Once local leaves start to turn from green to golds and browns, the calendar in Valley Forge and Montgomery County gets red hot.
Residents and visitors looking for a fantastic weekend in the crisp, open air are invited to slip into a favorite sweater, trade the flip flops for a pair of loafers and fall in love with what may the most vibrant fall destination on the East Coast.
Among our seasonal, signature events are the following:
* Harvest Fest at Elmwood Park Zoo has become a treasured Norristown tradition. There are plenty of opportunities to join the party; the event encompasses every Sunday from Sept. 20 to Nov. 1. The walkways of the zoo come alive with games, crafts, food specials, rides, scarecrows, hay bales, corn mazes and, of course, animals-animals-animals.
* Northern Star Farm in Trappe invites fall fans and families to its Fall Fest Weekends, running each Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 26 to Oct. 25. There are pumpkins to pick, a corn maze to navigate and ponies to ride, but the big attraction is the giant apple slingshot, the chance to turn the season’s ripest fruit into soaring missiles.
* One of Montgomery County’s biggest arts and crafts shows, Skippack Days, takes over Route 73 on October 3 and 4. Row after row of creations greet browsers looking for a one-of-a-kind treasure. The artistry, food, beverages and music all unfold against a backdrop of vibrant foliage in the village.
* Pick an October weekend, any October weekend, and you’ll find Freddy’s Fallfest at Freddy Hill Farms (Lansdale) running full tilt. Speaking of running, schedule a stop at one of the pig races and cheer for your favorite piglet. The fall phantasmagoria (October 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25) also includes mini golf, hayrides, a giant slide, pony rides, sand art and plenty to eat.
* The Oct. 3 Apple Butter Frolic at the Mennonite Heritage Center (Harleysville) begins with an energizing kick: a pancake and apple sausage breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Afterward, burn those delicious calories by taking in the farming demonstrations, folk craft how-to’s, gramma’s kitchen and horse-and-wagon rides.
* Food, treasures and a little dose of history are all part of the Oct. 3 Flea Market at Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge. When the wares go on sale at 7 a.m., browsers from all over assemble to pick up a treasure. Food vendors offer plenty of variety in taking a breather and enjoying a bite.
* For the past 24 years, Oktoberfest in Ambler has been an autumnal highlight, as Butler Avenue, which has year-round appeal, becomes especially vibrant under the golden sun. The Oct. 3 edition promises no less. It’s a day-long stroll amidst the kid rides, beer garden, musical performances, vendors and food samples (of course! It’s Ambler, for goodness sake!).
* Morris Arboretum’s yearly Scarecrow Walk is the “stuff” that fall afternoons are made of. Open daily from October 3-26, the display features more than 30 scarecrows, created by kids and families. There are bragging rights at stake here; members of the public vote for the best creation.
* Pennypacker Mills specializes in bringing to life some of the fun and entertainment of the 18th century, while retaining its goal of historic accuracy. The All Hallow’s Eve Fall Festival, Oct. 17, introduces kids (big and small) to the joys of pumpkin painting, hayrides, crafts, corn shucking, apple cider pressing and the unbridled energy of jumping in a bounteous hay pile.
* Harvest time meant plenty of work for our Colonial forebears. The Harvest Hard Won program on Oct. 17 at Peter Wentz Farmstead shows just how much effort it took to lay in supplies for the oncoming winter. Hands-on demos cover things like preserving abundant summer foodstuff for consumption when fresh meat and produce were not as readily available.
* Celebrate fall with your four-legged friend. Barktoberfest is a tail-wagging good time on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Held at Waterworks Park in Trappe, the celebration features pet-themed vendors, agility dog demonstrations, pooch portraiture and plenty of competitions like the dog-biscuit eating contest.
* A walk amidst the turning leaves is a pleasant way to spend an autumn Saturday, but it’s even more enjoyable with the knowledge of which tree is which. Green Lane Park’s Oct. 24 Fall Foliage Hike won’t “leaf” you in the dark. This three-mile walk, accompanied by a Park Ranger, will have you distinguishing the oaks from the elms, as well as picking up other chestnuts of information.
* By the time Oct. 25 rolls around, dusk sets in early, shadows puddle around the trees and the moaning wind becomes just a little unsettling. These conditions paint the Twilight Hike at Norristown Farm Park with a perfect dose of pre-Halloween spookiness.
* Music, art, history and demonstration of true craftsmanship all make the Glencairn Museum Medieval Festival, Oct. 25, a highlight of the local arts and culture scene. But this is no mere stroll-and-gaze event; medieval weapons clang and clash as knights battle for ladies-fair. Attendees can also take a unique on-site adventure by signing up for the “pilgrimage” throughout the museum. Glencairn is part of the Bryn Athyn Historic District.
