Milburn Orchards Fall Festival Weekends in the BIG Backyard: Kid friendly guide
Milburn Orchards in Cecil County Maryland is such a fun place to hang out with kids! They have special event weekends starting with Easter and lasting through the Holiday season. However, the Milburn Orchards Fall Festival Weekends in the BIG Backyard might be the most fun event of the year!
Check out this Kid Friendly Guide for what to expect and some of our best tips for Milburn Orchards!
Related: The Best Fall Festival Fun Guide in Maryland!
BIG Backyard
So, what is the BIG Backyard? In a word– FUN! The BIG Backyard is Milburn Orchards’ festival space where there are loads of family friendly attractions and activities. Some of the activities are available year round (when they are open). Some of them are specific to the event or season. This area is ticketed so there is an admission cost. There is a market area outside the BIG Backyard that is FREE to enter as well.
Related: The 30+ Best Pumpkin Patches in Maryland
Pumpkins Pumpkins Everywhere!
For Fall Festival weekends there are loads of pumpkins and pumpkin activities both in the market area and inside the BIG Backyard. Milburn Orchards does not seem to offer classic pumpkin picking (where you pick your pumpkin in the field). But they have an outstanding (and very photogenic) pumpkin yard in the market area.
Pumpkin House
And inside the BIG Backyard is the super fun Pumpkin House! You can actually walk inside this adorable pumpkin house and get the cutest photos outside as well.
Related: Where to see Fall Foliage in Maryland!
Photo Opportunities
Speaking of photos, there are basically a ton of very family photo album and Instagram-worthy spots to get photos throughout Milburn Orchards. Out of all the fall festivals we have visited, I think Milburn has the most unique photo ops.
Would your kid like to be this year’s Pumpkin Queen?
Or maybe your family would like to step into some classic art scenes!
And then, of course, there are the traditional fun photos with apples and pumpkins in the background.
Related: Cherry Crest Adventure Farm Kid Friendly Guide
Play Structures
A kid friendly play yard wouldn’t exist without some great play structures! This tire mountain is open year round (we have played on it during Easter festivities too). And right next to it is one of the bigger playground structures in the BIG Backyard.
There are other smaller play structures sprinkled throughout the BIG Backyard too!
Related: The Best Playgrounds in Maryland (sorted by location)
Barnyard Buddies animals!
Milburn Orchards has the best animals! Check out their Barnyard Buddies to see chickens, bunnies, pigs, and goats.
The goats really are the star of the show. Every year new goats are born and it’s fun to watch them frolic and play with each other. You can feed them too!
On the outside of the barn you can braid the tails of these horses.
Related: Magnolia Meadow Fall Festival Guide
Milky Sway Tunnel
The Milky Sway Tunnel is one of those trippy walk through attractions that make you feel like you are going to fall down. It’s exactly like the sway attractions found at a county fair or Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. But this one is included in the cost of admission to the Fall Festival.
Boo Barn
The Milburn Orchards Boo Barn is adorably spooky. It really isn’t scary. However super young kids might still get scared just because it’s dark and there are spooky creatures.
This is a small walk through Boo Barn where you can push a button at each window and see the spooky creatures perform for you. Young kids will be thrilled, older kids will thing it’s hokie but fun, adults probably will think it’s super fun and adorable. Definitely check it out!
Related: 50+ Not So Spooky Halloween Events for Kids in Maryland!
Corn Maze Adventure
The Corn Maze Adventure is also included with Fall Festival admission. This year’s theme is ‘The Amazing Bee!’ Take a photo of the map before heading into the corn maze. This isn’t a terribly challenging corn maze.. just enough to get a little lost, but not challenging enough to frustrate you and your kiddos!
Related: 24+ Maryland Corn Mazes to get lost in
Ground Hog Hill
Ground Hog Hill is definitely one of the most unique attractions at Milburn Orchards. Do your kids like crawling through tunnels? They will LOVE Ground Hog Hill. There are multiple interconnected tunnels inside this little hill. Your kids can pretend to be a ground hog and zoom in and out of the tunnels.
Loads of fun Smaller attractions
There are scads of smaller fun attractions and play options sprinkled throughout the BIG Backyard. Challenge your kids to Roller Bowler, Grain Cart Basketball, or King Kong Ping Pong.
Let your kids roll around in the hay and jump around in the straw barn. If a giant sandbox is more to their liking, there is one of those in the BIG Backyard too!
Kids and adults can navigate the Bale Trail Straw Maze or climb the Hay Bale Mountain.
Related: Gaver Farm Pumpkin Festival Kid Friendly Guide
Test your skills with the hula hoop wrangling, or let your kids roll inside the Rat Race Track hay bale rollers.
There are pedal carts, giant climbing spider webs, Rowdy Rodeo bouncers, and more!
Related: Summer Farm Fall Festival Kid Friendly Guide
Pay extra for these fun activities!
For additional cost you can fling apples at the Super Sling, go on a 20 minute hayride, try your skills at the Paintball Shooting Gallery, or your kids can go on a pony ride. Note: these activities are only available on the weekends. The extra cost is between $2-$5 depending on the activity.
Edutainment
I love that Milburn Orchards sprinkles some edutainment throughout the BIG Backyard. Look for signs (like the one pictured above) and your kids can learn about bees, goats, apples, and more!
Food Inside the BIG Backyard
Inside the BIG Backyard area there are quite a few places to grab lunch or a snack! There are multiple food concession areas with burgers, tacos, and more. You can get funnel cakes, kettle corn, sno-balls, and more.
If you want to give your sweet tooth the ultimate treat, visit the Caramel Cabin for the amazing caramel apple drizzle bowl or the Apple Cider Funnel Cake!
Related: Butlers Orchard in Germantown is Perfect for Fall Festival Fun!
Great eats from the Orchard View Deck
Outside of the BIG Backyard, your foodie fest can continue!
Clearly you HAVE to indulge in the delicious apple cider donuts! The cold apple cider or apple cider slushies are amazing too!
There are a number of apple and pumpkin themed treats available at the Orchard View Deck. How about an apple cider creamsicle shake? Apple Dumpling delights? Apple BBQ Burger, caramel apple smoothie, and more!
If apple everything is not your thing– why are you even coming here? Ha! Joking of course. But really, the Orchard View Deck has a full menu of delicious eats for lunch. And watch the Milburn Orchards website for details on their Harvest Party Pancake Breakfast, where you can indulge in a delicious breakfast before playing on the farm!
Related: Rocks State Park: Kid Friendly Guide
Market & Bakery
You really don’t have to visit the BIG Backyard to scratch your fall festival itch at Milburn Orchards. Pick the perfect pumpkin from their pumpkin yard… and maybe snap some family photos while you are there!
The market offers a variety of fruits and vegetables from local Cecil County farmers. You can pick up fresh baked pies and other treats from the bakery. And there are other fun souvenirs you can shop for!
Related: Day Trip Guide to Havre De Grace Maryland
FAQ
Milburn Orchards in located in Cecil County, Maryland.
Address: 1495 Appleton Rd, Elkton, MD 21921
Click here for Google Map Directions
Fall Festival Weekends in the BIG Backyard take place every Friday-Sunday from September 1- November 5 (2023 dates). But typically from Labor Day weekend through the weekend after Halloween.
In September the hours are 10am-4pm. October and November the festival is open 10am-5pm.
Note: You can visit the BIG Backyard during the week for reduced admission and expanded hours. The unique fall festival weekend activities won’t be available, but many of the BIG Backyard activities are still available. Also, the Orchard View Deck is open for lunch during the week, and the market and bakery are also open!
You must purchase tickets online. When you purchase your ticket you will also pick the time you will arrive. Ticket prices are based on which month and day you plan to visit– September is less expensive than October. Fridays are less expensive than Saturdays and Sundays. Here are the prices for 2023:
Weekend day- ages 2-59: $14 (with a $1.60 fee); age 59+: $10.50 (with a $1.50 fee); under 2 is free
Fridays- ages 2-59: $9.30 (with a $1.60 fee); age 59+: $7 (with a $1.50 fee); under 2 is free
There are port-a-potties sprinkled throughout the BIG Backyard, including at the parking area entrance.
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