The fall fun is ramping up throughout Chenango County with pumpkins to pick yourself, corn mazes waiting for you to conquer, fresh-pressed cider to savor and every other family activity that the cool, brisk air brings to mind.
There’s even a special day just for you and your pet dog.
Matt’s Hilltop Harvest in Smithville Flats and Peila View Farms in Oxford are ready for visitors with loads of activities. And six farm stands across Chenango and Delaware counties have joined together to create a Fall Farm Stand Scavenger Hunt for September weekends.
Matt’s Hilltop Harvest, 304 County Road 3, Smithville Flats
With six acres of pumpkins to search, you’re sure to discover the gourd that’s perfect for your family. Wander the patch – or choose from among pre-picked pumpkins – pet the farm animals and enjoy other activities. Last year, the farm introduced an eight-acre corn maze, which visitors loved… so much so that now there’s double the fun.
“That was a pretty big hit, so we’ve got two corn mazes this year,” said owner Matt DeJager.
The farm also has special events planned:
- On Sept. 27, bring your dog for the Pumpkin Patch Prowl, a pet-friendly fall celebration. Get a pumpkin with your fur baby’s paw print, buy them homemade dog treats and capture the day in doggie photo ops.
- Come Oct. 3 for the Open House, with fall foliage hayrides, maple products, games and activities. Watch as they make maple syrup in a sugar house and press apples for fresh cider, with free samples of each. Smithville General Store & Deli will offer submarine sandwiches, cotton candy, snow cones and more. Forged Brewing Company will provide craft beer.
Peila View Farms, 144 Kilroy Road, Oxford
Come pick your own pumpkin and find plenty of kids’ and family-friendly activities, including a petting zoo, corn bin, scavenger hunt, jump pillow and two corn mazes, one large and one smaller. On several evenings – Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24 – visitors can explore a twilight corn maze (don’t worry; it’s not scary), from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Fall Farm Stand Scavenger Hunt
The scavenger hunt will be held weekends through Sept. 27. The stands are:
- Chenango County: Ryan’s Yak Farm in Oxford, The Little Cooler Egg Stand in Oxford and The Mix Bakery in Greene.
- Delaware County: Bella’s Hen House & Farm Stand in Masonville, The Modern Homesteader in Walton and Catskill Cookie Cottage in Walton.
Visit each stop to find a secret word on a specific animal or object – a dusty pink chicken, a country blue yak, a red heart cookie and so on. Collect the words in a special passport, put them together to form a special fall phrase. Then submit the passport at any of the farm stands by Sept. 27 to be entered to win the grand prize – a farm stand basket.