Enjoy fall family fun at these country farms near Vancouver
’Tis the season for colourful foliage, cozy sweaters and pumpkin-spiced lattes. The best way to take advantage of the fall harvest period is to head out of town to a local farm to enjoy wagon rides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches and apple picking. If you’re planning an afternoon of autumnal family fun, check out these country farms near Vancouver.
Apple Barn Pumpkin Farm
333 Gladwin Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2T 5Y1The Taves family has been operating this countryside farm since 1990. The sprawling farmlands in Abbotsford offer plenty of attractions for kids (and adults for that matter), including a corn maze, pony rides, petting zoo, zipline, cider press demonstrations and tractor rides. Come harvest time, stop by to pick up a pumpkin and a bounty of apples that are great for both baking and snacking. The farm is also available for field trips, birthday parties, corporate gatherings and other types of group bookings.
Eagle Acres Dairy
8796 240th Street, Langley, BC V1M 3R2Enjoy a real taste of country life at this working dairy farm in Langley. Tour groups are put to work to feed the animals, milk the cows and help with other farmhand chores while learning about the history of dairy farming. During the fall Pumpkin Festival, kids can ride on a tractor-pulled hayride out to the 20-acre pumpkin patch and cheer on their favourite porker during pig races. The farm is open daily from mid-September to the end of October. Visit again in December to pick up a Christmas tree and roast marshmallows on the campfire.
Abby Roadside
36737 North Parallel Rd, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2H5Did someone say beer-tasting corn maze? Grownups can get in on the fall farm fun while sampling craft beers from local breweries at the Roadside Harvest Social in Abbotsford. Running each weekend throughout mid-September to mid-October, the all-ages fall festival has something for everyone – there’s even a doggy photo-booth for your four-legged pals. Take a selfie with a scarecrow, get lost in a corn maze (there’s a kid-friendly one too), fire an apple canon, play in the pumpkin patch and grab a bite to eat from a local food truck.
North Arm Farm
1888 Sea To Sky Hwy 99, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0This picturesque farm at the base of Mount Currie is definitely worth the trip to Pemberton. The incredibly scenic working farm is dedicated to organic and sustainable growing practices. The farm shop stocks a veritable cornucopia of organically grown fruits and veggies from April to October, and U-Pick berries, flowers and pumpkins are available on a seasonal basis. Visitors are welcome to wander through the 60-acre property and might even be invited to feed the animals. The farm’s bakery is also a great spot to pick up homemade artisan breads and baked goods, condiments and preserves.
Rondriso Farms
8390 172 St, Surrey, BC V4N 3G4Rondriso Farms is just a 45-minute drive from Vancouver but it feels a world away from the towering condos and skyscrapers of downtown. The general store at the small family-run farm in Surrey sells farm-fresh veggies (the non-GMO sweet corn is a customer favourite), SPCA-certified naturally raised beef, and a variety of other local meat and dairy products sourced from nearby farms. Visit in October to take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch and select your very own decorative fall gourds and Jack-o’-lanterns.
Richmond Country Farms Ltd
12900 Steveston Hwy, Richmond, BC V6W 1A3Richmond Country Farms has a rich agricultural history and has been family-owned and operated since its first season in 1978. On weekends, families can hop aboard an old fashioned train to discover the grounds. The musical tour takes visitors through fields of autumnal corn stalks and sunflowers, a pumpkin patch and a pinot gris vineyard (grown-ups, take note). The farm is also home to Clydesdales, pigs, goats and other friendly barnyard animals. Be sure to bring along your shopping bags as the country market carries locally grown fruit and veggies and a vibrant selection of floral bouquets, plants and trees.
Chilliwack Corn Maze and Pumpkin Farm
41905 Yale Rd, Chilliwack, BC V2R 4J4Getting lost in the 12-acre corn maze is all part of the fun at this family-run farm in Chilliwack. Each year the creative farmers create a new thematic maze design for visitors to try and navigate their way through, complete with unique challenges along the way. The country-style amusement park offers a host of attractions for kids of all ages: pedal carts, duck races, farm animals, giant pillow jumping and a spooky flashlight maze after dark. Groups can even reserve their own personal fire pit for $5, which includes a bundle of wood and a private seating area (BYO marshmallows).
Southlands Farm
6767 Balaclava St, Vancouver, BC V6N 0A7Want a country farm experience without leaving the city? Southlands Farm is located right in Vancouver and is even accessible by public transit. The community farm encourages visitors to help out with weed-pulling and pumpkin sorting while exploring the old apple orchard and getting up close and personal with the various farm animals. Be sure to pick up a brochure when you arrive to lead your little ones on a self-guided tour around the property and learn more about the daily operations at this working urban farm.
Laity Pumpkin Patch
21145 128 Ave, Maple Ridge, BC V4R 2R9Dinosaurs have invaded the Lower Mainland! Laity Pumpkin Patch in Maple Ridge is inhabited by a unique variety of not-so-typical farm animals, including lions, elephants, unicorns and the aforementioned prehistoric T-rex. Once you’ve snapped some photos with the fantastical wooden animals, step back in time in the frontier town where visitors can explore an old-fashioned schoolhouse and learn how to pan for gold. Other attractions include wagon rides, a corn maze, vegetable patches and a number of real live animals such as goats, emus and ponies. If you get hungry, stop by the concession stand for a hot dog.
Willow View Farms
288 McCallum Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2S 8A2You’ll want to bring some reusable bags to haul your own bushel of apples at this Abbotsford farm, located just an hour east of Vancouver. McIntosh, Spartan, Fuji and Honeycrisp are among the 22 varieties of sweet and tart apples available for U-Pick or in pre-picked bags at the on-site country store. The pumpkin patch is home to more than 50 varieties of pumpkins, including giant orange spheres weighing in at close to 100 lbs. With hayrides, a petting zoo and a covered picnic area, this countryside setting is a great spot for some fall family fun.
Hazelmere Pumpkin Patch
18507 20 Ave, Surrey, BC V3S 9V2The Hazelmere Pumpkin Patch – located at Gabriel Farms in Surrey – offers an assortment of kid-friendly fall activities. Visit from late September to the end of October to explore the mini corn maze, take a hayride on the farmhouse wagon, pick up a pumpkin and a few colourful gourds in the pumpkin patch, and get up close and personal with llamas and other adorable animals at the petting zoo. Don’t forget to bring along your camera to snap a few seasonal selfies in the beautiful autumnal surroundings.
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