Fall Festivals: Good for the Family
Ashley Atwood Photography
As our kids were growing up, our family set aside a day in October every year to celebrate fall! The day began with a short hike to a spot overlooking the Missouri River where the trees glowed in autumn colors along its banks. Our journey then led us to apple cider slushies and cider donuts at the Vaughn Apple Orchard where we watched apples being pressed into cider.
Our adventure culminated with a trip to the Weston Red Barn Farm for their annual fall festival. Wandering through their hay field maze, visiting the farm animals, jumping off stacks of hay bales, and bumping along on a hay ride to the pumpkin patch rounded out the perfect day and gave our kids an appreciation of nature. One of our photos from this farm inevitably ended up on our Christmas card every year.
Traditions are like a security blanket reminding children of times of togetherness and love. Our children are now grown, yet we still remember and cherish the memories of celebrating fall together as a family, and the owners of the Red Barn Farm have now become dear friends. They have also mentored us as we host our own fall festival that we lovingly call The Fall Roundup. Hosting a fall festival allows us to provide the same kind of heartwarming experience in a wholesome and fun environment for families in our own community.
Because we liked the simplicity and peace of the experience at the Red Barn Farm where the beauty of nature surrounded us, we created a fall festival at Sycamore Creek Ranch in Branson, Missouri with the same charming vibe. The Fall Roundup allows families to escape the everyday noise of life to focus on each other and revel in the best of the fall season. Our guests have commented that attending our Fall Roundup is like being in a Hallmark movie!
SparkJoy Film and Photo
Fall festival activities like our 6-acre corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin patch, gunnysack slide, cow train, corn bins, lawn games, pickleball, low elements challenge course activities, and farm-style frisbee golf help families reconnect in a fun and meaningful way. And adults get a chance to be a kid again - with their own kids!
Our cute white chicken coop in the middle of a barnyard encircled with string lights invites littles to gaze in wonder at the farm animals. What parent doesn’t love to see a sense of wonder on their child’s face! A gathering space with string lights, fall décor, and live music creates the perfect ambience for good conversation, roasting marshmallows over the fire, and feasting on our wood-fired pizza. Adapted from a pizza in Austin, Texas, the Austin Specialty is a fan favorite! So are the apple cider slushies!
SparkJoy Film and Photo
It’s incredibly gratifying to see families creating the same tradition at our annual fall festival that we started so many years ago with our own family in Weston, MO. We know from experience that these traditions are like a glue that bonds families together. And there’s nothing quite like a tradition that celebrates the seasons while allowing families to truly engage. If you haven’t already, find a Fall Festival in your area and start a new tradition with your friends and family - or make your way to ours!
