Each fall, San Juan Island slows down after a busy summer and appreciates the bounty that nature has thrown our way. Leaves are turning vibrant shades of red and orange, grapes are begging to be picked over at San Juan Vineyards, and island farmers are harvesting the last pumpkins and potatoes from their fields. Savor the San Juans is our way of saying thanks, and we’d love to share this true island experience with you this autumn! There are so many activities and events happening, we’re going to take it chronologically to make it easier for you to plan your fall getaway! Here goes:
Every Saturday, (through the end of October and then on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays in November and December) the 
San Juan Island Farmers Market is open from 10: a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Brickworks in Friday Harbor, two blocks from the ferry landing. Bring your market basket to stock up on island-raised produce, eggs, flowers, cheese and freshly cooked food and breads to take on a fall hike to Lime Kiln Park or to your cozy Lakedale cabin. Listen to lively music while you shop for crafts and artisanal foods…check out one of our favorites – San Juan Island Sea Salt, the Madrona smoked salt will have you hooked in no time! https://www.sjifarmersmarket.com
October 7 – San Juan Vineyards will host their Annual Siegerrebe Harvest Festival at the Vineyard. Arrive at 9:00 a.m. to help harvest this year’s crop and then celebrate with an end-of-day party, which we assume will probably include some of their delicious wines! Double-check with the vineyard at 360-378-9463 before you come to make sure the weather gods haven’t interfered! https://www.sanjuanvineyards.com/
October 7 & 8 – The San Juan Island Farm Tour is a once a year chance to see island farms in action! On Saturday, Aurora Farms (a 31-acre polyculture farm) shows off their Katahdin sheep, Boer goats and Berkshire pigs, offers tastings of their farm products and fresh cider, and will have a BBQ. From 2:30 – 3:30 p.m., the annual Farm Parade will captivate you and the kids, and will end with a community farm dinner at the Grange. On Sunday, check out draft horses at Heritage Farm, then head over to the Wild Bird Bamboo Farm to learn about bamboo. Sweet Earth Farm will open their gates from 2-4 p.m. for a cider pressing and farm tour. Good time to buy some apples for applesauce making! All the details for both days can be found at: http://www.SanJuanFarmTour.eventbrite.com
October through November 6 – The San Juan Islands Art Museum is featuring an exhibit entitled “Dialogues from the Forest: Part 3” including artists Jean Behnke, a Lopez Island printmaker and sculptor; Michael Peterson, a Lopez sculptor and Peter deLory, a Seattle photographer. The show explores and honors the natural resources of the Northwest landscape as the artists transform their explorations into personal statements of celebration. https://sjima.org
October 22 – Time for some tasty treats! the Eat Island Grown Tasting Event will showcase the best tastes of the San Juan Islands. Using fresh, quality products from San Juan County farms, local chefs will prepare delicious samples for you to enjoy, enough for a snack or a full meal. Accented by locally produced soft and alcoholic beverages, this will be a gourmet adventure for the whole family! From noon until 4:00 p.m., the Event will take place at the Brickworks (tickets are $2) and will have live music, silent and live auctions. Proceeds will benefit programs of the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild. https://islandgrownsj.com/
October 27 & 28 – Who loves a great haunted house? Count us in! Prepare to be spooked at the 3rd Annual “Frightmare at the Fairgrounds!” Friday Harbor’s huge Haunted House. Held in the main fairgrounds building, the Haunted House will have special afternoon tours for little ones, without the big scares, from 2 – 6 p.m. on Saturday, as well as the really scary version from 6 – 10 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights. For more information, call Ashley at Friday Harbor Jolly Trolley (the sponsors) at 360-378-4310.
Various Delicious Dates in October – There are so many wonderful restaurants and chefs in the San Juan Islands, and they pull out all the stops in the fall to produce an extraordinary series of food and wine dinners. A few of the tantalizing options are:
- October 15 – The Orcas Project Dinner at Duck Soup Inn
- October 24 – Savor Hunter’s Full Moon Dinner at Friday Harbor House
- October 27 – DeLille Cellars Winemaker’s Dinner at Coho Restaurant
- November 10 – Dunham Cellars Winemaker’s Dinner at Coho Restaurant
Please contact each of the restaurants directly for details and reservations.
November 3, 4 & 5 – The Fifth annual Friday Harbor Film Festival will reel you in to celebrate documentary filmmakers who use their talents to create awareness, serving as a force for positive change. Put these dates on your calendar and stay tuned for our upcoming blog which will be completely devoted to the Film Festival (and it’s 56 pages of programming)! If you want a sneak peek, contact the Film Festival at: https://www.fhff.org
November 16 – 19 – San Juan Community Theatre presents Shakespeare Rocks! a “light and fluffy” take on Shakespeare – no deep themes or social messages, it’s all about fun with Shakespeare! The show is a history lesson about the life and times of the Bard and how he came to be, a musical comedy suitable for kids and their adults. https://sjctheatre.org/
November 24 & 25 – Stay ahead of the game and get your holiday shopping done early at the San Juan Island Artisans Holiday Marketplace, featuring the “best of the best” creations by San Juan Island artisans. 55 artists will sell original hand-made arts and crafts including soaps, jewelry, clothing, gourmet food treats and so much more. To keep your energy up while you shop, local caterer, Paella, will provide delicious snacks! For more information, contact: Lauren Jawer at 360-378-9425.
Make your lodging reservations now (https://www.lakedale.com/) so you don’t miss a minute of the autumn action!