Pheasant Fields Farm - Our Fall Family Tradition

Every fall my family plans one pumpkin patch trip together.  Which includes my parents, and my sister's and brother's families.  Pheasant Fields Farm often ends up being our destination and this year was no different. Since the beginning of fall,  Ilias had been asking to go here because he loves the huge corn maze so his wish came true!

First thing, we had to get our annual picture of our parents with all of the grandkids.  Of course, to get this task done it is nothing short of a miracle, with four boys and two girls all under the age of 10.  Alas, we eventually got them all to look at the camera at the same time. I would share the picture but I think my mom would have my head if I shared it on a public forum; thought it did turn out beautifully.  

 Pheasant Fields Farm zinnia's.  The spot we took the picture.  Isn't it magnificent?! 

After our picture taking was done, we headed on over to the corn maze.  Our two oldest boys would loved to have taken off by themselves but the young lady and younge man that were taking the tickets told us that a couple of people had already gotten lost that day and needed help out.  Needless to say, we made sure to stick together.  It is a pretty big maze and the young man offered for us take a picture of the aerial shot of the maze, but we decided to take a chance and take the challenge of getting out without one.  It took us a while to get through and just as I was getting ready to call my mother and have her send a picture, our boys (with the help of my brother) found the exit.  They were quite proud of themselves.

Our next activity was the hayride.  It is always a crowd favorite.  It is a fun little trip around their whole property while Farmer Ric, the owner,  tells us about the crops that they grow and some of the animals that share the property with them.  We didn't realize that there were so many varieties of pumpkins let alone that Pheasant Fields grows 50 different types.  

Our friendly tour guide Farmer Ric.

Next on the agenda was Pear Shooting.  Now this was really fun!  The boys picked two pears, pulled the stems off, then they got to use a huge slingshot to shoot at different targets.  They had some really cool prizes to win but our boys only won a piece of candy since they didn't hit anything.  Nonetheless they enjoyed it!

From there we checked out their pumpkin carver's creations.  It was so fun to watch their skill as they carved an awesome, scary face out of a pumpkin.  They were also roasting pumpkin seeds at the same stand.  If you like roasted pumpkin seeds, Jeri, Farmer Ric's wife suggested using the kakai pumpkin.  It is an orange and green, almost striped pumpkin.  

They are really popular so you are going to have to really keep an eye out for them in the patch, or just go to their Country Store.  Not only can you purchase heirloom pumpkins, but you can get beautiful hand made aprons, local products and homemade caramel apples.  They even had a coffee stand and they were also grilling up burgers and hot dogs if you were hungry.  And while you were enjoying your snack you could sit under a beautiful black walnut tree, that is over 50 years old.

They made this light fixture out of mason jars.  Love it!

Beautiful cinderella and other heirloom pumpkins.

The kids wanted to finish off their day by playing in the bounce house.  On the way there we got distracted by the chickens and bunnies, but then moved on to the kiddie section.  For the bounce house we could either pay two tickets or get a bracelet that was good for as many times as they wanted.  We somehow ended up with a lot of leftover tickets so the kids went through a few times.

The kids of course, with their undending energy, decided  to climb around on the tractor they have on the property and to swing in the tire swings.

Pheasant Fields Farm is open Monday - Friday, from Noon-5pm. The Harvest Fetival will be every Saturday & Sunday, October 1st-30th, 10am - 5pm 

If you want to go they are locatied at : 1865 Camp Baker Rd, Medford, 97501 map

For a full event calendar of events head over to our website:  www.whattodoinsouthernoregon.com

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Talent Harvest Festival & Run - Fall Family Fun

Our morning started with the Talent Harvest Festival Run.  I ran the 5k and my husband ran the 10k. When we got out there it was pretty chilly out, but once the race started we quickly warmed up!  This is a really beautiful road race.  The 5k is really for good for beginners, or if you want to be challenged the 10k has rolling hills.  I say every run is my favorite, so let's just say I really enjoy the ease of this race.  Plus, the view is breathtaking. (I am not a competitive runner, thus I stop to take pictures.)

After our run we went home and picked up the kids so we could partake in the festival fun!  I have lived in the Rogue Valley for 24 years and I never had made it to the Talent Harvest Festival so this was such a treat!  You could hear the great music as we got out of the car, which got the kids all excited. And as we were walking to the festival we caught sight of this cute, made up parade car.

Of course the kiddos had to promptly get their faces painted.  This artist was like a face-painting ninja.  Our daughters face was painted in less than two minutes.

She does really pretty designs.  Olivia, our daughter got a butterfly and Ilias, our son, actually got a really cool skeleton.

There were a lot of great activities for the kids.  We missed out on the pumpkin painting, but got to admire the artists' handiwork.

There were a lot of local business out to support the city of Talent.  Including FOTAS, Friends of the Animal Shelter.  They help animals and humans find each other.

As we were heading toward the sound of the music, we ran into the Harvest Festival ballerina.  Of course, our little ballerina had to join her.

Salsa Brava was on the stage when we got there.  They are a genuine salsa band that makes you want to get up and dance, even if you don't know how to.  We sat for a bit but our kids were getting antsy so we headed over to the kids section.

The kids section was impressive, lots of interactive activities full of family fun; including a rope making activity using yarn and making bracelets with leftover yarn.  They even had the Rogue Valley Handweavers Guild there making yarn.  It was quite fascinating, I wish I would have gotten a picture, but I was distracted watching my kids take it all in and honestly I was helping Olivia make rope. :)

Out of all of the activities their favorite thing was making apple cider.  It was really cool!

Washing apples

Add to the press

Turn the crank

Here comes the cider

They also, had a Children's Farmer's Market stand where we bought some 25 cent apples to munch on while we watched the Old Time Fiddler's.

They were quite the talented little musicians, so inspiring.

We started feeling a little snacky, so we walked over to the food truck court.  There was a wide variety of food to choose from, gyros' from Sultan's Delight, Thai food from Wassana's Thai, Asian fusion, Mexican, Hawaian and lot's more!  We decided on some locally made ice cream by Freshly Baked in Talent (you can find them on facebook).  It was so yummy!  They were even baking cookies to make ice cream sandwiches.  I hope to run across them again sometime soon!  

We went and sat in the beer garden to listen some music while we ate our ice cream.  There was a great band, Maestro & The Captain Flat 5 Flim Flam, they play original acoustic swing music. 

We finished off our afternoon heading to the petting zoo.  They had some sheep, goats and rabbit too.  That made Olivia happy.  Because as do most three year olds', she loves animals.

We had such a great time, enjoying our family fun time!  This year the Talent Harvest Festival is on Saturday, October 1st if you want to go.  We highly suggest it!

The schedule as follows: 7am - Pancake Breakfast | 8am - Southern Oregon Runners - Talent Harvest Festival Run | 10am - Parade | 1045am - Festival activities including:  Live Music - Children's Farmer's Market - Face Painting -Vendors - Food and MORE!!

If you want to see more pictures from the harvest festival head to our Community Event Gallery.

You can also find all of the details on all of the Fall Festivities, Pumpkin Patches,  Halloween Fun and so much more!  

For a full event calendar of events head over to our website www.whattodoinsouthernoregon.com

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Enjoy your Fall! 

Southern Oregon Fall Must Do's - A Fall Bucket List

Fall is awesome in Southern Oregon!   Perfect weather, lots of food, beer and wine festivals, pumpkin patches, and family fun.  We usually have to plan every weekend out, so that we can make the most of it all.  We wanted to help you out, so we've created a bucket list, so that you don’t miss a thing!  We have also included a printable so that you can take it all along with you.

Jacksonville fall walk.

Take a Fall Foliage Drive or Walk

Fall in Southern Oregon is fabulous and our area’s landscape is so diverse that you can get a good three weeks of color changing. 

Some of our favorite spots: 

Jacksonville – Take a walk through town or take any of the many hikes in the area and you will be overwhelmed with the beauty surrounding you.  You can also drive out to the Applegate and be overcome with awe because of all of the magnificent color.  MAP

Wagner Creek Rd in Talent – A beautiful drive up to the hiking trail, you don’t even have to get out of the car to experience the wonder.  You are surrounded by amazing fall color the whole way up.  If you are feeling adventurous there is a nine mile hike you can take to top of Wagner Butte, which I have heard is well worth the view (we plan on making it up there soon, stay tuned).  MAP

Lithia Park in the fall.

Lithia Park in Ashland – Somehow Lithia Park always makes it to the top of our list when it comes to the best of Southern Oregon walks and hikes.  If you just walk through the park the trees are changing with gold and red, and when you head up past the dam you will be overcome with its fantastic fall colors!  MAP

One place that we haven’t been to, but fully intend on experiencing is the North Umpqua Hwy in Roseburg.  I’ve heard we will be blown away by the colors.  What are some of your favorite spots to enjoy the fall colors?

Pumpkins at Talent Harvest Festival

Visit a Fall Festival

We love kicking of fall by visiting the Southern Oregon Harvest Festival in Central Point.  It has so many fun fall traditions wrapped up in one place.  Food tasting, beer tasting, and lots of fun for the family!  Another festival that was an immediate hit with us is the Talent Harvest Festival.  It is a true community gathering of local vendors, live music, farmers, and it has an amazing kids area!  For a complete list of Fall Festivities in Southern Oregon go here.

Go to a Pumpkin Patch

There is no lack of pumpkin patches in southern Oregon and we usually visit two or three; or at least that is our goal. Each one has their own character with a long list of things to do.  For a complete list of pumpkin patches in southern Oregon go here.

Get lost in a Corn Maze

What’s funny is that unless I am with Gary, I would get lost.  I have such a horrible sense of direction in corn mazes.  Ilias is our 10 year old expert on corn mazes and his favorite one is at Pheasant Fields Farm in Medford.   We have also heard that Fort Vannoy Farm in Grants Pass is awesome and we plan on definitely going this year! Our pumpkin patch spotlight page has all the details on which ones have corn mazes.

Go on a Hayride

There is something about going on a hayride that is so much fun, that brings up childhood nostalgia for me.  One of my favorite fall memories was when I was a preteen.   We went camping in southern California and we went on a hayride.  My mom and my best friends’ parents were walking down the road singing follow the yellow brick road with their arms around each other.  I can smell the crisp fall air as we speak.  Our favorite place to take a hayride is at Hanley Farm in Central Point.  The volunteers are always sweet and hilarious, and you learn a lot about the history of the farm.

Go to a Haunted House or House’s

Southern Oregon seems to have a healthy interest in all that is scary.  We have a lot of haunted houses throughout southern Oregon and since I am a big scaredy cat I have only been to one.  We went to the Randall Theatre's, Nightmare Chamber and it was absolutley terrifying.  I got so scared, I screamed enough to frighten anyone within ten feet of me.  Since Gary likes to go to Haunted Houses, I will once again do my obligatory visit to one this year, we just don’t know which one yet!

For a list of Haunted House’s in Southern Oregon go here.

Go Apple Picking!

Another favorite childhood memory of mine, is apple-picking with my best friend’s family in the fall.  We have carried on that tradition with our children, getting out to pick whatever seasonal fruit may be coming on.  Where should you go apple picking?  Some of our favorite spots are Valley View Orchards in Ashland and Leonard’s Apples in Medford.  The owners are friendly and helpful, and they love children.  Read our blog "Fall is for Apple Picking" here.

For a complete list of u-pick farms go here.

Have a Fall Canning Party

What do you do with all of those apples you picked?  Well, I don’t know any better way of preserving the bounty that our awesome Growers and Farmers offer than canning some of that sweet goodness.  If you don’t know how to can, Ball has complete directions on their website here.  If you read my apple picking blog post I have a great, easy recipe on No-Peel Slow-Cooker Applesauce.

Make a Scarecrow for Your Front Yard

Something new we did last year was the Scarecrow Festival at Hanley Farm!  The kids had such a blast and it is really affordable for an afternoon of fun.  Read our blog post "Hanley Farm Fall Scarecrow Festival" for all of the details.

We hope you get out to fully enjoy the amazing fall that only Southern Oregon can offer, and we hope this must-do list helps you on your way to getting there.  What do you think we should add to our list?  Comment below, we love hearing how others enjoy Southern Oregon falls!  And don't forget our FREE printable to take along with you.  HAPPY FALL!!

For a full event caledar of events head over to our website www.whattodoinsouthernoregon.com

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