October on the Coast rarely arrives with crisp air on cue. More often, it looks like sunscreen at the pumpkin patch, classic cars along Highway 90 and Halloween desserts enjoyed in air-conditioned spaces.
Whether you’re a Coast newbie or a local looking for something fresh, here are some fall activities you’ll want to add to your calendar:
VISIT A FARM
Green Acres Creamery in Saucier combines farm animals and play areas with homemade ice cream. Williams Family Farms in Wiggins offers pumpkin picking, a corn maze, hayrides and its popular cow train. Southern Promiseland Farm in Kiln has a 10-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch and hayrides.
INDULGE IN EVERYTHING PUMPKIN
‘Tis the season of pumpkin spice … everything. Drop into your favorite local coffee shop for a seasonal latte or your favorite fall-themed beverage or dessert.
And what is Halloween without jack-o’-lanterns? Trinity Episcopal Church’s pumpkin patch in Pass Christian offers a uniquely Gulf Coast fall outing: pumpkins with the Mississippi Sound in the background. Let your children choose one to decorate at home.
ENJOY CRUISIN’ THE COAST
America’s biggest block party Cruisin’ the Coast returns for its 20th anniversary from Oct. 4-11! Find a comfortable viewing spot along Highway 90, pack folding chairs and snacks and watch the classic cars roll by. If you go with kids, turn it into a scavenger hunt by asking them to spot a convertible, an old truck, a brightly colored car and the biggest tail fins.
GET SPOOKY
Halloween on the Coast offers ample opportunity for frightening fun, from Terror on the Coast in Gulfport, which runs through Oct. 31, to the Witches Ride of Ocean Springs and the Witches Walk of Bay St. Louis, both on Oct. 24. The annual Boo in the Bay parade on Oct. 17 is a family-friendly activity featuring decorated golf carts, Jeeps and classic cars.
If you want a turn dinner into a spooky experience, visit Sugar Factory inside Hard Rock Biloxi. Previous Halloween menus have included bat wings, skull-shaped pasta, monster fries, pumpkin waffles and enormous themed desserts.
FILL A BOX WITH LOCAL HALLOWEEN TREATS
Stop at Dolce Bakeshop in Long Beach, Sweet Enchantments in Ocean Springs or Quality Bakery or Melissa’s Bakery in Gulfport for Halloween cookies, cupcakes, petit fours and other seasonal sweets. Bring your selections home for a Halloween movie night.
BOO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
One of my favorite traditions with my son, Jett, is making boo bags for friends and neighbors. Fill small gift bags with candy, stickers, pencils, tiny toys and other Halloween surprises. Add a note that says, “You’ve been booed! Pass it along,” leave the bag on a doorstep, ring the doorbell and run before your friends see you.
FIND A TRUNK-OR-TREAT
Cities, churches, schools, hospitals and businesses host trunk-or-treats across the Coast. Search Facebook Events by location and date, then confirm the details on the organizer’s page for weather updates.
ATTEND A FESTIVAL
From barbecue to monarch butterflies, the Coast has a celebration for everything.
