BY BRIONNA MCCALL
FOR THE OBSERVER
SALEM —
Fall is finally here, and The Farm at Rocky Top has many activities in store for the community from Hay Days to Christmas bonfires.
Hay Days is a new venture at The Farm at Rocky Top in Salem. It will be the second arts and crafts festival the farm will have, and it will be a biannual event during the third weekend in May and the second weekend in November.
“We will have all types of vendors,” said owner Jan Lawrence. “We have food vendors, children’s vendors such as pony rides and face painting, and our other vendors are candle makers, soap makers, pottery, leather, glass, metal, homemade crafted items and boutique items.”
In May, the farm had a train ride for Hay Days, and it will have a hayride in November. Photo opportunities will be available, and there will be inflatables, a petting zoo and seminar games for the children.
The farm recently began its season-long pumpkin patches, which will be hosted every weekend in October from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For October, activities include duck races, the Roly Poly, Piedmont Fertilizer Corn Crib, Gravity Wagon Basketball, Pumpkin Bowling, Mini Zip Line and much more.
Rocky Top has just finished constructing its vintage playground, and its main feature is the triples slide purchased from Opelika after it was taken down from Monkey Park.
The day after Thanksgiving, the farm will have its County Christmas event that will run for four weekends.
“At Country Christmas, we sell Christmas trees, have our petting zoo, train rides, reindeer games and about five to seven outside photo opportunities,” Lawrence said. “We have an ugly Christmas sweater photo booth, a letter to Santa station, a reindeer food-making station and Santa Claus visits.”
Another feature of the farm is a snow castle which will have artificial snow for the children to play in. There will also be concession stands and lights during the night so the community can have bonfires while drinking hot apple cider or hot chocolate, and Christmas music will be played throughout the event
“We’re just providing a place for family, singles, couples and friends to come and socialize and be relaxed,” Lawrence said. “All of these quirky games and photo ops will give you a chance to just enjoy the county and the festivities.”
During the events, Rocky Top will have Lifesouth Blood Bank come around for blood donations and will also have Humane Societies come for dog adoption.
For more information, please visit www.thefarmatrockytop.com, or email Lawrence at jan@thefarmatrockytop.com.