Abby Hill Farms

Abby Hill Farms is located at the southern outskirts of Ottawa, near the village of Manotick.

While Abby Hill Farms is open most of the growing season to sell their fresh fruits and vegetables, every Thanksgiving the grounds are turned into a mini-fair. The event is not on the same scale as the agricultural fairs of the various towns and counties, but it is an enjoyable experience and a family can easily spend a couple of hours on a fall afternoon.

Aside from a plethora of pumpkins and other seasonal fruits and vegetables, the thanksgiving activities include numerous things for kids to do. There is a mini train that will take you around the grounds, which is a short approximately 5 minute ride. There is a bouncy castle that is always popular with kids, along with a few small games for kids to partake in.

Near the back of the area is a large dirt mound with several drainage pipes making tunnels for the kids to climb in and through and proves almost as popular as climbing through the impressive mounds of pumpkins.

There is also a small petting zoo setup, containing standard farm livestock. Some years there is another area with some more exotic animals being brought in by other local attractions such as Saunders Country Critters.

A few magic shows are normally run over the course of the event in the tent by a local magician and are always good for a laugh, for both parents and children alike.

While not a full day excursion, it's close enough to you if you live in Ottawa that it's worth the visit, especially if you're in the market for a pumpkin. For more information about Abby Hill Farms, please visit their website.