Palm Beach County isn’t necessarily known for its fall foliage, but there are plenty of ways to get in on the autumn action in Florida. As an added bonus, the autumnal equinox also tends to signify the end of the summer heat. And who doesn’t want to visit the beach in October? You may even be able to drop by the pumpkin patch in shorts and a T-shirt. Not a bad deal at all, if you ask us.<
At The Waterford, a senior living community in Juno Beach, Florida, we jump at the chance to celebrate the fall season. We just tend to do it Florida-style. That brings us to our next point.
We All Celebrate Fall in Different Ways
Perhaps the best part of autumn in Florida is that you can still celebrate all of the fall holidays in any way you see fit. And, in our opinion, the more you know about the fall season the easier it is to appreciate it. That’s why we have gathered some fun fall facts to get you ready for autumn.
Harvest Moon & the Autumnal Equinox
Each year, the autumnal equinox marks the start of fall. Although the annual occurrence is typically observed all day, it really is just a moment in time. In 2021, the sun will cross the earth’s equator on September 22 at 3:21 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. So mark those calendars!
Additionally, here in the northern hemisphere, we refer to the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox as the harvest moon. In 2021, the harvest moon will occur on September 20.
Different cultures celebrate harvest and the autumnal equinox in different ways. Mabon is a pagan holiday that celebrates the gathering of crops and the bounty of earth. The Moon Festival is a major celebration in China and other Asian countries that coincides with the harvest moon. During the festival, families come together and share round pastries called moon cakes.
Halloween
The word Halloween comes from All Hallows’ Eve — the second night of a festival called Samhain, dating back to the pagans in Ireland. When you think of Halloween in the U.S., which falls on October 31 each year, costumes, candy and jack-o-lanterns may come to mind. Many of these traditions stemmed from the Samhain festival. Though, at first, people carved turnips, potatoes and even beets instead of pumpkins. Eventually we made the switch to pumpkins.
Speaking of pumpkins, October is also the perfect time to visit your local pumpkin patch. Experts agree that the best time to go pumpkin picking> is during the first two weeks of October. Though if you want jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, you should wait until a few days before to carve them.
Thanksgiving
A harvest festival is an annual celebration that occurs around the time of the main harvest of a given region. Many cultures celebrate harvest around the time of the harvest moon. In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving each year on the fourth Thursday of November.
Similar to other harvest festivals, Thanksgiving celebrations typically feature feasting. In the U.S. that means plenty of turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, among other staples. Americans enjoy food so much on Thanksgiving that we consume 3,000 to 4,500 calories, on average!
Fall Events & Activities in Palm Beach County
There are plenty of ways to celebrate fall in Palm Beach County, including right here in Juno Beach, which our residents at The Waterford proudly call home. Flavor Palm Beach happens each year at various restaurants throughout The Palm Beaches in September all month long. During the seasonal event local restaurants and bistros offer prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner.
Taste of Oktoberfest will take place October 9-10 and October 16-17 in 2021. The annual event allows Palm Beach County residents to enjoy plenty of traditional German food and beer. For golf enthusiasts, The TimberTech Championship provides a fun opportunity to see the pros in action. The annual PGA TOUR Champions event takes place in Boca Raton November 1-7 in 2021.
You can find a list of even more fall activities on the official Palm Beach County tourism website.
Celebrate Fall in Juno Beach, Florida
Residents and team members at The Waterford in Juno Beach are always game to celebrate the seasons. Whether taking part in on-site fall festivities within our community or venturing out to participate in nearby activities, there’s no shortage of things for residents and visitors to do.>
If one of the items on your fall to-do list is finding a senior living community in Palm Beach County, let’s talk. Get in touch with us by filling out the form below or calling 561-627-3800.
