As the days turn cooler and the leaves begin to turn, families need to look no further than Warren County to plan a fun day before winter bears down with cold temperatures and slick roadways.There are an abundance of fall festivals and other special events during the month of October. We have highlighted a few to choose from.Thierbach’s Orchards, MarketThierbach’s Orchards and Market is a great place to bring the kids and pick your own apples. Located at 18427 Highway 47 just four miles north of Marthasville, the market is open from July through early November from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.For $5 each, children can enjoy the “Fields of Amazing Fun,” which includes a honeysuckle vine maze, rope maze, tile maze and bounce houses. The petting zoo is home to donkeys, goats, chickens and pheasants.Hay wagon rides to the apple orchard are offered on Saturdays and Sundays in October. If you wish to come during the week, check the field trip portion of the website for more information.“The kids bring so much energy to the orchard,” said Susie Thierbach. “Sometimes the kids come back on the weekends with their families and that’s a lot of fun.”Fresh fall produce found in the market includes apples, winter squash and pumpkins. Thierbach’s also offers fresh apple cider made on site or select jams, jellies, pickles or salsa to take home.The apple orchard features more than a dozen varieties available from early August through mid-October. Some of the varieties are Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Mutsu and Granny Smith.If you missed the spring season at Thierbach’s berry patch, next year’s produce will include strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries and peaches.For more information visit thierbachorchards.com.Deutsch Country DaysFor one weekend each year, the pioneer days of early German immigrants is highlighted at Deutsch Country Days. The 35th annual event will be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Bring your family and plan to stay the day. Relive the lives of early settlers of Warren County as demonstrators and artisans bring a variety of farm and folk skills back to the present.The event takes place at Luxenhaus Farm, located just north of Marthasville at 18055 Highway O. Nestled in the valley and ridges you will find restored log buildings, a covered bridge and plenty of nostalgia.The smell of woodsmoke and freshly cut wood mixes with roasted nuts and German fare.Weavers, basket makers, blacksmiths, flint knappers, sorghum and cider makers and farm skills are just a few of the things to see at Deutsch Country Days.As you travel from the village to the Osage Trail, you will hear strands of music from the dulcimer, violin, native flute and hammered dulcimer. Enjoy German potato salad, apple cider, homemade root beer and a variety of treats from the country store.“We have a new nationally known artisan this year that will be located along the Osage Trail,” said founder Lois Hostkoetter. “She paints Indian gourds in a way that most people have never seen.”Tickets are $18.50 for adults; $16.50 for military and seniors (62 and older); $8.50 for children 5-15; and children under 4 are free. The Sunday family special is one child ticket for $3.50 with purchase of one adult ticket. Additional children are $8.50. Leashed dogs are welcome.For more information visit deutschcountrydays.org.Big Joel’s SafariPetting Zoo Big Joel’s Safari Petting Zoo and Educational Park is a fairly new attraction to Warren County, first opening its doors in July of 2012.Its normal operating hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.The zoo is a USDA licensed and insured facility. It houses a great collection of animals, including bison, camels, zebras, llamas, ostriches, parrots, reptiles, a variety of deer and more. Check out the huge variety of parakeets, Clarence the camel or Pumpkin the bison cow. There is also a baby zebra that recently arrived.Joel and Melissa Clinger and the rest of the Clinger family have a great love for animals of all kinds and work tirelessly to tend to the great species seen at the zoo.“We can get you closer to the animals here than at most zoos,” said Big Joel.Big Joel’s Spooky Safari began Sept. 29 and will continue through Nov. 6, the last day of the season. On Saturday, Oct. 22, there will be a Spooktacular Celebration.Admission is $6 per person. No pets are allowed and it is a smoke-free facility. The grounds are partially wheelchair accessible. Field trips are available. Call 636-745-3031 for more information.Big Joel’s is located at 13187 State Highway M in Wright City. The park advises visitors not to depend on GPS as there have been reports of visitors winding up in the wrong place. Directions from St. Louis, Chesterfield, Kansas City and Washington are listed on their website at bigjoelsafari.com.Pumpkins GaloreFor 28 years, the Mikus family has provided home grown pumpkins and family fun at their farm at 26415 S. Stringtown Road, just off Highway M near Wright City. Their season runs from Sept. 24 through Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.Activities are geared for all ages, from hayrides, kiddie trains, pedal tractors to weekend special activities and live music. See the farm’s website at pumpkinsgalore.com for a schedule of local bands playing.“We take great pride in the fact that there is no admission,” said Ardelle Micus. “We love it that all our family is involved, including our six grandchildren. We want people to enjoy a day in the country on the farm.”Cisco and Caesar, Belgium draft horses are available on the weekends for wagon rides, a chain saw carving artist will be on hand and local bands will bring the best of their country and bluegrass music.The farm boasts Warren County’s largest sandbox or the kids can play in a grain bin filled with corn, beans and wheat. A petting zoo is available or choose the bounce house or straw maze.Dave Mikus said he enjoys having Warren County schools spending their field trips at the farm free of charge. Each child has lots of fun and takes a pumpkin along.The Pumpkins Galore craft and good shop carries pumpkins, gourds, mums, apple and peach butter, salsa, jams, old-fashioned root beer and gift items.To schedule a field trip or a private hayride and bonfire, call 636-745-3927.Other ActivitiesOct. 10 — The Kelly Miller Circus, 4:30 p.m., Warren County Fairgrounds, Warrenton.Oct. 23 — The Peers to Treloar Party, noon to 4 p.m., live music and food at Treloar Katy Trail, Artist Bryan Haynes at Peers, book release.

Apple picking at Thierbach’s Orchards and Market (left), petting animals at Big Joel’s Safari (center), and fun at Pumpkins Galore (right). Cindy Gladden photos.