If you hadn’t noticed, fall seems to finally have arrived. Although the weather isn’t necessarily the greatest indicator, except a few moments here and there, we all have Pumpkin Spice Everything these days to remind us, ever so gently (like with a sledgehammer to the face), that autumn is here.
I suppose that brings me in a sort of roundabout fashion to my point. Fall means a few things: pumpkin-flavored-everything, premature Christmas decorations in stores, and of course the behemoth of family entertainment for the entire month of October—the Pumpkin Patch.
I consider myself a sort of connoisseur of sorts of the Pumpkin Patch. You see, I have children that are kind of far apart in age (REALLY far apart in age if we add my husband to my group of children, but now I digress…), so I need something that will appeal to the masses.
Harvest Farm Fall Festival and Corn Maze
Unfortunately, if you Google “Denver Pumpkin Patch,” you will get a whole smattering of pumpkin patches in the area, but it is sometimes hard to tell who has a backyard garden with some pumpkins growing in it and a big wagon where you can “pick-your-own pumpkin” and a full-scale, no-holds-barred Fall Festival where there is a little bit of something for everybody. So I’m about to make this easy for the lot of you. Harvest Farm Fall Festival and Corn Maze in Wellington.
You’ve never heard of it? I honestly don’t think I had, either. But this place will be on my radar for the foreseeable future. It is located off of I-25 in Wellington, just north of Fort Collins, but it is definitely worth the drive with a full line-up of activities that include a Corn Maze, Hay Wagon Ride Tour, Pig Races, Petting Zoo, Evening Campfires, Roping Arena, Barn Playhouse, Corn Cannons, Pumpkin Junction and much more.
When my family arrived, it was cool, misty, and everything was damp–it definitely screamed FALL! We were greeted by a lovely volunteer right outside of the retail area, which was packed with pumpkins and souvenirs, and distributing maps of the 209-acre property. The most difficult decision was where to go first. The corn cannons were appealing to the boys, but Bunnington was screaming my daughter’s name. Alas, the obstacle course was like a beacon to all the members of my family from the start, so that was where we started.
I am mentioning the obstacle course for two reasons. First, it is a lot of fun. Second, if it is cold and rainy, I recommend anybody over the age of, say, 35 avoid it. The wooden balance beams get a little slippery. How do I know this, you ask? Well, I watched (and laughed) as my husband tried jumping from one beam to the other, his foot slipped on the slick wood, and he went down. HARD! And not only is he (how do I put this nicely) past his prime, but also a man (does the word MANFLU resonate with anybody else the way it does with me?!?) Which meant the spill he took on Sunday still gets mentioned in every conversation we are still having four days later. But again, I digress….
After my husband’s (ahem) fall, we spent the rest of the day leisurely strolling from attraction to attraction there, which is probably a good thing. The farm offers countless things to do for every single member of the family. Do you have a little climber on your hands? The tire mountain will definitely get your climber’s attention. So will the giant hay bales stacked up to the sky. Have an animal lover? Then you have to step into the little petting zoo where you can get your hands on some of the softest goats you have ever touched in your life! Have somebody who pictures herself the next Chris Kyle American Sniper? Then the corn cannons will definitely get your attention as you take aim at scarecrows in the field of corn and pull the trigger!
And you can’t forget the corn maze and the hay-ride. The corn maze offers three different routes and is “scare free,” which was a must for us with our five-year-old daughter in tow. And the hay ride is the perfect way to take a load off and take in the views of the whole farm while somebody else does the work for you. Need to warm up? On weekends (weather permitting), sit around the roaring bonfire and roast some marshmallows or make some s’mores (s’mores kits are available for purchase, along with kettle corn, water, and other goodies at the concession stand). Or sit back and watch your kids play the way WE played when we were kids in the natural play-area: Picture lots of tires (to roll down hills), barrels (to get inside and roll down hills), and other things to get kids moving and their imaginations running wild.
The entire facility is run by the Denver Rescue Mission, and proceeds from the Fall Festival go to help men break the cycle of addiction and homelessness. They do an outstanding job running the entire festival—every single attraction comes off without a hitch! The farm is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 A.M. – 9 P.M., and Sundays from noon- 7 P.M. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for children (4-12), and children under 3 are free! They also offer a senior and group discount. You can visit their website at www.harvestfarm.net for more information on the festival, as well as the work of the Denver Rescue Mission.
Contest CLOSED.
Rachael is a 38-year-old mom of three who is originally from the suburbs of Chicago but now lives in Brighton. She enjoys showering without an audience and waiting until her kids are in bed before opening the “good snacks.” She has been married to her husband for 13 years.
Author: Mile High Mamas
