The air is getting crisp, the leaves are piling up, and the holidays are just around the corner. How are you spending these lovely autumn days? We asked our neighbors in Dayton about their favorite autumn traditions and rounded up their picks to share with you.
Fall Color Walks at Dayton Metroparks
As days get shorter and temperatures cool, the leaves of Ohio’s birch, hickory and beech trees begin to shift to vibrant shades of red, brown, and gold. The best places around Dayton to view this transformation are from within our many Metroparks. Since their inception in the mid-1960’s, families have enjoyed kicking up leaves, exploring new trails, or picnicking in these beautiful public spaces. If you are new to the Metroparks, our neighbors recommend Possum Creek, Sugarcreek, or Germantown Metropark to see some of fall’s best colors.
Picking the Perfect Pumpkin
Surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland, Dayton offers dozens of local pumpkin patches for families and singles alike to pick out the perfect scary squash. For those who prefer selecting from pre-picked offerings, Katie’s Pumpkin Barn displays locally grown pumpkins already harvested from the field. Browse the great selection of gourds and pumpkins and visit with farm animals. Fun for adults, children, and grandchildren alike.
Homemade Holiday Treats
We found that many autumn memories are made around the kitchen stove, sharing family recipes. Traditional pumpkin pie and sweet potato recipes are always popular, but warm remembrances of stews, chilies, and cabbage rolls also rated high on the list of Dayton favorites. If you’re looking to create your own fall recipes to pass down, try adding new flavors to old favorites, as was done in this recipe for Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls.
Fall Festivals and Fun
There’s no shortage of fall fun and festivals, from pumpkin-themed celebrations to fall craft fairs to corn mazes. Located just outside Dayton in Yellow Springs, Young’s Jersey Dairy has been a fixture in the area since 1869. Over the years it’s grown into more than just a dairy, and now features activities for all ages throughout the year. Cowvin’s Corny Maze covers over 150,000 square feet of cornfield and is open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until October 31st.
