If you didn’t have time to take your kids to a “Death by Chocolate” weekend camping trip this summer, don’t worry.
Privately owned campgrounds, RV parks and resorts are still planning fun family activities throughout September and October.
Consider Winding River Campground in Mays Landing, N.J.
The park has a “Death by Chocolate” weekend Sept. 23rd to 25th with a flashlight Tootsie Roll hunt, chocolate bar bingo, chocolate fondue and other chocolate themed activities and treats. On the weekend of Sept. 30th to Oct. 2nd, the park will have a pumpkin relays, a pumpkin seed spitting contest, corn husking races and scarecrow building.
And if you’re wanting to get your kids in the Great Outdoors, how about the seven-acre corn maze at the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., or spend the night in a caboose at the Cherokee / Great Smokies KOA in Cherokee, N.C.
And if you like more adult-oriented activities and entertainment, many parks offer wine tastings, cooking competitions and Oktoberfest celebrations.
Four Paws Kingdom in Rutherford, N.C., for example, will celebrate Oktoberfest Sept. 30th to Oct. 2nd with German music, a party and German food, including sauerbraten, spaetzle, knockwurst, brats, kraut, red cabbage and potato salad. The campground will also offer sausage bobbing for big and small dogs.
“The kids are back in school by Labor Day, but campgrounds, RV parks and resorts across the country continue to offer fun weekend activities throughout late summer and fall,” said Paul Bambei, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds in Denver, Colo.
Here’s a sampling of other fun activities taking place at parks across the country:
Campland on the Bay in San Diego, Calif.: This park has numerous scheduled activities throughout late summer and fall, including games of capture the flag, dodgeball and pickleball. The park also has arts and crafts classes, tie dye T-shirt classes, kayaking classes and adult dart tournaments. www.campland.com
Gettysburg Campground in Gettysburg, Penn.: This park has a football and chili cookoff weekend, designed for tailgate party fans and chefs, slated for Sept. 16th to 18th. www.gettysburgcampground.com
Lake in Wood Campground in Narvon, Penn.: This park features Al Grout, a juggler, magician and comedian, at 8 p.m. on Sept. 17th. On Sept. 24th, the park will celebrate a September festival with sausage, hot dogs, and homemade German potato salad, served by “Mike the Porkmeister” in the Gnome Café, with square dancing in the evening. On Oct. 8th, the park will celebrate “Christmas in October,” with Christmas caroling, a Christmas party and a possible visit by Santa Claus. The park will also have pumpkin decorating and a scarecrow dinner costume party on Oct. 29th with prizes for the best costume. www.lakeinwoodcampground.com
Land-O-Pines Family Campground, Covington, La.: This park will have a “Scavender Hunt” on the weekend of Sept. 30th to Oct. 2nd with the hunt beginning Saturday morning. Families will compete as teams for a chance to win two free nights of camping. www.camplop.com

Sea Pirate Campground in West Creek, N.J.: This park will celebrate its annual crab cooking festival on Sept. 17th. www.sea-pirate.com

Shady Pines Campground in Savoy, Mass.: This park will host its 6th annual Camper Chowder Challenge on the weekend of Sept. 16th to 18th. Campground guests will prepare their best clam chowder recipes. www.shadypinescampground.com
South Haven Family Campground in South Haven, Mich.: This campground will have an apple festival on the weekend of Sept. 16th to 18th and a harvest themed weekend on Sept. 30th to Oct. 2nd with a scarecrow decorating contest, pumpkin painting, candy bar bingo and crafts. www.southhavenfamilycg.com

Smokey Hollow Campground in Lodi, Wis.: This park will celebrate Oktoberfest Sept. 30th to Oct. 2nd with a potluck with brats and sauerkraut, games and music. The park also has a pumpkin patch and caramel apples. www.sleepyhollowcampground.com

Springs at Borrego RV Resort in Borrego Springs, Calif.: This park has wine tastings and a social hour beginning at 6 p.m. Fridays. www.springsatborrego.com
Woodland Campground in Woodland, Penn.: This park will celebrate an apple festival on Sept. 17th with apple mountain pies, cider and arts and crafts. The park will also celebrate Oktoberfest on Oct. 8th with food, crafts and a flea market. Last year’s flea market had over 40 vendors. www.woodlandpa.com
Of course, these are just a sampling of some the activities and special events taking place at campgrounds and RV parks across the country in the coming weeks. Find private campgrounds in your area at www.TrailerLifeDirectory.com.
