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Farms with Activities for Children

Ready to take the kids to enjoy a day at the farm? We’ve got a great list of farms with activities for kids. These farms offer things like cow trains, jumping pillows, playground space, slides, gem mining, zip lines, pedal cars and so much more. Some farms charge per activity, and some farms charge one flat admission fee.

Shelby Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

704.434.8187 | 120 Broadway Drive, Shelby, NC

Shelby Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch offer fall activities including parties, an 8-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, and more. They also offer a haunted maze in October at night. There is a section of the haunted maze appropriate for younger crowds, with the rest of the maze being for older participants.

Fall Season runs September 17th – October 30, 2022, Friday through Sunday. Weekdays are reserved for large groups.

Farm admission is $13 for ages 3 +, Haunted Pass is $15 for ages 3 +
There are courtyard activities, mazes, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and over 40 other attractions to participate in.

Wise Acres

704.628.6232 | 4701 Hartis Road , Indian Trail, NC

Opens September 17 for Fall Season

Wise Acres is a USDA organic produce farm that offers U pick strawberries in mid-April to early June, Sunflowers from June to July, and U pick Pumpkins from mid-September to mid-November.

On location is Wise Pie Pizza to purchase food and drinks.

They offer wagon rides, a barrel train for ages 12 and under, climbing and swinging structures, farm animals to meet, and locally made products for purchase.

Patterson Farm

704.797.0013 | 704.636.4005 | 10390 Caldwell Road, Mount Ulla, NC

Patterson Farm is located just north of Charlotte in Mt. Ulla, NC. The farm offers educational tours, a produce market, seasonal events, and more.

Fall Season begins September 24th, 2022 through November 5th, 2022

Fall activities include a barnyard, playground, corn maize, hayrides, train rides, pumpkin patch visits, and more.

Hours: Monday – Friday : 12 – 6 pm; Saturday – Sunday : 9 – 5 pm
Admission: Monday – Friday : $13 per person; Saturday – Sunday : $15 per person
Pumpkins are sold separately from the admission price. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance.

Justus Orchards

828.974.1232 | 187 Garren Road, Hendersonville, NC

Justus Orchard playground

KABOOM finalist

2023 KABOOM Awards Family Favorites Finalist: Best Family-Friendly Farms


Located in a picturesque part of Hendersonville with views of the mountains, Justus Orchard is the perfect place to go apple picking. Their apple cider donuts are also a treat not to be missed. This apple orchard in Hendersonville, NC was one of the first in the state to invite customers to not only buy apples already picked but allow visitors to go into the orchard and pick their own apples.

Open for 2023 season
Check the Justus Orchard Facebook page for current u-pick status, before heading up. 

Gala Apple Upick opening day: August 11th, 2023

Well-behaved dogs on leash allowed and owners must pick up after them.

OFFERS:
Blackberries – July thru August

Apples – Mid August thru Early November
Bakery
Apple cannon ($)
Jumping pillow ($)
Cow Train ($)
Playground



 

Millstone Creek Orchards

| 506 Parks Crossroads Church Road, Ramseur, NC

Millstone Creek Orchards is open daily for u-pick with lots of themed weekends throughout the fall with activities.

  • bakery
  • hayrides
  • pumpkin patch in the fall
  • u-pick pecans in November
  • live music
  • animal visits

No pets allowed.

Red Wolf Farm

828.999.8099 | 1900 H W Farm Road, Maiden, NC

Red Wolf Farm is located north of Charlotte in Maiden, NC. They offer special events, field trips, weekend pumpkin patch activities in October, and more.

Fall season for 2022 begins October 1st, 2022. Opened Saturday and Sunday until October 30th.

Fall activities include a corn maze, hayride, a kids corn maze, large play structures for kids, corn “swimming”, inflatables, pumpkin bowling, concessions for purchase, and more.

Hours: 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday; school field trips all other days of October.

Admission: $8.00 per person, children 2 and under are free

Hall Family Farm

704.562.4021 | 445 West Rebound Road , Lancaster, SC

Hall Family Farm is a 4th generation farm located in Lancaster, SC just south of Charlotte. The farm offers birthday and group parties, Hall’s Kitchen dining, Fall season events, Spring season events, school tours, and more.

Fall Season: 7-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch ($0.70 cent per pound), hay ride, activities for kids, pedal go-karts, and more. There is no admission fee. There is a corn maze ($10.00 per person ages 3 and up), as well as a kids corn maze ($2.99 per person ages 3 and up). Tent with bonfire rentals are also available starting at $75.00 for 4 hours.

Spring Season: Pre-picked and U-pick strawberries, musical hayride, kids activities, and food/ drink for purchase. Hayrides are $3.50 for ages 3 and older (all ages allowed). They also have gem mining and a kids playground.

Bush N Vine Farm

803.684.2732 | 1650 Filbert Highway, York, SC

Bush n' Vine

Bush N Vine Farm is located in York, SC, just 40 minutes South of Charlotte. The farm is over 150 years old and focuses on producing fresh produce. They offer U pick produce as well as pre-packed produce for purchase.

Fall Season runs the late September to the end of October.
Fall activities include u pick pumpkins, food for purchase, wagon rides, observation bee hive, hiking, and more.

Hours: Monday – Saturday 8 am – 6 pm (pumpkin patch closes at 5 pm)

U Pick Seasons: strawberries (mid-April through May), blueberries (May through July), blackberries, (June through late July), peaches (summer), flowers (June through October), and pumpkins (mid-September through October 31st).

Bush N Vine participates in the Ag and Art Tour that occurs annually throughout SC.

Riverbend Farm

704.622.7192 | 12150 McManus Road, Midland, NC

Riverbend Farm is located in Midland, NC, a short drive East of Charlotte. They are only open in October for field trips, fall activities, and a pumpkin patch.

Fall season begins in October. They are open 7 days a week, afternoons and weekends.
Monday- Friday hours: 3:30 pm to 6 pm
Saturday- 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday- 1 pm to 6 pm

Fall activities offered include several unique slides, lots of photo opportunities, a farm-themed playground, a picnic area, an animal barn, wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, and more. Pumpkins are $0.50 per lb and are field placed.
Admission is $6.00 for ages 2 and older. 

Hodges Family Farm

980.867.1014 | 3780 Rocky River Road , Charlotte, NC

Annual Pumpkin Patch: September 24 – October 31, 2022; Open 7 days per week. 

Hodges Family Farm is located just north of Charlotte’s Uptown and offers goods for purchase, an annual pumpkin patch, weddings and events, an antique tractor show (October), farm tours, and several agility competitions. They also participate in the Davidson Farmers Market.

During fall, there are barnyard animals, hay mountains to play and climb on, picnic areas, and photo opportunities.
Saturdays and Sundays have food for purchase, with weekend parking being $5.

They also offer school field trips during the fall.

Note: Pumpkins are field placed.

Carrigan Farms

704.664.1450 | 1261 Oak Ridge Farm Highway, Mooresville, NC

Carrigan Farms is a 5th generation farm that specializes in produce, educational tours, special events, and swim parties. Advanced registration is required for U pick seasons.

Fall pumpkin picking begins October 1st, 2022 – October 31st, 2022and includes a hay ride, petting zoo, and a u-pick pumpkin from the patch. The cost is $14 per person.
They also offer a Haunted Trail in October.

Apple picking begins September 6, 2022, through September 25th, 2022, and includes a hay ride, petting zoo, and a half peck bag for picking apples. The cost is $14 per person.

Strawberry picking begins in late April.

Sunflowers bloom in September.

Carrigan farms offers swimming throughout the summer in the quarry. Reservations must be made ahead of time. You can read our Kidding Around review on the quarry.

Aw Shucks Farm

704.709.7000 | 3718 Plyler Mill Road, Monroe, NC

Aw Shucks Farms is located in Monroe, NC, just 20 miles from Charlotte. They offer regular hours for the public in the fall only.

Fall Season runs September 23rd through November 6th, 2022; Friday – Sunday
Fall activities are available on weekends and include food, bonfires, a pumpkin market, a corn maze, wagon rides on Saturdays and Sundays, an animal barn, a train car, a grain bin slide, hay bales to climb, and fishing on Saturday and Sunday.
Pricing: Adults are $12/ Children $10, Children under 3 are free. No animals are allowed.

Carolina Corn Fest is hosted by Aw Shucks Farm on September 17th, 2022. They also host The 13th Acre Haunt in October and Burger Fest in May.

Spring and Fall field trips are available on weekday mornings, with structured activities for $10 per student/parent.

Birthday Party Packages are also available from March to Mid September.

Lineberger's Farm

704.922.8688 | 906 Dallas Stanley Highway, Dallas, NC

Lineberger’s Farm is located in Dallas, NC, just 30 minutes from Charlotte. The farm offers U pick, a farm store, and a seasonal pumpkin patch.

Fall season begins in mid-September. 
Admission is free, with tickets purchasable for activities, including wagon rides for $6.50, duck and chicken feeding for $0.50, and more. Pumpkins are not u pick, but they do offer a free pumpkin with the purchase of a wagon ride. Pumpkins can be purchased in their store.

U pick seasons: strawberries (mid-April – June), blackberries (June – July), sunflowers (July & October), muscadines (September – October), and greens (September – October).

Jeter Mountain Farm

828.513.0404 | 1126 Jeter Mountain Road, Hendersonville, NC

Jeter Mountain Farm is the result of more than 150 years of farming history in the Hunsader family. Located on 411 acres near Hendersonville and Brevard, this farm offers Choose N’ Cut Christmas Trees, plus u-pick includes berries, peaches, pumpkins, grapes, and over 20 varieties of apples. Be sure to check the Jeter Mountain Farm Harvest Calendar to see what’s ready for picking. Important to note for the tractor enthusiasts in your family, orchards are accessed via tractor ride!

2023 season: Get updates for availability on their Facebook page.

  • Open weekends 10-5 as of July 2023 for u-pick berries.
  • Apple U-pick Begins August 12, 2023.
  • Pumpkins will be available in early October, 2023.

Pets are not allowed at the u-pick orchards, inside the market, inside the tap room, coffee shop, and wagons

Offers:

U-pick Apples & other fruits according to season
Market with pre-picked apples, apple cider, apple cider donuts, and other goods
Hard Cider Tap Room
1813 Smokehouse
Covered play area