Fall festival kicks off Saturday as LushAcres Farm opens five weekends of family fun

The wait is over. LushAcres Farm in Clinton throws open its gates Saturday, Oct. 3, for the first day of its annual fall festival, and the farm is ready with a corn maze, live bluegrass, a giant slide and a full day of hands-on fun for every member of the family.

The festival runs every Saturday in October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with dates on Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 at the farm, 1875 W. Maple St. Extension in Clinton. With only five Saturdays on the calendar, families looking to make the most of the season will want to mark their calendars now.

One ticket, a whole day of fun

Admission at the gate is $15 for visitors ages 3 and older, and children 2 and younger get in free. That single fee unlocks nearly everything on the property.

The corn maze remains the star attraction, challenging visitors young and old to find their way through the rows. From there, the fun keeps going with corn cannons, wagon rides, barnyard animals, face painting, mini-train rides, a jump pad, a corn pit and a giant slide. Kids can burn off energy on the bouncing rodeo, in GaGa ball and barnyard basketball, and on the playground, while photo spots around the farm give families plenty of chances to capture fall memories.

Live music every Saturday

Each Saturday brings a new act to the stage, with sets at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., all included with admission. West End String Band gets the season started on opening day, Oct. 3. McKinney Gap takes the stage Oct. 10, and solo artist Matt Crisp performs Oct. 17. The Oct. 24 performer will be announced, and Cross Ties Bluegrass Band brings the season to a close on Oct. 31.

Extras worth the stop

Visitors who want a little more can drop a quarter into the animal feeding machines for a chance to get up close with the farm’s residents. The gem mine offers a prospector’s bag for $20 or a forty-niner bucket for $40, giving young treasure hunters a chance to dig for their own finds.

Pumpkins, mums and plenty to eat

No fall outing is complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch, and LushAcres has one ready for picking. The mums garden and farm market will also be open, and food and concessions will be available on site so families can refuel and stay all day.

Shop local in the vendors village

The festival’s vendors village is packed with handcrafted and locally made goods, making it a great place to get a head start on holiday shopping. Shoppers will find wax melts, warmers, car air fresheners, room sprays, carpet fresheners and shower steamers, along with crochet plushies, beaded jewelry, wooden bowls, cutting boards, stove top covers, customizable signs and hot plate holders.

Homemade and farm-fresh offerings include jams, jellies, herbal salts, baked goods, herbal crafts and herb plants for a kitchen garden or sunny windowsill. Four-legged family members are not left out, as Wags N Whiskers will be on hand with freshly baked soft treats for dogs, cats and horses, plus other pet items.

Fun with a purpose

Every ticket does more than buy a day on the farm. Proceeds from the festival support Thornwell’s mission to prevent child abuse and neglect, build and reunite families, and strengthen communities.

LushAcres sits on 340 acres of the Thornwell campus and operates as an extension of the Thornwell ministry. The working farm raises beef cattle, pasture-raised broilers and egg layers, and a variety of seasonal produce, with U-pick strawberries, blueberries and blackberries in the spring and pumpkins in the fall. During the school year, the farm also hosts field trips and educational gem mining sessions.

For more information, visit lushacresfarm.com or call the farm at 864-938-2800.