With over 170 different agricultural crops, the Willamette Valley is famous for farming. As the major growing season comes to an end, we can also see that the valley can boast about its don’t-forget-the-fun farms. With nearly 3,000 active farms in Marion County, our local farmers are geared up for the fall harvest celebrations, and many are inviting the community to celebrate with them. Here are eight such farms eager to get the fun started.
Harvest Festival at Fir Point Farms
14601 Arndt Road, Aurora
503.678.2455
September 28-October 27, Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free admission and the cost of pumpkins are by the pound.
Fir Point Farms in Aurora is known for its super-friendly animals, including bunnies, turkeys, miniature horses, and pygmy goats. Combine them with unique games and Hazel’s nut house to make this farm one of the most fun places to spend an autumn day for miles.
Activities such as paintball, the cow train, bounce house, hay ride, and corn maze range from $7 to $8. Other free activities include volleyball, corn hole, badminton, petting zoo, Noah’s Ark, and more.
Baumans’ Harvest Festival
12989 Howell Prairie Road NE, Gervais
503.792.3524
Open September 20-October 30, Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is $20 on the weekdays for ages 3-54 and $15 for seniors 55+. Weekends are $30 and $20, making each activity approximately $1 each. Pumpkins are for sale by the pound.
Going to Baumans’ Harvest Festival on autumn weekends is much like going to a summertime carnival. During the week, this Gervais, Oregon, farm has hay rides, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and more. On weekends, all the usual activities are available, plus an apple cannon, obstacle course, rope course, and more, adding up to more than 30 activities for the family.
Canby Flower Farmer Pumpkin Run
2512 N Holly, Canby
503.266.3581
Open October 5-October 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, rain or shine. Boo Train: (weather permitting) October 25-30 From dark to 9 p.m. (except Sunday). $10 for ages 13-64 and $7.50 for 2-12 and over 65. Purchase pumpkins by the pound.
Canby Flower Farmer features alpaca, bunnies, goats, sheep, chickens, and a hay fort. The train ride on the Phoenix and Holly Railroad is the big attraction on this farm as it features tunnels and a harvest/Halloween theme.
Fordyce Farm Fall Fest
7023 Sunnyview Road NE, Salem
503.362.5105
Open October 1-31, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m., Free admission, $5.25 for the corn maze and pumpkins for sale by the pound.
Fordyce Farm offers a fun Apple Cannon at $2 for three shots and free hay rides. Hay fort, hay maze, and haunted corn maze delight visitors from October 11 and every proceeding Friday and Saturday (weather permitting) from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Beginning October 10, Thursday nights are family nights in the corn maze at $5.25 per person.
EZ Orchards Harvestfest
5504 Hazelgreen Road NE, Salem
503.393.1506
Open September 28-October 30, Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekends are $12 per person. Weekdays are $5 no hayrides (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) $7 hayrides (1–6 p.m.) Pumpkins are sold by the pound.
Weekday activities at EZ Orchards include steer ropin’, ring toss, hay forts, and gold mining. Farm animals are present and ready for petting and feeding, and of course, the farm offers hayrides and a pumpkin patch. Live music and horse rides are added to the fun on weekends.
French Prairie Gardens Pumpkin Patch Festival
17673 French Prairie Road, St. Paul
503.633.8445
Open October 5 through October 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekend: wristband for all activities: $29.99 (online) ages 2 and up $34.99 (on-site purchase price). Farm entry only, ages 2 and up: 19.99 (online) and $24.99 (on-site purchase price). Pumpkins are sold by the pound.
On the weekends at French Prairie Gardens, visitors can slide down the Super Slide, watch the Pigtucky Derby Pig Races, journey through an adult or kids corn maze, experience the Farm Ninja course, and more. The weekdays are limited to the pigtucky pig races, tractor wagon rides, feeding the farm animals, and playing cornhole.
The following listings are just a smidge over the county line but less than 30 minutes from Salem.
Heiser Farms Pumpkin Patch
21425 Grand Island Loop, Dayton
503.868.7512
Open on weekends only. September 28-October 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 12, 11 a.m. and October 13, 4 p.m. The Pumpkin Cannon Demolition Derby. Admission is $8 for ages 3 and up, and unlimited wristband for all attractions is $20. Purchase pumpkins by the pound.
At Heiser Farms, for a weekend-only venue, these Dayton farmers pack a lot of activities into each day. Along with fire engine or barrel train rides, they offer a chance to fire a pumpkin cannon for a $10 donation to breast cancer research. There are also tons of free offerings as well.
Pumpkin Patch Season at Frog Pond Farm
2995 SW Advance Road, Wilsonville
503.475-5997
Open September 20-October 27, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission is $15 for ages 2 and up. Bounce Park is $7 per person on weekends. It is free Monday through Friday with general admission, subject to limited availability. Feed for the animals is $5; pumpkins are sold by size.
Frog Pond Farm offers the Llama Walk, a limited-ticket opportunity to meander through the woods on a one-mile path with a Llama by your side. The walk will take approximately 45 minutes and includes free admission into the farm and a cup of feed for the animals you meet during your visit. Prior reservations are required for the Llama Walk, as tickets are limited. The farm has a bounce park and over 80 animals, such as camels, emus, goats, and, of course, llamas, ready to eat from your hand and let you scratch behind their ear.
