Happy Halloween! Spooky season is currently upon us!
As some of you may know, Evan, Comet, and I moved to Utah from California in June, as I was presented with a job opportunity at Utah Valley University advising first-year students. So far I have enjoyed what outdoor and event opportunities Utah has to offer. Of course, there is always some give and take with every place you move to, but I am just soaking in all there is to offer in this mountainous state. Life is too short, so why not live it?
October in Utah has so far proven to be my favorite time of year! Temperatures start to drop, making sweater weather totally feasible. Fall leaves also start to change color and driving through the canyons become a regular occurrence. There is no shame in ordering a weekly (heck maybe even daily) Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks, binge watching shows like YOU on Netflix and 31 Nights of Halloween on Freeform, and going to Bath & Body Works to stock up on fall scented candles.
There are tons of events and activities in Utah all month long. As a result, I would like to share some of the escapades I have participated in or have heard about and would like to check out next year (pending if we still live in the Salt Lake region).
Canyon Drives
There are several popular fall foliage canyon drives people take. The most well-known are Little and Big Cottonwood Canyon. Of course, there is also Mill Creek Canyon and Alpine Loop, near Salt Lake City. There are others but I am still familiarizing myself with the area… so those might need to be researched more. Needless to say, a scenic drive through the different Utah canyons is one of, if not the, best ways to spend a weekend fall day. All the leaves start to change color late September and it truly is a marvelous sight to see!
Park City
Park City is a quick getaway from Salt Lake. It is perfect for those individuals who like cooler climates and prefer to be more immersed in the mountains. Park City is probably my favorite place I have visited in Northern Utah, because it reminds me so much of home (for those who don’t know, I am originally from South Lake Tahoe, California). There are a number of things to do in Park City, but Evan and I tend to spend the day walking around Main Street shopping and eating. Other Park City activities include the Alpine Coaster and Slide, Utah Olympic Park, and Deer Valley Resort, to name a few.
Oktoberfest at Snowbird
We actually attended Oktoberfest at Snowbird twice this year; the first time we went with friends, and the second time we took my parents who were visiting for the weekend. This Bavarian themed event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, 12-6pm, starting mid September and ending mid October. It’s free admissions and $10 parking per car. I recommend arriving right at 12pm when Oktoberfest begins as it can get pretty packed. Make sure to grab a pretzel and a Deutschland stein, and check out the musicians dressed in lederhosen. Prost!
Boo Lights at Utah’s Hogle Zoo
Boo Lights at Utah’s Hogle Zoo was probably the cutest activity Evan and I participated in. It was fun to see all the kids dressed in their costumes and experience a spooktacular display of Halloween-themed lights throughout the zoo. My favorite exhibits were probably the monkeys, elephants, and lions. We even got to experience and see the circle of life first hand as the lions feasted on a deer carcass. We will definitely be back for the Christmas lights, as we heard these are ones we cannot miss!
Frightmares at Lagoon
I had nightmares after attending Frightmares…. just kidding! Lagoon is an amusement park in Farmington, Utah. During the months of September and October, they turn the park into a Halloween extravaganza. It is decked out in decorations with plenty of haunted house attractions ranging from kid friendly to absolutely too scary for most kids. Of course, the rides stay open, and it includes everyone’s favorite foods and games.
Apple Orchards
Apple picking anyone? Though we were not able to self-pick some apples this year at Burgess Orchards, located in Alpine, we were able to buy a nice variety of apples and sparking cider with ice cream (it was to die for). Of course, there are other apple orchards located in Utah like Allred and McMullin Orchards, but Burgess (partnered with Cherry Hill Farms) was the closest to our house in Lehi.
Pumpkin Patches
What is the month of October without visiting at least one pumpkin patch? If you are anything like me, I live for the experience of dressing up and taking a few obligatory photos at the patch. I also make sure to pick out at least two larger pumpkins and a few smaller pumpkins so I can either carve or paint them. This year, we visited Mabey Farms Pumpkin Patch in South Jordan, since it was free and the pumpkins were CHEAP! We were planning on also going to Cross E Ranch, Wheeler Historic Farm for Dog Dayze in the Maze (I was not fast enough to purchase limited tickets), and Cornbelly’s at Thanksgiving Point, but did not get around to it.
Halloween Bar Crawl
This Halloween we partook in a Salt Lake City Bar Crawl. We checked in and got some drinks at Twist, then we made our way to Green Pig Pub, Wasted Space, Gracie’s, Quarters Arcade Bar, and finished the night at Echo Nightclub. The crawl was from 4-10pm, with the afterparty running from 10pm-12am. This event is for those who like to turn up a bit on Halloween (ages 21+). There were no tricks or treats, just Bride of Frankenstein drinks!
Other Activities
There are so many attractions to check out in Utah during the month of October, but working a full-time job and just having weekends readily available to explore makes it impossible to see everything. If you are into haunted houses, the Fear Factory needs to be number one on your bucket list. The Fear factory has been featured on Ghost Adventures and is rumored to be haunted, boooo. What’s more, there is Fear Con, Gardner Village Witchfest, Nightmare on 13th, Dia De Los Muertos and other events at Thanksgiving Point, Rowley’s Red Barn Fall Festival, and Evermore Park LORE, to name a few.
