Kansans love fall. This fact is self-evident from the sheer number of celebrations, apple picking opportunities, and abundant options for outdoor recreation. No matter where you are in the Sunflower State, you’re never far from a fall-themed activity. Whether you prefer to celebrate the season at a block party or during a quiet moon walk, the following activities are simply the best Kansas has to offer this fall.
Gieringers Orchard in Edgerton, Kansas offers a wide variety of fall-themed activities, including corn maze, kids’ mini maze, and pumpkin picking. The season opens in late September and runs until late October. Make sure to try a pumpkin doughnut and apple cider slushee before you go!
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Spend the weekend with King Henry VIII while you “pay heed to the exploits of jousting knights on thundering steeds, roam the village shops for unique crafts, delight in entertainment on one of our 25 stages, and feast on delicious food and drinks,” according to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival website. Open every weekend between early September and mid-October, Kansas City offers few better ways to ring in the fall season.
Prairie Earth Tours offers several different tour options, but the one we recommend most for late in the fall is the Premier Flint Hills Bucket List Adventure. Depending on which package you choose, expect to be treated to sightseeing, campfires, sunset horseback rides, meals, and much more.
Louisburg Cider Mill is known for their hard cider, fruit butter, and lost trail soda. See where the cider gets made before tasting the best cider they have to offer, made from apples grown on site. While the mill is open year-round, the last weekend in September and the first in October is the best time to come. That’s when they host their annual Ciderfest—a celebration all about the season and delicious cider.
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Sure, you could go camping in one of Kansas’s excellent forests or parks, but why not experience a truly authentic, uniquely Kansas experience by spending the weekend at the Moore Longhorn Cattle Ranch? A working ranch, they have 300 Texas Longhorn cattle onsite. Moore Ranch encourages visitors to join in on their ranch life, since 1998 they’ve been serving home-cooked family-style meals and an excellent experience.
While spending a weekend at a cattle ranch isn’t an experience to miss, traditional cabin camping is nothing to scoff at, either. This fall, sign up to stay at the Acorns Resort for all your RV and cabin camping needs. They have tons of different cabin configurations and can sleep from two to 12.
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The Maple Leaf Festival began in 1958 and has continued to be one of the premier fairs in the state. According to the festival website, founder Dr. Ivan Boyd said that the third weekend in October is the “optimum time to view the changing colors of the Maple Leaves in the area and the perfect time to celebrate the successful harvest,” giving the festival its date. Enjoy over 300 craft exhibits, music, quilt shows, and much more.
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This local guide is situated near Atlanta, Kansas, and strives to provide an “affordable hunting or fishing adventure in a low-pressure, family-like atmosphere.” If you’re interested in going out on a personal and helpful excursion, the experts at Timber Creek Wildlife Adventures have you covered. Options include hunting for deer, turkey, and native quail, waterfowl, and several fishing opportunities.
