Fall for Manitoba

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This article was published 08/10/2022 (1099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sweater weather is upon us! It’s the season for kids in costumes, chattering geese overhead and outdoor décor anchored around stacked straw bales. So grab that pumpkin spice whatever and embrace Everything October in Manitoba.

With its enviable location inside city limits, FortWhyte Alive makes it easy for Winnipeggers to take in the sights and sounds of the season. Sunset goose flights are the highlight as flocks settle on the picturesque ponds. And feasts are back! Take in the experience paired with a three-course meal overlooking Lake Devonian. There are also family hikes, storytelling by the fire and orienteering adventures all inside 275 hectares of reclaimed industrial land that includes restored natural prairie, forest and aquatic ecosystems.

The gates of Lower Fort Garry open this October for after dark ghost walks that will surely conjure the spirits that reside inside the old stone walls. Six spooky nights begin October 14, hosted by Friends of Lower Fort Garry. Start the night off with a bite from Life a Little Sweeter, inside the visitor reception centre at and cap it off with hot chocolate around the fire. Get your tickets at FoLFG.com.

Load up on all things orange at Schwabe Pumpkins, north of Winnipeg just off Highway 8. The farm has multiple displays for fall-themed family portraits along with food trucks on the weekends. Inside the big barn are endless varies of squash along with veggies, baked goods, gifts and an irresistible pumpkin spice syrup. The breathtaking baskets sell out early so don’t hesitate if you see one you like. Admission is $4.

If you delight in fright, there is no shortage of exhilarating experiences in Manitoba. Heebie Jeebies in south Winnipeg is only for the brave—no one under 13 is allowed inside where four mazes are inhabited by costumed characters lurking in the fog. At Six Pines Haunted Attractions, things get a little creepier at nightfall on the Terror Train or inside the Barn on Doom. The attraction is also home to a 1959 Cadillac, better known as the Ghostbusters car. Welcome to The Nightmare Factory in Deloraine. The set winds through your favourite horror movies and worst nightmares for three terrifying nights at Station X Escape Rooms & Amusements. Admission is free, if you dare.

In search of a-mazing experiences? Take your pick from Murray’s Halloween Maze at Boonstra Farm in Stonewall, A Maze in Corn at Sainte Adolphe and the corn maze at Deer Meadow Farm. Each destination includes a host of activities like a playground, petting zoo, food trucks and a haunted hayride.

Birds Hill Park presents history among the headstones this year with a family friendly guided tour of Pine Ridge Cemetery on Oct. 29. Hear the tales of the early settlers of this area and learn the secrets to interpreting their headstones. There’s also a Witch’s Walk on Oct. 15 along the 1.8 km Nimowin Trail. Costumes are welcomed on this family friendly, self-led adventure where participants are asked to collect clues, make a magic potion and help the forest animals. Admission is free for both events.

All about for some spooktacular fun on the Prairie Dog Central! Settle in for a train ride on individually decorated coaches, guess how many candies are in a jar, tour the haunted station and have your caricature done by Chris Without the Hat. The rides go Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30 and tickets start at $33.95.

Pumpkin Everything

Settle in for an all-new Hallmark movie, shot right here in Manitoba. Pumpkin Everything debuts on Oct. 8 and follows Amy, an up-and-coming novelist who returns to her hometown to look after her stubborn grandfather Tom and his pumpkin-themed store while confronting an old flame from her past. Residents of Morden will quickly recognize Bella’s Castle as the cornerstone of the movie. Watch the movie, then take a drive to town for a ‘spot the location’ tour. While you’re at it, pop in to Pure Anada, a made in Morden success story featuring cosmetics crafted from organic botanicals and mineral pigments. The downtown shop stocks the full line including skincare products, make-up, bath and body and a men’s line. Then step into historic charm at Rendezvous Brewery & Taproom once the town’s newspaper office and now the home of mouth-watering pretzels and Bloody Jack’s Wit, just one of the taps offered here. Gather around the piano for open mic night and take home some sharp-looking merchandise.

shel@shelzolkewich.com