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. I’ve taken our years of knowledge and experience to offer insight about local farms offering fall festivals. I hope this guide is helpful to Maryland families and beyond during the 2020 fall season. In addition to this guide, you will find individual guides for each farm, so that you know what to expect when you go. This year is special, I know in light of COVID-19 parents are searching safe options. Each farm that is open this season has put safety measures in place to keep with-in regulations for health and safety guidelines. Be sure to check with a farm before visiting; some require advanced purchasing of tickets to keep from overcrowding. Weather can also effect a farms hours of operation. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway, 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 open October 2, 2020 this year. Fall festivities include 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. Purchase your tickets in advanced online. 11am-5pm Wednesday’s and Friday’s and 10am- 5pm on weekends. Admission is $8 and includes a free pumpkin.
SPIDER HALL FARM (2020 SEASON CANCELED)
Location: 3915 Hallowing Point Rd, Prince Frederick, MD
Phone: 410-610-0094
Website: www.spiderhallfarm.com
Spider Hall has announced that they will not open this 2020 season due to COVID-19. However, their ice cream shop will remain open.
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 Friday through Sunday starting September 19, 2020 from 11:00 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. New this 2020 season- Pumpkin Slingshot, kiddie sorghum maze, sound garden and climbing tire pile. There will be several vendors present at the grand opening September 19 & 20, 2020.
Legacy Farm Lawnscapes Playful Parent Guide
SERENITY FARM (2020 SEASON CANCELED)
Location: 6932 Serenity Farm Rd. Benedict, MD
Phone: (301) 274-3829
Website: www.serenityfarminc.com
Information: Serenity Farm will not host their Casper’s Castle this year. However, will still have pick-your-own pumpkin and petting zoo option available. Full details have not been finalized yet, please check their page for details.
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: Bowles Farm will be celebrating their 20th year Anniversary. They are set to open September 26, 2020 and will run their annual fall festivities through October 31st. Hours of operation are Firday’s 10am-3pm and weekends from 10am-6pm. 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 starting this September every day 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 19, 2020 – November 3, 2020. September hours- Saturdays 10am-11pm, Sundays 11am-7pm. October Fridays 5pm-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm and Sundays 11am-7pm. November Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 11am-7pm. It’s recommended to purchase tickets online in advanced. 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.
Montpelier Farm Playful Parent Guide
MILLER FARM
Location: 10140 Piscataway Rd, Clinton, MD 20735
Phone: 301-297-9370
Website: https://millerfarmsclinton.ticketspice.com/miller-farms-fall-family-fun
Information: Miller Farms is a 267 acre farm located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, that has been family owned and operated since 1879. Miller Farm is known for their ice cream and lovely market open year-round. Fall festivities will begin October 3, 2020, open Fridays, Saturday’s and Sunday’s 10am – 5pm. Tickets will be sold online only ($12 per person, Free ages 2 and under.)
Miller 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.
PLAYFUL PARENTS TOP 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 an 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. This year 2020 season they are open most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays September through the first week of November.
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. Their 2020 season starts September 17th.
Belvedere Plantation-Playful Parent Guide
COX FARM (2020 SEASON CANCELED)
Location: 15621 Braddock Rd Centreville, VA
Phone: 703-830-4121
Website: www.coxfarms.com
Information: Cox Farm Fall Festival will NOT be open this year. However, I’m including them because their hay ride is usually super cool. This year the hayride path is a self-drive adventure. Their farm fresh market stand will also be open.
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 12th Annual Fall Fun Festival, Farm Market, pumpkin picking and pick your own apples starting September 4th. 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 September 21 – November 6, 2020 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 19- November 6, 2020 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
GIVEAWAY
One lucky fan will be randomly drawn to win a family of four pass to Legacy Farm Lawnscapes. The giveaway will remain open to all local fans September 11th– September 18th, 2020. You may enter once online and once on Facebook. To enter:
- LIKE the post.
- COMMENT or GIF- 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 Playful Parent & Legacy Farm Lawnscapes page to win!
- Not Facebook affiliated.
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