The nights are getting cooler and the sun is setting earlier and earlier. Fresh fruits and vegetables from the local harvest are making their way to the neighborhood markets. People are booking their hockey tickets and whispers of Halloween costumes can be heard here and there. It’s fall in the Northwest!
Autumn in the Northwest is nothing short of magical with leaves that change color, fun activities, and laughter around every corner. Trending Northwest wants you to experience all of the magic and splendor our area has to offer.
While autumn doesn’t officially start until September 21st, many people began celebrating fall right after Labor Day weekend until Thanksgiving. During this time, you can find something for everyone – from family-friendly fun to 21+ events.
It was difficult to narrow down but here are our top 50 fall activities in the Northwest.
September Activities in the Northwest
Go to the Spokane County Interstate Fair
The Spokane County Interstate Fair begins the Friday following Labor Day and features rides and attractions, locally-raised livestock, a rodeo, live music, exhibitors, and much more. Redeem a discount on admission when you bring a coat to support Coats 4 Kids!
Kootenai County Farmers Market
Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables at the Kootenai County Farmers Market every Wednesday and Saturday through October. Bring home farm-fresh produce, flowers, meats, cheeses, honey, jellies and jams, and even new plants.
Not sure what to do with all of your delicious farmers market produce? Check out the posts from TNW contributor Kim L. for inspiration, like this cod en papiote recipe!
Bike the Hiawatha Trail
Check out one of the most scenic bicycling trails in the Inland Northwest until September 18! This is one of the top activities to transition from summertime to fall in the region. This bicycling expedition will take you through fifteen miles of downhill terrain, through ten railway tunnels, and across seven jaw-dropping trestle bridges.
Washington State Fair
Take a drive to Puyallup, WA for the Washington State Fair. Featuring agricultural and horticultural displays from across Washington, drive-in movies, historical exhibits (including a dinosaur display!), an art gallery, live music, food, a rodeo, and more, you can’t go wrong with this family-friend event.
Campbell House Tours
The legendary Campbell House is one of Spokane’s most famous haunted houses. Fall in Spokane is the perfect time to see what ghosts and ghouls linger in the walls and listen to spooky stories. Check out the spooky tour on September 15th and October 20th.
Coeur d’Alene Fondo
If you love bicycling, race your way through Coeur d’Alene during the CDA Fondo. The different courses range from five miles to 120 miles and feature views of some of Coeur d’Alene’s most stunning landscapes. CdA Fondo takes place on September 17th, 2022.
Bonus Tip: Drop by Taphouse Unchained after Coeur d’Alene Fondo. This pedal-powered pub has all of your favorite craft beers, cocktails, and delicious tavern-style bites. Plus it has a bicycle that blends a margarita while you pedal!
Hike Mt. Rainier
We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful hikes in the Northwest. One of the best fall activities in the Northwest? Hiking Mt. Rainier!
Mt. Rainier is a hike on everyone’s bucket list, featuring family-friendly trails such as the Naches Peak Loop and scenic trails like the Skyline Trail.
Celebrate Oktoberfest In Inland Northwest Style!
If there’s one thing besides coffee, technology, and agriculture that the Northwest is known for… It’s probably craft beer. Stouts, pilsners, IPAs – you name it, we have probably 100-locally made beers of that variety.
The Northwest has tons of breweries and cities that celebrate Oktoberfest – starting in September and running through October.
Coeur d’Alene Oktoberfest
Say cheers at Coeur d’Alene Oktoberfest on September 16th-17th in downtown Coeur d’Alene. From the delicious downtown restaurants to 20 different craft brew options, CDA Oktoberfest will be one for the books.
Oktoberfest Beer Cruise
Take a cruise with craft brews on Lake Coeur d’Alene. While you’re in the area for Coeur d’Alene Oktoberfest, come aboard Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises for the Oktoberfest Beer Cruise.
No-Li Oktoberfest
No-Li Brewery is hosting Oktoberfest on September 17th. Enjoy award-winning microbrews and giant soft pretzels with jalapeno beer cheese while celebrating Oktoberfest!
Fremont Oktoberfest
Seattlites can enjoy the Oktoberfest fun too at Fremont Oktoberfest. At Seattle’s Largest Beer Festival, you can sip and sample over 80 different craft beers, ciders, seltzers, and microbrews from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Fremont Oktoberfest runs September 16-18th.
Dogtoberfest
While technically part of Fremont Oktoberfest, Dogtoberfest is a celebration with its own beloved reputation. Dogtoberfest is held on the Sunday of Fremont Oktoberfest and is an opportunity to bring man’s best friend out to enjoy the fun. Plus, City Dog Magazine will host a Cover Dog Photo Contest that you can enter your adorable dog into!
Leavenworth Oktoberfest
Leavenworth is known for one of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in the United States. This fun festival takes place three weekends in a row, September 30th- October 1st, October 7th-8th, and October 14th-15th.
Not a beer connoisseur but want to learn more about it? Make sure to check out this article from Peter from Genus Brewing, which covers topical beer news and knowledge!
Sip Wine and Stroll Through Sunflowers in Snohomish
At Bob’s Corn & Pumpkin Farm in Snohomish, WA, you can trek through sunflower fields at golden hour with a glass of wine in hand. This fun experience is perfect for a girls’ trip and includes a hay ride and catered hors d’oeuvres. Wine your way through the sunflowers on September 17th.
Whiskey Barrel Weekend in Coeur d’Alene
Sip and savor the various flavors of whiskey at the annual Whiskey Barrel Weekend, hosted by The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Indulge in lakeside tastings of fine whiskeys and experience classes hosted by industry insiders. The 2-day whiskey extravaganza runs from September 30th-October 1st.
Fall Harvest Festival Greenbluff
Beck’s Harvest House in Greenbluff kicks off autumn with the Fall Harvest Festival – featuring world-famous pumpkin doughnuts, a corn maze, apple picking, pumpkins, and more. If you’re looking for some fall activities in the northwest that the whole family can enjoy, you can’t miss a trip to Green Bluff!
Valleyfest in Spokane Valley WA
Valleyfest is Spokane Valley’s biggest celebration – with a dance competition, parade, car show, food, and much more. Check it out September 23rd-25th.
October Activities in the Inland Northwest
Silverwood becomes Scarywood
The Northwest’s largest amusement park becomes the largest haunted amusement park every autumn. From backward-facing rollercoaster rides to bone-chilling haunted houses, Scarywood Theme Park is the best way to kick off the spooky season.
Picking pumpkins at Greenbluff
Have your pick of the patch this fall at Greenbluff and find the perfect pumpkin for carving into a jack-o-lantern or decorating your cozy home. There are several u-pick pumpkin patches in Greenbluff that you can choose from with family-friendly activities.
Roast Pumpkin Seeds At Home
A beloved Inland Northwest snack is roasted pumpkin seeds. After you pick out a pumpkin and carve it, save the pumpkin seeds. Toss them with a little olive oil, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper, and you have a delicious healthy snack!
Spokane Zombie Pub Crawl
Looking for some more spooky fall activities in the northwest? Dress up like zombies and wander from bar to bar in downtown Spokane in the Spokane Zombie Pub Crawl. Bloody Marys and haunted cocktails and shots await you on October 1st.
Kick Off Hockey Season with the Spokane Chiefs
The shouts of “Go, Chiefs, Go” can be heard from the freeway to Francis on opening night for the Spokane Chiefs hockey team. Hockey season kicks off on October 1st.
Check Out the Best of Pacific Northwest Art at Terrain
The greatest art night in our region is back after the pandemic. The local art group and small business hero, Terrain, hosts their namesake event on the first Friday of October – featuring paintings, drawings, sculptures, pottery, short movies, aerial acrobatics, live music, and much more.
Moscowberfest
As one of the coolest university towns in Idaho, Moscow knows how to throw quite the celebration. Their Oktoberfest celebration, aka – Moscowberfest, is no exception. Grab your dirndls and enjoy live music and some delicious craft beer on October 8th.
Beyond Pink Fashion Show
Beyond Pink has raised over 1.5 million dollars to help women receive a thermogram, a screening that can detect early signs of breast cancer. Support them and see exquisite local fashion on October 15th during their annual fashion show.
Golftoberfest
If your fall activities in the northwest just aren’t complete without some golf, rest assured! Fall is the perfect time for golf in the northwest.
Tee-time just got even better with Golftoberfest at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Reserve a tee-time at the award-winning Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course to enjoy a selection of craft beer while you golf. Golftoberfest is October 22nd.
Visit Forks, Washington
The beloved Twilight saga takes place in Forks, Washington. If you’re looking for a fun road trip to relive this blockbuster movie series, drive to Forks, WA, and check out the major movie landmarks!
Get Lost in a Corn Maze!
From Greenbluff to farms outside of Seattle, there are so many fun corn mazes to check out in our area. And aren’t corn mazes just one of the best fall activities in the northwest?!
Colville Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch
Find your way through a massive 12-acre corn maze in Colville, WA, and even bring home a pumpkin or two!
Bob’s Cornmaze
Bob’s Cornmaze in Snohomish, Washington is an adventure that trumps most corn mazes. In this fun 12-acre corn maze, you can reserve a bonfire to enjoy smores with your loved ones after a difficult trek through the corn. Plus enjoy u-pick pumpkins, apple cider, and try their signature roasted corn.
Watch the Leaves Change Color in Spokane, WA
In Spokane, WA, we are blessed to have stunning parks such as Riverfront Park, Manito Park, and the Finch Arboretum – which has one of every kind of tree found in Washington State. Take a walk through these local parks to see the leaves changing colors.
Get a reading from Madame Lola Stardust
Curious about what your future holds? Get a special reading from Madame Lola Stardust for a spookily accurate description of your future. In the meantime, check out her horoscope column in our magazine.
Northwest Haunted Houses and Ghost Tours
The Pacific Northwest is full of creepy ghost stories, haunted buildings, and tales that have no scientific explanation. Find a haunted house in your city or go on a ghost tour. Besides the Campbell House tours we mentioned above, here are many other haunts to check out in the Northwest, including:
George Town Morgue
The George Town Morgue is one of the scariest places in Washington’s biggest city. With a gruesome history and a decrepit stench, the George Town Morgue is a terrifying place to tour in Seattle, especially around Halloween.
Nile Haunted House
For a heart-racing escape room, check out the Nile Haunted House in Mountain Lake Terrace, WA. Featuring three daring escape rooms, a beer garden, and food trucks, this is a bit less terrifying than a haunted house but still a ton of fun to do with a group of friends.
Haunted Zip Line Tour
While technically not a haunted house, Mica Moon’s Haunted Zipline Tours is your chance to see what creepy things are lurking in the forest. This spooky tour is available Fridays and Saturdays in October in Liberty Lake, WA.
Party in Portland’s Most Haunted Ballroom
The Crystal Ballroom has gained quite the reputation as Portland’s most haunted building, making it the perfect venue for a 90’s-themed Halloween party on October 28th.
Moonlit Monster Cruise
Set sail on a spooky Halloween cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene. This fun cruise hosted by Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises features a costume contest, top-shelf drinks, and a DJ on board.
Get Cozy in November in the Northwest
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
While this is a national event, we have so many great bookstores in the Northwest – including Page 42 Books, Auntie’s Books, Powell’s, and more who will be supporting local writers. Relax inside with your favorite notebook and begin writing out your dream story.
Cuddle Up With A Good Book
Name something more iconic than curling up with a book on a rainy day in the Northwest! We’ll wait. But if you want to get out and do something bookish with other readers check out the Portland Book Festival, formerly named ‘Wordstock’ on November 5th.
Snowlander
Skiiers, snowboarders, tubers, and those who love playing in the snow can’t miss the Inlander’s Winter Party on November 11 and 12th. Featuring a snowball toss tournament, live music, a smores roast, ski lift giveaways, and more, this is a fun event to help you transition from autumn to winter.
Sip at Spokane’s Finest Distillery
In the old Spokesman-Review building in downtown Spokane, you’ll find Dry Fly Distillery and its incredible tasting room. Sample a flight of local whiskey or try any of their cocktails – you won’t be disappointed.
Bend Ale Trail Month
Bend Oregon is known for its Ale Trail. Grab a passport from the Visitor’s Center and explore up to 30 breweries during November – their Bend Ale Trail Month.
Make Smore Memories
Get cozy with some smores around the campfire surrounded by loved ones – just make sure to be safe and follow all fire restrictions. We also recommend 1927 Smore Company in downtown Portland for delicious, hand-toasted gourmet smores.
Try a Pumpkin Waffle with Cinnamon Butter at Boots Bakery
Warm up at one of the cutest bakeries in downtown Spokane. Featuring house-made pumpkin waffles and the most decadent cinnamon butter you’ve ever tasted, Boots Bakery is an autumn tradition.
Eat for a Good Cause at Epicurean Delights
Enjoy delicious food and drinks from the best restaurants in the region at the 40th Annual Epicurean Delight on November 18th. Benefiting Blood Center Foundation of the Inland Northwest and Vitalant, this gala is the perfect occasion to dress up and support a cause that helps so many people in our region.
Volunteer with Tom’s Turkey Drive
Food insecurity and poverty can be devastating around Thanksgiving. Tom’s Turkey Drive by Second Harvest is a way to help share the love in our community. Whether you donate a turkey and other Thanksgiving items or you volunteer at Second Harvest, you can do your part in our community.
Watch the Apple Cup
End fall by watching Washington State University take on the University of Washington in the famous Apple Cup. This is usually the Friday before Thanksgiving.
More September Articles
Read more of Trending Northwest’s September 2022 Issue articles below!
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Light Up Coeur d’Alene
The Friday following Thanksgiving is magical in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Starting with a parade, The Coeur d’Alene Holiday Lighting ceremony ushers in the holiday season, followed by a beautiful fireworks display and lit holiday displays around Lake Coeur d’Alene.
There you have it – our list of the top 50 fall activities in the northwest. Make sure to keep an eye on Trending Northwest (bookmark this page!) for even more fall events, activities, and fun!
What are some of your favorite fall activities in the northwest? Let us know what we missed in the comments!
Christine Burns
Christine Burns is a local entrepreneur, public speaker, content creator, model, and writer from Spokane, WA. She’s an expert in marketing and owns Posted Consulting LLC, an award-winning PR firm. Born and raised in the Inland Northwest, Christine loves to support and advocate for local businesses and artists, and even hosts the annual Spokane Small Business Convention in the spring.