Hello Fall! September was such a busy month with back to school and back to routines. Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to slow down a little and enjoy the beautiful autumnal days in the Okanagan Valley. I’ve rounded up a wonderful list of family-friendly outdoorsy things to do and places to see in the Okanagan Valley for the month of October. Free free to share your favourite October outdoorsy activities in the comments section below. Happy Adventuring!
1. Take a family hike on your favourite trail.
Fall is the perfect time to go hiking in the Okanagan Valley. The air is cool and clean, the trails are quieter and the colours of autumn are a feast for the eyes. Keep a lookout for the scarlet red sumac shrubs and the yellow blooming rabbit brushes that brighten the Okanagan landscape this time of year. One of our favourite trails to explore in the fall is Creek Park in Naramata, BC.
Read more: Naramata Creek Park
Check out my Family-Friendly Okanagan Trail Map.
2. Build a Scarecrow at the Uptown Rutland Scarecrow Festival (FREE Kelowna, BC – Sunday, October 1st)
Celebrate the beginning of autumn by making your own scarecrow! The Uptown Rutland Scarecrow Festival takes place on October 1st from 12:00 to 4:00 pm at Lions Park on Gray Road in Kelowna, BC. There are about 125 scarecrows available to build, prizes to win and YES! you can bring your scarecrow home. For more information visit their website.
3. Join the Baldy Marathon Kids Fun Run. (FREE Oliver, BC – October 1st, 2017)
The first ever Baldy Marathon will take place along the scenic Okanagan River in Oliver, BC. This race isn’t just for adults! Kids (ages 3-12) get to do their very own Fun Run for FREE. Parents can register their kids on Saturday, September 30th 1-7pm at the Oliver Visitors Centre or on October 1st between 11:45 am and 12:45 pm on location (Festival of the Grapes). The Fun Run will have three categories 500m (ages 3-5), 750m (ages 6-8) and 1 km (ages 9-12), will take place in the Oliver Community Park and finish under the same finisher’s arch as the adult run. All children are winners and will get a goody bag at the end.
When: 1:00pm on Sunday, October 1st
Where: Oliver Community Centre, 6359 Park Place Drive, Oliver BC
For more information visit: Baldy Marathon.
4. Find the Perfect Pumpkin.
Autumn in the Okanagan is all about gourds. Butternut squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, ambercup squash and pumpkins of course. Don’t pick your pumpkin at a store (too easy!) instead haul those kiddos to a pumpkin u-pick.
Davison Orchards (Vernon, BC)
Davison Orchards located in Vernon, BC has lots of fun October harvest events. Bringing the kids to play at the Crazy Cow Kids Corral and see the farm animals, pumpkin castle and pumpkin princess are FREE. Also, check out their:
FREE Harvest Family Photo’s at the Farm (FREE – October 1st)
A photographer will be offering free family fall photos.
When: 11:00 am to 2:30 pm
Family Pumpkin Festival (every weekend in October, weather dependent)
Ride out to their Pumpkin Patch and pick your very own pumpkin.
When: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays in October
Cost: Ride and pumpkin $9 (all ages), Ride only ($4)
McMillan Farms (Kelowna, BC)
Mcmillan Farms, located in Kelowna, BC, is a favourite fall adventure for Okanagan families. This farm has a three acre corn maze, hayrides, sling shot and plenty of pumpkins to choose from. Admission to the farm is FREE but it does cost money to take part in the activities. This year (2017) $30 allows a family of five to take part in all activities offered.
When: Opening weekend – September 30th, 2017 10:00 am to 6:00 pm & October 1st, 2017, 10:00 am to 3:45 pm
From October 2nd to October 31, 2017:
Sunday to Wednesday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Cost: FREE admission on farm. $30 for a family of five/all activities.
5. Pick Nuts at Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park. (Kelowna, BC)
Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park is small working heritage nut farm located in West Kelowna, BC. From mid-September to early November it’s nut harvesting time and families can go and learn about the nut orchard and pick their own nuts – yum!
When: September 11th to early November
12:30 pm to 4:00 pm on Sundays and Mondays
9:00 am to 4:00 pm Tuesdays through to Saturdays
More info: Nut varieties and prices.
More info: Park features and things to do.
Also nearby: Gellatly Heritage Regional Park.
Hike nearby: Glen Canyon Regional Park: Hiking the Greenway.
6. Check out the New Penticton Bike Pump Track. (FREE, Penticton, BC)
Thanks to the many generous donors and the hard working volunteers, Penticton is getting it’s first bike pump track. The new track is located next to the Poplar Grover Road parking lot, off of Naramata Road. The grand opening is on Wednesday, October 4th at 4:00 pm – bring your bikes!
More info: Grand Opening of Penticton Cycling Pump Track
7. Bring the Kids to EECO After School. (FREE, Kelowna, BC – Tuesday, October 10th)
Kids of all ages are invite to join ECCO After School, a free, hands-on exploration of nature. This is a drop-in program. For parents that want to drop off their children registration is required (email eeco@cord.bc.ca or phone 250-469-6139).
When: Tuesday, October 10th at 3:00 pm
Where: Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan located in Mission Creek Regional Park (at the intersection of Springfield Road and Durnin Road).
More info: RDCO Summer-Fall Guide
8. Celebrate Fall at the Okanagan Lavender Farm. (Kelowna, BC, Saturday, October 28th)
The Okanagan Lavender Farm is having it’s first family friendly fall festival! There will be kids’ crafts, a scarecrow scavenger hunt, costumer contest, story telling, hot drinks and spooky garden. For more info visit their website.
When: Saturday, October 28th from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Cost: $5/child (3-12) and $10/adult
9. Go on a Spooktacular Pumpkin Walk. (FREE, Lake Country, BC – Sunday October 29th
Take a spooky walk along a trail at Reiswig Regional Park with only the lights of jack-o-lanterns guiding the way. There will be for best carved pumpkin and warm things to drink. Bring a donation for the Lake Country Food Bank.
When: Sunday, October 29th.
Pumpkin drop off from 3:00 to 5:00 pm with the walk going from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Reiswig Regional Park
10. More Autumn Outdoor Family Adventures:
Never miss an adventure!
