September is here and you know what that means… fall is just around the corner! Autumn is the perfect time of year for picking the perfect pumpkin, wandering through an orchard or getting lost in a corn maze. Over the past few years our family has been venturing near and far to visit many different farms and festivals. This article includes details about all things fall for Southern Maryland families. I’ve included individual guides from previous years for each farm, so that you know what to expect when you go. Don’t miss the amazing giveaway, where one lucky fan will win four passes to Summers farm! See details at the end of the article.
FARMS BY COUNTY- CALVERT COUNTY
HORSMON FARM
Location: 1865 Horsmon Farm Lane, St. Leonard, MD
Phone: 443-532-5761
Website: www.horsmonfarm.com
Information: Horsmon Farm will be celebrating their fall festival on weekends Mid September through October with hay rides, petting zoo, corn box and straw maze. Don’t forget to check out their website for special events each weekend including; scarecrow making, tractor weekend and more. If you are looking for a place to pick up beautiful flowers this is the place, their mums are gorgeous and home grown. The farm is open Fridays & Saturdays 9 AM- 6 PM and Sundays 10 AM – 5 PM. Admission is $8 and includes a free pumpkin.
SPIDER HALL FARM
Location: 3915 Hallowing Point Rd, Prince Frederick, MD
Phone: 410-610-0094
Website: www.spiderhallfarm.com
Come out to Spider Hall Farm to celebrate fall by picking pumpkins, venturing through a corn maze or enjoying a hay ride. Kids will love the giant slide, moon bounce and sensory corn box. Be sure to save room for Mrs. Moo’s homemade ice cream. If you are looking for a place to have fun and learn a little too, then this is the perfect farm for you. Since I’m a huge advocate for learning through play; my favorite section of the farm is Mrs. Moo’s Little Hands. A hands-on interactive area where kids learning about farming. Kids pick up a market bag and walk around different stations and pick up foods for their bag along the way. At the different stations they learn about where eggs come from, how to milk a cow and the process for how fruits and vegetables grow. Fall attractions are open on weekends in Mid September through out October. General admission is $8 per person, kids 3 and under are free.
Spider Hall Playful Parent Guide
FARMS BY COUNTY- CHARLES COUNTY
LEGACY FARM LAWNSCAPES
Location: 5190 Leonardtown Rd. Waldorf MD 20601
Phone: (301) 861-8414
Website: www.legacyfarmlawnscapes.com
Information: Middleton’s Legacy Farm Lawnscapes welcomes you to their fall festival open Thursday through Sunday September 28 – October 27 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. The entrance fee is $10/per person. Children ages 2 and under are free. The entrance fee includes access to our farm animals, 3+ acre corn maze, three bounce houses, hay ride, pumpkin patch (pumpkins are available for an additional price) and games. Games include corn hole, pumpkin tic tac toe, pumpkin bowling, bean bag toss and soccer. There will be several vendors present at the grand opening September 28th.
Playful Parent Guide: Coming Soon
SERENITY FARM
Location: 6932 Serenity Farm Rd. Benedict, MD
Phone: (301) 274-3829
Website: www.serenityfarminc.com
Information: Starting October 6th Serenity Farms is open 10am-5pm for festive fun every weekend. Admission cost $10 per person and includes: hayrides, petting zoo, Halloween Barn “Kasper’s Kastle,” a bag of candy from Kasper himself, face painting, hay bale maze, pumpkin patch and a hayride. You can also book private tours for schools and groups on week days for $8.
Serenity Farm Playful Parent Guide
SHLAGEL FARM
Location: 12850 Shlagel Rd. Waldorf MD 20601
Phone: (301) 645-4554
Website: www.shlagelfarms.com
Information: Shlagel farm is open to the public Saturday and Sundays in October during the hours set 10 AM – 5 PM. Admission is $9 per person, children 24 months and younger are free. Shlagel farm is an interactive farm with a fun wagon ride, petting zoo, pumpkin patch and fun activities for kids.
Playful Parent Guide: Coming Soon
FARM BY COUNTY- ST. MARY’S COUNTY
BOWLES FARM
Location: 22880 Budd’s Creek Rd. Clements, MD
Phone: 301-475-2139
Website: www.bowlesfarms.com
Information: Open every weekend in October, Bowles farm opens it’s fall activities to the public from 10 AM -6 PM. Admission is $10 per person, free for children ages 3 and younger. Kids of all age will enjoy the amazing corn maze, pumpkin patch, straw jumping pit, children’s play area, wagon rides and more. The farm is open Tuesday-Friday for scheduled school, daycare and play groups.
FORREST HALL FARM AND ORCHARD
Location: 39136 Avie Lane, Mechanicsville, MD
Phone: 301-884-3086
Website: Forrest Hall Farm and Orchard
Information: Forrest Hall opens for Fall Festival September 14, 2019 through October 30th every weekend 9 AM -5 PM. Admission is $8, Groups $7 under age 3 free, activities include: corn maze, hayride, farm animals, play area and more. Free small apple or pumpkin with admission.
Forrest Hall Farm – Playful Parent Guide
FARMS BY COUNTY- SOUTHERN PG COUNTY FARMS
MONTPELIER FARMS
Location: 1720 North Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro, MD
Phone: 410-320-0464
Website: www.montpelierfarms.com
Information: Montpelier Farms is open September 8th – November 3rd Saturdays 10 AM -11 PM, Sundays 11 AM to 7 PM. Open Fridays 5 PM-11 PM during October. Admissions prices are $12 per person, Kids 2 and under are Free! Fall Festival activities include: 7 acre corn maze, “Jack and the Beanstalk” corn maze, hay rides, petting zoo, pedal karts, cow belly bounce house, pumpkin bounce house, hay & play, kiddie corral, corn tepee, roping range, farm football lounge, “Spookley the square pumpkin” movie screening and bonfires. Discount tickets on Groupon.
Montpelier Farm Playful Parent Guide
QUEEN ANNE FARM
Location: 18102 Central Ave. Mitchellville, MD
Phone: 301-249-2427
Website: www.queenannefarm.com
Information: Queen Anne Farm is known for using natural growing practices, and is the perfect place to pick a pumpkin, explore a corn maze, ride a tractor-pulled hayride, meet farm animals and enjoy activities in the Pumpkin House. Open weekends through October 10 AM-5 PM.
Guide Coming Soon
PLAYFUL PARENTS TOP FIVE PICKS FOR BEYOND SOUTHERN MARYLAND
The following farms are beyond Southern Maryland; however, are hands down the best farms that we have visited. You wont want to miss celebrating fall at any of these farms.
CHERRY CREST FARM
Location: 150 Cherry Hill Rd. Strasburg, PA
Phone: 1-866-546-1799
Website: www.cherrycrestfarm.com
Information: This was the first farm we ever visited as a family and is still our favorite farm to visit! Nestled right in the heart of Pennsyvania Dutch Land this working farm is the perfect place to harvest wholesome family fun. It’s a added bonus that the Pennsylvania Railway runs through the property. You can ride the train to the farm or just enjoy watching the locomotive travel by.
Cherry Crest Playful Parent Guide
BELVEDERE PLANTATION
Location: 1410 Belvedere Dr. Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Phone: 540-373-4478
Website: www.belvedereplantation.com
Information: Belvedere Plantation is a 645 acre heritage farm, built in the 1760s on the historic Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg, Virginia. You are sure to have hours of fun with attractions like a zipline, straw jump, trike track, pumpkin mountain slide, pedal carts, barrel train and jumping pillow. Check out their website for information on events like the Final Flashlight Maze and Pumpkin Pounding Event.
Belvedere Plantation-Playful Parent Guide
COX FARM
Location: 15621 Braddock Rd Centreville, VA
Phone: 703-830-4121
Website: www.coxfarms.com
Information: Cox Farm is celebrating its 43rd annual Fall Festival which runs daily from Sept. 15 – Nov. 5, from 10 AM -6 PM. With a map full of outdoor activities, goat village, and Cornundrum Cornfield Adventure you will need more than one visit to see and do everything. This farm features the awesome six lane wide, 150 foot long dinosaur of a slide. Be sure to check out their website for events and live entertainment schedule.
GAVER FARM
Location: 5501 Detrick Rd. Mt. Airy, Maryland
Phone: 301-865-3515
Website: Gaver Farm
Information: Located in Mt. Airy, Maryland, Gaver Farm is open daily for it’s 11th Annual Fall Fun Festival, Farm Market, pumpkin picking and pick your own apples starting September 7th. A few things that make this farm special are their Silo Chute, Apple Cider Donuts, free fudge tasting and Maryland Pride corn maze. Don’t miss out on fun events; First Responder Appreciation Week, Fall Festival, Apple Harvest Festival and more.
Gaver Farm Playful Parent Guide
GREENSTREET GARDEN
Location: 391 West Bay Front Rd. Lothian, MD
Phone: 410-867-9500
Website: Greenstreet Gardens
Information: Information: Greenstreet Gardens is a beautiful and serine farm located in Lothian, Maryland. Green Street’s Fall Festival is open late September – October every weekend from 10:30 AM -5 PM. Green Street Gardens is family and community friendly and offers an array of fun events this season such as: Hero’s Weekend, Costume Parade and Grandparents weekend. Your little ones are sure to love the giant corn box, cow train and jumbo jumping pillow.
Greenstreet Garden Playful Parent Guide
SUMMER FARM
Location: Fredrick, MD
Website: Summers Farm
Information: Summers Farm is located in Frederick, Maryland Summers Farm opens the last week of September – the end of October this year with an old-fashioned Harvest Festival featuring a Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, more than 30 activities, live weekend music, apple blasting and finger-lickin’ good food. Check out their calendar for fireworks and events schedule.
Summers Farm Playful Parent Guide
THEME PARKS WITH HALLOWEEN ADVENTURES
The following three theme parks offer festive fall fun without getting to scary during the day. Each park has a set time they switch from kids silly spooky fun during the day to mature adult scary theme park thrills at night fall.
KINGS DOMINION- GREAT PUMPKIN FEST & HALLOWEEN HAUNT
Location: Kings Dominion, Dowell, VA
Great Pumpkin Link & Halloween Haunt Link
Information: Join Kings Dominion for the ultimate fall festival, The Great Pumpkin Fest! Families and kids can participate in a collection of scare-free Halloween activities for kids presented by the PEANUTS characters like pumpkin decorating and so much more. Best of all, it’s all included with your admission to Kings Dominion in the fall!
Dates: September 21 – November 22, 2019
BUSCH GARDENS- SESAME STREET HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
Location: Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA
Halloween Spooktacular Link & Howl-O-Scream Link
Information: Celebrate silly, not-too-spooky fun on Saturdays and Sundays in October. Children (under 9) are invited to come dressed up and join in our costume parade during this daytime event. There are other family-friendly activities, too, like our all-new hay maze, trick-or-treating locations and interactive show. Please use discretion when visiting the park with young children after 5:45 pm when frightening elements come out for Howl-O-Scream.
Dates: October 5- 26, 2019
SIX FLAGS- LOONEY TUNES SPOOKY TOWN & FRIGHT FEST
Location: Bowie, MD
Website: Spooky Town Link
Information: Experience the DC area’s largest and most horrifying Halloween event, Fright Fest at Six Flags America. Enjoy chilling haunted houses, killer live shows, frightening scare zones, tons of deliciously evil treats and four new bonus days!
Dates: Weekends with a few select weekdays September 21 to November 3. Bonus days are October 31 to November 3.
COUNTY FAIR DATES & DETAILS
CHARLES COUNTY FAIR
Location: 8440 Fairground Road La Plata, MD
Date: September 12-15, 2019
Information: Deal Days- All School Children admitted FREE on Friday, September 13th from 9:00am to 5:00pm. FREE Parking on-site and at the satellite location at the Government building in La Plata. Thursday- Ride All Evening For One Price. Friday- “Kids Day” All Rides Reduced From 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Sunday- Ride 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM For One Price. Cost: Age 11 and over: $10.00 Age 10 and under: Free/ 4 Day Passes: $25.00. COUPON LINK
CALVERT COUNTY FAIR
Date: September 25-29, 2019
Location: 140 Calvert Fair Drive, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Information: Cost- $5
ST MARY’S COUNTY FAIR
Date: September 19-22, 2019
Location: 42455 Fairgrounds Rd, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Cost: $Daily: Adult ticket $7, children 6 to 12 $1, children under 6 free
Season passes: Adult $10, children 6 to 12 $2. Daily Deals: The rides take from 1 to 5 Carnival tickets. Carnival tickets cost $1 or a strip of 25 tickets costs $20. Friday (kids day) 10:00AM to 5 PM, all rides are 1 ticket (children only). Thursday and Sunday, wristbands are available for $30. ($5 discount coupon is available at schools, and on-line Click here for coupon)
MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
Location: Maryland Renaissance Festival – 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
Date: Saturday’s & Sunday’s August 24 – October 20 , 2019
Location: 42455 Fairgrounds Rd, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Details: Every one of the nine weekends of the Maryland Renaissance Festival is filled with more than 200 performers entertaining on ten stages, joust tournament field and streets of the 16th century English village. Seven weekends include additional performers or special guests to create additional themed Special Event Weekends.
PLAYFUL PARENT RENN FEST GUIDE
LOCAL EVENTS IN SOMD MARYLAND BY CATEGORY
As Halloween gets closer I will add a list of all the events and trunk or treats in one spot so you can navigate all the fun things happening around town. You can print the cheat sheet and hang on the fridge as a reminder for events you don’t want to miss. For details on each event visit the community calendar. Listed update 10-6-2019.
GIVEAWAY
One lucky fan will be randomly drawn to win a family of four pass to Summers Farm. The giveaway will remain open to all fans September 13, 2019 – September 20, 2019. You may enter once online and once on Facebook. To enter:
- LIKE the post.
- COMMENT- Your favorite thing about fall.
- SHARE- Please help spread the word about this awesome fall guide. Let’s help families find fun on the farm!
- MUST LIKE & FOLLOW the page to win!
- Not Facebook affiliated.
October 13, 2019 at 5:22 am
This is an awesome guide, great information. This is so helpful, and must have taken hours. I have been looking for a place to take the kids and this is square sweet! One suggested correction, from someone who grew up in PA 30 min from PA Dutch COUNTRY, not land. Also Weavers Farm in Morgantown PA is a great family friendly place.