Fall is back in the Mid-Valley, and residents are flocking to local farms and orchards for a taste of the season’s bounty.
Whether it's picking the perfect pumpkin, navigating a corn maze or savoring freshly harvested apples, there’s no shortage of fall activities to enjoy. Here are some of the top spots to explore autumn's charm across the region.
Outdoor activities: Pumpkin patches, corn mazes in Oregon
Bauman's Farm & Garden
Bauman's 37th annual harvest festival runs until Oct. 30 and offers an array of autumnal delights.
The farm, located in Gervais, features a pumpkin patch with free entry, though wristbands are required for access to additional activities and food venues.
The autumnal festival is open six days a week and closed on Mondays.
Daily activities include a petting zoo, corn maze, barnyard bridge, gopher hole and hay ride. On weekends, additional activities include a dark maze, giant hay pyramid and slide, apple cannon, cider press, rope maze and more. Some activities come with an extra cost. Special events include a giant pumpkin weigh-off and drop on Oct. 5 and cider festival Oct. 26 and 27 . More details on the cider festival will be released soon.
For more info on the Bauman's Harvest Festival, check out the website, baumanshf.com , Facebook and Instagram page, @baumanfarms .
Address: 12989 Howell Prairie Road NE, Gervais
Bose Family Farm
The Bose Family Farm Harvest Festival opens Sept. 27 and runs through Nov. 2. The free festival will run from Thursday to Sunday each week. Parking is also free. The festival is also hosting a special hot air balloon event on two Saturdays, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, from 7 to 9 a.m. Rides to tethered balloons are $5, payable in cash and Venmo only.
There is a pumpkin patch with over 35 varieties of pumpkins as well as hay rides, sunflowers, decorative corn, a tricycle riding corral, picture areas, corn maze, and on-site coffee and food trucks. This year's food vendors include 3 Potato More, Little Heifer Coffee Co., Rivas Dulca Vida and Scotter Ann's Kettle Corn.
For updates and more info on the harvest festival, check out the website, bosefamilyfarm.com , and Facebook page .
Address: 35765 Cyrus Road NE, Albany
E.Z. Orchard
The E. Z. Orchard's Harvestfest was scheduled to open Saturday and run until Oct. 30, open daily. Admission is $5 per person on weekday mornings (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.), $7 per person on weekday afternoons (1 p.m. - 6 p.m.) and $12 per person on the weekends. Toddlers ages 2 and younger can enter for free.
Activities include a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, corn maze, apple cider donuts and hay rides. The HarvestFest doesn't have the same hours as the E.Z. Orchard Market.
For more info, check out the website, ezorchards.com/harvest-festival .
Address: 5504 Hazelgreen Road NE
French Prairie Gardens & Family Farm
French Prairie Gardens & Family Farm's pumpkin patch and fall activities around it will run from Oct. 5 to 27. The pumpkin patch hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pumpkin patch has over 20 different varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds across 12 acres.
Beyond pumpkins, there are the farm's Pigtucky Derby Pig Races, double mega slide, corn maze, tractor wagon ride and more. Tickets will become available soon.
For more info, check out the farm's website, fpgardens.com , and Facebook page .
Address: 17673 French Prairie Road, St. Paul
Fir Point Farms
The 2024 Fir Point Farms' harvest festival starts Sept. 28 and goes until Oct. 27. There is free admission and parking, with activities costing extra. The festival runs Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free activities include volleyball, petting zoo, corn hole toss, tetherball and badminton. Special activities include a bounce house, hay wagon rides, corn maze, mini pumpkin painting, giant slide, polka dot express cow trains, paintball shooting gallery and more. On the weekends there is a beer garden.
For more info, check out the farm's website, firpointfarms.com/harvest-festival-1 , and Facebook page .
Address: 14601 Arndt Road, Aurora
Fordyce Farm
Fordyce Farm's fall bounty, fall decor, hay fort and corn maze are back for the season. The farm offers U-pick pumpkins, Albion strawberries, Liberty apples and Asian pears by the pound. Fall décor is also available for purchase. The hay fort is free to play on, while the corn maze is $5.25 per person over age 5. Farm hours are now Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more info on the farm, check out the website, fordycefarminc.com .
Address: 7023 Sunnyview Road NE
Heiser Farms
Heiser Farms' pumpkin patch and activities will open starting Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and open every weekend in October. The U-pick pumpkin patch is open on weekdays as well .
Activities on the weekends include pumpkin cannons, hay rides, mini-train rides, live music and more. For more info, check out the website, heiserfarms.com .
Address: 21425 Grand Island Loop, Dayton
Seasonal bounty: Apple picking in Oregon
Beilke Family Farm: This U-pick farm offers apples, pumpkins, gourds, squash and the last of the summer produce. Apple varieties include Gala, Honeycrisp, Smoothie, Jonagold, Melrose, Ruby Jon, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. For updates on what other produce is available, check out the website, beilkefamilyfarm/com . Hours are Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 4925 Rockdale St. NE, Brooks
Perryhill Farm: This farm offers Honeycrisp, Ida Red and Jonagold apples ready to be picked. Pre-picked apples are also available. This farm accepts cash and checks only, and it is recommended to bring change and your own containers. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more updates, check out the website, perryhillfarm.net . 5775 Perrydale Road, Dallas
Queener Farm: U-pick farm Queener Farm has Honeycrisp apples and will soon have Belle de Boskoop. Other specialty varietals will become available later in the season. They also offer fresh apple cider, cookies, jams, jellies and more. The farm's hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For updates, check out the website, queenerfarm.com , and Facebook page . 40385 Queener Drive, Scio
True North Orchards : Several varieties of grapes and apple varieties Jonagold and Empire will be ready soon, according to the website. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more updates and info, check out the website, truenorthorchards.com . 5650 Lardon Road NE, Salem
Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at echan@gannett.com and follow her on X @ catchuptoemily.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Mid-Valley fall: Pumpkin patches, corn mazes and apple orchards await
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