Heading north from the District on Interstate 95, the treetops don their autumn hues like shiny gemstones. This festival of colors, and so much more, heralds the fiery days and foggy nights of October.
Harford County, Md., is ready for them.
“Harford County is the ultimate fall family destination,” said Winnie Roche, the county’s tourism and marketing manager. “Festivals, farm markets and a strong agricultural tourism product are all so easily accessible right off I-95.”
Indeed, autumn events here, like the harvests, are plentiful.
The Legends of the Fog is Aberdeen’s highly haunted attraction running now through Oct. 31. Haunted hayrides, corn mazes and a spirit-filled house are guaranteed to spook even the skeptical.
Equally spooky for visitors are the sights visited every Friday and Saturday nights in October when taking the Havre de Grace Haunted History & Ghost Tours.
“These are ghost stories of local homeowners and business owners, [unexplained] things they’ve encountered or their family members have encountered,” said Diana Broomell, manager of Havre de Grace Main Street Inc.
On this guided walking tour of downtown Havre de Grace, a guide will relate documented and true history, ghost and murder stories about various locations along the mile-and-a-half route.
Applewood Farm Pumpkin Picking celebrates the season with activities that include hayrides and corn mazes. Kids will enjoy picking their very own pumpkins and visiting the farm’s petting zoo. Applewood is open every weekend in October.
Old-car enthusiasts will want to be the first at the gates on Oct. 11 for the British Antique Car Show at Ladew. The MGs of the Baltimore Car Club display antique MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars and other classic British cars at the beautiful Topiary Gardens. (By the way, a visit to Ladew Topiary Gardens is a treat for horticulturists and lovers of gardens any time of the year.)
With all there is to love about Harford County in the fall, perhaps the best seasonal entertainment is none at all. Quiet walks along woods and streams, to some, define the changing seasons more than any manmade diversions. Parks and waterfalls, trails and rock formations can be experienced at Harford County’s Gunpowder Falls State Park, Rocks State Park and the Susquehanna State Park, to name of few.
Whatever your mood or fall fancy, the important thing to remember is that October, all too soon, comes to an end.
