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by Amy M. O’Quinn

Leaves are changing colors and falling gracefully to the ground. There is a definite nip in the air, and pumpkins are finding their way onto doorsteps and porches for decoration and yes—into ovens as pies and muffins! Hearty soups warm up tummies, while flickering flames in fireplaces cozy up homes and warm hearts. Families everywhere are celebrating the harvest season with fun outings and activities for everyone!

Need some ideas for harvest time fun? Here are a few suggestions!

Visit a pumpkin patch. Many pumpkin patches offer lots more than just pumpkins! Often you will find these seasonal businesses have all kinds of fun activities for the whole family. For example, they might also just have. . .

Travel a Corn Maze. Many owners utilize a tractor equipped with a GPS to create a pattern and paths in a field. Visitors therefore must navigate through the maze to find their way along paths in a field of cornstalks that can be eight to nine feet high and finally make their way out the other side. Many patches offer nighttime mazes as well. Fun! You might also discover these businesses offer. . .

Try a Hay Ride. Who doesn’t enjoy a hay ride on a brisk autumn day? Whether it’s a wagon pulled by a tractor or horses, a hay ride is the stuff memories are made of.

To find pumpkin patches or corn mazes in your area, check out www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org for suggestions and other fun stuff. The listings are by state, then they are broken down further by region and/or county.

Once you’ve picked a pumpkin, the next idea is to. . .

Create a carved or painted pumpkin. Although many children do want to make traditional jack o’ lanterns, there are many other ideas as well. For example, some people like to use designs such as maple leaves, monograms, words, cornucopias, silly faces, etc.

Roast pumpkin seeds. Recipes abound on the internet, so just do a search.

Some Additional Ideas:

Go apple picking. Then use the produce to make homemade applesauce or apple pie. Don’t forget caramel apples! Children will also enjoy the art of apple stamping. Simply cut an apple in half; gently dab the cut apple on some paint, and stamp away on paper or fabric to create fall masterpieces. Easy!

Take a drive to admire the beautiful autumn foliage. Take lots of photos and collect some leaves
to. . .

Make leaf rubbings or preserve the colorful foliage with glycerin or between sheets of wax paper to enjoy for several weeks.

Drink hot cocoa and roast marshmallows around a bonfire. Tell stories and sing songs.

For something a little bit different. . .

Make Sweet Potato People Creations. Yes, the pumpkin is usually the star of the show in autumn, but sweet potatoes are a nice alternative. In our community, the sweet potato is celebrated with a parade, an arts and crafts exhibit, games, activities and contests. My children participate in the 4H Sweet Potato Decorating Contest each year, and they have come up with amazing ideas such as a ‘Guard at Yammingham Palace’ complete with red uniform and black furry hat. I have seen sweet potato mice, sweet potato dogs, and sweet potato princesses. What creations can your children come up with?

Read autumn themed books together. One such great book, The Gigantic Sweet Potato by Dianne de Las Casas, follows along nicely with the idea above, and would make a super read-aloud