Autumn is the prettiest season in New England and probably the greatest occasions to expertise Rhode Island’s pure magnificence, native farms, and seasonal occasions. The timber are lovely, the air is crisp, and the scent of woodsmoke is within the air. The purple, yellow, and orange leaves flutter by your face and crackle underneath your ft. The apples are crisp and juicy, picked proper off the tree and you may take pleasure in apple cider donuts and all the things pumpkin spice.
If you might be in search of methods to benefit from the season, these are our picks for the most effective issues to do in Rhode Island within the fall.
Things to do in Rhode Island within the Fall
1. Go Apple choosing
Apple choosing season comes early in Rhode Island so get on the market earlier than the orchards are all picked out by mid- to late-September. If you possibly can go to through the week, you might be able to keep away from the crowds, however be sure you at all times examine the hours first and dates when pick-your-own apples can be found. And if you happen to miss apple choosing, you possibly can nonetheless often buy apples and apple-related merchandise on the farm stands.
I’ve put collectively a listing of the most effective apple orchards in Rhode Island and a few of our household favorites embody:
- Phantom Farms at 2920 Diamond Hill Road in Cumberland
- Jaswell’s Farm at 50 Swan Road in Smithfield (USA Today not too long ago named Jaswell’s one of many 10 Best Apple Orchards within the US)
- The Big Apple at 207 Arnold Street in close by Wrentham, MA
2. Visit a pumpkin patch
Half the enjoyable of creating a jack-o-lantern is choosing out the pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Many farms in Rhode Island go all out in creating an ideal fall expertise from hay rides to livestock, meals vans to household crafts. These are additionally the place you possibly can replenish on different fall decor like mums, hay, gourds, and cornstalks.
We have a listing of the most effective pumpkin patches in Rhode Island, however listed here are a number of of my favorites:
- Phantom Farm in Cumberland — every weekend they host totally different actions and we benefit from the farm stand, out of doors sugar shack, burlap maze, and taking a hayride via the orchard.
- Adam’s Farm in Cumberland has actually boomed lately with pumpkins, hayrides, livestock, a hay maze, corn maze, cornhole video games, and a tire playground, along with the farmstand. Plus, the drive out to the farm alongside the reservoir is beautiful presently of yr!
- Confreda Farms in Hope is at all times bustling with hay rides, a corn maze, kiddie rides, a meals courtroom, and even a haunted hayride.
3. Escape a corn Maze
Corn mazes aren’t only for children anymore. With many farms creating elaborate labyrinths and scavenger hunts, corn mazes are enjoyable for the entire household. With so many to select from, I’ve created a listing of the finest corn mazes in Rhode Island.
4. Eat Apple Cider Donuts
For years I’ve looked for the most effective apple cider donuts in Rhode Island and at last discovered them at Hard Pressed Cider Company in Jamestown. It is price standing in line to get them when they’re sizzling and crispy, however if you happen to can cease by through the week when they’re open you possibly can keep away from the hour wait. While you might be there, attempt the apple cider slushies too! I’d say these are even higher than B.F. Clyde’s in Mystic, CT.
5. Visit a Farm Stand or Garden Center
Even if you happen to don’t go apple choosing or go to a pumpkin patch, a minimum of cease by a farm stand or backyard middle to absorb the autumn decor. The Farmer’s Daughter in South Kingstown is very Instagrammable with pumpkin shows.
6. Browse the Scituate Art Festival
Taking place every year on Columbus Day weekend, the Scituate Art Festival brings collectively over 200 artists and crafters in a scenic, rural setting with musical leisure and native and competition meals. After spending the afternoon or morning looking, it’s good to take a journey via this a part of RI, down slim nation roads, and previous lakes and rivers to benefit from the foliage.
7. Be amazed by Atlantis Rising Sand Sculptures
Starting in 2022, the South County Tourism Council is internet hosting an annual “Atlantis Rising” sand sculpture competitors over Columbus Day Weekend on Misquamicut State Beach. This family-friendly occasion will usher in artists from everywhere in the world to compete for a money prize. The occasion will embody musical performances, meals vans, distributors, and even a drone gentle present.
8. Walk via the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular
Each yr the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence performs host to one of many largest jack-o-lantern shows within the Northeast with over 5,000 artistically carved pumpkins, together with a minimum of 125 carved to match the theme of the yr on the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular. Be positive to e book your ticket on-line early as they do promote out and tickets aren’t offered on the door. It can be finest to go through the week and early within the season to keep away from the longest traces.
9. Get Spooked
If you like a great leap scare or creepy, ghoulish frights, seize some pals and head to certainly one of Rhode Island’s after-dark fright fests. Scary Acres at Confreda Farms is without doubt one of the hottest “haunts” in Rhode Island with a Dark Harvest hay journey, Haunted Burial Grounds corn discipline, and the “Curse of the Bayou.” Tickets could be bought on-line.
You can even get spooked at thirteenth World at Diamond Hill Park in Cumberland (previously Haunted Hill.) You may even pay further for a necklace that tells that monsters it’s okay to the touch you — undecided why you’d need that, however it’s an choice.
10. Take a Scenic Drive
If leaf peeping is what you bear in mind for a fall outing, leap within the automotive and take certainly one of these scenic drives via Rhode Island. My favourite within the fall is thru western Rhode Island alongside Route 102 and the reservoirs and lakes in Johnston and Smithfield.
11. Go for a Hike
After a drive, it’s time to hop out of the automotive and take a pleasant fall hike. I’ve put collectively a listing of a few of my favourite strolling and climbing paths in Rhode Island however you may as well use AllTrails to search out some that match your pursuits and talents.
Fall can be a great time for birding in southern Rhode Island, particularly at nature preserves such because the Ninigret Wildlife Refuge in Charlestown and the Napatree Point Conservation Area in Watch Hill.
12. Take a Ghost Tour
Combine historical past with spooky vibes on a Providence ghost tour. These lantern-led excursions inform the tales of lingering Providence residents from native literary greats to one-time servants. This strolling tour via College Hill could provide you with goosebumps.
The Providence Riverboat Company additionally partnered with Providence Ghost Tours to supply haunted boat rides via Providence that inform related tales. On two nights (Halloween and the Day of the Dead), you may as well join a Haunted Booo-zy Boat Ride, which embody complimentary wine and Prosecco to all passengers 21+.
13. Attend a Fall Festival
Local farms, cities, and cities trot out their finest to have a good time fall in Rhode Island. Here are just some enjoyable fall festivals to place in your calendar:
- Norman Bird Sanctuary Fall Festival with sack races, hay rides, mud pit, tug-of-war and honest video games with prizes
- The Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Weigh Off at Frerich’s Farm in Warren with meals vans, household enjoyable, and, after all, big pumpkins
- Autumnfest over Columbus Day weekend in Woonsocket is the biggest fall competition in Northern Rhode Island
- Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival in Newport serves up recent, native seafood together with fish tacos, lobster rolls, stuffies, chowder, fried calamari, clams, oysters, signature cocktails and chilly beer, accompanied by dwell music and household enjoyable
- Harvest Festival at Newport Vineyards in Middletown celebrates the autumn grape harvest with grape stomping, wine and beer tasting, and engaging treats paired with dwell music
