With fall comes fall color, pumpkins, apples, cool weather, and many new and fun activities, events, and flavors to try. Here's a list of ideas for what to do or try this fall in Cokato.
1) Visit a Park
Really, this goes for any season, but walks in the park in autumn are especially beautiful. If you want a hike that immerses you in nature, Collinwood and Carl Johnson County Parks are great for that with a short and scenic 1-mile loop at Carl Johnson and 5 miles of trail at Collinwood. See the the Parks, Lakes, and Trails page for more info on Cokato parks.
2) Visit an Apple Orchard
You can find apples for sale at the Countryside Apple Farm at their stand just east of town on Hwy 12 as well as at Carlson's Orchard south of Cokato off of Cty Rd 5. Though the restaurant is closed this year, Carlson's will have apples and take and bake pies available, and the restaurant should be back in business next year.
3) Try a Fall Flavor at a Local Business
There are many to choose from here! Pumpkin and apple are the main theme in many specially offered flavors during the fall, including a Caramel Pumpkin Macchiato to name one of many at The Grounds. You'll also soon find Pumpkin Spice flavored drinks at Charged Up Nutrition and The Marketplace, and keep your eyes open for apple cider and pumpkin spice donuts and yogurt at the grocery store as well. Cokato Dairy Queen is offering Pecan Pie and Pumpkin Pie Blizzards, and you can also enjoy fall-themed desserts coming soon at Broadway B's brought to you by With the Grain Bakery.
4) Buy a Locally Grown Pumpkin, Squash, or Gourd
It was a tough summer for growing, but you can still find an impressive variety of pumpkins, squash, and gourds at Dan Nyquist's farm east of town and just west of CR 5 on the north side of Hwy 12. Grandma and Grandpa's Berries n' More also has squash (butternut, buttercup, acorn-type, and "mashed potato" squash) available at their place on Hwy 12 just east of the high school quad fields. There will also be gourds and mini pumpkins, grown by Brenda Johnson, at the Cokato Farmers Market Wednesdays 3-6p Sept 29th and Oct 13th next to Jack's gas station on Hwy 12.
5) Attend a Fall Event in Cokato
Again, there are many to choose from! Here is a schedule of what's coming up:
Sept 29 & Oct 13 3-6p, Cokato Farmers Markets located next to Jack's gas station on Hwy 12
Oct 1 5:30-6:30p, D-C Homecoming Pork Chop Feed served by Cokato-Dassel Lions Club
Oct 9 10a-2p, Fall Festival at Temperance Corner hosted by Cokato Finnish-American Historical Society
Oct 16 11-2p, Bounce into Fall, a family-friendly fall festival at Veterans Memorial Park on Brooks Lake hosted by the DC Bounce Back Project
Oct 19 7p, Fall Program hosted by the Cokato Museum, Visiting Author Christine Husom will present in the Centennial Room
Oct 28 3:30-4:30p, Pumpkin and Apple Science Story Time at the Cokato Public Library
Oct 29 4-5p Halloween Trick or Treating at Participating Cokato Businesses, organized by the Cokato Area Chamber of Commerce
Oct 30 Halloween Party w/ Open Jukebox and Costume Contest at the Iron Horse Grill & Saloon
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Connect with Cokato is brought to you by the Cokato Area Chamber of Commerce and the Connect with Cokato Team.