Enjoy these 5 fall activities for the whole family!

 

It’s time! Grab a cup of PSL and hug a pumpkin—fall fun is in the air. For those who want to squeeze every last drop of seasonal fun out of October, I’ve compiled this handy list of five fall activities you can do with loved ones of all ages.

1. Gibson Farm Market’s Fall Festival

This one checks all the boxes: it’s free, its full of pumpkins, and there’s wine tasting. What more could you want?

How about a campus-grown pumpkin patch and free samples of treats from Fresno State’s finest. Head to Gibson Farm Market on Chestnut to try tasty morsels from Fresno State Creamery, Meat Sciences, Orchard, Vegetable, Horticulture, and Food Processing units. There’s also a kid zone with face painting and crafts. You can visit the campus farm animals and even hang out with everyone’s favorite mascot, Victor E. Bulldog, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

This event takes place Saturday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wine tasting by the Fresno State Winery will take place from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Follow this event on Facebook here.

2. 1st Annual Scarecrow Garden 

This not-so-scary event will be on display from Oct. 17-Nov. 20. Head to the Clovis Botanical Garden on Clovis Ave. next to Dry Creek Park to check out an array of stuffed statues. The scarecrows are all local creations from businesses, families, and organizations around town. If you go on Saturday, Oct. 20, to see the fun, you’ll also get to hit up the garden’s Annual Fall Plant Sale and Fair. For more information, check out the Botanical Garden website here.

3. Harvest Fest & Chili Cook Off

On Oct. 20, you can head to Woodward Park for some chili and to support a good cause. Advance tickets to the Harvest Fest and Chili Cook-off are available on the event Facebook page here. General admission is $10 and includes five tasting tickets and a people’s choice ballot.

This event benefits Avila’s Cancer Fund, a local nonprofit that offers financial assistance to cancer patients when they are undergoing treatment. Not only will you be helping people with your chili consumption, there will be a beer garden, food vendors, raffles, and pop-up vendors. Chili sampling starts at 1 p.m. and winners will be announced at 4 p.m. The kids zone opens at 11 a.m. Since kids under two are free and the kids zone games are free with a paid entrance fee, this is a great way to entertain small children, support cancer patients, and eat chili. It’s not often you can do all three at once, so take advantage!

4. Check out a Fest

There are so many festivals to choose from at this time of year. Fall Fest at Fig Garden Village is happening this Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will have live music, Halloween crafts, and a fall photo booth.

The 4th Annual Boofest is a festive way to collect candy and connect with the community. On Friday, Oct. 26, Sierra Vista Mall turns into a titanic trick-or-treating event with carnival games, bounce houses, reptiles, face painting, and emergency vehicles (the event is sponsored by the Clovis Police Department). It’s free and fun, and you can find out more about it here.

The two-day event Clovisfest 2018 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28, and as usual it will kick off with hot air balloons! See them take off between 6:45 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. both days at the Clovis rodeo grounds. After you watch the balloons, experience a free, family-friendly outdoor festival that spans up and down Pollasky Ave. in Old Town Clovis.

5. ZooBoo 2018

Happening on Oct. 19, 20, 26, and 27 from 5 to 8 p.m., ZooBoo is a Fresno tradition. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo transforms into a Halloween haunt with kid-friendly music at Dracula’s Disco, carnival games, and a hay maze. Kids can wear their favorite non-scary costumes while they trick-or-treat throughout the zoo. Grab your tickets here while you still can—this event sells out!

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As per usual I didn’t even cover all the possibilities. If you have a favorite fall activity that’s fun for the whole family, let me know!