Get ready for two days of pie-eating and corn-husking contests!
The Queens Agricultural Fair is at Queens County Farm Museum this weekend.
Now in its 41st year, this autumn celebration mixes hands-on activities and friendly competitions with agricultural contests, crafts, hayrides, history, and shopping. (Pumpkin patch, too.)
A main stage will host musicians, while a tent will fill with dance, magic, and hula-hoops. Vendors include East Coast Street Tacos, Tania’s Kitchen, Kelli’s Funnel Cake, Ed’s Polish Kielbasa, Smoke N Barrel Latin Street BBQ, Gabby’s Fish and Chips, and Barrier Brewing. Queens Farm will operate a Donut Shop & Cider Booth.
General admission is $14 for a single day with different prices for children and weekend passes. The hours are 11 am to 6 pm on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6
Some highlights follow.
Carnival rides, midway games, hayrides, and lawn games such as sack races and egg-on-a-spoon relays.
Blue Ribbon Competition showcasing local talent in arts, crafts, culinary arts, and agriculture, plus historic cultural heritage exhibits.
Colonial experiences like quill pen writing, butter churning, and historic games.
Goats, sheep, alpacas, pigs, hens, and steer.
Roaming performances by Harold the Unicycle Clown and Shinbone Alley Stilt Band.
Historic Adriance Farmhouse tours and 18th century cooking samples.
Pumpkin painting, apple cider pressing, plant and ecology talks, air plant terrariums, and a basket weaving program.
Colonial tea, recipes, samples, and produce tastings at the Edible Teaching Garden.
The Con Edison Ecology Booth with free crafts, sustainability tips, and the Adopt-a-Worm composting program.
Apiary talks with Queens Farm’s beekeeper, Kathy Scalzo of Backyard Bees.
Community tables, craft vendors, and demonstrators.
Pumpkin patch where guests can snap fall-festive photos and pick out the perfect gourd.
Storytime at the Con Ed Reading Room.
Farmstand with fresh hyper-local veggies.
Tractor exhibit where visitors can explore farm vehicles.
Seasonal plants, farm merch, local gifts, NY-made snacks, and refreshments at the Farm Store & Welcome Center.
Queens Farm’s main entrance is at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Glen Oaks. A large, free parking lot is on site.
Editor’s note: The Amazing Maize Maze, which is sponsored by Con Edison, is part of the fun, too, although it’s already in operation. Carved into the shape of a butterfly, the laberynth honors Queens Farm’s recent designation as a Certified Monarch Waystation.
Images: Queens Farm