Who’s excited for Fall? We are!
Fall brings pumpkin patches, fall festivals and much to do around the DMV. Maryland and Virginia of course have a wide-variety of farms offering a many activities for kids of all ages to explore.
This list is curated from our own experiences with farms in Maryland and Virginia. It’s not a complete list by any means so please do additional research. We will update this list as we visit more farms in the area to bring you the info you need to know.
Notes:
- The approximate distance from DC was measured from the U.S. Capitol as the starting location, using Google Maps. It was also calculated during weekday rush hour so times may vary.
- Information displayed on this page will be reviewed and updated as needed; however, things can change at any moment. Make sure to click the link to visit the farm/festival’s homepage for updates and booking.
Fall Festivals + Farms
Maryland Fall Festivals
Miller Farms of Clinton, MD
- Location: 10140 Piscataway Rd., Clinton, MD, 20735
- Approx. Distance from DC: 35 min.
- Open weekends through Sunday, November 3rd
- Hours of Operation: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Admission: $14.95 – $16.95 per person when purchased online (additional $2 if walk-in)
Miller Farms is definitely a gem being as though it’s fairly close to DC. We went during strawberry-picking season over the summer and enjoyed the jump pads and face painting. Fall festival admission includes hayrides, giant slides, ball toss, live animals, photo opportunities and an enormous corn maze. Enjoy the jump pads as well as the tire obstacle course, pedal carts and games. For an additional cost there’s also face painting, concessions and photography sessions.
Bottom line: Great location but lacks some of the amenities that larger farms have. There’s not much here to do for younger kids (babies and toddlers) but the older kids will enjoy the play areas and hayrides.
Visit the Miller Farms website to book tickets.
Maryland Corn Maze
- Location: 389 Gambrills Road Gambrills, Maryland
- Approx. Distance from DC: 50 – 55 min.
- Open weekends and select Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through Sunday, November 3rd
- Hours of Operation: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
- weekday openings: 9:30 am – 3:30pm
- Admission: $17.95 – $24.95 per person
The Maryland Corn Maze is a unique experience that changes slightly from year to year. They incorporate a different theme into their farm through decor and activities. The theme for 2024 is Taylor Swift! There’s a chance to meet a T. Swift impersonator at the farm and rock out during the live concert experience on Wednesday, October 2nd. Along with the theme, there’s a zip line, petting zoo, preschool play area, slingshots, jump pads, hayrides, photo ops and of course the corn maze! For an additional charge, you can purchase food for the petting zoo, paintballs (to shoot targets), concessions and pony rides. Plenty of pumpkins for purchase too!
Bottom line: Great for smaller kids! They have plenty of amenities to keep them occupied the entire time from corn pit to petting zoo and playground. For safety reasons, I also like that everything is on flat land so you can literally see the entire farm from any point (best when less crowded).
Here’s the Maryland Corn Maze website to book tickets.
Mary’s Land Farm
- Location: 4979A Sheppard Ln, Ellicott City, MD 21042
- Approx. Distance from DC: 1hr. 10 min.
- Open daily year round!
- Fall Festival Barnyard Adventures open through Sunday, November 3rd
- Hours of Operation:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Admission: $17 – $28 per person
- The weekend ultimate access tickets grant unlimited access to the super mega slide and the train rides.
We visited Mary’s Land Farm during its sunflower festival and enjoyed the super mega slide, petting farm and playground. During the fall festival and included with admission is the kid’s play park that includes a mini maze, huge tractors with slides and giant games as well as sing-a-long and magic/comedy shows. There’s also a corn maze with characters that challenge you along the way.
Upgrade your tickets to Weekend Ultimate Access for unlimited super mega slide and ride-on train rides. Additional add-ons include a souvenir cup, pumpkins and animal feed cups.
Bottom line: Another great one for smaller kids who love petting farm animals and train rides. The super mega slide looks scary since it requires a tube but actually goes slower than expected. Their farm store is awesome! It’s loaded with fresh groceries, meats, local honey, jams and even oils.
Here’s the Mary’s Land Farm website to book tickets.
Sharp’s at Waterford Farm
- Location: 4003 Jennings Chapel Rd, Brookeville, MD 20833
- Approx. Distance from DC: 1hr. 15 min.
- Open weekends Saturday, September 28th – Sunday, November 3rd
- Hours of Operation: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Admission: Free, which includes hayride
Authentic farm experience! We visited Sharp’s in October of 2021 for one of their Toddler Open Houses. This farm really caters to those who are interested in learning about farm life. There’s a free hayride to the pumpkin patch and plenty of animals that can be fed. Although admission is free, pumpkins are pay by the pound. They have a series of special events coming up that may be of interest too. And it’s also dog-friendly!
Bottom line: It’s rare to find a free-entry fall festival! That being said, this farm is on the smaller side and other than the animals and pumpkin patch offers little for kids (& adults) to do. If you’re looking for an authentic farm experience, Sharp’s is your place!
Here’s the Sharp’s at Waterford website for more info!
Clark’s Elioak Farm
- Location: 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042
- Approx. Distance from DC: 1 hr. 15 min.
- Open daily through Sunday November 3rd
- Hours of Operation:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
- Admission:
- $8 per person through Friday, September 27th
- $12 per person beginning Saturday, September 28th
Enter the enchanted forest of Clark’s Elioak Farm! You’ll find storybook characters, a fairy forest, petting farm, hayride to the pumpkin patch, playtime with ponies and other weekend activities. Additional add-ons include the enchanted express train ride, cow train ride and pumpkin patch ticket ($3 per pumpkin). There’s also food vendors and faceprinting for an additional cost on the weekends.
Bottom line: This farm is huge with many photo ops and nostalgic characters that the whole family will love. I recommend it for all ages to explore. Definitely in our top 3 faves to visit!
Here’s the Clark’s Elioak Farm website to book tickets!
Summers Farm
- Location: 7503 Hollow Rd, Middletown, MD 21769
- Approx. Distance from DC: 1 hr. 30 min.
- Open daily except Tuesdays and select weekdays through Thursday, October 31st
- Hours of Operation:
- Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Fridays: 1:00 pm – 9:30 pm
- Saturdays: 10:00 am – 9:30 pm
- Sundays: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Admission:
- Weekdays: $12.50 per person online & $17.50 per person at gate
- Weekends: $17.50 per person online & $21.50 per person at gate
- Ages 2 and under are free
Summers Farm is HUGE with a few extra amenities like campfire rentals on Fridays and the weekends, Fireworks on Saturday nights in October and 45+ attractions for kids of all ages. During our visit, we played mini golf, rode the zip line, ran through the obstacle course and tried tug-o-war. There’s also a mega slide and apple blasters for an additional cost. Check out their entertainment and special events page for more information about happenings like grandparents weekend and sensory friendly hours too!
Bottom line: Summers is a farm that can quickly become overwhelming. They have A LOT of activities. I highly suggest reviewing their farm map and policies prior to visiting to plan how you will spend your time. You can also book some things ahead of time like the campfire rental which accommodates 50 people and includes one picnic table and two benches.
Here’s the Summers Farm website to book tickets!
Magnolia Meadow Farms
- Location: 13001 Creagerstown Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788
- Approx. distance from DC: 1 hr. 20 min.
- Open weekends through Sunday, October 27th
- Hours of operation:
- Saturdays: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Sundays: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Admission: $15 per person online & $20 per person at gate
- Children ages 2 & under are free!
Magnolia Meadow is a farm we try to visit every year! From excellent customer service to extremely good strawberry lemonade, I appreciate the range of things Magnolia has to offer. This farm is home to Maryland’s largest corn maze with over 5 miles of trails. There are farm animals, apple cannons, jumping pillow, mini zipline, pedal carts, mountain slide and barrel train. There’s a lot to do but it doesn’t get overwhelming. They offer private campfire rentals and u-pick fields of wildflowers and pumpkins. Also, on two special nights in October (5th & 26th) the farm will stay open until 10:00 pm for a pinked-out Moonlit Maze in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Bottom line: Magnolia Meadow is a great farm to visit with kids of varying ages. If you visit on a sunny day, remember to bring sunscreen and hats. There’s not much shade!
Here’s the Magnolia Meadow Farms website to book tickets.
Virginia Fall Festivals
Nalls Produce
- Location: 7310 Beulah St. Alexandria, VA 22315
- Approx. Distance from DC: under 30 min.
- Open daily year round
- Pumpkin Hill opens September 28th at 10:00 am
- Hours of operation:
- Monday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Admission: Free
The infamous pumpkin wall and pumpkin hill! Nalls Produce & Garden Center technically isn’t a farm or a fall festival but it has fall festival-like amenities and it’s free to visit so it’ll always be added to my lists! There are free fall displays including a pumpkin fort to climb, straw to dig and other things to keep the littles busy while you shop. They also have pigs and chickens on-site that kids can see but not touch. On Saturday, November 2nd, Nalls will host their annual Pumpkin IllumiNIGHT event, which is free and really cool to see.
Bottom line: Visiting Nalls Produce is a breeze from the DC metro area and the best part is it’s free! Be mindful of parking. They have a small-ish on-site, free parking lot. It can also get crowded fast. It’s best to go during the week or early on the weekends.
Here’s the Nalls Produce website for more information.
P.S. check out their free Nalls Kids Club newsletter that includes themed crafts & more.
Temple Hall Farm
- Location: 15855 Limestone School Road Leesburg VA 20176
- Approx. Distance from DC: 1 hr. 20 min.
- Open daily from Saturday, September 28th – Thursday, October 31st
- Hours of operation: 9:00 am – 5:00pm
- Admission: $15 per person (save $3 per person during weekdays)
- Free admission for kids younger than 2
- No online ticket sales!
Temple Hall Farm is a hidden gem of Loudoun County, Virginia. This farm has a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch, sunflower fields, wagon rides, farm animals to visit, jumping pillows, hill slides and roping cattle among other activities. Each paid admission includes one pumpkin and sunflowers. There’s also a food truck and barn house brewery on weekends and pumpkin cannons on weekends and select days in October.
Bottom line: Temple Hall is a smaller farm but it has a variety of activities to explore. Their buildings have a historic feel to them and there’s educational material to go along with some of the more stationary activities.
Here’s the Temple Hall Farm Pumpkin Patch & Sunflower Fields website.
Cox Farms
- Location: 15621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, VA 20120
- Approx. Distance from DC: 50 min. – 1 hr. 10 min.
- Open Thursdays – Mondays through Monday, November 4th plus Tuesday, November 5th
- Hours of Operation:
- September – October: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- November: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Last entry is one hour before closing.
- Admission: $10 – $25 per person depending on the day
We’ve finally made it to our absolute favorite fall festival of all time! This was also the first fall festival both my kids experienced as toddlers. So much to do and see at Cox Farms. And they have the best apple cider donuts and apple cider in the DMV, imo!
Included with admission is live music, milking demos, farm chores, hayrides, 7 slides, swings, Cornundrum (maze), local tastings of apple cider, hay tunnels and a kiddie zone for the littlest of kids. For an additional fee, you can mine gems, feed farm animals or grab food from the concession stands. Ticket holders are also allowed to take one pumpkin home at the end of their visit.
Bottom line: Again, it’s our favorite fall festival! From the food to customer service and even the political stance Cox has taken time and time again, we will forever love this farm!
I will say because Cox is massive, I highly recommend reviewing the Fall Festival Map prior to visiting. Don’t forget to snap photos at the iconic Cox Farms entrance and make sure to bring sunglasses and hats on sunny days!
Here’s the Cox Farms website to book tickets.
Great Country Farms
- Location: 34345 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont, VA 20135
- Approx. Distance from DC: 1 hr. 5 min. – 1 hr. 20 min.
- Open daily year round
- Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival is from Tuesday, October 1st – Thursday, October 31st
- Hours of operation: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Admission:
- Weekdays: $12 per child & $14 per adult online ($14 per child and adult at gate)
- Weekends: $14 per child & $16 per adult online ($16 per child and adult at gate)
- Children 2 and under are free.
Another great one that caters to kids of all ages! Great County Farms features two huge jumping pillows, 80 ft. slide, farm-themed ninja course, putt-putt golf, several mazes and maze games, petting farm and rope swings. There’s also a giant tire mountain that’s perfect for a photo opp and a variety of games throughout the farm. On the weekends, there are additional activities like pig races, marshmallow roast, pumpkin chomp and for an add-on fee, pumpkin cannons. Note that pumpkins are sold separately and are not included with admission.
Bottom line: Great Country is a great place to spend the entire day. There’s also a vineyard across the street where you can receive 10% off wine bottle purchases by showing your farm wristband. During our visit, we picked apples in their massive orchard and later made an apple pie. Definitely a gem the entire family will love!
Here’s the Great Country Farms website to book tickets.
Kings Dominion’s Tricks and Treats
- Location:16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, VA 23047
- Approx. Distance from DC: 1 hr. 30 min. – 2 hr.
- Open weekends through Sunday, November 3rd
- Hours of operation: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Admission: $44.99 – $64.99 per person depending on the package
Kings Dominion during Fall is a wonderful treat for families with kids of varying ages. In addition to their amusement park rides and carnival games, there’s a trick-or-treat trail, pumpkin and dance parties, live performances, costume contests and crafts. And these activities are all included in the price of admission. Their fall guide outlines all the activities and where they are throughout the park.
Bottom line: We love visiting Kings Dominion! It’s a little less crowded during the Fall and there’s more to do in terms of activities. Most rides are still operational; the only section that is closed is Soak City. My kids enjoy Planet Snoopy most. This section more so caters to kids ages 12 and under. Food can get expensive at King’s Dominion so I suggest bringing your own or purchasing a dining pass. You WILL save money with the pass, especially if you have a larger family.
Here’s the Kings Dominion website to book tickets.
