As the leaves start to change and the air starts to cool down, we are now officially in the “ber” months. Whether you’re a homebody or an extrovert, fall is approaching, so here are ten things to add to the fall bucket list.
If you are an extrovert living in Southern California, there are many fall-related places to go to this season.
1 – Lavender Nights
Description: Take a trip to enjoy yourself with outdoor dining and live music, and walk around with millions of twinkling lights that transform across their lavender field.
Important details: Live music and entertainment starts at 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm.
When: Wednesday to Monday from 5-10 pm. It ends on October 27, 2024.
Where: 123 farm, 10600 Highland Springs Avenue, Cherry Valley, CA.
Cost: General Admission is $14.00 with a $2.00 fee, Senior admission is a $13.00 + $2.00 fee, and Student admission for 13-17 year olds is a $13.00 + $2.00 fee. Children who are 12 and younger are free (purchases online only).
Parking cost: General parking is a $20.00 + $2.50 fee, Preferred parking is a $45.00 + $3.00 fee, and oversized parking is a $35.00 + $3.00 fee (purchases online only).
Note: Parking is limited and can sell out fast. If parking is sold out, street parking may be available. But avoid areas with “No Parking” signs.
For more information on Lavender Nights, visit:
https://www.123farm.com/lavendernights
2 – Live Oak Canyon – Pumpkin Season
Description: Looking for the best pumpkin patch to go to? Enjoy many opportunities at Live Oak Canyon, such as hay rides, food, rides, fall family photos, and plenty of pumpkins.
When: Opens September 20th – October 31st. Monday – Thursday 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Friday 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Halloween 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Where: 32335 Live Oak Canyon Rd Redlands, California.
Cost: Children 3 – 10 years old are $12, adults 11 – 65+ are $17, seniors 65+ can get a $2 off admission, and military discounts are $2 off admission up to four total per active military ID (on opening day).
Note: Admission tickets are available at the front entrance only and vary by day. Children’s admission will be free, and adult admission can range from $11 – $15 on September 24th – 26th.
For more information, visit
https://liveoakcanyon.com/pumpkin-season/
3 – Carlsbad Strawberry Co. Pumpkin Patch
Description: What is fall season without taking a couple of pictures at the pumpkin patch with your loved ones or picking out the best pumpkins? Do all this by visiting the pumpkin patch in Carlsbad, which offers many games and food.
When: September 20th – November 3rd. Opens daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Fridays and Saturdays are open from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM in October.
Where: 1050 Cannon Rd Carlsbad, CA 92008.
Cost: General admission prices, Monday – Thursday are $10, Friday – Sunday are $12, and Children 4 and under are free. Walk-ins only (cash and cards).
For more information on the upcoming pumpkin patch, visit
https://www.carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com/pumpkin
4 – Haunted Corn Maze
Description: With the spooky season coming up, Carlsbad Strawberry Co. is also hosting a haunted corn maze for the Halloween season. Check out the haunted corn maze for a thrilling experience you and your family will talk about for days.
When: Opens October 4th, 2024. Friday and Saturdays in October from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Where: 1050 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
Cost: $25 per person. Front-of-the-line passes are $45 per person (cash and cards).
For more information, visit
https://www.carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com/pumpkin
5 – Oak Glen Apple Picking
Description: Apple picking season is here! Come enjoy early varieties of apples and many events that are being held at Oak Glen, such as the Apple Butter Festival. Also enjoy their many activities, like petting zoos, live music, restaurants and bakeries, and fresh produce like pumpkins and berries.
When: Apple season starts August through November. Opens during public hours.
Where: Oak Glen Apple Growers, Oak Glen, CA 92399.
Cost: There is no admission charge, however, there are many businesses, bakeries, and restaurants on which you can spend.
I recommend going later in the season, such as late October – early November, to get that autumn feeling.
For more information, visit
While there are many places to go during the season, some days you would want to stay in and/or host an event at home. Here are five fall activities to do at home with friends or family.
Pumpkin Paintings and Cravings
Pumpkin season is here, and hosting a pumpkin painting event at home with friends and family would help bring everyone together and have a good time as Halloween approaches. Carving pumpkins is also a fun fall activity to do indoors and is enjoyable to do with family and friends. Whether you choose to go get pumpkins at a pumpkin patch or in stores, there are many different ways to decorate, paint, or carve the pumpkins at home!
Autumn Festival at Home
You may not have the time or energy to go out to a festival this fall, but that does not mean you cannot host one at home with family and friends. There are many ways to host this event, such as getting supplies for decorating the house, many foods to cook or bake at home, putting music to get into the fall feeling, putting a movie on, or even hosting fun games and activities to do with the guests.
Making Seasonal Treats
Other ways to get into that fall feeling could be baking seasonal treats by getting seasonal ingredients such as pumpkin flavor ingredients. You can bake many seasonal treats such as pumpkin pies, apple pies, Halloween-inspired cookies, caramel apples, maple butter brownies, carrot cake, etc. There are many recipes to look for during this autumn season.
Spooky Pizza Night
With the spooky season approaching, Hosting a spooky pizza night with friends and family would be a great way to get everyone together and get into the early Halloween spirit. Making your own pizza from scratch can be a fun way to decorate it in a spooky way, such as decorating it into a ghost or pumpkin shape. Many people across social media love to enjoy this activity during the Halloween season, and it’s a great way to bond with a roommate, friends, or family.
Halloween Movie Marathon
What better way to get into the Halloween spirit with friends and family than a typical movie marathon? To do this, create a list of movies to watch with the guests, such as family-friendly Halloween movies, like the Harry Potter movies, “Nightmare Before Christmas”, and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Or get into a really spooky mood by watching horror films, such as the Scream movies, the Conjuring movies, etc.
