Fall Festivities

10/18/2018

There is no debate that autumn is the best season for warm drinks, fuzzy scarves and sweaters, and outdoor farm friendly activities. Here in Rochester, NY, there are many fun fall time activities so get out there and pumpkin spice up your fall!

If you live in the Hilton area, Kelly’s Farm Market and Zarpentine Farms where you’ll find a corn maze, baked good, and pumpkin picking. Kelly’s Farm Market, known for its homemade fresh donuts and cider, is a 5 minute walk from Hilton High School. Zarpentine Farms is our local corn maze, but that’s not all. Zarpentine Farms also has a small store with donuts and apple cider, family-friendly hayrides through the farm and apple orchards. If you’re looking for a scarier hayride, the Haunted Hayrides of Greater Rochester is an excellent choice. Though it is more pricey, there are rave reviews on the scare-factor of this hayride. This year's theme is .... CLOWNS.

Another classic fall event in Hilton is the Hilton Apple Fest. The Apple Fest is a popular, community wide event where vendors and crafters from around the area bring their crafts and merchandise to sell to our little community. The festival includes vendors from neighboring towns and villages as well adding to the glee the Apple Fest brings and the wonderful opportunities for crafter jewelry, candles, wreaths, jams and peanut butter, and rows of food vendors which support our local community, clubs, and boosters. I DONUT what I would do without this fest!

Next is my personal favorite fall activity, exploring Bristol Mountain when the foliage is at its peak. Bristol Mountain, our area's favorite ski resort, is also known for its beautiful colors of fall, and fall festival that it hosts every year. The festival has free admission, and offers its visitors a variety of fall fun such as; food trucks, craft vendors, hiking, sky rides, petting zoos, and more. It is a BOO-tiful place for a fall adventure, and photography opportunities.

It’s the perfect time for photo shoots too! All of these places welcome amateur photographers, while you’re there the best spots for your photos: pumpkin patches, corn mazes, carving pumpkins, sunflowers, even a picnic photo shoot. The fall environment is perfect to stage any activity you enjoy.

I hope you're enjoying this GOURDGEOUS list, and maybe my awful PUNkins. Speaking of pumpkins... Carving pumpkins is another fun and cute way to enjoy the fall time and get ready for Halloween! Carving Jack-O-Lanterns actually originated in Ireland, and were made of turnips and put in windowsills to scare away evil spirits. Not really what they're used for today.. But still just as exciting!

To end this unbe-LEAF-able list, I will enlighten you all with some of my favorite fall reads and movies that I love a LATTE. Natasha Preston, a new published author has multiple books including The Cellar, The Cabin, and You Will be Mine, which are all murder/thrillers and will definitely keep you on your toes. Mary Higgins Clark, an American novelist also writes mystery/thriller books that focus on suspense and psychological aspects of her characters and plots, perfect mystery books for "Spooky Season!" And of course, for my classic literary enthusiasts, there is Dracula and Frankenstein to capture the spooky spirit of the season.

What better way to celebrate the fall that to get into the Halloween spirit? The quickest and easiest way - scary movies! Whether going out to catch a movie with friends or cuddling up to watch horror movies at home, nothing SCREAMS fright more! To find out some of the top horror movies, check out Lillian Huff's Top 6 Horror Films, "Six Movies to Get you into the Halloween Spirit."

There are still several weeks left to soak in the fall season before winter arrives. Hopefully this list of fall things to do LEAFs a smile on your face, so you too can learn to FALL in love with fall!