A Few Good Reasons Why Fall Shouldn't be Bought at the Grocery Store

Pack up the kids & go for a drive! There are more than a few great places with lots of wonderful activities & some really cool varieties of pumpkins!! 

In Maidstone between the expressway & the 401 on Manning Rd you will find what I think to be one of the best places for the kids. 

Every year they keep adding more & more scary props & fun hands on displays for the kids. This year they've extended the parking & seem to have the largest different variety of pumpkins I've ever seen them have. They have also extended their parking lot to make for fewer headaches.

If the Great Pumpkin were to appear anywhere on Halloween Night it would definitely be       HERE!! 

A little further up Manning Rd you'll find Sylvestre's Nice Pumpkins & lots of hardy potted fall arrangements.   

Elaine's is an easy quick stop on your way home from work too with seasonal produce & pumpkins still available.

 

The other side of the County offers up Pepe's in LaSalle they have a lot  for the kids too. 

Pumpkins & a petting zoo!!

If you're just looking for a quick stop & some delicious produce George's is nearby & had lots of great vegetables for your Thanksgiving dinner or canning needs!

 George also had some of the biggest & Best pumpkins that I saw if you're willing to pay for them!

I'm sure I missed a few places on that side of town but I was anxious to head back to Cottam.

Side by side Market Stands both have some wonderful treats to offer.  Pies, jams, breads & wonderful produce you can't go wrong with choosing Murray's or Pretli's. ( I believe Murray's takes orders for pies too, wink, wink)

 What Murray didn't have in pumpkins he made up for in spades 

with lots of other homemade baked goods & produce!

Pretli's has some really different varieties of pumpkins & gourds & I couldn't help but notice they have homemade perogies & cabbage rolls now too!! Well done Pretli's Well Done!!

Do your family a favour this year and make a point of stopping in at McCleod's this month. After 34 years this will be their last pumpkin season.  They will still be open for strawberries thank goodness but    after this year their season won't extend into Fall. 

Clarkson's (right) in North Ridge offers spring & fall produce too. 

Malott's (more famous during sweet corn season) also have some of your fall supply needs & potted mums as well.

I didn't snap any photos out Leamington way because we ALL know if you're headed to Colosantis' you're sure to have a nice afternoon with the family between the broasted chicken, old fashioned donuts, apple cider & seasonal buys not to mention the little petting zoo too.   If you need anything else you didn't find there just drive a little further & you'll stumble upon roadside stand after roadside stand just to help make sure the car gets filled to capacity!!

 If you have just a little room left and you feel you're deserving of a 'best parent ever' treat there's LOTS of wineries to pick up a bottle of 'Pat yourself on the Back'! I mean the kids got to pet a goat & pick out their perfect Jack O Lantern why shouldn't you pick up something perfect for yourself too!

So this year bypass Sobey's & the Superstore & load up the car and journey out to one of the

 Essex County Pumpkin sites! 

Where are your favourite fall places?  Tell me of any I may have missed:)

Happy Halloween!!