OUT

FALL FUN

Five bucket list items to complete this season

Autumn is officially here, bringing seasonal specialty events and activities for the whole family. Enjoy all the fun, frights and flavors that these must-do activities bring.

BY MANDY HOLMES AND GABBY LEIGHTON

Visit a Corn Maze

Apple Annie’s is truly the home to all things fall. Located in Wilcox, Arizona, the site is perhaps best known for its Sunflower Spectacular event, held select dates this month. Visitors are invited to frolic through the field, capturing photos along the way, as well as pick blooms to take home. During the month of October, guests can also enjoy the giant, 12.5-acre corn maze – which has two difficulty levels – as well as hayrides and a pumpkin patch. www.appleannies.com.

Pick a Pumpkin

Pumpkins, hay-bale mazes, and panning for gold – it just wouldn’t be fall without a trip to the pumpkin patch! MacDonald’s Ranch is a hidden gem in North Scottsdale that offers pumpkin picking for all ages, with various pumpkin sizes offered. Additional activities include a petting zoo, lawn games, pony rides, and photo opportunities. www.macdonaldsranch.com.

Drink Hot Cider

Running through the end October, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ annual Pumpkin Nights event features tons of fall activities. Start at the pumpkin patch, where there’s also homemade pie, hot cider and scarecrows. Next, warm up at the Jack-O-Lantern Lawn & Lane by the fire pit while toasting marshmallows. This location also has a labyrinth hay maze and rides. The Cider Orchard, new this year, serves up crisp apple ciders (pro tip: order the flaming hard cider), delicious pies and other autumn treats. www. fairmontscottsdaleprincess.com.

Go Trick-or-Treating

Why get candy one day of October when you can do it all month long? Great Wolf Lodge’s Howl-o-ween celebration for guests will have tons of candy (and more) in honor of spooky season. The festivities begin in the decorated Grand Lobby, featuring larger-than-life balloon creatures. Kids will love the Trick-Or-Treat Trail, where they are invited to collect candy at stops throughout the resort while meeting characters. The remaining adventure, which includes swag and candy along the way, is made up of the witches’ lair, cave of creatures, goodies in the graveyard, and monster mayhem laboratory, concluding at the Howl-O-Ween selfie station. Additional highlights include the Monster Bash Dance Party, unBOOlievable Story Time, Grab ‘N Go Howl-O-Ween Arts & Crafts and themed games. www.greatwolf.com.

Toast at a Biergarten

Missing Oktoberfest this year? Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows is bringing the German tradition to Scottsdale with its Desert Brews event. The dog-friendly pop-up beer garden, located in the Olive Grove next to Weft & Warp Bar + Kitchen, is open every Friday night in October from 4 to 6 p.m. Guests can expect live music from a German band and the restaurant’s take on biergarten bites such as bratwurst and housemade pretzels. A complimentary tasting of German beers will be available from local breweries, including PHX Beer Co. (Oct. 8), SanTan Brewing (Oct. 15), State 48 Brewery (Oct 22) and Four Peaks Brewing Company (Oct. 29). www.andazscottsdale.com.