Funnel cakes and hay jumping

The hum of the highway broke to expose a quiet winding back road, shaded by green leaves fading to orange, open fields stretched out to the horizon and horses grazing on the green grass of the farm lands. The sun over Youngsville bore down on the car and heated the chilly air, as the roads weaved in and out, leading to an opening buzzing with laughter and exultant yelps.

Hill Ridge Farms stood stark against pine trees and small farm houses, delighted energy poured out from the entrance gates and into the families that stood waiting to pay the entrance fee. The air smelled of funnel cakes and pine trees, bright colors danced around as children ran after each other.

The farm offers pony rides, as well as feeding goats and catfish, and a pen of bunnies to view.  Also a new feature this year: pig, goat and duck racing.

Most of the activities (“Pillow jump”, bouncy house, swings, and “rat racing”) was restricted to age 2-12. The slide is a classic favorite available to kids and adult of all ages.

Another addition to Hill Ridge is the promise of a hayride and free pumpkin with every visit.  Families board a covered wagon, filled with seats made of hay, powered by a tractor. The driver will take farm visitors on a small trip into the woods that border the farm. Since it’s currently Halloween themed, the trees were bare and the field were filled with pumpkins. The promise of fairy light covered trees comes with the oncoming winter holidays. Hill Ridge farms has holiday activities for all ages and a parade of lights for families to enjoy come December.

The farm also offers some farming history on it’s main walkway. “Old-timey” displays feature a look into the past and the different methods of farming that real agrarians used to utilize on the farms. You may even get a look at the kittens who sleep on the ironing board in the “Old Wash House.”

Hill Ridge Farms also sells snacks to hungry farm goers. It smells intensely similar to a walk through the NC State Fair. Funnel cakes were selling like hot cakes (literally).

The farm and it’s employees do the most they can in order to create a fun and festive environment for all ages.  It’s a great way to get out of the house, enjoy the fresh air and spend time with friends and family around the holidays. The warm and inviting environment gives farm-goers a space to enjoy the gifts of nature, not to mention the adorable photo opportunities for the kids. The memories that are created at the farm are held  amidst the pumpkin patch and in the hay jump. The carnival games give older visitors a feeling of what it’s like to be a child again and the opportunity to see the faces of their own children light up. It’s a place filled to the brim with buoyancy  and pleasantly optimistic energy – filling any visitor with a renewed sense of hope among the advancing cold months of the year.