Fall Events
The Country Chicks fall market will be held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis on October 1st and 2nd. Grab your concessions, then shop vintage, upcycled, and handmade goods. Buildings open at 10am for shopping, and entry is $6 per person or $5 with a canned food donation. Free admission begins at 4pm on Friday and 2:30pm on Saturday. Event link below.
When you’re done at the Country Chicks’ fall event, you might want to dash out to the Adna Fall Festival, hosted by Adna Floral at 132B Bunker Creek Road in Chehalis. Grab some seasonal treats while you browse fall décor and handmade goods. This festival runs October 1st and 2nd from 10am to 4pm and admission is free. Scroll down for event link.
Hungry for more? The Jester Auto Museum, south of Chehalis, is hosting a Harvest Market on Saturday, October 16th from 9am to 6pm. Aside from the amazing artisans and vendors, local food trucks will be standing by to feed you a delicious lunch. Event link below.
Fall Activities
For a delightful combination of history and live experiences, book a train ride at the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum. The rides are a blast and will take you through the stunning autumn scenery of the Chehalis valley. CCR&M is holding two sold-out Wizard Express rides on October 2nd, then the Pumpkin Train rolls out every Saturday and Sunday through October 24th. Pumpkin Train rides are 30 minutes and depart at 12pm and 1:30pm. Tickets are available online.
Don’t let the rain stop you – there’s more indoor fun to be had at our other two local museums. Visit the Veterans Memorial Museum for one of their outstanding events, stirring tales from living veterans, or to see hundreds of displays honoring our nation’s history and veterans. To discover local history, stop by the Lewis County Historical Museum in downtown Chehalis.
Fall foliage peaks in southwest Washington around mid-October, and it is spectacular. Chehalis is the perfect starting point for a scenic drive to Mt. Rainier or along the White Pass Scenic Byway. If the sheer number of beautiful destinations overwhelms you, the White Pass Scenic Byway has you covered with their road trip itineraries (link below). Don’t forget: Autumn Free Day is November 26th, when all state parks offer free admission. Bring a warm jacket and some boots in case those Washington rains come along for the trip.
We haven’t forgotten that classic fall staple – pumpkin patches! Chehalis has two, and there are more to be found across Lewis County. Check out WillyTee’s pumpkin patch to the east, at 3415 Jackson Highway, or go west to Parkerosa Farms at 292 Chilvers Road in Chehalis. WillyTee’s is open on weekends from 10 to 7 and you can visit Parkerosa starting October 3rd from 9 to 6 on weekdays. For more farm-fresh fall produce, you’ll want one of the numerous farms in Chehalis and around Lewis County. Find their details at the link below.
Halloween Events
Once the pumpkins are decorated, tell the fam to get their costumes on and head to downtown Chehalis because we’ve got oodles of Halloween fun in store. On Saturday, October 30th, stomp, slither, or sneak through the Trunks with Treats event at the Veterans Memorial Museum. The party begins at 4pm and admission is by donation. (Pssst… museum admission is free on event days!) Parents – you might want to come back for their showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at dusk.
On Saturday, October 30th, come back to Chehalis for Trick or Treat Transit. Hop on the transit at 60 NW Boistfort Street in Chehalis, where the bus will take you and your little monsters to various Trick or Treat stops at local businesses in town.
No matter the season, there’s fun to be found in every corner of Chehalis. Make sure to follow Experience Chehalis on Facebook for more happenings around town, and if you’re on Instagram, tag us and tell us how you’re falling in love with Chehalis this season. Don’t forget to use the tag, #ExperienceChehalis !
Country Chicks Fall Market Event Page: https://fb.me/e/QTrxLgLc
Adna Fall Festival Event Page: https://fb.me/e/13MdtTQXb
Jester Auto Museum Harvest Market: https://fb.me/e/DjEELBjX
White Pass Scenic Byway Road Trip Itineraries: https://www.whitepassbyway.com/road-trips/
Lewis County Farms: https://discoverlewiscounty.com/fresh-from-farm
Written by Chelsea Barr