Go directly to the farm for a unique perspective, tasty produce and a hands-on experience on how food lands on our plates.
Pack up the whole family and head out to this 40-acre farm located in Brighton and pick for yourself the fruits and vegetables that are in season. You’ll experience a truly authentic farm experience and can even take in a workshop or class for the kids. www.berrypatchfarms.com
Get out your favorite apple pie recipe and then beeline it to this historic century-old farm where you can pick your own heirloom apples, meet the farm animals, eat apple cider donuts and drink cider. Be sure to check out October events including a Good Ole Barbecue in the Orchard and a cider making workshop. www.yayafarmandorchard.com
According to the folks at this five generations-old dairy in Buena Vista, Happy goats + sustainable farming = darn good cheese. Find out for yourself when you take a tour and walk through their dairy facilities, spend some hands-on time with the goats and enjoy a cheese tasting at the end. You may even luck out and get some hands on milking time! www.jumpingoodgoats.com
You won’t have to travel too far to get your history fix while taking in two living history farms from the 1860s and 1890s. Just head to the heart of Littleton, where the Littleton Museum has been operating for more than 30 years. Their harvest festival this month offers pumpkins and activities with a fun historical perspective. www.littletongov.org
Two things go hand in hand this time of year – pumpkin patches and corn mazes. Here’s a look at some of the many options open to you.
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, Littleton
This working farm along the banks of Deer Creek in southern Jefferson County makes an idyllic setting during this harvest month. Open weekends through October 27, you can wind your way through eight acres of corn and finish off your adventure with kettle corn and freshly squeezed lemonade. Plan your trip October 12-14 and enjoy their annual pumpkin festival too. www.botanicgardens.org
Pumpkins and straw bales stand out against the green corn maze here at Cottonwood Farms. This family farm is open daily through October and offers families a chance to get their Halloween pumpkins and enjoy the bounty of fall. www.cottonwoodfarms.com
Just seven miles south of Greeley, you’ll find 15 acres of pure “agritainment” for the whole family. They have been producing original maze designs since 2000 and have created an experience like no other complete with an ATV mini rollercoaster, go-cart obstacle courses, pumpkin target practice and and seasonal concessions for everyone. www.fritzlermaze.com
Head south of town and find Douglas County’s newest locally owned and operated family farm. They offer the ominous Reapers Hollow Haunted Corn Maze beginning October 12 and a much less scary pumpkin patch with pumpkins and gourds of all sizes throughout October. www.flatacresfarm.com
Farmer’s markets offer you the opportunity to feast on the bounty of the season and bring fresh fruits and vegetables from area farms right to your own tables.
Considered one of the metro area’s top markets, the Cherry Creek Farmer’s Market is open Saturdays and Wednesdays through October 26 and is a true destination for everything from fresh produce and flowers to gourmet products and baked goods and locally produced goodies.
www.coloradofreshmarkets.com
If the Flatirons are in your sights, then these two stops should be on your list. On Saturdays, you can visit the downtown location on 13th Street next to Central Park or at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. From tamales to dahlias to goat cheese and homemade bread, there is something to tempt everyone’s tastebuds. www.boulderfarmers.org
A Saturday morning in the heart of Fort Collins’ Old Town will provide ample opportunity to fill your vegetable baskets while you take in live entertainment and get advice from master gardeners. www.larimercountyfarmersmarket.org
