Fall is finally here! The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting cooler. Are you looking for a way to enjoy the fall season with your family? Spend a day or an evening at Devine Farms in Newton. There’s something for the whole family!
Located on St. James Church Road in Newton, Devine Farms is a 133-acre family owned and operated farm. When you’re there, you’ll feel like family, too. On our Saturday visit, we certainly didn’t feel like company. Sitting on the front porch with a slice of homemade pumpkin cake while the kids laughed nearby on a tire swing, time seemed to slow down. After a week of busy school days, homework, and soccer practice, a relaxing afternoon outdoors was just what we needed!
There’s so much to do and enjoy at Devine Farms. Plan to stay for a few hours, or make a day of it. You can even bring your own lawn chairs to sit and relax while the kids play. Enjoy barbeque for lunch or dinner and top it off with pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin pecan pie, or one of several other homemade goodies.
A highlight of our trip was the 8-acre maze. If the full-size maze is too overwhelming for your kiddos, try the sunflower kids’ maze. Get your hand stamped on your way out, and you can return in the evening for night-time fun in the maze. Be sure to bring a flashlight!
What’s a day at the farm without a wagon ride? The Devine family is passionate about educating the community about life on the farm. While you’re on the wagon ride, complete the scavenger hunt to find plants, creatures, and other objects. (Be careful kiddos, there are eyes in the woods!) You can also learn more about the types of crops growing on the farm and their uses.
In addition to the maze and wagon ride, there are many opportunities for kids to be kids. The tire swing was a big hit with our daughter, while our son had a blast lassoing a bull. The kids played dodgeball, had a scarecrow-dressing contest, played in the sand with bulldozers, made music, climbed a mountain of hay, gathered play eggs from the henhouse, and even played golf.
Get up close and personal with calves, goats, sheep, and rabbits. If you plan your day right, you can feed milk to the calves. (Feedings are at 5:00 pm.) Be sure to visit the handwashing station after petting the animals.
Visiting a pumpkin patch is a fun fall tradition for our family. Devine Farms has a wonderful selection with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes! At the pumpkin patch, you and your family can visit 10 stations to learn about the stages of the pumpkin life cycle. Pumpkins range from $2 to $8, so pick up more than one while you’re there!
Admission to Devine Farms is $8 (free for children under 3). 2017 Fall hours are Fridays from 5 to 9, Saturdays from 10 to 9, and Sundays from 2 to 8 through the month of October, with special events such as Homeschool Day and Storytime at the Farm scheduled throughout the season.
Learn more about the family and the farm at www.devinefarmsnc.com, and follow them on Facebook or Instagram at DevineFarmsNC. Check out more ideas for your fall family fun in our Awesome Autumn Activities Guide!
Disclaimer: The author of this article received complimentary admission for her family for the purpose of this review; no other compensation was provided. All opinions expressed herein are her own.
