Fall weekend festivals await

A pair of special events that will be spread over several weekends will give area residents plenty of opportunities to enjoy fall colors and crisp autumn air.

Pumpkinfest at Twin Lakes Bible Camp near Manson begins on the weekend of Sept. 26-27 and continues each weekend through Oct. 17-18.

Apple Fest at the Community Orchard north of Fort Dodge begins the weekend of Oct. 3-4 and continues every weekend through Oct. 17-18.

Pumpkinfest

Twin Lakes Bible Camp is located at 7718 Twin Lakes Road in Calhoun County.

Pumpkinfest hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Sunday.

Admission is $7. There is an additional $5 charge for a ride on the zipline.

A unique feature of Pumpkinfest is a cannon fueled by compressed air that fires pumpkins and other squashes for remarkable distances.

Visitors can explore the three-story treehouse and take a spin in the human hamster wheel.

Other attractions include the corn maze, pumpkin patch, corn pool, trolley rides, tire kingdom, the barrel train, rubber ducky races and the pedal car track.

Apple Fest

Apple Fest is a longstanding fall activity that is marking its 40th year in 2026.

"We know how much it means to the community to have fun fall activities to do with the family," Emily Stucky, co-owner of the Community Orchard, told The Messenger in the days before the 2025 version of Apple Fest..

"We love seeing the smiles it puts on everyone's faces," she added.

Apple Fest hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekend.

Favorite traditional parts of Apple Fest include a trip to the pumpkin patch, wagon rides, the corn maze and all the activities of the Back 40 playground.

A classic car and truck show will be part of the Oct. 3 Apple Fest, and on Oct. 10, there will be a tractor show.

The Community Orchard is located at 2237 160th St.