Region families have been flocking to pumpkin patches, apple orchards and corn mazes this fall.
Northwest Indiana residents have been taking part in time-honored fall rituals, such as going on hayrides, grabbing pints of apple cider, stocking up on apple cider donuts by the dozen or stalking through the geometrically rigid rows of trees on the hunt for the juiciest Honeycrisp apple.
People have been flocking to attractions like County Line Orchard, Harvest Tyme Family Farm, Johnson's Farm Produce, Garwood Orchards and Fair Oaks Farms during "the signature season for agritourism in Northwest Indiana." Harvest Tyme Family Farm in Lowell has a corn maze depicting Sesame Street characters while County Line Orchard has one of Michael Jordan's iconic Jumpman pose as part of its "Who's the G.O.A.T.?" theme this year that includes a G.O.A.T. Float with apple cider, ice cream, an apple cinnamon donut, whipped cream, sweet caramel, a cinnamon sprinkle and a caveat that napkins are necessary.
Agritourism is one of the main drivers of visitation to Northwest Indiana in the fall and is one of the Region's most visible tourism sectors, South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority spokeswoman Stephanie Smith said.
"Fall is a major driver of agritourism visitation in Northwest Indiana — especially September and October — as farms, orchards and family attractions host harvest festivals, pumpkin patches and seasonal events," Smith said. "25% of the total annual visitation happens at these four attractions during September and October."
County Line Orchard, Harvest Tyme Family Farm, Johnson’s Farm Produce and Fair Oaks Farms collectively generated more than 3 million visitors last year.
"County Line Orchard and Harvest Tyme are the strongest fall performers, with nearly half of their annual visitation concentrated in those two months," Smith said. "Fair Oaks Farms, though year-round and peaks in the summer, still sees a seasonal uptick in October, reflecting fall tourism’s regional importance. So, fall is the peak season for agritourism in Northwest Indiana, both in volume and in visibility."
The farms are regional attractions that draw heavily among locals but also bring in visitors regionally, she said. Fair Oaks Farms is a national agritourism destination that brings in 64% of its visitors from more than 50 miles away.
"County Line Orchard is a major local magnet but still draws more than 14% of their visitors from more than 50 miles away. Johnson’s and Harvest Tyme offer more specialized, seasonal experiences that cater to families from both Indiana and Illinois. Johnson’s draws almost 25% of their visitors from more than 50 miles away, and Harvest Tyme draws around 5% of their visitors from more than 50 miles away," Smith said. "Fair Oaks Farms operates as a regional destination, drawing visitors from major metro areas like Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville. Nearly two-thirds of visitors travel more than 50 miles."
About one in seven of County Line Orchard's visitors travel from a distance, mostly from the suburbs of Chicago. About one-quarter of Johnson's Farm Produce's visitors come from at least 50 miles away, but it's most popular during the June Strawberry Festival. Most of Harvest Tyme Family Farm's visitors come from within 50 miles, but it also draws from Illinois in the fall.
The agritourism industry is a major source of seasonal employment and hospitality spending, Smith said. It also supports local food sales, farm-based retail and event rentals, including for weddings, meeting and festivals.
"The mix of farms offering experiences throughout the year, like Fair Oaks and Johnson’s and those focused on seasonal events like County Line and Harvest Tyme, keeps agritourism active nearly year-round," she said. "The combined data show fall as the clear peak season, especially September and October, when pumpkin patches, corn mazes and harvest festivals dominate."
County Line Orchard sees 40% of its visitation in September and October. Harvest Tyme Family Farm peaks with about 50,000 visitors in October. Fair Oaks Farms draws throughout the year but experiences its third highest visitation in October.
"Fall is the signature season for agritourism in Northwest Indiana — but attractions like Fair Oaks, Harvest Tyme and Johnson’s help sustain interest in spring and summer, too," Smith said.
Josh Sickinger first started offering the public a pumpkin patch with hayrides at Harvest Tyme Family Farm in Lowell 18 years ago. The farm's annual Fall Festival has exploded in popularity to where it includes 30 attractions, 10 amusement rides, a 3-acre corn maze, a petting zoo and a Pumpkin Glow Trail.
Harvest Tyme Family Farm now holds events throughout the year, including a Tulip Tyme Festival in the spring and its annual Christmas Tyme Lights. But the Fall Festival remains the most popular. It's a tradition for many families to find their way through the corn maze or survey the pumpkin patch for the perfect pumpkin to carve into a jack-o'-lantern.
"It's a great place for families to come together and enjoy a whole day's worth of fun for a reasonable price," Sickinger said. "It's somewhere to go for great experiences and great memories."
It draws from across Chicagoland, Indianapolis and the South Bend area, many who make a day trip of it. Social media has helped fuel its growth as families share photos of their kids picking pumpkins or petting goats.
"The agritourism space is 100% growing in popularity with new venues popping up all around the country," he said. "It's become as focused on the entertainment as it is on the agriculture."
Harvest Tyme Family Farm is constantly adding new attractions to keep visitors coming in.
"I was a CPA before I quit my job to work on the farm full-time," Sickinger said. "We do operations year-round to maintain cash flow. But we're absolutely busiest in the fall. It's when we have the highest attendance and the most success. It helps get the word out to everybody that we're here."
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