delights are also for sale. This is a must-see farm, every year, at 15598 McLean Road, Mt. Vernon. For questions, call (360) 424-0363 or see gordonskagitfarms.com.

Cramer’s Western Town: Pumpkins, train rides, pony rides, trolley rides, draft horses, fun zone, farm animals and more at 956 Van Dyk Road, Lynden.

Stoney Ridge: The pumpkin patch will be open the last three Fridays and last three Saturdays of the month only. Take in the fall fun, cider, donuts and more at 2092 Van Dyk Road in Everson. Admission is $3 per person.

Willetta Farm: Open Saturdays and Sundays in October, this farm offers pumpkins, corn maze, draft horses, farm animals, crafts, cider and more at 1945 E Badger Rd, Everson.

Schuh Farms & Pumpkin Patch: Enjoy pumpkins, corn, apples, squash, corn stalks, hay bales,  decorations, ice cream, and more at 15565 SR 536, Mount Vernon. The farm is open daily.

Bailey Vegetable Farm: This centennial farm offers weekend family fun through October. Pumpkins, gourds, corn maze, play barn, fall decorations, refreshments and more at 12711 Springhetti Road, Snohomish.

Bob’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch: Pumpkins, hay rides, corn maze, old-fashioned country store, farm market and more. Open daily at 10917 Elliott Road, Snohomish.

Carleton Farm Produce: Pumpkins, corn maze, pumpkin cannon, farm animals, night maze and bonfires, kids activities, and more. Open daily at 630 Sunnyside Blvd SE, Lake Stevens.

Craven Farm: Pumpkins, hay ride through the corn maze, farm animals, face painting, foods, fall decor and more at 13817 Shorts School Road, Snohomish. 

Stocker Farms: Pumpkins, corn maze, face painting, craft booths and more at 8705 Marsh Road, Snohomish.

Sherman’s Pioneer Farm: Pumpkins, pies, breads, and more at 46 S Ebey Road, Coupeville.

Wait, there’s more! Stay tuned to www.grownorthwest.com.

–Grow Northwest