Next Verrill Farm Day, BBQ, and Apple Pie Contest:
Saturday, September 6th, 2014 in Concord, MA. Full listing details here.
With many
family and harvest festivals to choose from every fall, in 2013 New England Fall Events
had the pleasure of visiting Verrill Farm in Concord, MA. With sunny weather
and a gentle breeze, it couldn’t have been a lovelier day to celebrate our
favorite season.
The Verrill Farm “Farm Day and BBQ” does a very nice job striking the right balance for a
weekend gathering—there is plenty to do yet they manage to maintain a laid-back
feel. It’s just pure, outdoor, fall fun. As many families feel that their
weekends can be jam-packed, why make time to fit in one more thing? The Verrill Farm event is worth your time for the sheer
fact that it is relaxing and peaceful—it is entertaining for people of all ages
while being a respite from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.
For one,
it’s not nuts. There are various activities scheduled throughout the day—pony
rides, hayrides, live music and the like, but the fun can be had without stumbling
to your car feeling totally overstimulated. At the risk of sounding trite, it
really is a good, old-fashioned, relaxed time spent outdoors.
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| Verrill Farm's wide open space left plenty of room to play and roam and never left us feeling crowded |
A good way
to get a sense of how an event is going can be understood by
observing the people all around you. How are they spending their time and is
everyone squabbling at each other and being pulled in different directions?
This festival had plenty of attendees, mostly families, and with a wide yard,
there was plenty of space for people to enjoy themselves without ever feeling
crowded.
The food lines, the pony walks, and the hayride queue were never too
long or slow—they moved along and the kids were happy as can be. Dozens of parents
just moseying around, wearing their infants in a sling and watching their
toddlers play with plenty of room to roam and move. With the parking lot
separated from the festivities, it was a very safe and spacious area for kids
of all ages to play and, without tight crowds, parents had peace of mind that
their kids could roam without ever getting far out of vision.
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| Tanglewood Marionettes held a captive audience of kids and adults alike. |
The hill was
quickly claimed by kids for log rolling and running—it was such a welcome sight
to see so much spontaneous free play all around. There were tented areas with
picnic tables for those who preferred to eat and relax in the shade or to
simply listen to the band playing. A table was set up for entries into the
apple pie contest (though not for the general public to taste or judge) and pie
display could be observed by all.
The puppet
show by the Tanglewood Marionettes held a captive audience of adults and kids
alike. It was a generous touch that the puppets were kept on display before and
after the show for people to appreciate and enjoy the artistry up close—a
particularly thrilling experience for the kids.
The food was
very, very good—pulled pork BBQ, fresh corn, and cole slaw being the main
attraction. Some of the best BBQ I recall eating last year—and although it
wasn’t noted on the menu board, many of the items-including the BBQ—were gluten
free as confirmed by the chef who was on-site at the food tent.
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| The Verrill Farm selection of heirloom tomatoes was a true feast for the eyes |
If you’ve
been to Verrill before then it goes without saying that you wouldn’t dare leave
the farm empty-handed. The adjacent farm stand was bursting with stellar
produce, mostly local, much of it harvested right at Verrill. The raspberry
display was luscious in its color and ripeness and the abundant harvest of heirloom tomatoes drew everyone in—we, too, left with a fat brown bag’s worth of colorful
tomatoes and some fresh burratta cheese.
The interior
of the farm stand offered heaping tables of fresh-picked vegetables and fruit,
beautifully displayed and clearly labeled with where it was harvested. There
was a full wall of refrigerated cases packed with prepared meals, soups, sauces,
and trays of heat-and-serve dinners. Nearly all of these prepared meals were
cooked right there at Verrill and you could also find goodies such as local
honey for purchase.
There's a full schedule of events for Verrill Farms' 2014 Farm Day here. Other goodies are added this year such cookbook author Terry Golson who will be bringing her hens to the event (visit her blog here) and Patti Small's On the Edge mobile knife sharpening service (this lady single-handedly brought my beloved chef's knives back to life for which I am grateful!).
Festival
Tips:
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| Hayrides throughout the day at Verrill Farm |
- Come hungry. With plenty of fantastic BBQ to be had, you will not want to miss out.
- Bring cash—it keeps the line moving along quickly.
- Take it easy—the whole vibe of this gathering is well-organized but laid-back. Come to relax and enjoy the day.
- The Verrill Farm BBQ and Harvest Fest is a great time if you’re without kids though many of the activities are geared toward families with kids.
- Parking is easy and free. We arrived at the start of the event and snagged a spot right across from the action.
- Although there were many shady areas, places to sit under trees, the large tented area provided respite from the sun if you prefer.
- Don’t even think of leaving the event empty-handed of the beautiful produce and prepared meals from the sizable farm stand.
Family Tips:
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| Pony rides delighted the kids and the lines were never too long |
- The manageable size of the event and the manageable crowds make for a relaxing experience for kids and parents alike.
- It’s a great place for kids to roam and play.
- Pack a picnic blanket if you wish to spread out and make a “home base.”
- As the cars are parked across the side street, it’s easy to leave things in the car and access as needed.
- The area is very stroller friendly, nearly all on grass, but some areas are a little hilly.
- Gluten-free BBQ and side options are available if that’s important to you but you’ll need to ask the chef which ones since they were not pre-marked on the menu board.
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