Farms with Animals

Hop on a hayride, get lost in the corn maze and choose your pumpkin from the patch at this family-owned and operated farm. Located in charming Concord, be sure to check out the Fall Festival happening Sept. 13-Nov. 1, 2025 for wagon rides, farm animals and more.

Annual Pumpkin Patch: Early September 2025 Check their Facebook Page for updates.

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 and offer birthday parties.

Note: Pumpkins are field placed.

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

Fall season for 2025 begins September 27th, 2025. It is open Saturdays and Sundays until October 26th.

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: $9.00 per person, children 2 and under are free

A Kidding Around reader favorite, Sky Top Orchard offers mountain views, ponds with ducks and geese, farm animals, play structures, and apple and fruit trees. Don’t miss the amazing apple cider donuts. Last year there were some concerns about Sky Top getting too crowded so maybe try to go during the week if you prefer smaller crowds.

2025 season-opening date: Sky Top is open July 19th, 2025, daily from 10 am to 4 pm.

• Open daily in July 2025 for donuts, wagon rides, and farm store apples, follow their Facebook page for updates. 

Dogs on leash allowed but not in the fruit stand.

Offers:
U-pick apples
Farm Store with Cider donuts
Farm animals
Wagon Rides
Playground
Gold Rush Gem Mine 

Don’t miss our Kidding Around Review of Sky Top Orchard

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. 

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 September, 27th, 2025, and includes a hay ride, petting zoo, and a u-pick pumpkin from the patch. The cost is $15 per person ($5 online deposit + $10 cash at the door).
They also offer a Haunted Trail in October.

Apple picking begins September 2nd, 2025, and includes a hay ride, petting zoo, and a half peck bag for picking apples. The cost is $15 per person ($5 online deposit + $10 cash at the door).

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.

Opens August 17 for end of Summer event. Follow their Instagram for Fall Season schedule that is going to be shared soon.

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 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 early fall 2025. Check their website and Facebook page for updates. 

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

Hours: Monday – Friday : 12 – 5 pm; Saturday 10 – 5
Admission: Monday – Friday : Starts at $14.00 per person; Saturday – Sunday : starts at $16.99 per person. You can purchase tickets online at a discounted rate or purchase at the gate.
Pumpkins are sold separately from the admission price. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance.

They also offer special events and birthday parties. Read more about their packages on their website.

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
• U-pick blackberries (June)
• U-pick blueberries (June/July)
• U-pick apples early Augustthe  to beginning of September 2025
• Fall orchard tours start in September 2025

No pets allowed. Service animals are allowed but must wear a leash.

Fall Season Hours: TBD for 2025
During the fall season, The Hunter Farms offers a variety of fall activities.
Offers:
Wagon rides
Interactive petting barn
Variety of pumpkins for purchase
Market store

Winter Season Opening day is late November 2025

Offers:
Fresh-cut Fraser Fir Christmas trees
Wagon rides
Hot chocolate & beverages
Barn with animals to visit
Letters to Santa mailbox
Holiday store

Hours:
The tree lot is open 7 days a week 9 am – 9 pm and they are open on Thanksgiving Day.
Wagon rides and holiday store hours are available Tuesday – Sunday: 11 am – 7 pm

Santa Experiences at The Petting Barn dates are TBD for 2025