Kinder Farm Park Fall Fun Day Will Be Rich With Seasonal Festivities

Each year in October, members of the Friends of Kinder Farm Park (FoKFP), park rangers and community volunteers hold a festival for thousands of visitors, celebrating autumn through a day filled with seasonal activities. Community members are invited to this year’s Fall Fun Day at Kinder Farm Park from 10:00am-3:00pm on Saturday, October 11, for festivities including a pumpkin patch, straw maze, hayrides and more.

Though this year’s Fall Fun Day has been scaled down from last year’s event, there is still plenty for visitors to enjoy. A professional face painter will be at the event to provide more intricate face painting than in previous years. Local vendors will offer fall-themed crafts, including honey and pottery from one vendor, as well as farm- and Halloween-themed jewelry created from cans by a vendor who attends Severna Park High School. Two food trucks and a snack truck will have food available for purchase.

“I get excited about the whole thing. It’s usually a lot of fun,” said FoKFP President Barbara Buchleitner. “It’s very family-oriented, so people of all ages can have a good time.”

FoKFP is also hoping to use the day to raise awareness for its Shade Tree campaign, which is a fundraising mission dedicated to bringing shade trees onto the farm to help Kinder Farm’s grazing animals find relief from humidity and heat. Park ranger Jessica Furr has created a “giving tree” for the fundraiser, where each donation contributes a leaf to show off the funds raised.

The hayrides offered during Fall Fun Day will last about half an hour each and take visitors all throughout the park, giving them a chance to take in the sights. The farmhouse will also be open for the public to visit. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the farm animals, including chickens, goats, sheep, a few cows and more.

“The nice thing about our fall festival is that it is also an educational opportunity for the community to learn more about farming and about livestock and just about animal husbandry in general,” Buchleitner said.

In addition to the work done by the park rangers and the organization’s own members, FoKFP is looking for volunteers from the community to help run the event. Volunteers can sign up to work a single shift or the full day. Prior to the event, they will be required to attend a 45-minute training and information session on either Tuesday, October 7, at 6:00pm, or Friday, October 10, at 4:00pm. For more information on how to volunteer at the event, go to www.kinderfarmpark.org/volunteer.html.

Class sessions on how to make a scarecrow will take place throughout the “fun day,” which people can register for in advance, as spots are limited. The class cost is $20. The scarecrows will be man-sized, and all materials are provided, but it’s recommended that participants bring their own gardening gloves for stuffing their scarecrows.

Fall Fun Day will take place rain or shine. Park gate fees will be suspended, and no advance registration is necessary. Tickets will be available for purchase onsite for the straw maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides and face painting. Parking will be limited. Additional information and registration for scarecrow classes can be found at www.kinderfarmpark.org.