As fall begins, it symbolizes activities coming up due to the fall season, and Halloween. There are multiple events that are hosted every year due to the success they have, and the crowds they attract. Although there is a lot to do during the fall, two of the most popular things to do here in Salem are go to E.Z Orchards annual Harvest Festival, or the Nightmare Factory, hosted at the Oregon School for the Deaf. Both of these events are month-long events which are common places to visit in October.
E.Z Orchards hosts its annual Harvest Festival each year which started in 1996. This event includes seasonal activites and treats. These activities include the pumpkin patch, hayrides, a corn maze, and a petting zoo. As for the treats, there are kettle corn, donuts, apple cider, and caramel apples.
”My favorite part about working at E.Z orchards is it’s a really fun atmosphere and all the people who either shop or work there are super friendly. It’s all smiles and laughter there, so nobody ever has a bad day,” Whittney Mullins ‘19 said. The purpose of this event is to bring families together to experience the outdoors, bring them out for a fun time to see the orchards, and the fields.
The Nightmare Factory is a haunted walk through the Oregon School for the Deaf. This walk through the school is guaranteed to scare people. Every year the school tries new projects to improve the walk.
“The best part about going to the nightmare factory is seeing what the school comes up with, and if they scare me,” Ashley Sato ‘19 said. Whether it’s getting chased with a chainsaw, seeing creepy dolls, or clowns every year there is a newer addition to look forward to. This event is a common popular event between teenagers that enjoy the thrill, and jumpscares that the actors provide.
Their success of hosting these events has attracted large crowds, which makes both of these fall events some of the most looked forward to locally. Although there is other activities to do like going to the haunted houses, corn mazes, or the pumpkin patch. EZ Orchards & the Nightmare Factory are common popular places to visit in the Salem-Keizer area.
