On-farm Experiences Abundant Throughout North Carolina This Summer

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encourages travelers to make on-farm experiences a part of their summer travel plans.

“With more than 1,000 North Carolina farms opening their gates to visitors each year, out-of-state visitors and in-state visitors alike will find plenty of agritourism day trips from the mountains to the coast,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

In May, visitors can celebrate Strawberry Month with a trip to a pick-your-own farm during the height of strawberry season. There also are special Mother’s Day celebrations and Memorial Day events planned throughout the month. In June, farms will open for farm tours and special events for Father’s Day. July offers educational workshops and summer camps.

Following is a list of upcoming events from May through August. In addition, there is a list of ongoing farm attractions taking place throughout the summer. Visitors are encouraged to verify event dates and hours of operations before they go.

May Events

  • 4 – Wellons Farm in Linden will host a Horses for Healthcare Polo Match and Kentucky Derby Watch party from noon to 7 p.m.
  • 4 & 5 – Alpaca Bella Fina Ranch in Whitakers will hold a grand opening of its alpaca ranch. Guests will be able to feed, pet and take pictures with the resident alpacas.
  • 5 – Grove Winery in Gibsonville will hold its Cheers to Cheese Fest featuring a variety of gourmet cheese pairings from members of the N.C. Cheese Trail.
  • 5 – Nooherooka Natural in Snow Hill will host a series of hands-on biscuit-making classes this summer. The first class is May 5 with subsequent classes on June 2 and July 21.
  • 18 – Ellerbe Strawberry Festival in downtown Ellerbe celebrates strawberry season with music, food vendors, arts and crafts and more.
  • 18 – North River Farms in Mills River will hold its annual Mills River Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event includes performances by American Idol Meghan Woods, Levi Orr and Lonesome Road. There also will be hot-air balloon rides and educational activities.
  • 18 – Whippoorwill Academy and Village will host its annual Tom Dooley Festival in Ferguson from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event includes live music, films about Tom Dooley, old-time demonstrations and more.
  • 18-19 – Ardea Homestead Sanctuary in Kings Mountain will host a series of educational workshops. This weekend, visitors can learn how to identify trees and forage for wild plants.
  • 25 – Briar Creek Nursery and Kidz Zone in Rocky Mount will hold an open house where kids can play in the splash pad, ball pit and sand pit.
  • 25 – Sandy Creek Farm in Lexington will have a Bee Yard Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. offering guests the chance to learn more about honey bees.
  • 25 & 27 – Millstone Creek Orchard in Ramseur will hold its 15th birthday bash. The orchard also will feature special berry and peach celebrations in June and July.

June Events

  • 2 – Plum Granny Farm in King is one of the stops on the 5th annual Northern Triad Farm Tour featuring farms in and around Stokes County.
  • 8 – NC Foothills Farm Tour will take place in Polk and Rutherford counties. The tour includes 20 stops highlighting produce, dairy, flowers, microgreens, garlic, livestock and wineries.
  • 8 and 9 – Ardea Homestead Sanctuary in Kings Mountain will host a series of educational workshops. This weekend, visitors can learn how to sharpen knives and farm in the woods.
  • 15 – The Well Fed Community Garden in Raleigh will host a Blackberry Festival from 4-8 p.m. featuring garden tours, music, games for children, fresh pizza and blackberry cobbler. The garden will also hold a series of workshops and classes throughout the summer.
  • 22 – Belle Vie Farm in Chapel Hill will hold its Infiorata Festival, in which guests will have the chance to pick an earth canvas and decorate it with flowers.
  • 15 – Davidson County Farm Tour offers visitors the chance to meet local farmers and tour seven participating locations in Davidson County.
  • 16 – Raffaldini Vineyards in Ronda will host a Father’s Day brunch featuring a buffet overlooking the mountains and two glasses of award-winning wines.
  • 19-23 – Lavender Oaks Farm in Chapel Hill will open for visitors to pick lavender, tour the farm and enjoy live music.
  • 21 – Perry’s Berry’s in Morganton will open for the season with pick-your-own blueberries, educational tours and a farm store.
  • 24-29 – Dean’s Farm Market in Wilson will host a week-long, half-day summer camp for school children. Summer field trips are also offered throughout the summer.
  • 27 – Appalachian Barn Alliance in Mars Hill will host its annual farm-to-table dinner prepared by the Farmers’ Hands. Diners will have the chance to see the fields where the night’s dinner was grown.

July Events

  • Early July – Dewberry Manor in Kernersville will open its you-pick sunflower farm in early July.
  • 4 – Justus Orchard in Hendersonville will kick off blackberry season with pick-your-own thorn-less blackberries.
  • 13 – Jackie’s Naturally in Bakersville will hold a microgreens growing class. Pre-registration is required.
  • 14 – Cedar Grove Blueberry Farm in Cedar Grove will host its annual Pick-a-Ton charity event. For every 25 pounds of blueberries picked, the farm will donate a pound of fresh berries to TABLE to feed food-insecure children living in Chapel Hill.
  • 20 – Piccione Vineyards in Ronda will have an educational vineyard workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The class includes a program on grape ripening, as well as a tour and tasting.
  • 22-26 – Dean’s Farm Market in Wilson will host a week-long, half-day summer camp for school children. Summer field trips are also offered throughout the summer.
  • 22-26 – Minka Farm in Efland will hold veterinary camp for rising 9-12 graders who are considering a career in vet medicine. Registration information is available online.

August Events

  • 24 & 25 – WoodMill Winery in Vale will hold its annual Grape Stomp Festival. The event features grape stomps, wine tastings, tours and nearly 100 vendors offering special crafts and jewelry.

Ongoing Events

  • Asheville Farm-To-Table Tours provides guided agricultural experiences every Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Lunch is provided with stops across several Madison County farms.
  • Bethany Farm in Rockingham will offer art exhibits and walking flower garden tours. The farm’s wedding chapel is open year-round Wednesdays through Saturdays.
  • Catawba Farms in Newton hosts live, local music on the farm Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
  • Evans Family Farm in Mount Ulla offers farm tours the first Saturday of the month. The pasture-based farm offers visitors the chance to learn about small farming practices.
  • Garner Farms in Newport grows 90 percent of the crops sold at its farm stand. Six varieties of sweet corn will be available June through August, and Bogue Sound watermelons are expected in July.
  • High Mountain Meadows Farm & Creamery in Hayesville offers visitors the chance to feed and play with baby goats and learn about the farm’s cheesemaking process. Overnight camping is allowed on the weekends.
  • Holman Distillery in Morovian Falls is open for tours by appointment throughout the summer.
  • Honeysuckle Tea House and Farm in Chapel Hill is open Fridays through Sundays through October. Visitors can tour the farm, enjoy tastings and participate in workshops.
  • Howard Family Farm in Harmony offers pick-your-own flowers and strawberries through June.
  • Hubb’s Farm in Clinton offers private bookings for birthday parties, corporate retreats, weddings and more. Bookings are available weekends through August.
  • Hux Family Farm in Durham offers a variety of events every Saturday and Sunday, including farm tours, goat yoga, goat cheese tastings and horse as healer clinics.
  • Jackson Farm in Godwin is listed on the N.C. Wildlife Commission’s official birding trail and is open year-round for birdwatching enthusiast from 8 a.m. to sunset.
  • Kersey Valley Attractions in Archdale is open throughout the season for a variety of outdoor activities including zipline tours and axe throwing.
  • Kordick Family Farm in Westfield will begin harvesting apples in late July. The orchard offers views of Pilot Mountain and other Stokes County landmarks.
  • Lu Mil Vineyard in Elizabethtown is open seven days a week, and offers wine tastings, educational tours, fishing ponds, camp sites, outdoor stages and more.
  • Pangaea Plants in Lake Lure offers tours, field days and workshops. The botanical sanctuary is the only certified biodynamic medicinal herb farm in the Southeast.
  • Patterson Farms in Mount Ulla offers a variety of events for the whole family throughout the summer including strawberry picking, summer camps and more.
  • Powers Strawberries and Farm Market in Lumberton is open for the season featuring strawberries and more. The farm also offers school field trips and fishing.
  • Sandy Mush Herb Nursery in Leicester welcomes visitors Thursdays through Saturdays during the summer. Guests can take self-guided tours through the arboretum, gardens and greenhouses.
  • The Wild Horse Preserve at Grayce Wynds in Supply is an outdoor educational facility teaching visitors about the wild horses of the East Coast. The preserve is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
  • Tractor’s Corn Maze in Wake Forest will be open Saturdays and Sundays during June and July with a sunflower maze.
  • Twiddle Dee Farm in Clinton offers farm stays for women on its working farm with cattle, sheep, donkeys and horses.
  • Walnut Hollow Ranch in Hayesville is open for educational farm tours, farm stays and more. Reservations are available Fridays and Saturdays during the summer.
  • Wisolina Farm in Wake Forest offers several special events throughout the summer that give visitors the chance to interact with alpacas. A schedule of activities is available online.