Southwest Oklahoma Welcomes Autumn With Colorful Leaves, Pumpkins, And Seasonal Family Activities
Oklahoma summers are full of sun and days spent at the lake and the pool. But by the time August hits, Oklahomans are more than ready to trade in scorching temperatures for crisp autumn air. Life really does feel like it starts all over again in the fall, and one of the best places to spend the fall is in southwest Oklahoma.
A picturesque fall features cool breezes and colorful leaves, which can easily be found in southwest Oklahoma after the first fall cold front of the season. The first official day of fall this year is Tuesday, Sept. 22, and the first official fall cold front is almost guaranteed to blow through Oklahoma the Sunday before.
Top Fall Activities In Southwest Oklahoma
So as we eagerly await the official arrival of fall, we put together the top 10 activities to do in southwest Oklahoma for an optimal fall season.
1. Explore Spirit Halloween in Lawton and Duncan.
Almost all Spirit Halloween locations opened at the end of August. But for some fall purists, they don't visit the store until its truly fall. So one of the top fall activities in southwest Oklahoma is obviously to visit one of three Spirit Halloween locations. Lawton has two Spirit Halloween stores, and Duncan has one.
Whether you're looking for a costume, spooky decor or just an activity to, finally, get out of the house without sweating, visiting Spirit Halloween is the perfect activity.
2. Sip a pumpkin spice latte from local southwest Oklahoma coffee shops.
You can't truly experience fall without its signature drink - the pumpkin spice latte. Luckily, there are several local coffee shops in southwest Oklahoma that serve up the drink, plus other fall favorites, like a chai latte or a cinnamon apple concoction. Pair your favorite fall activity with an iced pumpkin spice latte and you'll forget all about 100-degree temperatures.
READ MORE: Why Elk City's Eye Opener Coffee Is A Hidden Gem
3. Visit pumpkin patches in Altus, Snyder and Apache.
Southwest Oklahoma has three locally owned pumpkin patches for residents to explore. Saville's Market in Snyder started its first pumpkin patch season on Friday, Sept. 18. Bigfoot Ranch Pumpkin Patch in Apache will open for the season on Friday, Sept. 25. And Sweet Pickins in Altus will open its pumpkin patch the first weekend of October.
All three pumpkin patches feature several varieties of pumpkins and gourds, plus fall games and photo opportunities. It wouldn't be a perfect fall season without a visit to a pumpkin patch, or three, and leaving with a pumpkin to place on your porch.
4. Spend a frightful evening at scream parks in Lawton and Randlett.
Fall perfectly coincides with the spookiest season of them all, and for some, the perfect fall season includes a visit to local scream parks. Lawton's Trail of Fear will open for the season on Friday, Oct. 2, and will be open through Saturday, Oct. 31. Randlett Volunteer Fire Department hosts its annual haunted house fundraiser with House of Carnage. At time of publishing, the volunteer fire department had not announced official dates for this year's haunted house.
5. See peak fall foliage in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Southwest Oklahoma may not have tall trees with blazing fall colors like Vermont, but the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is definitely a top place to experience in the fall. The refuge, particularly near Mount Scott, features beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red during southwest Oklahoma's fall colors peak, which is typically the first week of November.
Every year I always plan to take a drive through the refuge during the peak fall colors. Driving down the winding road beneath Mount Scott is an enchanting swirl of yellows, oranges, browns and reds - you can easily lose yourself in a breathless admiration of fall.
The cooler fall temperatures also makes for the perfect visit to the refuge for exploring and activities like hiking, walking, biking, fishing and camping. And it's an optimal time to see the area's wildlife, like buffalo and elk.
READ MORE: How To Take An Art Class At The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
6. Taste fall at the Lawton Farmers Market's annual Fall Festival.
The Lawton Farmers Market is always a great adventure every Saturday morning no matter what season. But for fall lovers, the market's annual Fall Festival is a must-attend event. During the festival, all of the vendors have special treats for fall. From freshly shelled pecans to homemade fall candles, the market brings fall to life.
This year's festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, during the market's usual Saturday hours from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year's festival will also feature a 4H pumpkin show, Zombie Run and trick-or-treating amongst the vendors. Attendees are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes.
7. Look for migrating birds at Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area.
Like the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area is also a must-visit for southwest Oklahoma's top fall scenery. The wetlands are located near Frederick, and during the fall, visitors can see migrating birds that are often not seen in urban areas of Oklahoma. Visitors can walk along paths or drive in their cars to explore the landscape and spend time birding.
8. Take advantage of Oklahoma's second-best fishing season.
Fall is the second-best fishing season in Oklahoma, and southwest Oklahoma is home to many lakes and rivers for fall fishing. From Quartz Mountain State Park to the creek in Medicine Park, fishing fanatics can easily find the perfect place to fish. Even if the fish aren't biting, there's nothing better than sitting outside in Oklahoma on a cool fall day.
READ MORE: Oklahoma's Best Fall Fishing Lakes
9. Watch football on TV or at local high schools.
It wouldn't be fall in Oklahoma without football. College and high school seasons officially kicked off in early September, and there's plenty of football left through the fall season. Even for those few in Oklahoma who aren't big football fans, it wouldn't be fall without watching the Red River Rivalry.
Southwest Oklahoma has several restaurants and breweries that show all of the college football games and often offer specials during OU and OSU games. There are also several high school football teams that offer exciting games for Friday night lights feels.
READ MORE: Maybe It's Time For OU Fans To Come Over To The Orange Side
10. Visit various communities in southwest Oklahoma for annual fall events.
Every community in southwest Oklahoma has their own annual fall events. From Chili Fest in Frederick to the International Festival in Lawton, residents in southwest Oklahoma will have no shortage of fall events and festivals to visit.
Each community in southwest Oklahoma is unique, and visiting these towns during one of their annual fall events is the perfect time to get a real sense of the community and the people who call it home. Most are like visiting Stars Hollow in the fall.
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