In Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley, every season puts on a show, and fall is no exception. Explore the season’s brilliant colors in one of the area’s dozens of parks, farm fresh experiences from local farms and food stands, or take in gorgeous fall views of local vineyards and encompassing valley at over 700 wineries. No matter what you’re exploring in the valley, beauty and bounty await.

Salem’s Riverfront Park is a great starting point to find fall color as you traverse the river over two pedestrian bridges to cross into the connecting parks, Minto-Brown Island Park and Wallace Marine Park. On the banks of the Willamette River, you’ll spot abundant wildlife, including shore birds, deer and fish breaching the water’s surface to grab a bite to eat in the early mornings, while also enjoying the vibrant red, orange and yellow hues that adorn the trees on shore. The formal gardens and grounds at Deepwood Museum and Gardens offer the perfect backdrop for photos or an afternoon stroll, while historic Bush’s Pasture Park offers 90 acres of parkland to explore along with walking paths, wooded areas and open meadows. Drive or bike through the valley to three of the 51 historic covered bridges that appear on the Covered Bridge Tour – Ritner Creek Covered Bridge, Gallon House Covered Bridge or Stayton-Jordan Covered Bridge.

Fall signifies the start of harvest in Oregon Wine Country. From September to November, wineries buzz with excitement as grapes reach perfection and are picked, crushed and aged into the Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and many other varietals. Take in gorgeous fall views of the vineyards and encompassing valley at wineries such as Willamette Valley Vineyards, Left Coast Estate, Andante Vineyard or Cristom Vineyards.

Farm-fresh experiences are plentiful in and around the capital city. Local farmers markets and u-pick farms are full of colorful offerings and loaded with fresh, sustainable produce and small-batch, locally crafted eats. Late September is the height of harvest for many of the Mid-Willamette Valley’s most popular crops—including wine grapes, hazelnuts, apples, and pumpkins. Explore these and other Salem flavors while supporting local farmers and food artisans highlighting the bounty of our region.

• The Marion Farm Loop and Great Oaks Food Trail, are foodie-focused, self-guided farm tours to more than 30 destination-worthy restaurants, wineries, farm stands, and more.
• Salem Saturday Market runs weekly through October in the heart of downtown Salem. More than 150 vendors share the bounty of the Mid-Willamette Valley—fresh crops, artisanal handmade goods, yummy baked treats, and craft beverages. Selections vary throughout the year, ensuring you get to enjoy whatever’s fresh and in-season.
• Minto Island Growers has earned acclaim over the years for making agriculture more accessible through a seasonal farm stand, on-site food cart, and U-pick experiences. Minto Island’s farm stand, open through the month of October, sells fresh, seasonal produce mere steps from its vegetable field; its food cart churns out pizzas, salads, and other homemade, farm-grown fare; and the U-pick experience invites visitors to grab their own tomatoes, green beans, flowers, and strawberries throughout the year. Minto Island Tea Company is another of the farm’s highlights, featuring a variety of beloved green and black tea varieties grown on one of Oregon’s only dedicated tea farms. So committed is Minto Island to a hyperlocal experience, it grows, picks, and processes all teas on the farm.
• Bauman’s Farm & Garden is known for a bevy of locally sourced offerings. Bauman’s boasts a bountiful farm stand, selling roughly three-dozen varieties of fresh and frozen produce all year long, a mouth-watering bakery, fruitful garden center, gift shop, animal petting zoo, and play area for kids.
• Beilke Family Farm is best known for a 10-acre U-pick orchard that invites visitors to choose among 18 varieties of apple each fall. Apple U-pick season runs through late October or early November. Four generations of the Beilke family have grown a variety of crops—including peppermint, blueberries, cherries, corn, and more—since the 1950s.

Autumn is also packed with festivals and events that celebrate the season with pumpkin patches, hayrides corn mazes, and fresh bounty from the Willamette Valley.

• Festivities await at Greens Bridge Garden’s Harvest Festival, an annual event that transforms this u-pick farm in Jefferson, Oregon, into a month-long autumnal celebration with several free attractions, including duck races, farm animal viewing and a little hay maze.
• E.Z. Orchards, a popular, year-round stop for produce in Salem, has everything from pumpkin patches and pie eating contests, to the farm’s famous apple cider donuts at its annual fall festival.
• French Prairie Gardens, in St. Paul, Oregon, is a family-owned and operated farm that offers sweeping views of the beautiful Willamette Valley. Visit the farm to enjoy family-friendly fun and cheer on the small, but mighty, competitors of the farm’s locally-famous pig races, the Pigtucky Derby. The Sunflower Festival is a one-of-a-kind experience, featuring six acres and over 100,000 u-pick sunflowers.
• If you’re looking to really get into the spirit of the season, check out Bauman’s Harvest Festival, happening late September through October on the farm. You could spend days eating your way through the festival’s fresh-baked goodies, sampling Bauman’s own hard cider, picking pumpkins, taking hayrides, and enjoying all manner of family activities.
• Enjoy a relaxing day at the Estate in the Salem Hills for the Annual Oregon Grape Stomp Championship & Harvest Celebration, featuring wine, a special food menu, costume contest, grape stomping and live music.
• The Willamette Valley Wine Festival, held on the banks of the Willamette River at the Salem Riverfront Park Amphitheater, features live music, award winning wines, as well as beer and cider on tap.
• Independence, Oregon is famous for being the historic hop capital of the world. The Hop & Heritage Festival celebrates the community’s hop history and unique heritage. A family friendly event, the festival features live music, a sensory garden, a cornhole tournament, craft beer and soda, hop history, and more.
• The Run for Recovery 5K & 1M raises awareness about recovery from mental illness and addiction. Gather and reconnect at Salem’s Riverfront Park for this special event.
• Celebrate the end of summer with an outdoor concert and BBQ at Andante Vineyard with live music by Blue Eyed Soul. Enjoy classic rock and blues covers, a variety of Andante wines and gorgeous sunset over the hills.

Come see, taste and experience fall in the Willamette Valley for yourself. While you’re here, we welcome you at The Holman, where craft, comfort and connection unite.