Are you looking for some festive activities to start the holiday season off right? We have you covered! Check out this list of some local hot spots to help you celebrate Fall!

 

Like Nuts and the Outdoors? Then look no further than Bates Nut Farm!

The North County family farm opens its doors to visitors year after year from Sept 18 to Oct 31, offering a beautiful setting for picnics, leisurely strolls and, of course, scrumptious snacks including nuts, candies, dried fruits, chocolates, and homemade fudge.

This year, the farm’s beloved pumpkin patch is open to the public from Sept. 18 through Oct. 31 featuring a variety of pumpkins, gourds, and squash ripe for the picking.

The patch will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during its fall run. Admission is free and so is the parking on weekdays. On weekends in October, parking costs $8 per car.

Throughout October, the patch will offer family-friendly activities to keep the kids entertained, including tractor hayrides, a straw maze, a bounce house, a petting zoo, and pony rides (cost: $9 each).

This year, the farm’s fall calendar includes family-friendly extras like truck and tractor shows, as well as costume contests for both pets and humans

Ready for Spooky Season to Start? Check out The Haunted Trail!

At the same location, thrill-seekers can also take part in “The eXperiment,” a 3,500-square-foot maze featuring all sorts of scary icons, from Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers to Chucky and that little girl from “The Ring.”

Meanwhile, over in Mission Valley, there’s a little something called The Haunted Hotel Disturbance. Last year, this collective of creepy happenings was canceled due to the pandemic but this year, it’s back on, happening from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31.

  • The Disturbance – Dates/Hours: Oct. 1 through Oct. 31; times vary (check the calendar here), but it opens almost every night at 7 p.m. and wraps by either 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m.
  • Address: 1288 Camino Del Rio North (the west parking lot near the Target store)

By the way, if you’re looking for that traditional haunt up in Del Mar — the long-running Scream Zone at Del Mar Fairgrounds — well, that’s not happening this season.

This website for the spooky attraction said the event is “resting its crypt for the 2021 season,” taking a break this time around (which would’ve marked its 24th season).

“Horrifying, we know,” the site quipped.

The event plans to return in 2022 and as the site said, “the anticipation may kill you.”

Last year, the Scream Zone was the only option for a “haunted” attraction in San Diego amid the pandemic. True to the drive-thru trend of the times, the attraction morphed into something called “Drive-Thru Scream Zone: Road Kill,” putting a COVID-era spin on its offerings to comply with coronavirus restrictions at the time.

Apple Picking More Your Thing? No Worries! 

Right as the leaves start to turn, San Diegans often head east to the little picture-perfect mountain town of Julian for apple picking season, which typically runs from late August through October.

Popular “U-Pick” businesses include Volcan Valley Apple Farm (1284 Julian Orchards Dr.). This year, Volcan Valley Apple Farm is open Friday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You pay $15 for a bag that you can fill with apples (about 6 pounds), and this includes admission. Kids age 5 and under get in free. The farm’s Facebook page said it features seven varieties of apples, most ripening through mid-September.

Julian Farm and Orchard, which specializes in U-pick berries (strawberries, raspberries), apples, and pumpkins, opened its 2021 season this past weekend. The orchard also offers seasonal activities like hayrides, apple cider-pressing, bouquet-making, and even ax-throwing. There’s a $10 minimum purchase of tickets per person to enter (which can be used for activities, picking, and merch); parking is free.

The U-pick season last year was heavily impacted by the pandemic, with many farms and orchards canceling or down-sizing their offerings. The action varies each year though, so it’s best to check out this list of spots in Julian before making the trek east. Call ahead to see what’s open and when, and then plan accordingly.

 

Much more Fall/Halloween Attractions HERE! Get Out There, Be Safe, and Have a Great Fall and Halloween!!