It is officially pumpkin patch season! Though the weather felt more like summer, we enjoyed every bit of our time at the Fall Harvest Festival at Belvedere Plantation in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Fall Harvest Festival at Belvedere Plantation
Belvedere Plantation is our go-to for fall fun! We’ve visited several pumpkin patches throughout Virginia and always come back to Belvedere. The “Fall Harvest Festival” is what they call their collection of fall activities, open on select dates in September through November.
The Pumpkin Patch
We always begin our trip with a hayride to the pumpkin patch. We visit in early October and several pumpkins are still green! Even though we saw them last year, too, our kids always marvel at the novelty of green pumpkins.
Most of the pumpkins are still attached to the vine; it requires some tugging to separate them! Our kids also love this part. They’ve gotten used to seeing pre-picked pumpkin “patches” set up in parking lots and, as silly as it sounds, it feels exotic to pick (pull) a pumpkin rather than to simply pick (choose) one.
The Pig Races
The pig races run on a daily schedule throughout the Fall Harvest Festival. Belvedere Plantation posts it daily; be sure to check it so you don’t miss them! They’re a bit silly, but our children love the group participation. Your child may even win a prize if s/he is chosen as a participant!
Other Activities
Belvedere Plantation boasts over 30 activities! Plan to spend all day here.
Some activities cost extra, including the paintball arcade, pumpkin painting, pumpkin picking, and cutting flowers.
You can feed the farm animals if you have a quarter. (You can pet them for free.)
All of our favorite activities are free!
The jumpin’ pillow always sees some action!
You do need to remove shoes to participate. It can be a little tricky getting socks and shoes back on sweaty, sandy feet!
The pedal cars are a little tricky to get started, but easy to keep going. You can always push your child along if needed (though I don’t wish that on anyone when it’s over 90 degrees out).
The fun barn is our #1 favorite activity at Belvedere Plantation!
These activities kept our kids occupied for so long, I even had time to knit!
Dining
The Red Rooster Grill serves traditional fare: hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, french fries, etc. We typically pack our own food and picnic under one of the provided shelters, but we also like to buy a snack or juice box from The Red Rooster.
Several other food stands are open on weekends only.
The Market & Bakery (Gift Shop & Café)
The combination gift shop/café has food, collectibles, toys, and farmhouse-themed home decor items for purchase. Our favorites to take home are the apple cider donuts, the pumpkin rolls with cream cheese frosting (in the cooler by the registers) and the pumpkin-shaped sippy cups full of apple cider (in the cooler in the back).
Good to Know
Several admission discounts are listed on the website, including a discount for buying tickets online. There are also discounted ticket offers for select weekend dates if you’re a first responder, service member, teacher, or senior citizen. Discounted tickets are also available on select dates for bringing a non-perishable food donation.
Private hayrides and fire pits are available for rental.
Plan Your Visit
Belvedere Plantation
1410 Belvedere Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
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