Thursday, September 26, 2019 7:00 am Fall is hands down my favourite season. As soon I sense the first hint of crispness in the air, I’m ready to pull out my pumpkin decor and jump right into sweater weather. One of the best parts of the season is the abundance of Autumn excursions and events.
One of my first Fall outings each year is always to a local farm. Luckily, living in Halton, I never have to go far to find fields of pumpkins, hay rides and farm fresh treats. As I mentioned in my post Kitchener Waterloo Family Day Trip Part 1, I wanted to go somewhere outside of Halton for a daytrip. We had an amazing time at The Museum in Kitchener for the first half of the day and decided to check out another major attraction in the area.We wanted to spend our afternoon somewhere a bit different, with lots of activities, and Snyder’s Family Farm was the perfect choice. While many farms have similar features, Snyder’s really is on a whole other level. Even the standard farm experiences are more thought out and entertaining than many farms I’ve been to. Here are just a few of the top activities included with admission - and why we loved them.
TOP 5 FAVOURITE ATTRACTIONS AT SNYDER’S FAMILY FARM
Pedal Carts: These were SO. Much. Fun! We got to ride around a track on three-wheeler pedal bikes. There were both solo and two seater bikes so kids can ride in the back - even littler ones (our two-year-old loved it.) Once you get some momentum you can go fairly quickly, but it’s also nice to just take a leisurely ride and soak in the sun. They have plenty of cars and no line ups. We loved that this wasn’t just for kids. It’s a great activity to take part in while you wait for the next item on our list.
Wagon Rides: Most farm wagon rides take you through lovely scenery and are a great way to see the farm. What we liked about Snyders’ version is that the ride is part show, including a customized soundtrack complete with many, many corny puns. The rap song at the end is top notch. Kids will love it and adults will get a few laughs. It takes you to “Western Town,” where you just might spot the Corn Bandit. The ride leaves every 20 minutes.
Jump pad / pillow: This was a totally unique farm attraction. Kids aged 5-12 can bounce on the farm pillow while the jump pad is open to all ages. It’s similar to a bouncy castle, minus the walls and roof, which makes this perfect for little ones who might otherwise be scared to try it out, since some young kids don’t like venturing solo into bouncy castles.
Corn Maze: Similar to the wagon ride, the corn maze at Snyder’s is more engaging than most. There are hidden animals to spot and at certain points in the maze you encounter a wheel to spin with suggestions like “sneak like a spy.”
Pumpkin Pirate Puppet Show: Again, this was my first time seeing entertainment like this at a farm, and it was a nice surprise. The show features lots of silly songs and kid-friendly puns while the audience helps spot the missing pumpkins. It runs every hour on the hour on weekends. Really, there aren't a lot of puppet shows on offer nowadays so it was a neat experience for our daughter.
Of course, there was lots more to see and do, in addition to our top 5. Near the entrance they play kid-friendly songs and run a bubble machine. There were animals to admire, a playground, pirate ships to play on, a straw mountain and lots of yummy food options.
There were also a few other key attractions that we didn’t have time to check out this time, but that are on our list for a future visit, including:The Floppy and Snowflake Show: An interactive farm animal show featuring Floppy the Bunny and Snowflake the Sheep.
The 5 acre pumpkin patch.
The Visitors Haunted House: A research lab where aliens took over (for older kids and adults.
As we get deeper into Autumn, this is a must-visit spot for soaking in the season.
GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:Snyder’s is open at 10am and closes at 5pm on September weekends, 7pm the first two October weekends, 6pm the last two October weekends and 5pm on November weekends.
It’s cheaper to buy your tickets online in advance. Online ticket prices for weekends for ages 3+ are $13.99 plus HST and fees; weekdays are $9.99. Kids 2 and under are always free. All attractions are included.
Food options include a grilled cheesery in an actual double decker bus, a bakery a poutine truck, a grill featuring standard fare like fries and hamburgers, an ice cream stand and a candy store.
Looking for more Kitchener Waterloo activity or event suggestions? Check out Part 1 of our family day trip.
Chandra