Fall is in full swing and so is the Harvest Celebration at Jaemor Farm.
Located in Alto, the more than 500-acre farm is just 20 minutes away from the Gainesville campus. It is a family-owned and operated farm that has been around for over 100 years and receives around a million visitors every year.
The Echols family opens the farm’s gates to visitors year-round, but you don’t want to miss the fall experience. Jaemor’s Harvest Celebration, which happens every day in the month of October includes hayrides, corn mazes, apple cannons, a petting zoo, duck races, farm skeeball, a mini corn maze, and of course – lots of pumpkins. Visitors can pay $14 to have unlimited access to all the attractions for the day.
One of Jaemor’s most popular attractions is the annual corn maze and is open every day as weather permits. On Monday, Jeremy Echols, grandson of the farm’s owner, said, “because of all the rain this week, we had to call it off, but it should be ready for visitors by the weekend.”
Photo by Anna Kate Clark
The maze is cut into a different design every year and this year’s design is called “Lost in Space.” The farm reveals hints about the corn maze throughout the months of August and September on Facebook while they prepare for the Harvest Celebration. When visitors go through the maze, they can pick up a map on their way in, which is highly recommended.
There is a pick-your-own pumpkin patch as well as a wide variety of pre-picked pumpkins at the Jaemor Market located on the farm.
“We have grown 200 acres of pumpkins this year, so we have more than plenty to go around.” – Jeremy Echols
The market has homemade jams, pastries, ice cream, boiled peanuts, pumpkins, apples, and many more fruits and vegetables freshly picked from the farm. According to Echols, the farm’s bestsellers are strawberries in late spring, peaches in summer, and apples in the fall.
The farm also allows visitors to pick their own flowers on weekends when their gardens are in full bloom. Visitors can pay $20 for the all-access Harvest Celebration pass that includes pick-your-own flowers on those weekends. Announcements regarding flowers can be found on Jaemor’s website or Facebook page. Between the flower picking and pumpkin patches, there are plenty of opportunities to take great photos.
On October 30, they will have a Halloween celebration from 4-8 p.m. where there will be trick-or-treating and live music from Canon Tyler.
Bring your friends and family to Jaemor Farm during the month of October for plenty of fall fun. The hours are Mondays through Thursdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays 1–7 p.m.
