Leeds Farm, a family-owned pumpkin farm in Delaware County, will open for the 2015 harvest season on Saturday, Sept. 19, by hosting the ninth annual Leeds Farm Autism Harvest Festival from 9 to 11 a.m.
The festival is a free event for central Ohio children and adults with autism and their immediate family and grandparents.
Leeds Farm opens to the public at 10 a.m on Sept. 19 for the first day of its 2015 harvest season. Autism families are welcome to stay and enjoy the farm throughout the day, say organizers. During the festival, a display area is available for autism service providers and support organizations.
Providers can reserve space and families that wish to attend can RSVP to Sherry Fisher at [email protected] or by calling 740-225-3256.
New this season at Leeds Farm are two new pumpkin jumps; new permanent restroom facilities; a new bridge across the farm pond that takes farm guests to the new hayride boarding area; and new expanded locations for the John Deere Titan II Combine Slide, Banana Bus and Tube Time. A farm map is available on the Leeds Farm website to help guests find activities.
Additional events for 2015 include:
• Leeds Farm military families salute: Sunday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Active duty and retired military personnel, their children and grandchildren may enjoy the farm and receive 50 percent off barn-pass admission for the entire day. To receive the discount, a family member must present a valid military ID card. No registration is necessary.
• Touch a Tractor/Touch a Truck: Sunday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come explore farm tractors and big trucks up close.
• Horse-drawn hayrides: Sept. 26 and 27, from noon to 5 p.m. Horse-drawn hayrides will be available one weekend only. Tractor hayrides are available every weekend.
• “Witches Night Out”: The second annual Leeds Farm Witches Night Out will be Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. (rain date is Oct. 8). The fundraiser is for ages 21 and above, and benefits the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiatives. For more information, visit www.LeedsFarm.com/WitchesNightOut.
• Gus “Squashcarver” Smithhisler Giant Pumpkin Carving: Sunday, Oct. 4. Watch Gus create intricate carvings on a giant pumpkin.
Leeds Farm will be open 6½ weekends — from Saturday, Sept. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 31. Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The farm is also open one Friday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Leeds Farm is located at 8738 State Route 36, Ostrander.
