Fall officially starts on Sunday and The Electric and Downtown Great Falls have you covered with your guide to Fall in Falls.

Celebrate the season

Oktoberfest is taking over the 100 block of Central Avenue from 4-11 p.m. on Sept. 27 with German beer, German food, music, games and a street party. Entry is free at the event brought to you by KellerGeist, Annie’s Tap House, Tracy’s Family Diner and Eagle Beverage.

Get ready to indulge in the sweetest event of the season! Rotary Electric is hosting a Friendsgiving ‘Dessert Style’ celebration on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. at Annie’s Tap House.

Bring your favorite dessert to share as we gather to enjoy great company, delicious treats, and the spirit of gratitude.

They’re supporting the Great Falls Community Food Bank and encourage participants to bring canned goods and non-perishable items. You can drop them off at our meeting spot at the back of Annie’s Tap House.

Rock out at Harvest Howl Nov. 8 at Expo Park.

The event is an annual fundraiser for Camp Rotary and this year’s lineup includes Dale Watson opening for Asleep at the Wheel.

The event includes food vendors, cocktails, a desert auction, 50/50 raffle and more.

[The Electric Events]

Savor the seasonal transition

There’s still some sunshine and comfortable temperatures to enjoy. Park yourself on a pedlet downtown through Oct. 1. Pedlets are located at The Mighty Mo, Enbar, The Wild Hare, KellerGeist, Celtic Cowboy and Tracy’s or the suspendlet at Elevation.

Great patios can be found at Fire Artisan Pizza, Fifth and Wine, Magpie, Annie’s, Electric City Coffee and Crooked Tree.

After grabbing a coffee or a cocktail, take in the changing leaves with a stroll through Gibson Park or along the River’s Edge Trail.

If you’re up for a longer walk, head down the trail to Giant Springs State Park for the Fishing for Pumpkins Festival on Oct. 6 from noon to 3 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will be set up across the street in Heritage Park with music, food, and carnival style activities designed for kids ages five and older.

More information can be obtained at the Giant Springs ranger station or 406-727-1212

Sip a taste of fall

Pumpkin spice and other fall flavors are back around town.

Try to caramel apple mimosa at Magpie with champagne, mulled apple cider and caramel vodka, rimmed with caramel sauce and cider mix.

Lots of ciders are on tap around town, plus fall inspired cocktails.

Grab a book from Cassiopeia Books or the Great Falls Public Library and snuggle up with the homemade pumpkin spice from Crooked Tree and Electric City Coffee.

Soup season is also back with housemade tomato basil soup at Buffalo Blanc and the new creamy chicken bisque at Fire Pizza. Try the soup with Fire’s new focaccia sandwiches.

Buffalo Blanc has a fall apple croissant starting Sept. 21. It’s a toasted croissant with apple pecan butter, cinnamon and sugar and crunchy dried caramel apples.

Paniolo Cafe has seasonal house made coffee syrups available now, pumpkin spice, praline, spiced brown sugar and caramel apple pie, plus house made chai.

Morning Light Coffee Roasters has a new fall coffee flight that sounds scrumptious with vanilla pumpkin, spiced brew, pumpkin spice latte, butter pecan mocha and caramel hazelnut cappuccino.

Cozy up with crafts

Paint pumpkins at Brush Crazy on Sept. 27.

Learn to crochet at The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers with a class on Oct. 3 and Oct. 23.

Delve into the world of sourdough art and join Alcove Baking Co. at Pizazz in an immersive, hands-on, advanced sourdough workshop on Oct. 19 at noon for $150 per person.

During this two-and-a-half-hour class, you’ll learn sourdough shaping with inclusions, artistic scoring techniques, as well as how to shape and score your own pumpkin sourdough for the holidays.

Take a flower class at Life in Bloom for $85 per person, but there’s a discount if you sign up for multiple classes. Sips and snacks will be provided. Call 406-403-6734 to sign up or register online.

The fall classes are:

•         Pretty Pumpkins: Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
•         Witches Brew: Oct 29 at 6:30 p.m.
•         Harvest Hues: Nov 24 at 3 p.m.

Hop over to Old Mill Gift for Operation Pumpkin Seed, their first fall festival Oct. 4-5 and Oct. 7-8 at 617 1st Ave. N.W.

They’re seeking more artisan crafters and artists to join the fun and interested vendors should email Info@OldMillGift.com

Start your holiday shopping

Grab your gal pals and shop for fall looks and décor at downtown boutiques like Dragonfly Dry Good, Planet Earth, Pizazz, Bison and Beargrass, Daydream Boutique, Yarn and Honey and more.

The Great Falls Farmers’ Market runs through Sept. 29.

GRAE + CO is collaborating with The Blue Rose on Oct. 3 from 4-7 p.m. with 15 percent off storewide and 15 percent of all sales from both shops going to Oliver, a local teen with beta-mannosidosis in support of the Lost Enzyme Project.

They’ll have sips, live music and complimentary bites.

Ladies Night returns downtown on Nov. 21 with deals and specials all over downtown, organized by the Downtown Great Falls Association.

Take a drive, stretch your legs

Take a drive out to Applestem Corn Maize and Pumpkin Patch for their corn maze and fall festivities in Wolf Creek. They’ve got pumpkins for purchase, snacks, drinks and fun actq for kids and grownups alike.

The Hi-Line Climbing Center is hosting Rocktober on Oct. 19.

It’s their annual fall bouldering competition and the kickoff event for the Last Best Bouldering Championship Series, crowning Montana’s state champion. Get more information or sign up here.

Get prepped for winter

There is no better place to get the family all set up for the ski and snowboard season!

The Great Falls Ski and Board Club is hosting their annual ski swap with consigned goods from the public as well as vendors carrying both new and used ski and snowboard equipment along with boots, helmets, goggles and winter apparel.

Their schedule this year is:

• Oct. 11, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., accepting consignments
• Oct. 11, 5-9 p.m., swap open to the public for sales
• Oct. 12, 9-10 a.m. accepting consignments
• Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., swap open to the public for sales
• Oct. 12, 2-3 p.m., consignments/checks to be picked up. Items not picked up are donated to local organizations.

Get more information here.

September 

• Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. | Pretty Pumpkins floral class at Life in Bloom | $85 per person, sips and snacks provided | Call to register: 406-403-6734 or reserve your spot online.
• Sept. 27 from 4-11| Oktoberfest brought to you by Annie’s, KellerGeist, Tracy’s, and Eagle Beverage 
• Sept. 21 and Sept. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Last two Farmers’ Markets 

October 

• Oct. 3 from 4-7 p.m., check out the collaborative sale at GRAE + CO and The Blue Rose. They’re doing 15 percent off storewide & 15 percent off the sale racks gifted to Oliver, a local teen with beta-mannosidosis in support of the Lost Enzyme Project. They’ll have sips, live music and complimentary bites from The Station District.
• Starting Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. | “Artsy Wick” creative candle making workshop at Brush Crazy – check their calendar for all of the dates they are offering this new experience.
• Oct. 13 from 2-3 p.m. | Fire Cider Workshop: Oxymel Creations and crafting your own fire cider at the Great Falls Public Library
• Oct. 19 | ROCKtober at Hi-Line Climbing Center. Grab your bouldering friends & family, this fun event is open to all ages. Find more information here.
• Oct. 19 | Join Abigail at Pizazz for her Advanced Sourdough Scoring and Shaping Class

November 

• Downtown Great Falls is hosting Ladies’ Night Out on Nov. 21 from 5-8 p.m. Plus, enjoy “after-hours” dinner and cocktails until 10 p.m. This retail and restaurant-oriented event is aimed at creating a fun night for ladies who want to do a little pre-holiday shopping, enjoy dinner and drinks while also spending some quality time with friends. Stay tuned for updates on all of the participating businesses and the array of specials, promotions, and activities they have planned for you to enjoy.
• Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. | Harvest Hues floral class at Life in Bloom | $85 per person, sips and snacks provided | Call to register: 406-403-6734 or reserve your spot online.