1. Plan for pumpkins
The Bi-Zi Farms Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Festival kicks off the season from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 1-2 at the farm, 9504 N.E. 119th St. Visitors can romp through the pumpkin patch and corn maze, bale pyramid and hay maze for a day on the farm. Meet the animals, try the roping station, take a wagon ride or try the pumpkin launcher. Admission is $10, $8 for seniors, free for age 2 and younger, and includes one pumpkin from the patch, entry to the corn maze, a wagon ride and a hot drink. It’s $5 for the evening corn maze only. The farm is open 2 to 5:30 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 30. 360-574-9119 or bizifarms.com/pumpkin-patch. For an indepth list of Pumpkin Patches, see Page 23.
2. Apples and apples
At the Old Apple Tree Festival, visitors can celebrate the oldest apple tree in the Northwest, now 190 years old. The festival will feature arts and crafts, tree-care workshops, live music and walking tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 1 at Old Apple Tree Park, 112 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver. The Fort Vancouver Antique Equipment Association will host hands-on activities. Visitors can try free apple cider pressing — just bring your own clean apples and container for cider. 360-487-8308 or www.cityofvancouver.us/publicworks/page/old-apple-tree-festival
3. Auto art
Art and automobiles come together for the Car is King Weekend and Maryhill Arts Festival. The events run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 1-2 on the grounds of the Maryhill Museum of Art, 35 Maryhill Museum Drive, near the town of Maryhill, south of Goldendale. On Oct. 1, the Concours de Maryhill will feature automobiles made in 1945 and before in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Columbia River Highway. The arts festival will feature multiple booths of Northwest artists. Kids can participate in art activities and veggie car races. The historic Maryhill Loops Road will be open to the driving public from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 1. The following day, spectators can watch vintage sports cars take on the Maryhill Loops Climb from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the arts festival continues throughout the day. Admission to the festival is free. Museum admission is $9, $8 for seniors, $3 for youth, and free for ages 6 and younger. www.maryhillmuseum.org
4. Raise more steins
Oktoberfest in Washougal features authentic German beers, food and music, with a family festival and dance area from 4 to 11 p.m. Sept. 31 and Oct. 1. The beer garden will feature brews by 54-40 Brewing, Doomsday Brewing Company and Amnesia Brewing, and cider from Jester and Judge of Stevenson. There will be music from the Kings Brothers and German accordion players, and the Camas Lions Club will provide German food favorites, with proceeds benefiting the group’s projects. Those younger than 21 are allowed at the festival from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Reflection Plaza, 1703 Main St. Washougal. Admission is $3 for the all-ages festival and $13 for the beer garden, including a commemorative stein. 360-335-1008 or www.visitwashougal.com
