BWW Preview: ALSTEDE FARMS in Chester NJ Welcomes Fall Harvest

The fall harvest season ushers in family activities this October at Alstede Farms in Chester, New Jersey. From weekend Harvest Moon Hayrides to weekday Family Fun Days, the Giant Digging Dinosaurs Corn Maze, Apple Cider Mill and a multitude of vegetable and fruit crops available for pick your own (PYO), Alstede Farms offers hours of entertainment for the entire family.

If you are looking for a family-friendly hayride that won't scare your children you can take an un-scary alternative, an old fashioned Harvest Moon Hayride, every Friday and Saturday night at Alstede Farms is from 6 pm to 10 p.m. (last ticket sold at 9 p.m.). As part of the Harvest Moon Hayride admission, visitors receive a hayride; a roaring campfire; a cup of steaming hot cider warming your hands or a cold cider to quench your thirst. The sounds of country music will also fill the night air. Harvest Moon Hayrides run every Friday and Saturday evening through October 24th and on Sunday October 11th from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door starting at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $16.99 for children's admission and $18.99 for adults. This includes unlimited cold and hot apple cider, campfire, admission to child and adult corn maze, hayride to the pumpkin patch and pumpkin picking. Attendees are invited to bring their own flashlights for pumpkin picking. The price does not include pumpkins. Pumpkins are priced by the pound and there is a $2.75 minimum.

In addition to the weekend Harvest Moon rides, families can enjoy all of the fall harvest bounty and the attractions at Alstede Farms during the week as "Family Fun Days" are held each weekday from noon to 4 p.m. Family Fun Days activities include pony rides, the moon bounce, wagon train rides and the corn kingdom. Families can also visit and feed the friendly farm animals, be entertained by goats on the goat walk, stop by the bunny run and climb the giant hay pyramid.

Free PYO admission is also offered Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. A full bevy of crops available for pick your own including: apples; yellow and red fall raspberries; sweet corn; peppers, eggplant; tomatoes and beans. The Giant Digging Dinosaur corn maze can also be accessed for a $5 fee. The New Jersey Firemen's Home in Boonton benefits from a portion of the corn maze admission. Every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Alstede Farms also offers tours of its new Apple Cider Mill where you can watch apples be pressed, made into apple mash and then cider right before your eyes. You can also sample the cider.

Alstede Farms opens at 9 am seven days a week. Visitors can shop the Alstede Farms Farm Store which features a wide variety of seasonal local fresh produce grown on the farm, over 250 homemade products including fudge, ice cream, syrups, honey and salsas and the Tomasello Winery retail wine store.

For more information call 908-879-7189 or visit www.alstedefarms.com.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Alstede Farms

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