Want to get out of the house this Thanksgiving season? Some food events to try

With Thanksgiving coming up this weekend, you might be spending a lot of time at home with family.

But in case you want a change of scenery, On The Coast food columnist Gail Johnson has some food-related outings for the coming weeks especially if you're into cranberries and apples.

And, really, who isn't?

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Fort Langley Cranberry Festival: Oct. 8

"It takes place in the heart of the Fort Langley village. The event kicks off with a pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Obviously there will be copious amounts of cranberries for sale. But throughout the day people can also check out more than 100 local vendors along Glover Road."

"They'll be offering everything from baked goods and preserves to pottery and handmade wooden toys. And this sounds cool more than 20 teams on voyageur canoes will be participating in the Cranberry Races, a regatta on the mighty Fraser."

UBC Botanical Garden Apple Festival: Oct. 15-16

"It's hosted by the Friends of the Garden at UBC Botanical Garden, and this year marks a milestone: it's the Botanical Garden's 100th anniversary. The festival is magnificent. More than 70 varieties of heritage, new, and tried-and-true apple varieties will be available, and organizers are expecting to sell 36,000 pounds of apples."

"There will be food available for purchase, outside of apples; items likeperogies, pizza, and popcorn. Local bakers will be selling apple pies and fruit-pocket pies. And there will also be lots of chocolate. Local artisan confectioners who will be on site include Blink, Coconamaand Rocky Mountain Chocolate."

Snacks for Kids Program fundraiser: Oct. 5

"Firefighter charities partner with the Vancouver School Board to ensure that snacks are distributed discreetly to children in need at a number of elementary schools throughout the school year.The program focuses on providing each student with a nutritious snack bar, a non-perishable juice boxand a fruit option each day.On Wednesday, 100 per cent of proceeds from dinner food sales at WildTale Restaurant, which is a seafood restaurant in Yaletown, as well as its sister restaurants, The Flying Pig, will go toward this very important cause."

With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast