It’s pumpkin time, and Southern Hills Farms is hosting its fifth Fall Festival. This year, they have enhanced their safety procedures to ensure an enjoyable family-friendly experience.

In response to COVID-19, the farm has enhanced safety procedures. They have set up hand-sanitizing stations. Online admission ticket purchases are required, as well as time reservations for weekends. Guests ages three and older must bring a face mask to the events to be worn while in lines under covered barns, while engaging in certain farm activities and when social distancing cannot be maintained.

The festival offers the best experiences for people of all ages. Visitors can start in the pumpkin patch watching a wide variety of beautiful and unique pumpkins of all sizes and colors. Then, they can pick their sunflower and then get a delicious blueberry lemonade or a local craft beer.

“My favorite part was the sunflower fields. I like that each person could pick their sunflower. The prices were reasonable. I paid $6 for three beautiful sunflowers,” said Sonia Richard, one of the festival attendees.

“I was pleased to see that many happy families and couples were enjoying this magical place. It was a relaxing great family fun. We are going through unprecedented times. To be able to go outside and enjoy mother nature while being able to social distance and wear masks where needed was very refreshing. The staff was very well organized,” Richard added.

If visitors have children, they can enjoy the fun petting zoo. Food for the animals is $2, cash only, payment accepted at the entrance of the petting zoo. The farm has goats, llamas, rabbits, calves, sheep, and donkeys. Also, kids can enjoy inflatable sports games, jump pillows, and a giant fun slide.

Southern Hills Farms offers experiences for foodies. “The treats truck with the muffins, lemonades, and other delights, were a must-visit. I don’t know how they make their blueberry lemonade or muffins, but that was the best flavors ever,” said Alex Morrow, one of the festival attendees.

Local craft beer, wine, frozen concoctions, and mimosas are available for purchase from the Beer Shed from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is a wide variety of food trucks. At the Southern Hills Eatery truck, attendees can enjoy food using seasonal ingredients straight from the farm’s fields. They serve blueberry and gouda grilled cheese sandwiches, bacon cheeseburgers with blueberry mustard and fresh spring blueberry salads.

On the weekends, the festival has more than eight food trucks: Southern Hills Eatery, Twisted plates, Bauer-BQ, Willy Ts Crab Shack, Peru Power Food Truck, A Lo Cubano Kitchen, The Big Hot Box, Rollin Dough and Absofruitly. Serving from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“I was able to find some of all my favorite foods. From sushi, tacos to authentic American burgers. Prices are extremely reasonable here for the fruit picking and treats. It’s organized and very comfortable even during COVID,” Morrow added.

The festival, located in Clermont, is open through Nov. 8. The farm opens Thursdays through Sundays. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission tickets are $7.99 on Thursdays and Fridays and $11.99 on Saturdays and Sundays.

“Admission includes the kids jump, and play area, farm wagon rides, yard games, access to the sunflower and zinnia fields as well as our pumpkin patch, and our covered playground. On the weekends, it includes the petting zoo, live music, and eight additional food trucks,” a spokesperson at Southern Hills Farms via their Instagram messenger said.