LANSDALE – As the fall season gets underway, things such as picking pumpkins, navigating through corn mazes, and eating delicious, in-season pumpkin ice cream come to mind. As many families in the community know, Merrymead Farm and Freddy Hill Farm are both great places to kick off the season. However, many local families run into a bit of a predicament when trying to decide where to spend their time to maximize their fall fun. Both Freddy Hill and Merrymead offer countless activities and events for all ages, but how does one choose which farm to visit?
Employees of both farms think their place of work is the place to go. So we caught up with Kyra Novak of Merrymead Farm and Kirsten James of Freddy Hill Farm.
Novak, a worker outside in the produce shed and pumpkin corral and manager for the ice cream shop, says the one thing that gets customers excited for the fall season is Merrymead’s classic “Lighting of the Great Pumpkin.”
“We have a lot to offer during our harvest days, including the kick off night to harvest days, which is the Lighting of the Great Pumpkin. We invite young kids to come and join us during the lighting and have a story telling session that gets the kids involved,” explains Novak. This night always has a huge turnout, attracting hundreds of families.
Unique features that Merrymead offers include fresh cider donuts made every day, a corn stock tunnel specialized for young children, children’s games, face and pumpkin painting, inflatable rides, a five acre maze, a moonlight maze special, and the Harvest Slinger, where patrons pay to shoot pumpkins from a sling shot at targets in a field.
James, an ice cream scooper and cashier at Freddy Hill, thinks it’s the friendly service, homemade ice cream, and good memories that keep the customers coming back to Freddy’s. “Plus, mini golf and ice cream is the perfect combination!” adds James.
Highlights of Freddy Hill autumn activities consist of a corn stalk slide at the end of a winding corn maze, live pig races, pony rides, sand and button art, and hayrides to a pumpkin patch.
Both farms allow families to pick out their own pumpkins, which is a huge attraction to customers from far and wide. The farm also offers hayrides running all day, animals to see, Indian corn, gourds, straw, colorful mums, cornstalks, and endless baked goods to purchase. And, of course, the most well-known ice cream flavor this time of year is Pumpkin, which Novak and James both agree is a perfect flavor for the fall season.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which farm has the most appealing attractions. Both have activities the entire month of October starting the first weekend of the 4th. Merrymead is offering fall festivities on Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm, while Freddy Hill offers activities from 12 pm to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For many local families looking for a dose of fall festivities, both farms are worth a visit.