Cool autumn festivals & events your family will fall in love with in Delaware this season
Fall festival fever is about to hit Delaware soon and hard.
You and your family can fortify your excitement by planning which harvest-themed festivals and events you can check out. Here's a peek at the fun to come.
Fall Craft Show, Dover
It's never too early to get started on Christmas shopping and you can start at the Fall Craft Show. The outdoor show will offer a variety of wares from artisans that would make for cool gifts for a loved one or yourself.
Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village (866 N. Dupont Highway, Dover) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Admission is up to $5. Free for members and children aged 5 or younger. Visit agriculturalmuseum.org or (302) 734-1618.
Ramsey's Farm, Brandywine Hundred
Kiddos can transform into SpongeBob and soak up all the fun at Ramsey's Farm like meeting animals, playing on the farm playground and exploring the corn maze and “Spookley Trail.” Hayrides also are available. Each year roughly 50,000 pumpkins are yielded at Ramsey's Farm. Visitors can choose their favorite pumpkin for 70 cents per pound.
Ramsey's Farm (440 Ramsey Road, Brandywine Hundred) opens Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Sept. 16, to Sunday, Oct. 29. Open noon to 5 p.m. Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. All-access pass for Pumpkin Patch activities is $15. Children aged 3 or younger are free with paying adult. Visit ramseysfarm.com or (302) 319-3664.
Fall Fest at Fifer Orchards, Camden-Wyoming
This year's corn maze drew inspiration from automobiles and is dubbed the "Motor Maze." The maze features the iconic Miles the Monster from Dover Motor Speedway.
The Fall Fest hosts its autumn rendition of the U-Play Area that includes super straw slides, jumping pillows, duck races, hula cows, farm volleyball, funnel ball, roller balls and more.
According to a Fifer representative, the corn maze and U-Play activities begin Saturday, Sept. 23, and run until Saturday, Nov. 4. Hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10 to 5 p.m. The farm closes at 6 p.m.
Corn maze only is $8.95 on weekdays or $10.95 Saturdays; free for ages 2 or younger. Fall U-Play only activities are the same hours and fee as the corn maze. Combo tickets are for sale online. Visit fiferorchards.com or (302) 697-2141.
Mr. Peppers Pumpkin Patch, Laurel
Parents and kiddos can have an adventure in the corn maze ($6), on a hayride ($4), or by scouting out their own orange fruit in the pumpkin patch. Pumpkin prices vary by size.
Mr. Peppers Pumpkin Patch (13500 Laurel Road, Laurel) will be open Thursday, Sept. 21, until Tuesday, Oct. 31. Hours are noon to dark on Sundays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to dark on Saturdays. Visit mrpepperspumpkinpatch.com or (302) 245-8616.
Pumpkin Patch Sundays at Loblolly Acres, Viola
Every Sunday in October folks can pick pumpkins and enjoy hayrides, petting zoos, games, live entertainment, cash bar, food trucks and vendors at Loblolly Acres.
Loblolly Acres (3893 Turkey Point Road, Viola) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on each Sunday in October (Oct. 1 through Oct. 29). $8 per guest and includes all activities + $7 pumpkins from the patch. Food and beverage sold separately. Visit loblollyacres.com or (302) 632-6797.
Harvest Discontent: 1773, Lewes
The Lewes Historical Society puts a twist on what it means to celebrate the fall with a living history event that takes guests back to Delaware in the 18th century.
At that time, Lewes was under King George III’s dominion and tensions were brewing and Lewes-area residents prepared for winter with discontent, according to LHS' website.
Guests will get a better understanding of what life was like in the days of yore when they meet folks from colonial Lewistown who'll demonstrate historical activities, while wrestling with "a mixed harvest of familiar crops needed to sustain them through the approaching winter, and growing revolutionary ideals," per the LHS website.
Historic Shipcarpenter Street Campus (110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 14, and Sunday, Oct. 15. Admission is $10. Visit historiclewes.org or (302) 645-7670.
Harvest Homecoming, Clayton
Providence Creek Academy PTO presents a jam-packed Harvest Homecoming celebration that offers everything from obstacle courses/yard games to a costume contest, trunk or treat, and more fun.
The trunk or treat is at 6:30 p.m. Other activities include face painting, $5 haunted hallway, $10 pony/horse ride, $1 petting zoo, a harvest court, homecoming court, double lane and derby race.
Baked goods, food and drink will also be available, according to PCA PTO's Facebook page.
Ticket prices haven't been announced yet.
Providence Creek Academy (273 Duck Creek Road, Clayton) from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Visit pcapto.org or facebook.com/ProvidenceCreekAcademyPTO.
Fall Harvest Fest, Rehoboth
Schellville Village, known for its enchanting Christmas celebration, shifts its focus to the Fall Harvest Fest in a few months. Details about the event will be announced soon.
Schellville Village (36470 Seaside Outlet Drive, Rehoboth Beach) from 3 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 21. Visit schellbrothers.com or (302) 226-1994.
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Blackbird Creek Fall Festival, Townsend
This annual fall staple shows love to estuaries while also shining a light on autumn.
The Blackbird Creek Fall Festival offers autumn-themed crafts, an estuary scavenger hunt, tractor rides, bird watching, and wares from local artisans, vendors and more.
Blackbird Creek Reserve (801 Blackbird Landing Road, Townsend) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 21. Visit dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov or (302) 378-5734.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Best fall festivals and events for your family in Delaware this season
