(8/29) Opening weekend for Sewell’s Farm fall festivities will be taking place the weekend of September 23rd. This is the second year the Sewell family will be holding a variety of fall-related activities and attractions. Last year was a great success, bringing in more crowds than expected with the grand opening and unveiling of the giant pumpkin, however the Sewell family hopes this year will be even better, drawing in more people to enjoy some new and exciting attractions and activities.

For the opening weekend Sewell’s Farm invites Justin Satudinger, from RUST by Justin, Lisa Walters, CreativeLei lettering extraordinaire, and the Taneytown Dance Studio who will be performing on September 24 at 1:30. Of course, this won’t be the only weekend to enjoy the festivities, because Sewell’s Farm will be open every weekend 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through the end of October!

Last year, was the great pumpkin - this year guests will see the unveiling of a spectacular fort. Children will be able to explore and play inside the fort and there’s even a sliding board for small children to enjoy. In addition to the new children’s fort, the giant pumpkin house, as promised, has a new addition – a giant tube slide! Visitors will be able to walk inside the pumpkin house, which will be adorned with spooky characters and decorations in the true spirit of Halloween and can take a ride down the slide exiting the giant pumpkin! The slide can be enjoyed by folks of all ages – it’s not just limited to kids!

The Sewell’s hope to continue building upon the pumpkin in the future and every year the theme within and surrounding the pumpkin will be different. This year, take note of the spooky spider crawling up the side of the pumpkin looking over the entrance. Visitors will surely want to come back and make this experience a tradition every year to see what the pumpkin has in store each fall.

In addition to visiting the giant pumpkin and taking your fill of fun pictures in and around the massive structure, visitors will also be able to participate in other family activities. Get lost in the sunflower maze, a fun twist on the traditional corn maze, or if you’re more of a traditionalist, you can enjoy the corn maze, new this year. Both the sunflower and corn maze will be sure to delight people of all ages.

Since this is a celebration of all things fall, Sewell Farm will once again be offering pick-your-own pumpkins. So once you’ve made your way out of the maze, make your way over to the pumpkin patch to pick out your very own pumpkin. Pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and textures are available, so there is certainly a pumpkin for everyone!

From the pumpkin patch, you can take a hayride around the farm or participate in a farm scavenger hunt. New this year is a more advanced scavenger hunt, for those looking for more of a challenge. The advanced scavenger hunt will weave in and out of the Christmas tree field and into the woods. For more of an elementary hunt, there will also be the scavenger hunt in and around the Christmas trees. If scavenger hunts aren’t quite your cup of tea, then how about you build your own scarecrow? This activity is fun for kids and parents alike.

In addition to the new fort and scavenger hunt, the Sewells also have new games planned. Ever heard of "foot darts?" Imagine a giant inflatable wall set up similarly to a target. Players kick a Velcro ball at the target, earning points depending on where the ball lands. This is certainly a game many may not have heard of, so come on down to check it out, but if "foot darts" aren’t your thing, try the soccer obstacle course, also new this year. Both games will be sure to entertain both kids and adults.

Admission to the farm is $7, and includes the pumpkin house and fort, sunflower maze, scavenger hunts, soccer obstacle course and hay ride to the pumpkin patch. The "build-your-own scarecrow" and "foot darts" activities are an additional charge.

Of course, once the fall season has commenced, Sewell’s Christmas tree season will once again open. After a short break, Sewell’s Farm will begin their Christmas season from Saturday November 18 to December 22, seven days a week. Cut your own trees and pre-cut trees as well as Christmas decorations will be available.

Take some time this fall and stop into Sewell’s Farm for a fun filled day of fall activities for all ages. For more information on Sewell’s Farm, their fall activities, or their Christmas tree season, visit www.sewellsfarm.com/ or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sewellsfarm.