Fall Cranberry Festivals

Just where do all those cranberries come from that end up on the Thanksgiving table? Why, the fall cranberry festivals of course – at least in part.

Although cranberries are harvested year round, October seems to be full of cranberry celebrations from New Jersey to Washington. Cooking and baking contests are particularly popular so you’ll want to sample everything from traditional cranberry sauces and chutneys to cranberry-studded breads and even ice cream. To honor the humble cranberry, which was introduced to Europeans by Native Americans who believed in its medicinal qualities, you’ll find parades and even cranberry queens of all ages. If you’re lucky there will be a nearby cranberry marsh to tour so you can see firsthand how these popular fruits are grown.

The whole family will find activities, craft booths, and entertainment to keep them amused and busy, so don’t hesitate to bring them all along even if they proclaim to be no fans of cranberries! Perhaps by the end of the day, they’ll have changed their minds.