Anytime is an excellent time to visit Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks, Pennsylvania. This massively immersive adventure farm not only packs in premium experiences and an abundance of onsite attractions but there’s always something fun going on, whatever the season. Just this past summer, for instance, guests were treated to a Baby Animal Festival, an Apple Cider Donut Festival, a Sweet Corn Festival, and a Highland Cow Festival.
Summer isn’t over yet, though, and with the transition to autumnal awesomeness only a few weeks away, you can expect plenty of other festivities for fall. Before that, however, it’s worth noting that their popular week-long Sunflower Festival kicked off today, August 31, and will run through September 7.
Following that will be their Hometown Heroes Festival honoring firefighters, police officers, healthcare workers, and other first responders. That event will be on September 14. So, there you have confirmation of my opening statement; anytime is an excellent time to visit Cherry Crest Adventure Farm.
This lovely stretch of pristine land in Lancaster County has been site to the farming scene since at least the early 1700s. The land was originally owned by the Ferree family who settled here after coming to the New World to escape religious persecution in France.
Jack and Donna Coleman have been actively running a family-owned and operated farm on these grounds since 1987. But it wasn’t until 1996 that, in addition to keeping the fully functioning farm operations ongoing, the Colemans decided to provide onsite agritainment offerings to visitors. They premiered their first-ever Amazing Maize Maze that year with a “Locomotive Labyrinth” theme. It would be an understatement to say that the corn maze was a hit. Not only did it prove to be a popular crowd-pleaser, but it set the trend for all other attractions and amenities that have since been added to the lineup of myriad mainstays at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm.
Today, a visit to the impressive 25-acre adventure farm includes more than 60 activities and attractions. While some offerings are seasonal many are available to guests at all times. Contested highlights include their Activities Tent, Amazing Maize Maze, Animal Grove, Animal Encounters, Apple Blasters, Baby Chick Hatchery, Baby Mini Highland Calves and Mini Highland Cow interactions, their Barnyard Jump, a Battle Zone, Bee Barn Exhibit, Big Ball Corral, Bubble Bins, Bucking Broncos, Conk the Cow, a Corn Barn, Corn Hole, Corny’s Ball-Cade, those Country Road Carts, a Discovery Barn, Duck Races, a Farm Animal Center, Farm Tour Wagon Rides, a Feed Mill, Flashlight Maze, the Freedom Slide, a Giant Slinger, Hay Chute, Lil Cabin Builders, the Little Wagon Express, a Misting Tent, a Paint Ball Range, Pedal Carts, Poly Pong, Post Pounder, Relaxing Air Chairs, the Round Bale Racer, Skee Ball, Spider Webs, Sproutsville, the Straw Bale Hoist, Straw Bale Racers, a Straw Bale Tower, Straw Bale Tunnel, Tandem Swings, Tether Ball, a Tractor Display, Tractor Pull, Tug of War, and their Twisted Tail Rope Maker.
In addition to onsite attractions, several unique entertainment offerings occur at the farm regularly. Each day during summertime operations, visitors can try their luck in an onsite Escape Room, watch and learn about the butter-making process via demos, and squeal with delight over those ever-popular pig races. The latter two also occur during fall operations.
You can also enjoy live entertainment from onsite performers at varying times, usually on Fridays and Saturdays. Click here to see the schedule for all upcoming entertainment.
Daytime delights are great, but take note of Cherry Crest’s featured fireworks displays on varying evenings throughout the summer and fall months. Catch fireworks every Saturday at 8:30 p.m. sharp, between September 14 and November 2. Fireworks are also showcased on select Friday evenings as well.
Autumn is one of the times when Cherry Crest Adventure Farm truly shines. They are, after all, renowned for all those famed featured fall follies forever attracting fans. And it’s none other than their original claim to fame, which continues to prevail as one of the farm’s most anchoring highlights—their annually featured corn maze. Touted for being the “world’s most dynamic and interactive 5-acre corn maze with over 2.5 miles of paths, scenic bridges, and clues,” the corn maze has garnered national attention and was even voted “#1 Corn Maze in America” by USA Today in 2020. This year’s corn maze will present a “Cattle on the Farm” theme.
In addition to the attractions and the resulting “adventures” these attractions provide, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm has many other onsite offerings worth noting. They feature several vending locations where you can grab great food and snacks, for example, and the offerings are all pretty plentiful. You’ll also find bountiful buys at their resident general store, trading post, and sweet shop.
Then there are their ever-popular U-Pick offerings straight from the fields, which change seasonally. Their specialties are flowers (zinnias and sunflowers), pumpkins, and even field-grown popcorn straight from the cob.
Do note that visiting Cherry Crest Adventure Farm requires paid admission. These rates change seasonally but believe me when I tell you it’s worth it, as the adventures to partake in here are absolutely priceless. You can view current rates by clicking here.
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm is located at 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, Pennsylvania, 17572. For all other information, visit the website at www.cherrycrestfarm.com.