What is is about the word "festival" that excites me so much? Maybe its the memory of attending seasonal and food festivals as a child. I can still smell the kettle corn, fresh hay and dried corn stalks from autumnal festivals where I would pick pumpkins, get lost in corn mazes and jump on bales of hay stacked higher than my house. As I plan my family's fall schedule this year, I thought I'd share with you some events in Florida that we may go to. Each event has something unique for children of all ages (0-92)! Make sure at each event that you go to this year that you try a new food and/or activity you've never done before. Also, take lots of pictures! Just because Florida doesn't feel like fall until nearly winter, doesn't mean you can't look fantastically fall in your boots, scarves and plaid shirts!
A pic from fall festivals past with my best friend Ginney and my cousin Abigail!
Here are my top ten:
1) Epcot Food & Wine Festival
Although not technically a fall festival, this is a favorite of mine and my husband's. In the World Showcase, they have food from at least 20 different countries. All of it is served in small portions so you have the appetite to eat your way around the world. Arun and I always start at the India booth or Mexico showcase and work our way to dessert in the France showcase (nothing is better than a creme brulee or pain du chocolat). When you are there, be sure to check out the The Living in The Land ride. It is a fantastic way to see how the food you eat can be grown in a healthy and environmentally friendly way! This place is also very special to me because this Festival is where Arun proposed to me in 2017! This year we will take our babies for the first time in 2019!
Taken moments after the love of my life proposed to me in front of the Eiffel Tower in Epcot Paris at the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!
When: Aug. 29-Nov. 23, 2019 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Cost: Approx. $109 per person
Best Features: The food stalls! Get a heads up on eats you should definitely try at https://www.foodandwine.com/syndication/epcot-food-and-wine-festival-2019-best-foods-guide
More Info: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/
2) The Peanut Patch and Corn Maze Halloween Festival.
This is a new one for my family but I'm very excited to visit this festival! This cash-only event looks very family-friendly!
When: Sept. 27-Oct. 27 2019 from 5-11 p.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturdays and 2-6 p.m. on Sundays
Where: 8656 SW 75th St. Gainesville, Fl 32608
Cost: Adults $15, Children ages 4-10 $10, Kids 3 and under are free
Best Features: hayride, night maze, horseshoe pit and campfire
More Info: http://peanutpatchandcornmaze.com/index.html
3) Pumpkin Patch Express Train
This is an unconventional form of a fall festival but a really cool experience! Can't wait to take my family to this one!
When: Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27 2019 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Where: 12210 83rd St. East, Parrish, Fl 34219
Cost: Adults $18.50-$32.50, Children ages 1-11 $14.50-$28.50, Kids 1 and under are free (range of prices depends on class of train ride you purchase from Coach-First Class) All activities and one pumpkin per child are included in the ticket price. CASH ONLY!
Best Features: train ride takes your family to a pumpkin patch
More Info: http://www.frrm.org/Months/ppe.html
4) 12th Annual Datil Pepper Fall Festival
I recently introduced Datil Pepper hot sauce to my husband and he fell in love with the unique flavor made by peppers grown in the St. Augustine area. I love food festivals because of the unique ways they use their featured food!
When: Oct. 5, 2019 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Oct. 6, 2019 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: St. Johns County Agricultural Center, 3125 Agricultural Center Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32092.
Cost: Free admission and parking. Tasting tickets for the Saturday Datil Pepper Cook-Off are $1 per sample. Bring cash for tickets.
Best Features: Restaurant Cook-Off is on Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Professional cooks from local restaurants will be preparing Datil pepper inspired recipes. You can purchase a "Tasting Ticket" for $1.00 and try their dishes.Amateur and Professional Hot Sauce Competition.Amateur Datil Pepper Jam & Jelly Contest. Buy Datil pepper plants from Master Gardeners.
5) McIntosh 1890's Fall Festival
Arun and I attended this with my best friend Ginney last year when I was still pregnant with our twins. It was extraordinary how huge this festival really is! It is set in the most beautiful oak tree and antique buildings setting you've ever seen. We ate incredible southern food and listened to Bluegrass music under the oak trees last year!
When: Oct. 26, 2019 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m,
Where: McIntosh Civic Center, 5835 Avenue G, McIntosh, FL 32664 and area surrounding it
Cost: Free admission and parking. Bring cash for food, crafts and handmade products.
Best Features: 280+ vendors that sell delicious food, crafts, handmade products, etc.
6) Fourth Annual Southern Hill Farms Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch
This festival is a must-go for Arun and I! We've been going since we were engaged to be married and look forward to taking cute pics with our babies at the amazing backdrops available at this festival.
When: Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from October 5th-November 3rd from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Cost: Admission is $20 plus taxes and fees per vehicle, per day, with no limit to the amount of passengers in the vehicle. Vehicle admission passes must be purchased online in advance, no entry payments will be accepted at the farm. If the farm closes in the event of severe inclement weather, pre-purchased vehicle admission passes and Kids Zone wristbands will be refunded for that date and time. Vehicle admission passes can be purchased at https://southernhillfarms.brushfire.com/fallfestival/. Bring cash/cards for food, activities, pumpkins and homemade products.
Best Features: Pumpkins of all varieties, gourds, indian corn, mums, zinnias, sunflowers. Live music and kidzone on weekends. Football games shown on weekends. Apple cider doughnuts and frozen apple cider. Food trucks. Yard games. Photo op areas. Rides on a converted cotton harvester. Fire pits with S'more kits for purchase.
7) 2019 Bushnell Fall Festival
I remember attending this festival as a child and selling candles and apples for my 4-H club. I also vividly remember a greased pig contest that was very rousing to the crowd.
When: October 19, 2019 at 9 a.m.
Where: Kenny Dixon Sports Complex, 824 W. Noble Avenue, Bushnell, Florida 33513
Cost: Free admission. Bring cash/cards for food and product vendors.
Best Features: "Candy Land" theme. Parade and fireworks. Greased pig contest.
8) 10th Annual Timberline Farm's Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival
This festival is also a have-to for Arun and I. I have been several times over the last four years and love it more every year! Even though its smaller in size, it has that old-fashioned country feel that is so vital to a great fall festival. I even did one of my Master's Degree projects about this festival!
When: Weekends from Oct. 4-Oct. 27, 2019. Fridays 4 p.m.-dusk, Saturdays 10 a.m.-dusk and Sundays 12 p.m.-dusk
Where: 3200 Southeast 115th Street, Belleview, FL 34420
Cost: Free parking. Adults $8, Children 4 and up $6, Children 3 and under are free, Active Military, Firefighters, and Law Enforcement are free. Bring cash/cards for pumpkins, food and product vendors.
Best Features: Corn Maze, Corn Crib, Pony Rides, and Live music. Bring flashlights after dark for Corn Maze.
More Info: https://timberlinefarm.net/
10) Coon Hollo Fall Festival
This is also a new one for my family but would love to attend it! It seems very family-friendly!
When: Weekends from Oct. 4-Nov. 3, 2019. Fridays 4-7p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 22480 N. Hwy 441, Micanopy, Fl 32667
Cost: Ages 4 and up $10. Ages 3 and under are free. Bring cash/cards for vendors.
Best Features: Sunflowers, Pasture Putt Putt Golf, Archery, Country Carousel, 50 ft. Sack Slide, Antique Farm Equipment.
Enjoy Fall Ya'll!
Love, Lauren-Olivia
Comments