Farms with Animals
What trip to the farm is complete without animals? In addition to many other activities, the farms in this list have animals out that kids can look at, and in some cases feed or pet.
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.
Sky Top Orchard
828.692.7930 | 3403 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, NC
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Outdoor Fun
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Farms
A KAG 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.
2023 season-opening date: Sky Top WILL HAVE U-Pick in 2023.
- Open weekends as of end of July for donuts, wagon rides, and farm store apples, follow their Facebook page for updates.
- Apple Upick Begins August 3rd, 2023
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
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.
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 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.
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.
Millstone Creek Orchards
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 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