The school year has started and the hours of daylight are growing shorter. Fall, arguably the best season in the Upper Valley, is in full swing! There are plenty of fall activities to choose from and lots of great places to visit to get your pumpkin season on.

Apple picking, cider donuts and hot cider, beautiful fall foliage, and corn mazes are just a few highlights of the season. Read on for more!

 

King Arthur has many different classes to choose from. Learn all about baking yeast breads, biscuits, and scones, or choose a Halloween special. On Saturday October 22, King Arthur will offer a class on autumn pies and tarts at 1pm, and on Sunday October 30, there’s a class called Halloween Baking with Kids at 9am—hurry, space is limited! These are just a few of the many opportunities this company offers to hone your baking skills. To register for a class and find out more, check their website.

 

Hike up Mount Major at Alton Bay

Looking for outstanding foliage views? Hike to the top of this popular mountain and ogle the beautiful fall scenery of Lake Winnipesaukee. With expansive views overlooking the Granite State’s largest lake, Mount Major offers more reward for your effort than almost any other hike this length. The trailhead is on the west side of Route 11 in Alton Bay. The trail is about 3.4 miles out and back with a rise of 1,159 feet to the 1,784-foot summit. At a steady pace, it will take you two to three hours, but plan on stops to take in the scenery. A popular hike with summer campers, it’s much less crowded in the fall. It’s also a dog-friendly hike to the rock dome with its rewarding scenic views of the hills around Belknap Mountain reflected in the waters of Alton Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee.

 

Riverview Farm in Plainfield

Riverview Farm offers apple picking and a pumpkin patch, as well as a family-friendly corn maze. Each year Riverview creates a one-of-a-kind maze for kids of all ages to navigate, with a different theme of riddles and puzzles to help you find your way out. Gary Hamel is a local artist whose works have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the country, and Riverview Farm is lucky to have his skills at their disposal for this fun and unique activity. Plan to visit the farm and enjoy all that it offers now to October 30. Then, for older kids and adults, plan to return for the Haunted Corn Maze beginning October 30 and 31 from 7 to 9 pm! Admission is $7 and you should bring your own flashlight, but leave your costume at home. “Chainsaw Man” is waiting for those who dare!

 

Octoberfest Yoga at Harpoon Brewery

Back by popular demand, Meghan Rozanski from YogaWorks will lead an outdoor yoga event at the brewery! Join other beer-loving yogis under the tents and prepare for a festive event complete with oompah music, “brawts,” and brews. DJ Sprino will be spinning fresh beats during the practice, then participants will finish up with a huge dance party in the parking lot. Tickets are $25 and include two pints of Harpoon beer or cider and an hour of Hip-Hop Yoga. Check in is at 6pm Thursday, September 29. Yoga runs from 6:30 to 7:30, followed by beer and pretzels from 7:30 to 9:30. You may purchase up to 4 tickets. This event sells out fast, so don’t delay! For yoga, all levels are welcome, but attendees must be 21 years of age and older. To find out more, visit Harpoon’s event website.

 

Cooking Classes at The Coop 

Join a Co-op cookingclass and “Meet the Farmer” from Edgewater Farm. Psyched for soup? Join Emily Malnati, chef at the Edgewater Farm Kitchen, for this hands-on class featuring some of the season’s freshest and finest produce—corn, peppers, and onions! Enjoy seasonal vegetarian chili with cornbread as Edgewater family farmer Ray Sprague talks about life on the farm. Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 23, 6 to 8pm. The fee is $20 for Co-op members and $40 for non-members.

Apple Picking at Poverty Lane Orchards

Open seven days a week with unbelievably good fruit, free tastes of everything they grow or make, free wagon rides on fair weekends, picnic tables all the time, views across the valley, and acres of space inside a big fence (kids can run far but can’t get lost). Local pumpkins, gourds, squash, jams and jellies, but no candy racks and no pressure. Call ahead for details and to find out what’s being picked in the orchard, (603) 448-1511 and visit their website.

 

69th Annual Warner Fall Foliage Festival

Since 1947, the good people of Warner have hosted their town’s Fall Foliage Festival and welcomed old and new friends to their community. The festival is Warner’s invitation to share the natural splendor of New Hampshire’s vibrant autumn colors while enjoying entertainment and events on Warner’s Main Street. The event takes place October 7 to 9 and includes a 5-mile road race, food vendors, petting zoo, performances, pumpkin picking, cider donuts, and everything else autumnal! Don’t miss out on all the fun. Click here for more information.