There’s a nip in the air on the Olympic Peninsula at this time of year, with crisp days and chilly nights. Time to break out the sweaters and jackets. It’s harvest season here and we invite you to discover the locally grown, fresh caught and lovingly foraged food that inspires local chefs to create our Olympic Coast Cuisine. Taste handcrafted area wines, microbrews, spirits and artisanal ciders. Stop by our farms or farmers markets to take home some inspiration for dinner or pick out the perfect pumpkin to carve. Taking a road trip is half the fun, as you explore scenic back country drives and enjoy leaf peeping at its best.
And as a bonus, with summer crowds departed, find fall savings at many area hotels, inns, vacation rentals, lodges and more. RV parks and camp sites are still open and have more availability. Book your next stay HERE!
Autumn in the Northwest is a time to slow the tempo down and chill out. And you can’t get any more Northwest than the Olympic Peninsula. We welcome you to come share our bounty!
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Brinnon barn and mountain view |
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An Insider’s View of the Olympic Peninsula – Harvesting Community – Celebrating Cideries
- Olympic Culinary Loop
- Geocaching on the Peninsula
- Upcoming Events
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Olympic National Park – Visiting in Fall
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AN INSIDER'S VIEW OF THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA
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Harvesting Community – Celebrating Cideries |
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Spanning from the northeast to western coastlines, and almost all of the Olympics’ jagged mountain peaks, Jefferson County is home to much of the culinary “breadbasket” savored by fans of Olympic Coast Cuisine. And fall is the time of harvest for generations of producers harvesting shellfish beds along the Hood Canal and farmers growing fields of good things to eat.
As autumn comes into focus across the Olympic Peninsula, it’s a time to gather the fruits, grown with great human effort and the grace of the elements, and a time to celebrate this crop with family, friends and neighbors near and far. World-famous cider makers dot the path around Chimacum, Jefferson County and into Sequim. READ MORE
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From native salmon to Dungeness crab and shellfish—ranging from delicate calms, buttery or briny mussels and oysters, to the enormous geoduck—our Olympic Peninsula waters serve up a bountiful meal of delicious seafood to a hungry planet. |
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The Olympic Peninsula’s LOOP remains a delicious destination for authentic seafood. We invite you to explore, taste and enjoy what the Olympic Coast offers as you Eat Local First. Destination dining is beloved in Port Townsend, Port Ludlow, Sequim, Port Angeles or overlooking Kalaloch Beach. So there are ample reasons to pack a big appetite when visiting this delicious part of the world and especially during harvest season.
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GEOCACHING ON THE PENINSULA |
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Looking for a fun, fall, family-oriented activity? A reason for a road trip? Or maybe you just enjoy hunting for hidden treasures? Check out our Olympic Peninsula GeoTour before it sunsets at year end.
There are 30 hidden geocaches all around the Highway 101 Scenic Byway Loop, and if you find all 30 and complete the passport, you can earn TWO commemorative geocoins. Two-for-one, just until December 31, 2021.
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We’re excited that events are returning to the Olympic Peninsula and encourage you to check for the latest information about each event before attending since things can change quickly. Please follow the latest CDC and Washington state protocols to assure everyone stays safe. LEARN MORE
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Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival
Port Angeles, Oct 8-10
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This signature Pacific Northwest culinary event is back and preparing for another “crabtastic” year. CrabFest will be held at the Port Angeles City Pier, the Gateway Center and the Red Lion Hotel parking lot. Entrance to the festival is FREE. The festival is connected directly to local fishermen and suppliers with their own dedicated crab boats. Advance CrabFest ticket sales will end Friday, October 8, at 11:59 pm. Once advance purchased dinners have ended for this year, crab dinners will be available at the festival for $41 for a full crab dinner and $22 for a half-crab dinner until sold out. Chilled whole crab dinners and chilled whole crabs can be purchased for Curbside Pickup until Saturday, Oct. 9, at 10 am. CrabFestival.org
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Olympic Theatre Arts in Sequim Opens 2021/2022 Season
The Olympic Theatre Arts will open the season with a comedy, A Facility for Living, by Katie Forgette, running October 1 – 17. A retired actor moves into a prison-turned-elder-care facility shortly after the demise of Medicare and discovers a community of lovable, irascible inmates hell-bent on bucking the dehumanizing system in which in which they have landed. Visit the website for show times and Covid-19 safety protocols.
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Rain of Terror
Haunted Hangar
Forks
October 1-31
Enter the home of the Olympic Peninsula’s most extreme Halloween experience if you dare! All month long the Quillayute Airport hangar will be scaring up screams, having combed the planet for the twisted, the weird, the undead to fuel your nightmares. Open Fridays and Saturdays 7pm to midnight and 7pm to 11pm Halloween night. Admission is $10 per person.
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Hunter Farm’s Pumpkin Patch and Catapult
Union
October 1 – 31
Fall is a great time to visit Hunter Farm as they celebrate with a giant pumpkin patch, corn maze and weekend entertainment and events. The Pumpkin Catapult is Saturday, October 30. The pumpkin patch has been operating since 1983 when the Hunters decided to harvest pumpkins on a small acre plot for the local preschool and kindergarten classes. It’s grown quite a lot since then!
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Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market
Every Saturday
through October
Civic Center Plaza
9 am – 3 pm
Enjoy access to fresh, locally grown food this season as you prepare dinners for cozy autumn evenings. Talk to the farmers and learn their secrets for preparation or preservation. And, remember, it’s not too early to begin holiday shopping for special artisan items you can only find at the market.
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Season Concert Series: Collision of Rhythm
Port Angeles
October 10
Collision of Rhythm is a duo comprised of the tap-dancing classical virtuoso, Aaron Williams, and beatbox-juggling keynote speaker, Bronkar Lee. Though there are only two of them, they fill the stage as a 12-person ensemble would, moving from instrument to instrument with a high level of skill and diversity. What’s created is a richly explosive experience like nothing else out there: rhythm-centered, but also full of melodic movement and dynamic depth. LEARN MORE
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Forest Storytelling Festival Virtual Event
Port Angeles
October 15 -17
World-class storytellers will make you laugh uproariously and will tug at your heartstrings. Everyone from preteens, grandparents and everybody in between will find stories of love, comedy and inspiration. There’s nothing like being with a live storyteller. The performer fills the room with his or her spirit. You, as the listener, are transported and connected to the story as it unfolds.
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Autumn sees a temperature decrease and rise in precipitation on the Olympic Peninsula. Snow can appear in the high country as early as late September. Rain and wind occur along the lower elevations, including the rain forest valleys and beaches by late October. Mountain elevations begin to experience freezing temperatures. In other portions of the peninsula, temperatures rarely drop below freezing, except during the night. If you’re visiting during the autumn, always check the current road, campground, and trail conditions. Some campgrounds and roads begin to close for the winter months during this time. At any time of year, visitors should come prepared for a variety of conditions. Check the National Weather Service for up-to-date weather information and forecasts.
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While the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles is open daily year-round, the other park visitor centers have varying hours depending on the season. The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is open Fridays through Sundays starting October 1 through December. Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center closes after October 10 until winter season operations begin in late November. You can find the current status and information for all park facilities on the park website under Alerts & Conditions.
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(Photo: Fall huckleberry colors and fir trees at Hurricane Hill. NPS Photo Janis Burger) |
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Plan your next trip to the Olympic Peninsula this fall and for year-round activities by downloading or requesting your FREE Olympic Peninsula Travel Planner now!
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As the seasons change and you can’t wait to travel, we invite you to come and explore our spectacular region. Doing so in a safe and sustainable manner is vital to everyone’s wellbeing, so we encourage you to know before you go and check our website for the most current state and local COVID guidelines.
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If we can assist you with your travel planning, please contact us directly. We look forward to seeing you on the Olympic Peninsula soon! |
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We look forward to welcoming you to the Olympic Peninsula! |
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