October is Time to Savor Living in the Islands

The 7th Annual Savor the San Juans: A month-long medley of food, farms & art promises farm tours, a new Bite of the San Juan Islands, wine dinners, and more

— from Barbara Marrett/San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau —

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For locals, fall presents a time to take a deep breath  and savor the bounty of their own island or even escape to a neighboring island. The month of October can’t be surpassed for its creative celebration of island living in the form of food, art and culture. A farm dinner in a bounteous garden, a tasting of fresh sourdough bread pulled straight from an outdoor bakehouse, a farm-to-table food and wine event in a historical brick factory. These are just a few of the signature harvest events unfolding this October during Savor the San Juans: A Month-long Medley of Food, Farms & Art. Farmers, winemakers, distillers, brewers and chefs from around the San Juan Islands will come together for a range of offerings including a harvest dinner held in a garden, meet-the-producer farm tours, wine tastings in a vineyard, a harvest happy hour, a chili cook-off and more.

On San Juan Island, ARTSTOCK welcomes visitors to wander Friday Harbor galleries lit up for the evening with an amber glow, enjoying local art and nibbles on October 4^th & 5th. The San Juan Island Farmers’ Market and the Farm Parade will keep the streets of Friday Harbor and the historic Brickworks community center buzzing on Saturday, October 4. The annual Oktoberfest held at the fairgrounds on October 11^th, will have the whole family dancing to oomph music. On October 26^th the Bite of the San Juan Islands will bring farmers and chefs from all three islands together at Brickworks, a new gathering space in a historical brick factory in Friday Harbor.

On Orcas and Lopez Islands events include: the Orcas Island Farm Tour – brunch and a self-guided farm tour to Maple Rock Farm, Black Dog Farm, West Sound Farm and Coffelt Farm on October 5. The Lopez Island Farm Tour invites you to visit three farms and includes cheese sampling and goodies from an outdoor wood-fired baking house, on October 4th. Orcas Island’s Doe Bay Café will host a Harvest Happy Hour in the Doe Bay Garden on October 4.

Grab your spirit of adventure and discover a month-long movable feast for the senses on all three main San Juan Islands – Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island. Savor the San Juans pulls together all the elements of a memorable post-summer celebration, including harvest festivals, art festival, music events and lodging specials at the island’s  inns.

Check out these Savor the San Juans events, with updates at www.visitsanjuans.com/savor:

“Savor” these events:

Lopez Island Vineyards Harvest Party, Lopez Island, September 13 & TBD

San Juan Vineyards Harvest Festival, San Juan Island, October 4

Doe Bay Garden Harvest Happy Hour, Orcas Island, October 4

Friday Harbor Fall Farm Parade, San Juan Island, October 4

Lopez Island Three Farms Tour, Lopez Island, October 4

Heritage Harvest Feast, Orcas Island, October 4

ARTSTOCK, Friday Harbor/San Juan Island, October 4-5

Farmers’ Markets on Orcas & San Juan Islands, Saturdays, October 4, 11, 18 & 25

Pelindaba Lavender Farm – Farm Tour & Distillation Demo, Friday Harbor/San Juan Island, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25

Jones Family Farm Community Pig Roast, Lopez Island, October 5

Orcas Island Farm Tour, Orcas Island, October 5

Island Harvest Chili Cook-off, Friday Harbor, October 11

Oktoberfest, Friday Harbor/San Juan Island, October 11

Red Rabbit Farm-to-Table Cooking Class & Dinner, Orcas Island, October 11

Bite of San Juan Islands, San Juan Island Cheese & Island Grown, San Juan Island, October 26

“Savor” These Restaurant & Local Food Offerings:

Friday Harbor/San Juan Island

Duck Soup Inn – Savor Special 3-Courses for $35, Oct. 1-31

Vinny’s Ristorante – Savor Dinner Special 3-Courses for $30 / $35, Oct. 1-31

Coho Restaurant – German Beer & Wine Dinner, Oct. 3

The Bluff Restaurant at Friday Harbor House – San Juan Island Blackberry Dinner, Oct. 4

Coho Restaurant – San Juan Vineyards Winemaker’s Savor the San Juans Dinner, Oct. 17

The Bluff Restaurant at Friday Harbor House – San Juan Island Farm Dinner with Blue Moon Farm Oct. 18

Coho Restaurant – Sparkman Cellars Winemaker Savor Dinner, Oct. 24

Lopez Island

Lopez Islander Resort Restaurant – Savor Special 4 Course Dinner for $30, Oct. 1-31

The Bay – Savor Special 3-Course Dinner for $35, Oct. 1-31

“Savor” These Cultural Offerings:

From an art market and gallery exhibits, to cooking classes, theater, film, music and ghost stories, October is a great month to savor the cultural offerings in the San Juans.

“Savor” These Outdoors Specials:

Watch for whale and wildlife tour specials, a wine pairing & tapas evening cruise, and other outdoors events during the month of October here.

Susie’s Mopeds – Savor the Fall Beauty of San Juan Island, Friday Harbor/San Juan Island, Oct. 1-31

Orcas Island Trail Rides – Savory Trailrides, Orcas Island, Oct. 1-31

Escaping to another island, or inviting friends and family up for the events is made more affordable by specials and packages on all three islands and can be browsed online. Check out the special “Savor” page of the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau website for links to participating restaurants, B&Bs, inns and hotels plus new additions to the calendar and details on all events. The Visitors Bureau calendar is being updated almost daily as events and specials are added.