What screams fall? Lots of things, actually—one of them being pumpkin patches. The Flower Farm Nursery & Gift Shop’s (flowerfarmnurseryandgifts.com) patch of pumpkins and gourds, as well as corn stocks, fall décor, scarecrow contests, and photo-ops will delight the entire family. For something a little different, The Gallery at 48 Natoma (folsom.ca.us/parks/events/events/default.asp) is displaying a glass pumpkin patch featuring thousands of locally made, hand-blown glass pumpkins in all shapes, colors, and sizes on October 10 and 11 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

 

Up to your ears in pumpkin spice lattes already? Warm up to another liquid elixir this season with the numerous growlers and crowlers at local breweries. Seasonal stouts, pilsners, and ales are available to enjoy in-house or to go. Whether it’s Fort Rock Brewing’s Tent Topper with all the flavors of a German Oktoberfest; or Moksa Brewing’s Leather Drinkin’ Shorts, a traditional festbier made with all German malts, hops, and yeast, you’ll soon be swapping lattes for lagers.

 

Wondering what to do with all the seasonal produce you’ve collected from our area’s bounty of farmers’ markets? Turn it into something delicious, of course, with Murer House’s Italian cooking classes. On most Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, they conduct hands-on courses for dishes like autumn risotto and sweet potato gnocchi. Get your fill at murerhouse.org/cooking_classes.

 

Yellow, orange, and red hues are everywhere this time of year, but for truly spectacular views of those familiar fall colors, drive to Coloma along the American River, up to Carson Pass and Hope Valley (we recommend extending your outing with a stay at Wylder Hope Valley), or down to Sutter Creek and Jackson for a sampling of nature’s most vibrant display.

 

What would fall look like in our area without Apple Hill? Hard to imagine—so let’s not. Apple Hill is, after all, home to numerous u-pick farms (apples, pumpkins, grapes, and pears), apple- and pumpkin-flavored everything (from cider donuts to pumpkin pie), bed and breakfasts like Ponderosa Ridge or Eden Vale Inn, award-winning wines, pony and hay rides, and even trout fishing! It’s the quintessential autumnal experience. Plan your trip at applehill.com.

 

It’s one thing to enjoy the season while cruising in your car; it’s another thing experiencing it on a horse. Horseback riding is a great way to enjoy fall and take in the crisp air and turning leaves on Folsom Lake trails. Boarding on the Lake in Granite Bay is taking reservations for guided trail rides (boardingonthelake.com/trail-rides-), as is Lakeside Equestrian Center in Loomis (lakesideequestriancenter.com).

 

If staying indoors is more your jam, veg out on the couch with some of the finest fall flicks in the form of When Harry Met Sally, Love Story, Hocus Pocus, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Sleepy Hollow, Ghostbusters, You’ve Got Mail, or Dead Poets Society—all available on Amazon Prime.

 

Like we needed this year to get any scarier, Halloween’s now here! The American River Conservancy (arconservancy.org/events) is organizing a Halloween Cemeteries Walking Tour on October 31 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. that’ll take you through the Jewish Cemetery, Uniontown Cemetery, and Cold Springs Cemetery.

Yes, the leaves are technically “falling,” but there’s still gardening to be done. Catch an online gardening class (“All About Apples and Pears” on October 10 and “Putting Your Garden to Bed” on October 31) from UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County (mgeldorado.ucanr.edu). Then, pick up a 2021 Gardening Guide and Calendar presented by the UC Master Gardeners of Placer County, which encourages best gardening practices throughout the year (pcmg.ucanr.org/2021_calendar).

 

Fancy some new woolens for the winter? How about making ‘em yourself! Lofty Lou’s Yarn Shop in Placerville (knit.us) has all the paraphernalia you need while Auburn Needleworks (auburnneedleworks.com) has beginning and advanced crocheting and knitting classes, and Got your Goat Yarn Studio in Roseville (gotyourgoatyarn.com) has private and group classes. You’ll be knitting up a storm in no time.