Hello friends! Despite spending last Saturday picking pumpkins in 81-degree heat, I have to finally admit that fall is here–if I don’t, I’ll miss the whole season!
Fall is actually my favorite time of year; I just don’t always get to enjoy it in the traditional way here by the beach! But the reason I love fall so much is that the seasonal activities are amazing! Pumpkin patches, apple picking, hot cider, bonfires, hayrides, corn mazes, haunted houses (R.I.P. Howl-O-Scream 2020), petting zoos, sunflower fields–you name it, and I am there!
Thankfully, the area of Hampton Roads has tons of amazing locations to enjoy fall fun, from festivals to roadside markets brimming with gourds and pumpkins. But my favorite stops are always the fall farms.
There’s just something so seasonally special about stopping by a local farm during the harvest season and running around the fields and animal paddocks! I love it.
So this week, I want to share my two favorite fall farms in Chesapeake with you. As I mentioned, there are tons of great places to go in the area, but these two draw me back year after year. And they’re very family-friendly, so you can enjoy them even if you have little ones!
Fall Fun at Bergey’s Breadbasket
Bergey’s Breadbasket is a long-standing Chesapeake tradition. The farm has been around for more than a century and is well-known for its on-site store, which offers delicious homemade goods, including ice cream!
Bergey’s is open year-round with a petting zoo and various events, but fall is by far my favorite time to stop by.
About Bergey’s Breadbasket Fall 2020
What Should I Wear?
This is a farm! So be sure to wear close-toed shoes that you’re not afraid to get a little muddy or potentially step in animal “presents” with. It is all outside, so dress according to the weather. You will also need a mask to participate in all the activities, even though they’re outside.
How Much Does It Cost?
During the fall season, you do have to pay to enjoy Bergey’s petting zoo and other activities (petting zoo is free during most of the year). Everything is included with admission to the corn maze, however.
During the week, admission is $8 per person and includes access to the corn maze and petting zoo.
On Saturday, the price jumps to $15 per person but adds one corn-gun shot and a hayride to the fun.
Babies are free!
How Long Does It Take?
The length of time you spend here will vary widely by your overall age group and what interests you. If it’s an adult-only group, I would plan for an hour. If you have kids who’ll want to linger around the animals and play zones, I recommend two hours.
Bergey’s Barnyard
The petting zoo at Bergey’s is always a favorite stop for me. They have such a wide variety of farm animals to feed–including adorable babies to snuggle up with!
They’re a bit scattered around the barnyard, so be sure to make a full loop of the buildings to make sure you see them all! Please pay attention to the signs because they’ll let you know which animals you can pet, hold, and get in the pen with.
There are usually several cute ponies in the main barn, and this year there were two adorable rabbits. The white one was unbelievably fluffy and sweet enough that my friend’s 4-month old baby could pet it.
The goats this year were unbelievably funny! We came out to find them stacked three-high at the fence trying to get attention (and food)! It was an all-out war! The entire herd followed us when we moved, too.
There were several young goats, but my favorite was this adorable little furball who kept getting pushed out of the way. He was very affectionate, and his mouth was so tiny he could only eat one piece of feed off my hand at a time! *heart bursting*
The farm’s pigs include Charlotte, Piggy, and two cutie-pie piglets that you can get inside the pen with. But beware–they apparently like shoelaces and they untied my Converse trying to eat them!
The side barn with the piglets is also home to Bunny Town! This series of pens have an adorable set up of town-themed bunny hutches, like the bank, jail, mayor’s house, etc. You’re not allowed to interact with these ones, but they sure are cute hopping around in there!
Behind the goat enclosure, a big red building lets you get close to the cows and enjoy some snuggles in Kitty Town! Two tall enclosures with a bench inside let you sit down and enjoy the sweet, fluffy love of the farm’s kittens! One was sleeping when we came this year, but the other one was so friendly and hopped right into my lap and started purring. I’m more of a dog person, but it was so adorable that I almost cried from a cuteness overload when I had to leave!
The Corn Maze
This year’s corn maze fits into the year’s theme of “Looking Back,” and includes signposts with fun facts about Bergey’s history at different dead ends and intersections of the maze. There’s a trivia sheet you can fill out as you go along, finding the answers within the maze. From above, you can see that the maze lines create a silo, an old-fashioned car, and a barn with BB in the upper window! How cool!
It’s not terribly hard, but it’s fun, and the trivia questions add a neat element to your journey, too.
Other Fall Activities
Bergey’s has many side attractions that you may be interested in, depending on your age group. (Sorry, these don’t have pictures; I try not to post anything where kids’ faces are recognizable, which is hard for kid activities.)
The Corn Gun
On weekends, all visitors can take one shot with the corn gun. It’s basically an air-pressure cannon that shoots ears of corn at targets out in a field.
Children’s Hay Maze
Little kids who wouldn’t enjoy the corn maze can run around a low hay bale maze in one of the barns, complete with a little slide.
Kiddie Tractor Rides
Several tiny John Deere tricycles under an open-sided shed offer a fun place for little ones to blow off some steam.
Hay Rides
On Saturdays, visitors can hop on a classic hay ride journey around the property!
Bergey’s Breadbasket
Be sure to stop by the store before you leave and shop Bergey’s delicious selection of homemade goods! There’s jams, butter, bread, pies, cookies, and canned goods, plus farm-fresh milk, a deli, and a creamery stocked with made-in-store ice cream! (I never leave without ice cream in hand, haha)
Depending on the season, you can also purchase fresh vegetables, flowers, and pumpkins!
Fall Fun at Hickory Ridge Farm
Hickory Ridge Farm is an awesome place to visit year-round because there’s always something happening: strawberry picking, pumpkin patches, fresh produce for sale, etc.
But I love visiting this particular farm during fall because there is a lot to do for a very reasonable price, and I never feel crammed in as I do at some of the other festivals.
It’s also family-owned, and they put a lot of care into making sure there are activities for all ages.
About Hickory Ridge Farm Fall 2020
What Should I Wear?
If you do all the activities, you’ll be exploring fields, pumpkin patches, and animal pens, so wear close-toed shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Like Bergey’s, this is entirely outside, so wear comfortable clothes for the day’s weather.
How Much Does it Cost?
General admission to the farm is free! Yay! In fact, if your group is adult-only, you can do just about everything adult-friendly without paying. But if you want to do some of the more special activities, here is the price breakdown:
Pony Rides (kids only): $6
Hayrides: $3.75 per child, $5 per adult (free for 2 and under)
Barrel Train Rides (kids only) $3.75
Play Area: $3 (free for 2 and under)
or, pay $10 per child and get access to
Storybook Character Hayrides, barrel train, friendly farm animals with a petting area, play area with children’s corn maze, big hay slide, toddler hay maze, playhouses, sand piles, and picnic tables.
How Long Does it Take?
I’d recommend setting aside at least an hour and a half if you want to explore the pumpkin patches, corn maze, etc., and closer to two and a half hours if you’re interested in hay rides, the barrel train, or anything with a line.
You-Pick Pumpkins and Sunflowers
For those who like to search for their own perfect pumpkin, you’ll love scouting out a winner in the giant pumpkin patches! It’s best to go a little earlier in the season to get your pick of the crop, but you’ll still have a lot of options.
In October, the sunflower field also blooms to its full potential, and you can take home a bouquet for $1.50 per stem. It’s also a fantastic place for a fun fall photoshoot!
The Farm Stand and Marketplace
If you’d prefer to choose from the large selection or pre-picked specialty pumpkins, gourds, and jack-o-lanterns, be sure to stop by the farm stand. They have everything from giant classic pumpkins to tiny white ones, two-foot gourds with green stripes, and even red pumpkins!
This is also where you can stock up on their homemade desserts and canned goods, plus cider, cider donuts, kettle corn, and more!
By the play area, you’ll also find several small awnings set up. Local businesses congregate here with deals on everything from insurance to homemade crafts. If you have the time, shop around for unique finds.
Petting Zoo
While much smaller than Bergey’s petting zoo, the one at Hickory Ridge is worth a stop. They have two piglets, a calf, and some adorably indignant baby chickens in addition to their adult pigs, turkey, chicken, and goats.
Corn Maze
No fall farm is complete without a corn maze! The maze here is small, but it can take you a little bit to work your way out! I really liked how this one was right by the water and had lots of little purple flowers trailing up the corn stalks. 🙂
Other Fall Activities
If you have the chance, don’t miss the hayride, which takes you on a loop around the farm and into the woods, and let your kids take a spin on the barrel train. Little ones can also enjoy a classic pony ride (if you’re willing to brave the line) and some fun areas with tiny hay mazes, slides, and playhouses.
Closing Thoughts on Fall Farms in Chesapeake
Each of these fall farms has such fun, classic experiences, which is what keeps me coming back every year! Bergey’s is oriented more toward animals and a big maze, whereas Hickory Ridge is big on picking out pumpkins and has a “festival”-like atmosphere.
Either one will make a great stop on your fall bucket list!
What’s your favorite fall activity? Drop me a note in the comments, and let me know!
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Thanks for stopping by this week, and I wish you many fun fall adventures!
Happy travels!
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