It happens to me every single season. I’ll be walking through Macy’s in the dead of winter and boom! Bikinis and tankinis are staring me in the face. Or I’ll be at Target looking for some sunscreen and find winter jackets instead. This time it happened to me at Walgreens. I went in last week to buy some note cards and was greeted by two large aisles of Halloween costumes and candy. And it was only August!

I guess I should be thankful it’s not Christmas decorations. But as the saying goes, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. So I’m going to embrace the upcoming season with zest. First thing on my list is planning a hayride.

While there are many great hayrides around town, one of our favorites is the Urban Hayride in Forest Park.You’ll load up on a tractor-pulled wagon for a 45-minute cruise around Forest Park. It’s like being in the middle of the country without leaving the city. After the ride, you’ll return to the picnic grounds where you can roast hot dogs and make s’mores on a roaring campfire.

Urban Hayrides are taking place on fall weekends from Friday, Oct. 1, to Saturday, Dec. 11, in Forest Park. Rides leave every 5 minutes starting at 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Hurry and make your reservations today. Spots are filling up very quickly, especially the early times. You can reserve a time by calling the St. Louis Parks Department at 314-289-5330 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reservations cannot be made online. The cost is $120 a wagon with a maximum of 20 people per wagon. Dates are not transferable and hayrides will go on rain or shine. For more information, please visit the website.

By Andrea Wilson, Events Blogger for SmartParenting