Autumn Activities for Seniors in Maryland 2018

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

Here are a selection of festivities during the fall season taking place throughout Maryland that are particularly suitable for seniors, whole families (often including kid & pet friendly events), or those with mobility or health issues. Many events take advantage of the cool autumn weather (that is neither too abrasively hot or cold ) by having outdoor components to being held entirely outside.
 
The particular focus is on seasonal autumn harvests (especially the availability of healthy fresh produce), leaf viewing, Halloween themed events, and other festivals, bazaars, and gatherings that have an fall flavor or motif to their activities. More general events that take place during the season have also been included at the bottom of the list.

Pick Your Own Produce (Apples & Pumpkins)

This time of year is known for the last large harvests before the oncoming chill of winter and thus open farms & pick-your-own produce fields are in plentiful supply. The most typical autumn harvests revolve around the different varieties of apples & pumpkins (with a slew of corn that often takes the form of fun corn mazes), but other fresh produce such as pears, fall raspberries, autumn gourds, figs, autumn herbs & flowers, and winter squash will also be available. Generally pick-your-own adventures within participating farm land require a bit more mobility on the part of a senior for being able to easily keep their balance, traverse open countryside, or climb unto the hay ride tractors & wagons that many places employ to reach their farther fields.

• Baltimore: Baugher's | Weber's Peachberry Farm | Rodger's Farm | Fresh McKinzie Farm
• Caroline: Blades Orchard
• Carroll: Rock Hill Orchards | Gaver Farm | Buppert's Doran's Chance Farm
• Cecil: Millburn Orchards 
• Dorchester: Emily's Produce
• Frederick: Mayne's Tree Farm | Glade Link Farms | Catoctin Mountain Orchard | Jumbo's Pumpkin Patch | Winterbrook Farms
• Harford: Jones Family Farm | Shaw Orchards | Harman's Farm
• Howard: Clarkland Farm | Brad's Farm | Larriland Farm
• Kent: Lockbriar Farms
• Montgomery: Waters Orchard | Lewis Orchard | Kingsbury Orchard | Homestead Farm | Butler's Orchard
• Prince George's: Queen Anne Farm | Montpelier Farms
• St. Mary's: Bowles Farm Pumpkin Patch
• Washington : Gardenhour Orchards

​Farmer's Markets

Farmer's Markets are in plentiful supply due to the preponderance of produce available during the autumn harvests and are a good substitute for those seniors who may not be mobile enough to take part in a pick-your-own produce experience. Most farms open to the public also include on-site markets and stores where they sell their own pre-picked produce (or other foods and crafts based on their produce such as fresh jams, jellies, corncob  scarecrows etc) or take part in multi-vendor farmer's markets that can be found scattered around the state. While a few farmer's markets remain open all year long, the majority of them close with the coming of winter, so this would be one of the last opportunities for an outing before the brunt of markets re-open in the spring.

• Baltimore: Baugher's Fruit Market | Jones Family Farmer's Market | Weber's Farmer's Market | 32nd Street Farmer's Market | Baltimore Farmer's Market |  Druid Hill Farmer's Market | Fell's Point Farmer's Market | Kenilworth Farmer's Market
• Caroline: Blade's Orchard Farm Market

• Carroll: Rock Hill Orchard Farmer's Market | Gaver Farm | Sykesville Farmer's Market | Caroll County Farmer's Market | Buppert's Doran's Chance Farm
• Cecil: Millburn Orchards Farm Market
• Charles: Schlagel Farms
• Dorchester: Emily's Produce
• Frederick: Pryor's Orchard | Catoctin Mountain Orchard Market | Frederick City Market | NCI Farmer's Market  | Jumbo's Craft Attic
• Garret: Mountain Fresh Farmer's Market
• Harford: Harman's Farm Market | Brad's Farm Market | Harford County Farmer's Markets | Havre de Grace Farmer's Market
• Howard: Clarkland Farm | Larriland Farm Market | Ellicot City Old Town Market | Howard County Farmer's Market | Maple Lawn Farmer's Market | Sharp Farm Country Store
• Kent: Lockbriar Farms
• Montgomery: Lewis Orchard Farm Market | Homestead Farm Market | Butler's Orchard Market | Central Farm Markets | Montgomery Village Farmer's Market | Olney Farmer & Artist Market | Potomac Village Farmer's Market | Takoma Park Farmer's Market
• Prince George's: Queen Anne Farm Market | Miller's Farms | Farmer's Market at Maryland | Greenbelt Farner's Market | Hollywood Farmer's Market | Montpelier Farms Farm Market
• Queen's Anne: Kent Island Farmer's Market
• St. Mary's: Forrest Hall Farm Market
• Wicomico: Wright's Market 
• Worcester: Assateague Farm

​Fall Festivals & Bazaars

There are many festivals, bazaars, and other celebratory gatherings that are explicitly centered around an autumn theme during this time of year which feature costumes, harvest-based festivities & decorations, and leaf viewing activities. While many take place in the warmer weeks of October, a few can be enjoyed in the later weeks of November (which also tend to have a Thanksgiving based theme). As many festivals take place on farms, in open fields, or within nearby forests, the accessibility for a certain event should be checked beforehand for those seniors in wheelchairs or who have more severe mobility problems. Most festivals an entirely outdoors or have outdoor based components so care should be taken to compensate for fall's more fickle weather patterns (requiring preparation in advance for both chillier or warmer weather).

• Gaver Fall Fun Festival (Carroll, Sept 7 - Nov 4)
• Millburn Farms Fall Festival Weekends (Cecil, Sept 15 - Oct 28)
• Montpelier Farms Fall Festival (Prince George's, Sept 15 - Nov 4)
• Otter Point Creek Fall Events (Harford, Sept 15 - Nov 23)
• Summers Farm Fall Festival (Frederick, Sep 22 - Oct 31)
• Maryland Corn Maze (Anne Arundel, Sept 22 - Nov 4)
• Bowles Farm Corn Maze Festival (Sept 29 - Oct 28)
• Miller's Farm Family Fun (Prince George's, Sept 29 - Oct)
• Wright's Market Octoberfest (Wicomico, October Weekends)
• Greenstreet Gardens Fall Festival (Anne Arundel, October Weekends)
• Baugher's Fall Harvest Festival (Baltimore, Oct 6 - Oct 28)
• Oregon Ridge Nature Center Fall Events (Baltimore, Oct 6 - Nov 24)
• Heritage Harvest Festival (Montgomery, Oct 20)
• Scarecrow DIY (Howard, Oct 20)
• Oktoberfest (Frederick, Oct 20 - 21)
• Hereford Fall Festival (Baltimore, Oct 20 - 21)
• Butler's Pumpkin Festival (Montogomery, Oct 20 - 28)
• Homestead Gardens Fall Festival (Anne Arundel, Oct 20 - 28)
• Autumn Nights Live at Maryland Science Center (Baltimore, Oct 20 - Dec 15)
• Barktober (Harford, Oct 27)
• Pumpkin Chucking Weekend (Howard, Nov 3 - 4)
• Thanksgiving Parade (Montgomery, Nov 17)
• Hearth & Home in Early Maryland  (St. Mary's, Nov 23)

Fall Food Events​

Fall festivities often center around the harvest and other available foods as is represented by this season's two most popular holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving. Besides the quintessential focus on pumpkins, gourds, apples, and other autumn produce that readily come to mind, sea food in another hallmark of this time of year. In particular many oyster celebrations take place within October & November to mark the end of the oyster's summer spawning period (where they are often thinner than usual due to their reproductive activity). Keep in mind that seniors and others with chronic health issues are more sensitive to the dangers of food poisoning that may arise from consuming raw seafood and thus cooked versions (steamed, broiled, or smoked etc) are recommended over their raw varieties.

• Fall Restaurant Week (Ocean City, Oct 14 - 28)
• U.S. Oyster Festival (St. Mary's, Oct 20 - 21)
• OysterFest (Talbot, Oct 27)
• Sykesville Cider Stroll (Carroll, Oct 28)
• Oyster Jam & Brew Fest (Talbot, Nov 3)
• Havre de Grace Oyster Feast (Harford, Nov 17)

Halloween Festivities

Here are a selection of festivals, work-shops, and other events within Maryland that explicitly celebrate the upcoming Halloween holiday at the end of the month. Many of these celebrations are sit down events such as meals, crafts & art classes, or lectures & games and are thus suitable for those who may have more mobility issues. There are also senior discounted walking tours, festivals, and site seeing available for those elderly loved ones that are more ambulatory. While they may have spooky themes, none of the included events are particularly scary with most being family friendly (and even pet friendly in certain cases) or suitable for those with more delicate health or heart conditions.

• Murder & Mayhem Walking Tour (Frederick, Saturdays in October)
• Savage Mill Ghost Tours (October - Nov 24)
• Trail of Jack-O-Lanterns (Frederick, Oct 19 - 28)
• Haunted Ship (St. Mary's, Oct 20)
• Halloween Among the Trees (Howard, Oct 20)
• Howl-o-ween Pet Parade (Ocean City, Oct 20)
• Halloween Spooktacular Pajama Brunch (Baltimore, Oct 20)
• Halloween Paint (Anne Arundel, Oct 20)
• Halloween Art Spooktacular! (Montgomery, Oct 20)
• Halloween Beach Maze (Ocean City, Oct 20 - 21)
• OC-toberfest Drive in Disguide Halloween Parade (Ocean City, Oct 21)
• Pick Your Own Pumpkin Painting Class (Howard, Oct 21)
• Critter Crawl (Anne Arundel, Oct 21)
• Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Workshop (Baltimore, Oct 21 - 28)
• Spirits of the Patapsco River Valley (Howard, Oct 24)
• Fluid Art - Blacklight Halloween (Montgomery, Oct 25)
• Pemberton Park’s Pumpkin Tour (Wicomico, Oct 26)
• Patterson Park Halloween Festival (Calvert, Oct 26)
• Haunted Bingo (Queen Anne's, Oct 26)
• ZooBoo! at Maryland Zoo (Baltimore, Oct 26 - 28)
• Hallowread (Howard, Oct 26 - 27)
• Halloween in Baltimore 2018 (Baltimore, Oct 27)
• Great Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival (Baltimore, Oct 27)
• Saturday Night Un-Alive (Howard, Oct 27)
• Charity Halloween Trivia & Costume Contest (Baltimore, Oct 27)
• Halloween Yoga (Howard, Oct 28)
• Lett's Scream Halloween (Anne Arundel, Oct 29)
• Murder Mystery Party (Carroll, Oct 30)
• Monster Mash Halloween Bash Mini Golf (Baltimore, Oct 31)
• Doggie Parade & Costume Contest (Howard, Nov 3)

Leaf Viewing

These parks, trails, and other spots of nature are known for providing a good view of brilliantly colored foliage while remaining accessible to those in wheelchairs, scooters, or other mobility aids. Roads such as Skyline Drive feature views that can be enjoyed from within a car while providing accessible accommodations for those who wish to stop along the way. Eastern Neck is also particularly known for their migratory bird watching of flocks heading south for the winter during this time of year. For those who may have mobility or health problems that make walking along trails problematic or who do not have access to automobiles for the road based leaf viewing, there are also leaf viewing tours that can be taken via railroad for a nominal fee.

• Patapsco Valley State Park | Jones Falls Trail | Gwynn Falls Trail | Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area | Holt Park | Skyline Drive | Deep Creek | Chesapeake & Ohio Canal | Eastern Neck | U.S. National Arboretum | Great Falls | Sugarloaf | Oregon Ridge | Fall Foliage Experience (Western Maryland Scenic Railroad)

Other Fall Events

​These fall events don't fit neatly into the pre-established categories of seasonal produce gathering, autumn themed festivals & bazaars, Halloween events, food based festivities, or leaf viewing but they still provide potential fun outings for seniors during this time of year. Most of these events are outdoor festivals with more general themes celebrating history, art, or native wildlife. Accessibility to all festival locations should be checked beforehand for those seniors who may have more limited mobility. Free Fall Baltimore includes more indoor based events that may be more suitable for those with delicate health that precludes them from going outdoors in chillier weather.

• Free Fall Baltimore (Baltimore, October)
• Maryland Renaissance Festival (Anne Arundel, Aug 25 - Oct 21)
• Baltimore Lieder Weekend (Baltimore, Oct 19 - 21)
• World of Montgomery Festival (Montgomery, Oct 21)
• Sailwinds Park Kite Festival (Dorchester, Oct 28)
• Charm City Fringe Festival (Baltimore, Nov 1 - 11)
• Historic Londontown Militia Muster (St. Mary's, Nov 3 - 4)
• Waterfowl Festival (Talbot, Nov 9 - 11)
• Maryland Irish Festival (Baltimore, Nov 9 - 11)
• Sugarloaf Craft Festival (Montgomery, Nov 16 - 18)
• Amish Quilt Auction (St. Mary's, Nov 17)
• Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Waterfowl Week (Nov 22 - 25)
• Bazaart (Baltimore, Nov 23 - 24)