Category: Activities for Kids

Farm Camp for kids at Donaldson Farms

Get ready for Farm Camp!

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A unique, educational and fun-filled week of fresh air on the farm in August for children six years old and up! Farm Camp is an opportunity for your child to experience what it is like on a daily basis at Donaldson Farms. Your children will make new friends, observe and participate in planting and harvesting activities, learn how to care for our farm animals, create arts and crafts projects, enjoy healthy eating and living lessons, participate in cooking lessons, sample freshly picked fruits and vegetables and of course play great summer games!

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Harvest Weekends at Donaldson Farms

Harvest Weekends

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Join us for our Harvest Weekends at Donaldson Farms and enjoy a day of fall fun! You’ll enjoy all the quintessential fall farm activities set in the backdrop of our 500 acre, modern-day family farm and surrounded by stunning vistas and mountain views.

Harvest Weekend Activities: Sat. & Sun. 10am – 5pm

  • Fall Fun Harvest Weekends are Saturdays and Sundays beginning Saturday, September 24th through Sunday, October 30th, 2022 and Columbus Day (October 10th).
  • Activity Hours are 10am – 5pm.
  • Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins – click for more info
  • Pick-Your-Own Apples  – click for more info
  • Hayrides to and from the apple orchard and pumpkin patch $2/pp – children ages 4 and under are free
  • 9-Acre Corn Maze – click for more info
  • Corn cannon ($5 for 4 shots)
  • Pony visits (12-4pm weather permitting)
  • Delicious food (fresh off the grill)
  • Kettle corn, freshly-squeezed lemonade, and sweet tea
  • Candy apples and caramel apples
  • Cider donuts by the 1/2 dozen (assorted cinnamon, sugar, & powder)
  • Freshly-baked pies and baked goods

James on Main will serve their award-winning BBQ each day from 11am to 4pm (hours subject to change) and Czig Meister Brewing Company will sell and sample their local craft beers and hard Czeltzers from 12pm until closing. These award-winning spirits are a neighborhood favorite!

COST: No entry fee. Activities and food priced individually. PYO activities are priced by the pound.

2022 Corn Maze Theme at Donaldson Farms: Tunnels to Towers

2022 Corn Maze

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Each fall, we create a new maze design in support of a charitable organization that makes a difference in our community. This year, the theme is “Tunnel to Towers” and Donaldson Farms is proud to announce that we will donate $1 from every corn maze entry this season to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation! For your consideration, Tunnel to Towers Foundation donation boxes are also located at the register area of our farm market. Thank you for joining us throughout the season in support of this important organization.

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Food Truck Festival - June 4, 2022 at Donaldson Farms

Food Truck & Music Fest

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Get tickets now! Don’t miss the official kick off of summer on the farm June 4th from 11-7! 

After a long winter, it’s time to celebrate the great outdoors with a fun family festival. Join us for a great event featuring between 12-14 food trucks, live music, games and activities for all ages!

Please bring blankets & chairs, seating is not provided. No outside food, drinks, pop up tents or coolers. Service dogs only.

Food trucks include: (subject to change)

  • Latin Bites
  • Chanks Pizza Cones
  • Antojitos
  • The Mexi Boys
  • Hadez BBQ
  • Clyde’s Ice Cream
  • “THE ANGRY CHOURIÇO BBQ
  • Monty’s Good Eats
  • Cat Like Reflexes
  • James on Main
  • Marley’s Wing and Things
  • JerZey Girl Pickles
  • Empanada Guy
  • Amanda Banana
  • Jersey Curbside eats
  • Eat Mty Balls
  • Cas’ Pierogi

Beer and hard Czeltzer from provided by our friends at Czig Meister Brewery Company!

Activities: Throw House Hatchet Toss, ARTstitution, Boardwalk Style games, Air Soft Pistol Range, Extreme Grand Prix racing, balloon artist for the kids visits with the ponies and more!

Live Music from Naughty Humphry and Atlanta Cafe Band!

Check back for activities and additional event details!

Pricing:
$8 for adults and $5 for children 4-13 at the door
$6 for adults and $4 for children if you purchase online in advance
Children 3 and under are always free!
GET TICKETS

** Do not be scammed! ** Do not reply to any post on this event or send a private message to anyone that offers tickets or vendor space for sale privately. Only tickets purchased through Mega Bite Events will be honored.

2019 Corn Maze - Dedicated to the Hackettstown-Mansfield P.B.A. Local 369

2019 Corn Maze

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Each fall, we create a new maze design in support of a charitable organization that makes a difference in our community. This year’s theme is “A Season of Support: PBA 369.” Donaldson Farms is proud to announce that our 2019 Fall Corn Maze is dedicated to the Hackettstown-Mansfield P.B.A. (Police Benevolent Association) Local 369! Their mission is to provide volunteer service and support to those in need in the local communities of The Town of Hackettstown, Mansfield Township, and throughout the State of New Jersey. Their organization is a non-profit made up of the union members of The Hackettstown and Mansfield Township Police Departments in the Northeast Region of Warren County, NJ. We will be donating $1 from every corn maze entry this season in support of their annual Shop with a Cop holiday program! Join us this fall in support of the Hackettstown – Mansfield P.B.A, Local 369 as they continue the valued traditions of police-community relationships!

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2018 Corn Maze Theme

2018 Corn Maze

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This year’s theme corn maze theme is “Brighten Someone’s Day!” Donaldson Farms is pleased to share that $1 from every entry into our corn maze this season will be donated to Tomorrows Children’s Fund! Our family and staff have selected this caring and encouraging organization as the inspiration of this year’s theme in honor and support of so many friends and local families that have had their children hospitalized, in treatment and battling many illnesses.

We are so excited to announce that Anya L. of Chester, NJ is our 2018 Corn Maze Design Contest winner! This Fall season her inspiring artwork will be incorporated into our nine acre corn maze which will spotlight the importance of ‘Tomorrows Children’s Fund’ (TCF).

It was very difficult for our farm family to select the winning entry – we received so many creative and uplifting drawings! Anya’s design and story very much represented the theme of ‘Brightens Someone’s Day!’ The description that accompanied Anya’s entry read “This is Anya with a sunflower behind her (just like the ones she saw in your field last summer). She is holding the word hope and there is a butterfly. The butterfly was the theme we used during her transplant to symbolize the metamorphosis Anya’s body was undergoing. The H in hope connects to the hand for an early exit.”

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2018 Corn Maze Design Contest - Brighten Someone's Day

Corn Maze Design Contest

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Every season our guests ask “What is your corn maze design going to be this year?” This season, our theme is “Brighten Someone’s Day” and YOU could be the one to design it!

Donaldson Farms is pleased to share that $1 from every entry into our corn maze this season will be donated to Tomorrows Children’s Fund! Our family and staff have selected this caring and encouraging organization as the inspiration of this year’s theme in honor and support of so many friends and local families that have had their children hospitalized, in treatment and battling many illnesses.

Design our 2018 corn maze!

Get your creative caps on, think about how Tomorrows Children’s Fund helps our community and draw what you feel would brighten someone’s day. If there is someone special who inspires your drawing then feel free to tell us about them – there is an area for this on the entry form (not required). Artwork from the winning entry will be featured in our 2018 nine-acre corn maze! Winner will also receive a Fall Fun Farm Prize Pack – goodies from our farm market for you to enjoy a special visit to our farm!

Contest Rules

  • Must be 17 years of age and under to enter.
  • All entries must be submitted on our official Corn Maze Design Contest entry form.
  • All entries must be designed in black or blue ink
  • Deadline: All entries must be received – or postmarked if using US Mail – by 6:00 pm on Sunday, May 20th, 2018.
  • By entering you understand that the original design may be altered and edited for corn maze design purposes and that the artwork itself will be shared and promoted in conjunction with our 2018 Fall season farm marketing campaign.
  • Winning Corn Maze Design will be selected by Donaldson Farms Family and staff. Winner will be notified on or shortly after May 30th, 2018.

Options for Entering:

  1. Drop off at our Farm Market:
    358 Allen Road, Hackettstown, NJ 07840
  2. Email: cornmazecontest@gmail.com
  3. Mail to:
    Donaldson Farms – Corn Maze Design Contest
    176 Airport Road
    Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Download Contest Form

Want to help TCF?

Want to help out Tomorrows Children’s Fund? Donaldson Farms farm market will accept the following new items to be donated to TCF from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th only.

Please keep in mind TCF supports patients from newborns to 22 years of age. No stuffed animals, please. TCF cannot accept stuffed animals. We will not accept used items. Thank you for your support!

  • Arts & Crafts
  • Play-Doh
  • Bubbles
  • Educational Toys
  • Teen themed arts & crafts
  • Pajamas
Awesome Athletes & Family Day - Raising money for Special Olympics

Awesome Athletes & Family Day

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April 29 – Come join the fun of a walk-a-thon and family fun day, while helping raise money for the Special Olympics New Jersey Area 3 – Morris, Sussex, & Warren. The day will begin with an energizing walk around scenic Donaldson Farms and continue with activities for people of all ages to participate in on the farm. Rain or Shine! This event is presented by the students of Centenary University’s Event Administration Class and hosted by Donaldson Farms.

Schedule:
10:45am – Registration Opens

11:45am – Opening Remarks

12:00pm – Walk Begins

1:00pm – Family Fun Day Activities Begin

**1:30pm – Hackettstown K9 Unit Demonstration

**2:30pm – Centenary Univ. President, David Haney & Lisa Baldwin Performance!

**3:15pm – Hackettstown K9 Unit Demonstration!


– Visit with Special Olympics Athletes
– Sauced & Rubbed BBQ!
– Face Painting
– Glitter Tattoos & Balloon Animals by ‘Clowns & Gowns’
– Theatre Performance
– Corn Hole
– Cotton Candy
– Popcorn
– Pony Rides
– Hay Rides 1pm & 3pm
– Laser Tag

Registration for the walk-a-thon includes participation in the walk-a-thon and family fun day activities (Pony rides, hayrides included. Laser tag and food are not included).

Registration Fees:
Participants ages 12+ cost $15
Participants ages 5 – 12 cost $10.
Children under 4 are free to participate in the walk-a-thon.
Special Olympics Athletes cost $5 and must register the day of wearing a uniform or by bringing a medal.

Participants can pre-register online or register in person on the day of event.
To pre-register for the walk head to https://alumni2.centenaryuniversity.edu/2018AwesomeAthletes.

There is no entry fee for the family fun day activities. Each activity priced individually and can be paid for the day of with cash only.

Food will be available for purchase at an additional cost for all participants of the walk-a-thon and family fun day activities.

Awesome Athletes Walk-a-Thon and Family Fun Day will take place rain or shine!

Thank you to our sponsors!

Donaldson Farms
Smith Ford Motor Company
AutoSport Chevorlet of Mt. Olive
Taphouse Grille
Marley’s Gotham Grill
JCS Painting & Construction
Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs
Professional Services
Little People’s Academy
Stensgaard Painting
Avelino’s Energy Services
3 Brother’s Restaurant
Sussex County Miners/ NJ Jackals

Field Trips at Donaldson Farms - Hackettstown, NJ

Book Your Field Trip

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Plan your next school field trip and bring your class or group for an educational, fun, and unforgettable day on our modern, family-owned and operated, 500+ acre working produce farm. We can tailor any program to your meet your learning objectives and goals for your students or group. Our educational farm tours can be customized based on grade and age level. Each tour may include a fruit picking activity or planting project that everyone takes home, an educational and interactive tractor hayride tour of the farm, and a tasty snack! Equine education, craft and culinary projects may also be incorporated in your farm experience!

Reservations / More Information:

Please call (908) 852-9122  x 2 or send an email to events@donaldsonfarms.net for more information or to reserve your desired date and time. We promise to create a farm experience that your group will remember for many years to come!

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