5 Fall Activities in North Florida

Image of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens courtesy of News 4 Jax

Trade Palm Trees for Pumpkins with Fall Family Fun

Palm trees, beach days, and Key Lime Pie—these Florida icons are not necessarily things your average person associates with the cooler temps and changing colors of fall. But make no mistake, even if it doesn’t thermometer doesn’t drop below 60º until long after Thanksgiving, Floridians still love an excuse to throw on a flannel (even if it’s just for the picture).

Need help getting into the spirit of the season?

Check out these five fall activities in North Florida that will leave you feeling like a human Pumpkin Spice Latte (iced, of course) in no time.

Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Get your carving knife ready, because it’s decorative gourd season. Surprisingly, it’s not difficult to find a pumpkin patch near Jacksonville with many local churches selling pumpkins to raise money. From Alachua to Duval to Flagler, there are plenty of patches perfect for a pumpkin photoshoot.

Double your fun with corn mazes and other fun farm stand classics at Cowart Ranch and Farms (near Flagler Beach) or Newberry’s Cornfield Maze (near Gainesville). Gather up your little jaguars and plan a trip to the largest pumpkin display in Duval County—with over 3,000 pumpkins—at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Spooktacular!

Image courtesy of Amazing Grace Family Farms

Fun Fall Festivals

If you’re interested in a completely immersive fall experience, make plans to attend a fall festival. Floridians pull out all the stops for these annual month-long parties.

If you’re in the Green Cove Springs area, the Amazing Grace Family Farms has a (family-friendly) spooky event for you. Beginning October 6th, this festival has fun for all ages including a crop maze, fabulous fall photo opportunities, tasty treats and more. Heck, even if you don’t live in Green Cove Springs this event is worth the trek.

Another must-see fall festival is the Crossroads Farm and Apiary in Gainesville. Their festivities begin on September 30th and run all the way through Halloween on October 31st. This real working farm is a great place to get into the fall mindset. Pro Tip: prepare for farm terrain by wearing closed-toe shoes. No flip flops here! There will be a concession stand, face painting and much, much more for the whole family.

Craft Your Own Fall Decorations

Feeling crafty? Trick or Treat Earring Fiesta with Attia Designs is the perfect crafting class for your and your friends. This event will be held on October 6th and each attendee will go home with two pairs of handcrafted earrings—hop on the crafting train early and wear your fall jewelry all month long.

For homebodies, there are thousands of Halloween craft ideas on websites like Pinterest and Instagram. Ghost fans, especially, are in luck. Crafters have found countless ways to sculpt charming ghosts, bats and other spookily delightful creatures.

Once your stomach starts rumbling, there are even craftable Halloween snacks that everyone will adore.

Image courtesy of Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve

Get Out into Nature

After the long hot summer, it’s nice to return to the outdoors in the fall. There are dozens of incredible parks great for enjoying the change in the weather. You can even stop by Timoti’s Seafood Shak on your way to Timucuan Preserve or Guana Research Reserve for a delicious seafood picnic.

Or, you can plan to explore a hiking trail or even ride your bike! Florida is home to a plentiful amount of trails where you can feel the cool ocean breeze blow across your face while zipping along through crunchy leaves.

Fall Football Frenzy

Many of us love the fall for the sports it brings to our cities and our TVs. Readers might already know that the best place to support the Jacksonville Jaguars is our sister establishment Duck Pinz in Fernandina Beach! Every game of the season is a rockin’ good time (regardless of the score) and fans will receive complimentary teal shots for every Jaguar touchdown!

College football fans won’t want to miss out on “Border War”—the annual game between the University of Florida and the University of Georgia played in Jacksonville.

Fuel Up for Fall Fun with Timoti’s

From fried classics to seasonal favorites like Seafood Stew and Pumpkin Spice Dessert Cups, Timoti’s is a must-stop this fall.