With the holidays creeping around the corner you might find yourself too busy to get into fall festivities. Taking a mental break is essential for your health, and what better way to take a retreat from all your stress than to embrace all the different types of autumn activities? Whether you’re celebrating with friends, family, or flying solo there are plenty of unique and exciting events and spectacles in Las Vegas. From pumpkin patches to bar crawls, there is something for everyone to get in the holiday spirit. Take some time out of your day to try and clear your head from all the daily stress building up on top of all the upcoming holiday worries.

Gilcrease Orchard

Despite Las Vegas' desert climate, Gilcrease Orchard produces 66 acres of fresh fruits and vegetables. For Las Vegas, it is the perfect fall destination to pick pumpkins, enjoy nice apple cider, or take pictures in the open fields. Gilcrease Orchard is very family-friendly and offers mazes for children to explore and farm animals to view. The most famous part of the orchard is its apple donuts paired with their apple cider.

This fall destination is also very budget friendly as there is free parking and pumpkins are only .75 cents per pound. Gilcrease Orchard is open year-round and offers apple picking and sunflower picking, and during Christmas, they have a unique wagon ride for the kids. Getting out to pick fresh produce on a farm isn’t common in the desert, making Gilcrease Orchard its unique experience for Vegas. 

HallOVeen at the Magical Forest

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Hosted by Opportunity Village, this 2.5-acre theme park is a treat for families looking to get in the spirit of Halloween. This ticketed event starts at $16 per person and the park is open from 5:30 pm to 9 pm. Costumes are encouraged as there are trick-or-treat stations along with fun rides, nightly shows, and carnival games for everyone to enjoy.

There are also plenty of food stations to keep you fed throughout the evening. There are also seasonal goodies at The Holiday Shoppe and the different gift kiosks. Festivities will take place Oct 7-9, 14-16, and 20-31, at Opportunity Village’s campus, 6300 West Oakey Campus. 

31st Freak Street

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For thrill-seekers looking for a good scare to get put in the Halloween mood, the creators of Bonnie Screams have come up with a new type of haunted attraction in Las Vegas. 31 Freak Street at Tivoli Village is here with two new haunted houses. Find bone-chilling frights in the Crimson Manor which is said to be bustling with spirits. Or take a chance on the classic Mayhem house filled with 31st Freak Street’s resident psychos. 

If you’re a big fan of haunts and are looking to see what Las Vegas has to offer in terms of making your heart race. Tickets start at $20 per person or $30 to gain access to both houses, hours of operation are 7 pm to 12 am starting October 7th. 

Freemont Street Bar Crawl

Looking to celebrate a different kind of Halloween Spirit with Las Vegas’s finest spirits? Then maybe Fremont Street’s Bar Crawl is the perfect event for you. Only on October 30th and 31st, you can receive a guided bar crawl down Freemont to head to over 12 different bars. Starting at Hennessy’s Tavern you’ll be in for a night of affordable drinks and fun as this bar crawl will also be hosting its own costume contest.

Meet new people and party the night away in one of the world’s most iconic cities! You can always keep the party going by adding a party bus service that will take you back to the strip, this can be included when you buy your Halloween bar crawl tickets. 

Nightmare Cafe

Are you a big horror movie fan? Then you’ll definitely need to celebrate your love of all things scary and spooky at the brand-new Nightmare Cafe. While the cafe is open throughout the year and isn’t limited to the Halloween season, it is a good place to visit to put you in the Halloween mindset. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner as well as clever horror-themed cocktails.

From “The Slasher” to the “Beetlejuice Morgue-arita” the drink menu is large and has a diverse variety of cocktails to choose from. This restaurant also has non-alcoholic options and is family-friendly with their food menu having kid-sized portion options. The food menu itself is very southern cuisine inspired with options like fried okra, biscuits and gravy, and fried chicken. However, there are also vegan options to allow anyone to eat and enjoy themselves here. 

Located in the Arts District in Downtown Las Vegas, Nightmare Cafe definitely is something to check out even if you’re not a big horror fan, it definitely brings the spooky season to the heart of Downtown Las Vegas.

Moapa Corn Maze

This annual corn maze is a must-see with different attractions such as the zombie paintball hay ride, cow train, haunted corn maze, and much more. Enjoy amazing fall concessions such as apple pie fries and Carmel apples while you take in the beauty of this farm. 

The corn maze changes every year and the haunted houses are fan favorites of the returning locals. Picking pumpkins is another bonus to being on a farm, you can gather your future jack-o-lanterns while enjoying the festivities. This family-friendly event is a staple fall activity for the fall and while corn mazes are not that common in Las Vegas, Moapa makes sure there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Kayaking to a Hot Spring

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Most people aren’t aware but beyond the excitement of Las Vegas, there is a vast range of nature to see. One of the famous hot springs in Las Vegas is the Gold Strike which is at the base of the Hoover Dam. It’s a perfect kayak route for beginners and the beautiful sights of the emerald green waters are just as rewarding as soaking in the natural hot spring. You can also hike to this hot springs spot but kayaking to it exhausts your body significantly less.

There are other famous hot spring locations like Spencer’s hot springs or Fish Lake Valley hot springs but getting to see the Hoover Dam in a unique way is what makes Gold Strike that much more special. Guided Kayak tours in Las Vegas are a unique way to spend time with family or friends, or just a different way you can unwind in sin city. Getting out and taking a day to unwind and relax your muscles in the hot springs is the perfect way to reset all the stress and anxiety in your mind and body.

Great Onesie Drinksgiving Bar Crawl

Much like the Halloween bar crawl, the Thanksgiving aka Drinksgiving offers exclusive drink deals at local Freemont Street bars. This bar crawl does include special performances on the Freemont live stage and is the perfect way to spend Friendsgiving. Friends and family are encouraged to dress in onesies as they drink their way through Thanksgiving eve. This has become a new favorite Las Vegas Thanksgiving tradition and tickets start at $35 a person, so why not join in on the Drinksgiving festivities? 

Volunteer at a Local Food Pantry

Giving back to the community is always one of the most mentally rewarding parts of the holiday season. It can be a bit confusing to find where there are local food drives in Las Vegas, but from Summerlin to Henderson, the local communities all come together to make sure that food is distributed to those in need this holiday season.

Food pantries such as Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada host local canned food drives as well as annual turkey drives. Volunteers are definitely needed at these local food drives since the holiday season is the busiest time of year for handing out food or hosting events. Making donations is always welcomed, but putting in the time to volunteer is really beneficial to help you feel closer and bonded with the community around you. 

Gobble Up a Thanksgiving Meal 

Find yourself not wanting to go all out on making a Thanksgiving meal, why not take a break this holiday and enjoy one of the many fine dining options Las Vegas has to offer? Alleviate the stress of cooking with hundreds of different restaurants to choose from, there is a diverse variety to choose from whether you’re eating a meal for 2 or 20. From Sushi to Italian, Vegas has got you covered when it comes to food options here are just a handful of options to consider when looking for a good Thanksgiving spot.

Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres

This restaurant has a Spanish influence on the classic and traditional turkey dinner. Open on Thanksgiving from 4 pm to 9 pm, their menu offers turkey bechamel fritters, stuffed olives, green bean casserole, and a choice of a turkey or roasted monkfish. The Thanksgiving dinner starts at $110 per person and is definitely a high-class dinner to make your holiday feel luxurious.

Mon Ami Gabi

Mon Ami Gabi is here with their four-course prix fixe to add a classic French take on your favorite Thanksgiving meals. Open from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm on Thanksgiving day, this four-course dinner is starting off at $59.95 per person. They do also offer a take-out option on their holiday menu for $49.95. Mon Ami Gabi’s herb-roasted turkey is sure to stuff any of your Thanksgiving cravings, but if you prefer they do offer their regular menu during the holiday as well. 

Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar

Not into the traditional mashed potatoes and turkey? Try some Italiano cuisine to spice up your Thanksgiving. For $59 per person or $18 for children under 12 years old, enjoy a four-course meal of your choice of either a traditional turkey menu featuring turkey and mashed potato entrees or the classic Italian menu featuring Chicken Marsalese, veal, beef tenderloin, salmon, or Mediterranean sea bass as your main entree. Ferraro’s is serving these menus from 1 pm to 9 pm on Thanksgiving day, so reserve your seat ahead of time if you plan on going with a big group.

Hash House A Go Go

Do you want to eat a massive meal? Try the oversized portions of Hash House A Go Go with their specialized Thanksgiving menu Turkey To Go Go. The holiday menu will offer either the Roasted Turkey Dinner or the Big O’Turkey Pot Pie which includes a main entree with sides starting at $18.99. Open all day Thanksgiving day, they have dine-in or take-out services that will suit your needs for a ‘Gobble till you Wobble’ Thanksgiving dinner. 

Focus on You This Fall 

National Alliance on Mental Illness reported that 64% of people with mental illness reported feeling worse during the holiday season. Fall is just the prelude to the major holidays that tend to make people feel more lonely, depressed, or anxious. That is why focusing on yourself and treating yourself to do something new and exciting can be very beneficial to your mental health and take away some of the pre-holiday blues. 

Even if you do not commonly experience mental health issues, it is true that the holidays can feel overwhelming and stressful, but that does not mean you do not deserve a break to unwind. Celebrating can feel like a choir or be draining due to planning certain events, but it doesn't have to feel that way. Enjoy this time with friends, family, or take some time to do some self-love and go out on a new adventure.

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