Enchanted Acres Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt

Fall has arrived and the pumpkin patch season has begun at Enchanted Acres in rural Sheffield, Iowa.  Our family is a frequent visitor to the patch every year so we decided to create a Scavenger Hunt filled with our favorite attractions and activities, perfect for regulars like us and first-time guests.

Girls Night Out: Enchanted Acres

*I received complimentary activities to facilitate my review.  

All views and opinions shared are my own.*

Last weekend I visited Enchanted Acres, located west of Sheffield, Iowa, with the North Iowa Bloggers.  My family and I enjoyed exploring the pumpkin patch and painting pumpkins.  We have had fun going on a family visit every year since its opening in 2012.  In fact - here is a list of our family's 5 Favorite Things to do at Enchanted Acres.

At the end of the evening, while we were all hanging out on their hexagon fire pit swings, I asked Enchanted Acres owner, Shannon Latham, what she was most excited for this year at the pumpkin patch.  Without hesitation she said, Art Box Painting!  And that got me thinking about all of the fun activities Shannon plans for the patch's season, not only for families, but also some for adults only.

So grab some of your girlfriends and head out to the Big Red Barn at Enchanted Acres and have a Girls Night Out:

• Saturday, September 23rd at 2 p.m., Pumpkin Succulent Class, prices vary
• Sunday, October 1st at 1 p.m., String Art Class, $35
• Saturday, October 7th at 1 p.m., Farm to Table Cooking Workshop: Pumpkin Butter-stuffed French Toast and Pork Breakfast Sausage, $25
• Sunday, October 8th at 2 p.m., Art Box Painting Workshop, $45
• Saturday, October 14th at 2 p.m., Creative Spirits Painting Class, $35
• Sunday, October 22nd at 2 p.m., Farm to Table Workshop: Herbs and Butters, $25

If you can't make a class, you can still go with your friends to Enchanted Acres to get pumpkins, gourds, mums and to check out their gift shop with lot of fun decor items and food!  The pumpkin patch is open Fridays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  General admission is $5 per person (children age 2 and under are free), and on Fridays the admission is waived.

So which class would you love to go to with friends?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

4 Reasons to Visit Franklin County, Iowa This Weekend

If I could sum up Franklin County, Iowa (my home) in three words I'd say welcoming, innovative and genuine.  Franklin County is a rural area in North Iowa with only 10,000 residents living within its borders and one working stop light ;) but we don't let our small stature get in our way of being inventive and bringing in people to experience our slice of heaven on Earth (Cue Field of Dreams - Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa.).  I'm proud to call this spot in North Iowa my home and this weekend is one of the many reasons why it is such a great place.

Reason #1 - Main Street Hampton Restaurant Crawl, Thursday, Sepetember 22nd

Looking for a fun Thursday night out?  For just $10 you can dine at four restaurants in Downtown Hampton!  A first of its kind event for Franklin County, this Restaurant Crawl runs from 5 to 7pm and includes stops at:

• La Frontera - Appetizer/Nachos and Dessert/Pear Tart
• Breadeaux Pizza - two Salad options
• Willies Sports Bar - Brisket and Tenderloin Sliders
• Rustic Brew - Roast Pork Loin topped with Cooked Apples with a side of Fingerling Potatoes and Carrots

You can start at any restaurant and eat in any order.  Tickets are required for this event; contact Dawn Collins at mainstreet@hamptoniowa.org or stop in at the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce/Center One.  This event supports local food producers, downtown restaurants, Hampton-Dumont Bulldog Cafe students and Hampton-Dumont music students.  Students involved with the Bulldog Cafe have helped test the recipes that will be featured Thursday night.  They will also be the servers at each of the restaurants.  Music at each restaurant will be provided by the school music students and local musicians.

Reason #2 - The Geneva Market, Friday, September 23rd and Saturday, September 24th

Does anyone else love the "Only in Your State" lists?  Well, I sure do and I am proud to say that Franklin County's, The Geneva Market, made the 6 Must-Visit Flea Markets in Iowa Where You'll Find Awesome Stuff list.  

The best parts of this fun, antique, vintage, upcycled market is that it happens in both the spring and the fall (the fall market happening this weekend) and the money raised through booth rentals and the $3 admission fee goes to the Geneva Betterment Committee.  The Committee is currently working on repairing the Geneva School Auditorium, where they plan to host future markets, as well as wedding receptions, family reunions, etc. after renovations are complete.

The Geneva Market is located at Mayne's Grove (west of Geneva and south of Hampton) and will take place on Friday, September 23rd from 10am to 7pm and Saturday, September 24th from 9am to 5pm.  Be sure to check out their Facebook page to get a look at some of the up to 100 vendors that will be there this weekend.  I have always come home with something fun from The Geneva Market.  This spring I bought two, neat, metal art flowers for my yard.  I bet this weekend there will lots of exclusive buys for your home, especially fall decor.

Reason #3 - Make-A-Wish Fall Ball at Enchanted Acres, Saturday, September 24th

Now this third reason is very near to my heart.  For the second year, Enchanted Acres, located outside of Sheffield, is hosting a Fall Ball for Make-A-Wish Iowa from 9am to 5pm.  A $5 per person gate fee will be donated directly to the Make-A-Wish North Iowa Committee, that will go towards helping wish families.

Besides supporting wish kids, you also get to have lots of fun!  Everyone is encouraged to dress up as your favorite character for the all day costume party.  Special attractions exclusive for Saturday include inflatables for the kids to play on, face painting from 9am to 1pm and Dragonfire Dancing Horses performances at 11am and 1:30pm.  To learn more about all of the activities, check out the Facebook event.

Enchanted Acres is a favorite fall destination for my family and I.  There are a lot of fun opportunities, while still having that close-knit, comfortable feeling.  Thank you to Enchanted Acres for hosting this event for the second year in a row!

***September 23rd Update - Due to the rain and flooding at Enchanted Acres, Saturday's Fall Ball is being postponned to Saturday, October 29th.  Sunday's Farm Crawl is still going on as planned.***

Reason #4 - Fresh on the Farm at Enchanted Acres, TownsEnd Winery and Carlson Tree Farm, Sunday, September 25th

The final reason to visit Franklin County is happening this Sunday.  The Fresh on the Farm, Farm Crawl has been happening the last few years and looks to be another great way to enjoy a beautiful, fall day this weekend.

The Farm Crawl provides the public a fun, interactive opportunity to get to know some local producers and to taste the flavors of fall.  At each farm there will be tours, food samples, and products to buy from Noon to 5pm.  You can start wherever you want, but you'll want to make sure to visit all of the sites.  This year's farms are Enchanted Acres, TownsEnd Winery in Hansell and Carlson Tree Farm in rural Hampton/Coulter.

So what's stopping you?  Be sure to visit my home this weekend for some great fall fun.  What event are you really interested in?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

5 Ways to have Fall Family Fun at Enchanted Acres

* I received complimentary admission and activities to facilitate 
my review.  All views and opinions shared are my own. * 

Fresh air, pumpkin spice and campfire are all smells you can expect to experience at Enchanted Acres, located outside of Sheffield, Iowa.  I have been lucky to have experienced this pumpkin patch grow over the last few years.  Yesterday, the kids and I had a great time checking out everything new for 2015 with the North Iowa Bloggers, and we wanted to share with you our Top 5 ways to have some Fall Family Fun at Enchanted Acres:

1. Explore the Playground - This might seem like a simple thing, but the playground at Enchanted Acres is the first thing my kids want to go to when we arrive.  There are tractor tires to climb on, a sandbox with lots of shovels and toys, ladybug tire swings, and a few sit and scoot toys to drive around.  The playground is a great place for kids to simply run around and have some fun.

   

   MP and JP enjoying the playground

2. Use Your Imagination at Books in the Barn - Books in the Barn was a new activity at Enchanted Acres last year that my family loved coming out for.  Each week has a new book theme where the kids get to listen to the book, make a craft related to it and eat a snack that is associated with it.  This weekend is "Teddy Bear Picnic", so be sure to bring your teddy bear!

   

   LP at The Lorax Books in the Barn last year
   He's eating his Truffula Tree Cotton Candy next to his paper plate Lorax

3. Take A Silly Photo - Enchanted Acres is full of photo opportunities.  I swear every angle you turn is photo worthy.  When we came home from the pumpkin patch yesterday I asked the kids what their favorite part was.  LP said he loved pretending to be a witch!  From witches, to ghosts, to a pumpkin coach - there are many face cutouts that the family can have fun taking photos in.

   

   LP the Witch

4. Meet Nibbles the Goat - Nibbles the goat is the unofficial mascot of Enchanted Acres.  She is a pygmy goat who loves people, especially if you give her some goat food!  She oversees the pumpkin patch, along with several other goats.  You will have to go checkout their home.  The goats have a lot of fun ramps and bridges to play on that bring entertainment for both them, and observers.

   

   LP feeding Nibbles

5. Decorate a Pumpkin - Each week there is a different pumpkin decorating workshop you can participate in.  From decorating with duct tape, to glitter, to paint - it is a fun activity to participate in where the mess stays literately in the barn and you can bring home the final product!  
   

This is just the start of fun you can have at Enchanted Acres.  With the North Iowa Bloggers we also enjoyed going on a hay rack ride and making campfire pizzas and pies.  I can't wait to bring the kids back to explore the Enchanted Forest and look for fairies and to fire the pumpkin cannon.

The North Iowa Bloggers on a hay rack ride
Abbey of Mind, Body, Babies, Laura of Cat Tales with Laura,
Becky of Knotty Things, Katy of Learning As I Go and Alicia of Fit & Farm

Owner, Shannon Latham,
explaining the 30 varieties of pumpkins

Enchanted Acres opening weekend is this weekend and on Sunday, Enchanted Acres is a part of the Franklin County Farm Crawl.  Enchanted Acres is open 9am to 5pm Thursday through Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays through November 1st.  To get the full schedule, check out the Enchanted Acres website, and make sure to "Like" them on Facebook.  It is a great spot to keep up to date on their latest news and special offers.

I also have to put a special plug in for next Saturday, September 26th as Enchanted Acres is hosting the Make-A-Wish Iowa Fall Ball.  We'll have inflatables, face painting, balloon animals, horse drawn carriage rides, etc. and the gate admission will be donated to Make-A-Wish Iowa!  I hope you come out to support our local Wish families and future Wish children, as well as Enchanted Acres next Saturday.

What is your favorite way to have fall family fun?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!