‘Good Family Fun’ | Information, Sports activities, Jobs

From pumpkin patches to pie contests, bonfires to bushels, fall in north central Iowa is a celebration of fall foliage and group. As leaves start to show, native farms, markets, and neighborhoods are rolling out a lineup of festivals that take advantage of the season.

Pumpkin Fest will kick off Saturday, Sept. 27 at Twin Lakes Bible Camp in Manson. Running by way of Oct. 19, the competition is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to five p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to five p.m.

“We’re so excited for everyone to experience good family fun at Pumpkin Fest,” stated Melanie Hardman, program director at Twin Lakes Bible Camp. “We have a lot of traditional activities like our pumpkin patch, pedal tractors, and even our corn pool. We also have our zipline which a lot of people come out to experience as well.”

Harman famous that Pumpkin Fest additionally has a three-story tree home, bounce home, and a wide range of actions which are good for households to expertise in Iowa’s fall climate.

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Lainey Jo Lennon, then 1, of Fort Dodge, picks out a pumpkin throughout Apple Fest 2024 at The Community Orchard.

“This year we’re also starting to feature a variety of new events including pony wagon rides, a chili cookoff, face painting, bingo games, and more,” stated Hardman.

Staff at Twin Lakes Bible Camp spend a majority of the month of September making ready for Pumpkin Fest by gathering volunteers, cleansing the spherical barn, placing graphics collectively, and extra.

“We’re just really excited to serve the greater community in a way that we typically don’t get to,” stated Hardman. “It’s wonderful to see so many smiles and so many families enjoying the fall weather together.”

Tickets to Pumpkin Fest are $7 for a wristband and $5 for each zipline trip.

Pumpkin Fest

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Henry Heatherington, then 3, of Fort Dodge, will get a hug from his daycare pal Brinley Ladlie, then 3, of Clare, as they benefit from the nineteenth annual Pumpkins and Ponies at Springvale Farm close to Humboldt in October 2024.

Twin Lakes Bible Camp,

7718 Twin Lakes Road

September 28-October 20

Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.,

Sundays 1-5 p.m.

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Apple Fest

The Community Orchard will rejoice the thirty ninth anniversary of Apple Fest this yr with 1000’s coming from throughout the Midwest to go to the orchard and Fort Dodge space.

The fashionable Apple Fest will likely be held Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.

“We know how much it means to the community to have fun fall activities to do with the family,” stated Emily Stucky, co-owner on the Orchard. “We love seeing the smiles it puts on everyone’s faces.”

Stucky estimates that greater than 10,000 prospects come yearly to the Orchard to benefit from the sights, sounds, and tastes of Apple Fest.

Apple Fest will embody the favored pumpkin patch, corn maze and wagon rides. The petting zoo will likely be open on Sundays and dwell music on Saturdays. The fashionable Back 40 Playground, the Apple Orchard Cafe, and the Apple Attic may even be open with a wide range of home made apple pies, dumplings, ciders, and apple juices obtainable for guests to get pleasure from.

Apple Fest

Community Orchard,

237 one hundred and sixtieth Street, Fort Dodge

October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19,

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Pumpkins and Ponies

The twentieth annual Pumpkins and Ponies may even be held at SpringVale Farm in Humboldt on Oct. 11-12.

The annual competition will supply an opportunity to choose a pumpkin and trip a pony. A petting zoo and lined wagon rides are additionally scheduled for the competition close to Humboldt.

“It’s a harvest of smiles,” stated Lonnie Larson, whose household has hosted Pumpkins and Ponies for twenty years.

This yr, a particular U.S. Veterans Mounted Drill workforce from Wildwood Hills Ranch may even make an look at SpringVale Farm. The workforce will carry out on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. and Sunday, Oct. 12 at midday.

Pumpkins and Ponies may even embody dwell music from the Nedd Freeley Funn Band on Saturday and from Bad to the Bone on Sunday.

The competition may even embody an indication of classic fuel engines and corn shelling in addition to visits from the Des Moines River Valley Antique Tractor and Engine Club, probably with a plowing contest if climate permits.

The weekend competition contains free admission and parking and likewise contains many free actions and points of interest, in addition to distributors on-site.

Pumpkins and Ponies

Springvale Farm,

2603 Lone Tree Road, Humboldt

October 11

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.,

October 12

11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.