Fall is a time for pumpkin spice lattes, high school football games, and delicious comfort food. The kids have FINALLY gone back to school and gotten into the swing of things, but entertaining them on the weekend isn’t as simple as taking them to the pool or sending them outside to play with this chilly weather. Or maybe, you’re just looking for something fun and different to do with your best friend or significant other. Well, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite things to do during Autumn, and the best part about it -- all of these activities are available to do RIGHT HERE in our local community! We truly have something on this list for everyone! Here’s 10 of our favorite local Fall activities (in no particular order) to try this season.
1. Check out a Pumpkin Patch
Listen, I know this sounds so “typical” to do in the fall, but it is so much fun, no matter how old you are! Picking out a pumpkin, drinking apple cider, and watching my kiddo run around like a nut in a cornfield sounds like a perfect day to me. There’s a ton of different places to do that around here, too. Pick one, or try all 3 that are listed! Do it quick though- all of these places are done at the end of October.
-Vale Wood Farms, Loretto, PA
-Faranda Farms, Davidsville, PA
-Weakland Farms, Portage, PA
2. Go Apple Picking
If you’ve never gone apple picking before, you are missing out! Eating an apple that you pick from an orchard vs. one that you buy at Walmart is like night and day. Apples that come straight from the orchard taste SOOOO much better! Plus, you get the satisfaction of picking them yourself, and it’s also a really cool experience for your kids. You’ll have to travel a little farther to do something like this, but it’s totally worth it.
-Ridgetop Orchards, Fishertown, PA
-Boyer Orchards, New Paris, PA
3. Have a Fall Bonfire
My family and I have always just made fires during the summer on those nice nights where it’s still pretty warm outside, but there’s a little chill to the air. If you like fires on nights like those, you would LOVE a fall fire! Picture this- you and your significant other sitting by a warm fire, cuddled up underneath your favorite cozy blanket, while sipping on some warm apple cider enjoying that cold, crisp night air. If you haven’t tried this, you need to.
4. See a Show
I know, I know… There’s shows at local venues here all year round. But have you looked at the ones for this season? There’s honestly something for everyone. Know an old school music lover? Check out “Night Fever- The Music of the Bee Gees” at the Arcadia this month. For the funny guy in the family, go see Johnstown native Jonathan Burns do his flexible comedy act at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center. Better yet, take your kids to see Sesame Street Live at the 1st Summit Arena downtown (we’ll be there!). There’s always a Tomahawk hockey game for the sports fans in your life, too. The best part about going to see one of these events… you can grab dinner at Mimo’s beforehand (shameless plug, LOL).
5. Fall in LOVE with the Foilage
Fall is seriously one of my favorite seasons for the simple fact that the leaves and all their colors look amazing! So, why not take advantage of that and go out and see the fall foliage?! The town of Windber looks beautiful in all seasons, but if you haven’t gotten to go on a hike in Babcock State Forest in the fall, you’re truly missing out. Those woods look AMAZING! Not into hikes? Take a train tour through the area! You won’t regret it. Ride the Rails, through the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, is happening this month, or the Everett Railroad, through Hollidaysburg, takes you on a train ride to a pumpkin patch!
Ride the Rails- https://www.facebook.com/events/430640167795811/
Everett Railroad- https://www.facebook.com/events/461653124688893/
6. Cheer on Your Team at a Football Game
I love a good high school football game! Windber is looking good this year… Make sure you get the chance to get to a game and cheer on our boys! If you’re more of a college football or NFL person, grab tickets to a game and tailgate beforehand if you want. I’ve made some really great memories with friends and family going to sporting events like this, and you can, too! The games are always on at the local sports bars if you can’t make it there as well. Plus, we are always willing to deliver a pizza or two to you! You can’t watch football without pizza, right?
7. Halloween Stuff
We all know Halloween happens on October 31. You carve a pumpkin, take your kids trick-or-treating, head to a Halloween party or two… We all do these things. But this year, try something new for Halloween! Pet Trick or Treat is happening at Windber Rec park on October 27! Dress your pet up and get some treats for your good boy or girl! Don’t forget about the Johnstown Halloween Parade downtown on October 23, too. Looking for something different to do? Johnstown is also having its 5th annual Zombie Crawl! For those 21 and over, you can “zombie crawl” all over downtown Johnstown for different zombie-themed food and drink specials. Now that’s what I call a good Halloween!
Zombie Crawl- https://www.facebook.com/events/2775033002528703/
Pet Trick or Treat- https://www.facebook.com/events/449357989036531/
Johnstown Halloween Parade- https://www.facebook.com/events/938091959866741/
8. Run a 5K
Guys, running is hard. There’s no doubt about that. But I totally feel like it’s easier to run when it’s a little bit colder out. Maybe I’m nuts- who knows? If you’ve never run a 5K before, it’s truly such a great experience! There’s a ton of these races happening around here in the fall. For those who want to support breast cancer research, check out the Color Me Pink Run in Windber. There’s also the Vampire 5K through the American Red Cross happening this month, in addition to Morley’s Run in November. No matter which 5K you choose, you’ll be supporting a great cause either way!
Color Me Pink Run- https://www.facebook.com/events/2349761788686186/
Vampire 5K- https://www.facebook.com/events/660393814475128/
Morley’s Run- http://tribdemnie.com/morleysrun/?fbclid=IwAR1dcEyRE1nqYM_Ey49JFwwra2CTvpMT_Idd217LEpeyVWbR6doeeZVEFxE
9. Walk Around a Fall Craft Show or Festival
I swear there’s like, a million fall festivals and craft shows happening in October and November… I totally LOVE it! Whether you’re a crafter yourself or just someone who likes to spend money on crafts that other people make (like me), you will find something you like at these events. The Masonic Temple in downtown Johnstown has a huge craft show happening in November, as well as Laurel View Village in Davidsville, which hosts a Small Business Saturday Showcase, too. Both are really great craft shows to check out. If crafts aren’t your thing and you love good food, then Showcase Chefs is for you! This takes places right in our town of Windber at the Community Building in November and is a great way to try out a ton of awesome local restaurants! Although Mimo’s won’t be there this year (we actually won an award last year for our delicious Limoncello cake and Italian sodas- we’re so sad we can’t make it!!), there will still be a lot of great foods there to try!
Masonic Temple Craft Show- https://www.facebook.com/events/2447090908739976/
Showcase Chefs- https://www.facebook.com/events/2466921556730268/
Small Business Saturday Showcase- https://pa-vendors.com/events/somerset-county/davidsville-pa-november-small-business-showcase/
10. Enjoy a Hot Bowl of Your Favorite Soup
When I fell that cool, crisp air and hear those crunchy leaves under my feet, I instantly crave 1 thing- SOUP!! It’s soup season, guys… Nothing beats a big bowl of homemade soup in chilly weather like this. I actually know a place that makes homemade soup that would be PERFECT for this weather- oh wait, it’s Mimo’s Pizza Company! If you don’t know by now, we make our soup fresh with real ingredients every day. It’s not just something we buy premade… There’s honestly a pretty long process to put everything together and make our different soups that we have available each day. From making the base to adding the final ingredients, we take pride in the work we put into our soups and hope that all of you enjoy them, especially for soup season. Stop in and grab a bowl of your favorite today! We have different soups every day, so there’s plenty for you to try!
~One last activity that could be fun for you and your family is to participate in the WAVE Scarecrow contest in Miners Park! First and second places are cash prizes, so make sure you get your entry in! Check out their Facebook for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/WAVE-333769520093112/
Hope you’ve enjoyed our list of fall favorites! Got anything to add? Leave it in the comments below! We want to know what some of your favorite fall activities are!