Ned Barnes gets stuck in the mud about 25 times a day. It’s all in good fun and all part of the hayride at Cox Farms’ Fall Festival in Centreville, where the campy hayride is the star attraction.
Mr. Barnes drives the tractor, but he also works the crowd.
“Should we go the easy way?” he shouts to the 40 or so people seated on the hay. “Or should we go the hard way?” No question — the visitors prefer the hard way, even if it means getting caught in the puddles.
He also gets the visitors cheering for him to put the pedal to the metal when he drives through the muddy — even swampy — patches of the hayride.
Cox Farms, a locally owned farm market and pumpkin patch, has been holding its fall festival for nearly 30 years, says manager Lynn Hertz. Each year, festival organizers have added more kitsch to the 25-minute ride.
This year, new additions include the “witches’ kitchen,” where a trio of stuffed witches prepare a brew among old appliances set in the woods. Also new are live cowboys and cowgirls escorting the hayride on horseback.
Since Cox Farms has so many families who return year after year, festival organizers are always trying to keep the hayride surprising, Ms. Hertz says.
“We’re try to arrange the hayride a little differently,” she says. “Two years ago, we added the drive-through party barn. This year, the graveyard is a little different, too.”
The ride, free with festival admission, runs about every half hour. Cushions are available for those who don’t want to sit directly on the hay. Mr. Barnes starts out the ride by warning patrons to watch out for aliens and monsters.
Ah, the aliens. They are a staple here. Early on, the ride goes past a “spaceship” in the field. Speakers blare the “Star Wars” theme, and out from behind the ship pop two actors costumed as aliens with big, green hands.
Playing an alien is a coveted job here, Ms. Hertz says.
“They all want to play the alien,” she says. “I’ve told some of them to scale it back. Little kids sometimes don’t realize they are friendly aliens.”
There is enough to keep younger children interested — but not scared — on the ride, though. Popping up throughout the cornfields and meadows are painted cutouts of childhood characters. Among them: Barney, Elmo, Cat in the Hat, Dora the Explorer, Shrek and the Care Bears. Children shout out when they spot their favorite coming up around the bend.
Even older children will appreciate The Hulk, Pokemon and SpongeBob SquarePants characters represented during the ride.
The hayride has a variety of scarecrow scenes along the way. There are pumpkin-head scarecrows playing soccer and pumpkin golf.
The ride culminates with a visit to the drive-through barn. The short stop into the dark barn is a mishmash of loud music, disco lights and dancing creatures.
It’s enough to leave visitors of all ages exhilarated — and ready for Halloween.
Here are some other local places to catch a hayride:
• Homestead Farm, 15604 Sugarland Road, Poolesville. Hayrides ($1.50) are available at this apple-picking farm that also features a straw maze. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 31. Phone: 301/ 977-3761.
• Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15789 Temple Hall Lane, Leesburg, Va. This home of the corn maze, cut in the shape of Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, features hayrides to its pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Park admission: $7, for children ages 12 and older; $5 for children ages 5 to 11; and free for those younger than 5. Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Phone: 703/ 777-6732.
• Homestead Gardens, 743 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, Md. Homestead Gardens’ Fall Festival features hayrides ($2; free for children younger than 2) as part of its lineup of October happenings. The fall festival takes place weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in October. Phone: 301/261-4550.
• Kidwell Farm at Frying Pan Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon. Interpretive 20-minute hayrides ($2 for children ages 2 and older; free for those younger than 2) take place year-round on this working farm. Hayrides run regularly, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone: 703/437-9101.
• Cherry Hill Farm & Orchard, 12309 Gallahan Road, Clinton. The Fall Harvest Festival at this pick-your-own apple farm features a hayride past cartoon-themed scarecrows. Admission: $5, weekdays; $6, weekends. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through October. Phone: 301/292-1928 or 301/292-4642.
• Burke Nursery and Garden Center, 9401 Burke Road, Burke. Hayrides are part of the fun at the Fall Festival and Pumpkin Playground. Admission: $10, weekends; $7, weekdays; free for children younger than 2. The festival runs daily, from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m. through October. Phone: 703/ 323-1188.
• Robin Hill Farm Nursery, 15800 Croom Road, Brandywine. The Fall Pumpkin Harvest includes free hayrides to the field to pick-your-own pumpkins and see the farm animals. Harvest hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Phone: 301/579-6844.
• Krop’s Crops, 11110 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. This market offers a hayride ($2/age 3 and under free) to the pumpkin patch. The farm is open from weekdays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. through October. Hayrides run from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. on weekends. Group reservations also available. Phone: 703/430-8955.
When you go:
Cox Farms Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch
• Location: 15621 Braddock Road, Centreville
• Directions: Take Interstate 66 West to Exit 52 (Route 29). Take a right on Route 29 South. At third light, turn right on to Pleasant Valley Road. Turn left at the stop sign at Braddock Road.
• Hours: Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Oct. 30. Open from 10 a.m. until dusk from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7.
• Admission: $7, weekdays; $11, weekends; and free for children younger than 2 (pumpkin not included).
• Parking: Free parking in lots.
• Miscellaneous: The campy hayride is one of the star attractions at this annual fall festival. Admission includes unlimited hayrides, as well as use of the farm’s rope swings, slides, hay-climbing towers, hay tunnels and other farm fun. Admission cost also includes a small pumpkin to take home. Weekends include live music, face painting and additional food booths. There is a snack bar and a farmers’ market at the farm.
• Information: Phone: 703/830-4121. Web site: www.coxfarms.com.
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