Photo Credit: Scott Bakken
In September and October the Okanagan comes alive with the harvest. You'll find pears, apples, pumpkins, all kinds of squash, and other fall harvest goodies. We also like to celebrate the harvest so there are lots of fun things to do for your fall visit.
You'll find plenty of fresh, locally grown products all over the area. Burke's Fruit & Vegetables at 6776 Pleasant Valley Road has a great assortment of locally grown goodies, as does Swan Lake Market & Garden at 7920 Highway 97 on Highland Road. Don't forget to check out the Vernon Farmers' Market with seasonally fresh produce from May to October.
Come celebrate the harvest at Davison Orchards. Time: The Apple Harvest Festival starts in early September and runs until the apples are gone. You can have a family apple picking experience and take the Johnny Popper Orchard Tour into the Orchard. Every weekend their farmers choose a new apple variety to pick so that you can bring home a bag of apples for the whole family to enjoy. You can get your photo taken by a professional, and enjoy the apple tastings and cooking demos... all free.
Head down the west side of Okanagan Lake and take in the Fintry Fall Fair. There's a trunk and tailgate sale as well as musicians and ethnic food. Admission is by donation.
Green Croft Gardens hosts the Enderby Pumpkin Festival at 42 Meadowview Road in Enderby at the end of September. There's a scarecrow contest, farm tour, pony rides, local vendors and best of all you can buy pumpkin pies and squash soup is being served! They also host the Grindrod Garlic Festival in late August.
Davison Orchards holds their Pumpkin Festival every weekend in October. Fun for the whole family, come out and pick your own pumpkin. Take a ride out to the pumpkin patch on the Johnny Popper Orchard Train and pick your very own Jack-O-Lantern. There are also sweets, treats, and warm drinks. Chow down on some caramel apples, apple cider donuts, apple pie and more. Enjoy fresh apple juice or enjoy a hot apple cider. There are activities for the whole family. Check out Davison Orchards website for more information.
In early October, drive out to the IPE Exhibition grounds in Armstrong to celebrate the arrival of fall. The Harvest Pumpkin Festival Family day has a pancake breakfast, farmers' market, a giant pumpkin weigh-in, scarecrow decorating, concession stands, a chilli cook-off, baking and sculpting contests, a petting zoo and more.
O'Keefe Ranch has their annual Family Daze and Corn Maze October weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come check out the haunted Schubert and school houses at 9380 Hwy 97N. Children and those less eager to meet with ghosts, can take a wagon ride, take part in a kids' spider web, ride a pony or visit the general store. Check out the O'Keefe Ranch website for more information.
For more information on harvest season events, go to our Events Calendar.