Fall is the time for celebrating the harvest, and Neltner’s Farm is just the place to do that this season during their Farm Fall Festival, happening through October 27. If you are looking for a place to enjoy the simple pleasures of autumn, look no further!
Today we’re counting down the many reasons why Neltner’s Farm Fall Festival is on our Autumn Must-Do List:
The Delicious Food & Drink
The food on Neltner’s farm is homemade by the family — literally. “Our mom [Claire] sells her homemade pickles, which are a crowd favorite, along with her salsa, jams, jellies and apple butter,” says Rick Neltner, one of the family members who runs the farm. Visitors can find these items in the farm’s shop, as well as fresh, homemade pumpkin ice cream that is made just for the event by daughter-in-law Billie Neltner. The farm stand is where visitors can purchase farm-grown produce, including many varieties of apples, sweet potatoes, fall squash, gourds, pumpkins, and decorative items like corn stalks and straw.
Foodies will be able to enjoy homemade festival foods by neighbor Little Rock Farm and a special treat will be on the last weekend of the Farm Fall Festival, October 26 and 27 – Several local food trucks will be parked on the farm selling their specialties, including Pinky’s Pit and Marty’s Waffles.
Wine lovers: Neltner’s has something for you, too! StoneBrook Winery and Camp Springs Vineyard, two local northern Kentucky wineries, will be on the farm offering tastings and selling bottles during the Farm Fall Festival. “This is a big hit for adults,” Neltner says.
The A-maze–ing Mazes
Older kids — and kids at heart — will love trying to navigate through Neltner’s expansive, three-acre corn maze. New this year, the Farm Fall Festival also includes a toddler corn maze, which is perfect for families with young tots or kids who might feel overwhelmed with a big maze. The toddler maze has extra-wide walkways (perfect for strollers), very few dead ends, and just like the large corn maze, it is included in the price of admission.
The Fun Rides & Activities
Nothing says fall like a wagon ride. During the festival, take a ride on a handcrafted, horse-drawn wagon, which will take you to the pumpkin patch and the large corn maze. “We have two horse-drawn wagon rides pulled by Belgium horses and wagons that I’ve built and restored,” says Kevin Neltner. The wagon ride is part of your admission and can be taken as many times as you want!
For a small fee, kids can also ride on one of the farm’s ponies or catch a ride on the barrel train, pulled by an antique tractor. Train-loving kids will want to check out the Thomas & Friends train display that features the loveable train and his pal, Percy.
The Local Craft Fair
If shopping locally is your thing, you’ll find lots of handcrafted décor during the Farm Fall Festival. Under Neltner Farm’s white big-top tent, curated by Craft Menagerie, artisans will be selling their wares and showcasing the talent that lies in northern Kentucky and great Cincinnati. There will even be a face-painting vendor for the kids!
The Live Music
Sway to the sounds of bluegrass music during the festival, where you’ll get to listen to local musical acts like The Harmed Brothers, Warrick & Lowell and many other regional bands.
The Sweet Animals
You can’t visit a farm without visiting its animals! Make a stop at Neltner’s petting zoo, where you can say hello to the goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens … and a donkey named Elvis. “Our petting zoo offers the opportunity to feed corn to some of the smaller animals inside a small ice cream cone,” Rick Neltner says. “The animals get to eat the cone and all!”
This October, celebrate the season the way six generations of Neltners have done for more than a century: with family, food and lots of fall fun.
Neltner’s Farm is located at 6922 Four Mile Rd., Melbourne, KY 41059. Hours, admission and more can be found at neltnersfarm.com.