To the Pumpkin Patch

5 Farms for Fall Family Fun

Hipp Farms

Southern Fuquay-Varina

Drive Time

From Holly Springs: 25 minutes
From Fuquay-Varina: 15 minutes

Just south of Fuquay-Varina, you’ll find family-run Hipp Farms, boasting plenty of outdoor play and pumpkins to peruse. A ten-acre corn maze with trivia, hay maze, tricycle races, wagon ride, hay hoist and more are included in general admission. Other attractions are a la cart, like pony rides and duck races. New this year is a corn cannon that shoots up to 200 yards. On Saturdays in October, grab a flashlight and head into the after-dark corn maze. Season passes are available.

$10 General Admission

Located at the corner of Ballard Road and Hwy 401.
299 Ballard Road, Fuquay-Varina
(919) 669-5741
hippfarmscornmaze.com

Huckleberry Trail Farm

Siler City

Drive Time

From Holly Springs: 40 minutes
From Fuquay-Varina: 50 minutes

Ever heard of ga-ga ball? Me neither. At Siler City’s Huckleberry Trail Farm, you’ll get the chance to experience it. The dodgeball-esque game is played in a log-built octagonal pit; the only one in the world, the owners say. Also enjoy jack o’lantern bowling, pumpkin checkers, vintage toys and corn hole. Wrapping up the festival season, the farm will host a flashlight mystery maze on Saturday, Oct. 26. Team up with friends to solve the ‘whodunnit’ mystery and make it out of the corn maze first.

$10 General Admission

143 Pleasant Hill Church Road, Siler City
(919) 432-4825
huckleberrytrailfarm.com

Naylor Family Farm

Southern Fuquay-Varina

Drive Time

From Holly Springs: 20 minutes
From Fuquay-Varina: 15 minutes

Foam ball air cannons. That phrase alone has me itching to head south to Naylor Family Farm’s 22 ft. farm tower fort, a twisty, turny labyrinth of four giant feed bins with the aforementioned air cannons to guard your battle flag. Not the battling sort? Gem mining, farm animals, a 28-acre hayride, and a life-sized pirate ship also await. Naylor Farms is open until Nov. 4, the latest date of all our farms.

$18 General Admission

6016 US 401 North, Fuquay-Varina
(910) 249-2258
naylorfamilyfarm.com

Smith’s Nursery Fall Festival

Benson

Drive Time

From Holly Springs: 35 minutes
From Fuquay-Varina: 30 minutes

Johnston County’s Smith’s Nursery pulls out all the stops for it’s annual fall festival on Saturday, October 26. Live bluegrass music, pony rides, face painting and a bounce house entertain guests after a hayride to the pumpkin patch. Children can decorate their pumpkins onsite. Maple View Farm ice cream and seasonal produce are available for purchase along with plants from the nursery.

$5 General Admission

443 Sanders Road, Benson
(919) 934-1700
smithsnurseryinc.com

Vollmer Farm & Back 40 Playground

Bunn

Drive Time

From Holly Springs: 55 minutes
From Fuquay-Varina: 60 minutes

Vollmer Farm’s main event is the Back 40 playground, a wonderland of harvest festival fun. There’s a 100 ft. underground slide, kayaking on the pond ($5 per person), hayrides, farm animals, a corn maze and more family-friendly attractions. On Saturday nights, outdoor movies are projected on the side of the barn; surrounding fire pits are perfect for roasting s’mores.

Play checkers outside of the on-site market, which offers organic produce, jams & jellies and gifts.

Outside food and drinks are not allowed, but are available for purchase, including Bennie B’s Food Truck and fresh baked pies in the farm’s own cafe.

$10.68 General Admission

677 NC Hwy 98 E, Bunn
(919) 496-3076
vollmerfarm.com

Farm owners Russ and Vanessa Vollmer recently announced a pay-it-forward restaurant in Bunn called Rustic Roots that will epitomize farm-to-table, with produce coming directly from the farm. The restaurant is under construction and an opening date is not yet set.

Where to Next?

Is there someplace you’re dying to visit? Let us know at editor@mainandbroadmag.com
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