Denver Downs is the One Farm To Put On Your Don’t Miss List This Fall

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If you adore fall, you may be planning a visit to a local farm with activities your whole family will love. One of our favorite farms is Denver Downs Farm, which offers a huge corn maze, a jumping pillow, a zip line, and much more. We’ll give you the details of all the activities they will offer this season!

This article includes:
The Corn Maze at Denver Downs
Things to Do at Denver Downs
Plan Your Visit to Denver Downs
Fall Weekend Themes at Denver Downs

Denver Downs fall festival in Anderson, South Carolina

As summer gives way to fall and the weather turns a little cooler, I can’t hide my excitement for my absolute favorite time of year. I love sweater weather, boots, and the leaves changing to vibrant yellows and reds. But most of all, as I’ve fallen in love with Greenville, I look forward to this time of year more than ever because there is just so much to do that every weekend becomes an adventure.

One particular place that I cannot wait to mark on my calendar during fall is trekking to Denver Downs Farm in Anderson. If you’ve never been, read on because you’ll want to plan your visit just as much as I do.

Here are 11 Reasons to Visit Denver Downs Farm.

About Denver Downs Farm

Denver Downs is currently a 900-acre agri-tourism farm, which means they are a working farm but invite people who are interested in learning about the farm. It also means they host really cool events like their annual Fall Festival, which features their nationally-recognized corn maze, live music, bonfires, and Pumpkin Princess Contest.

Photo by Sweet Caroline’s

The farm was started as a cotton farm in the late 1800s and then transitioned to a dairy farm. It was successful, with a milking herd of over 300 Holstein cows at one point, but then the dairy cows were sold in the mid-90s and the farm transitioned to row crops, produce, and beef cattle farming. During Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, the roadside market sells the farm’s fresh-picked collard greens. (They are huge, gorgeous, and delicious.)

The Corn Maze at Denver Downs

The first time I heard about Denver Downs was when I was told that the largest corn maze in the Southeast part of the United States was at this farm. Growing up in New Jersey, we didn’t exactly have enormous corn fields to run through, so I was immediately intrigued. Plus, I really wanted to imagine some big-time baseball stars coming out of cornfields (thank you “Field of Dreams”).

Although I’ve yet to see Babe Ruth make an appearance, the corn maze is enormous with 12 acres of corn stalks and paths. It’s also really easy to get lost in, which is certainly half the entertainment – as long as you are willing to let a toddler lead the way.

Corn maze at Denver Downs

The Garrison Family, who have owned and operated the farm since 1869, make the corn maze a lot of fun by putting up checkpoints throughout, where maze-goers can use their smartphones to scan the numbers and track their time. You can also win prizes for finding all the numbers. We were in the maze for about 15 minutes and only came across one number. If you don’t have kids, have at it.

The 2023 corn maze is modeled after country music legend, Reba McEntire. It will have multiple checkpoints throughout the maze about her and her music. So exciting!

Fun fact: Their corn maze is so awesome that they were named the 7th best Corn Maze in the entire country by USA Today in 2023, their seventh time making this list.

The Activities

When you walk into the farm, at first glance it doesn’t look huge. You think you can almost see all of the activities with a quick scan but wow, it’s deceptive. There is so much to do, at least a day’s worth of fun. I’ve gotten smarter each time I go and pack more food and water because we stay all day long, literally five to eight hours at least. And we still don’t even get to all of the activities they have.

There is a giant open barn full of hay with rope swings where kids can swing and then jump into the hay. Raise your hand if you want to be the adult in line with the kids? Yes, that was me too and it was a blast.

Kristina on a zipline at Denver Downs in Anderson, SC
Adults also love the activities!

There is a zip line, a massive mega slide, giant tricycles, a pig derby, a ropes course, sensory sandboxes, two giant jumping pillows, corn hole, a tractor tire playground, gem mining, a petting zoo, barnyard activities, human foosball, a mini-farm house perfect for little kids to play in, swings made from tires that look like horses, spider web climb, an arcade that consists of areas where you can test your baseball and football throwing skills, and a cow train just to name a few. Each year they add some new attractions. Find the full list of activities on the farm.

On the educational side, there are exhibits of crops and signs about how the crops are grown, and how the maze is made.

In addition to more than 35 barnyard activities, they also have a big pumpkin patch, bonfire pits, farm animals, live music, tons of carnival food options, kettle corn, and funnel cake.

Awesome Tube Slide & Jumping Pillows

The farm has expanded every year to add more activities and my favorite expansion so far was in 2022 with the addition of the mega slide.

Denver Downs will again have its massive mega slide, Slide Mountain! I got to try it out and oh my gosh, it was awesome! You can go as fast as 35 mph and there’s even a bridge above to watch people slide down. This is easily one of the most popular activity at the farm.

Denver Downs mega slide

And they’ve also greatly expanded their jumping pillow area to not only move it to a different part of the farm but also enclose it and add another jumping pillow. It’s huge. The pillows will be for older and younger kids, which I think is pretty smart, as long I can still go and jump because yup, I’m a big kid at heart.

New for 2023: Pumpkin Light Maze

In 2023, the farm has added a new pumpkin light maze, complete with a pumpkin carriage. The maze will light up at night and guests can walk through for a neat experience. It’s right next to the pumpkin patch (of course).

But you’ll also love it for during the day as there are several places to take fun photos and you can even sit inside the pumpkin carriage. Bring your crown!

Planning Your Visit to Denver Downs

Denver Downs Fall Festival, which includes the corn maze, pumpkin patch, and plenty of family-friendly activities, is open from September 23rd to November 12th, 2023, Thursdays through Sundays. The hours of operation are as follows:
Thursdays: TBD
Fridays: 11 am – 10 pm
Saturdays: 10 am – 10 pm
Sundays: 10 am – 6 pm

2023 admission is $29.95 per person plus tax, depending on the day of the week. There is also a modest online purchasing fee of less than $2. Children aged 2 and under are free. Though it may seem pricey at first glance, the tickets are well worth the cost. You get a stamp on your hand which allows you to leave and reenter the same day.  The ticket price includes all the attractions but concessions, pumpkins, and pick-your-own flowers are extra.

Pets on leash are allowed but expect to pay about $10 per pet for them to enter.

Pig derby announcer at Denver Downs Farm

My family goes and makes a day out of it. Food selections include barbecue plates, hot dogs, pimento cheese sandwiches, and healthier options too like turkey sandwiches.  Special Festival Treats include of course: Fresh Popped Kettle Corn, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, Funnel Cakes, S’mores, Cotton Candy, Fried Pickles, and more to be announced.

Bring water (water bottles allowed), sunscreen, and snacks since it can still be quite warm that time of year, and with all the running around and playing, it does get exhausting. My preschool-age daughter actually fell asleep on one of the tire horse swings the first time we went.

Admission includes activities like:

  • Finding your way through the 12-acre corn maze
  • Jumbo Jumping Pillow
  • Cow Train
  • Animal Races
  • Little Farmer’s Corral
  • Climbing Wall
  • Giant Slide
  • Zip Line
  • Straw Barn Play Area
  • Giant Lincoln Logs
  • Corn Box
  • Spider Web Climb
  • Mini-Maze
  • Bonfires & Live Music

For more information, visit www.denverdownsfarm.com.

Address: 1515 Denver Road, Anderson

Win 4 Tickets to Denver Downs Farm

–GIVEAWAY CLOSED– One lucky Kidding Around reader will win 4 FREE TICKETS to see Denver Downs Farm. This giveaway runs from Sept 14th – Sept 27th, 2023, 11:59PM. Good luck!

  • Winning tickets must be redeemed during the 2023 Fall Festival.
  • You must be 18 or older and live in the USA to enter this giveaway.
  • You must use a valid email address to enter this giveaway.
  • One entry per person per day.
  • We will contact the winner via the email address provided within three [3] days of the giveaway ending. The winner will have three [3] days (72 hours) to respond via email. If the winner does not respond within the three [3] days (72 hours), the prize will be forfeited and another winner chosen. Directions for claiming the prize will be given via email. A valid photo ID and/or mailing address may be required.
  • For a complete list of Kidding Around Greenville SC’s giveaway policies and terms and conditions, see the Kidding Around Greenville SC policy page. By entering this giveaway, you agree to comply with Kidding Around Greenville SC’s terms and conditions.
  • If you have any issues with the giveaway not appearing, please email bethany@kiddingaroundgreenville.com so we can add your entry manually.

Guide to Fall in Greenville, SC

Check out our KA Guide to Fall, with over 30 fun places to go and things to do this season near Greenville, SC!


About the Author
Kristina Hernandez is a mom of two girls, freelance writer and photographer. Originally from New Jersey, she is in love with the Upstate and could not imagine raising her kids anywhere else. She enjoys hiking to waterfalls, kayaking, camping, cooking, and exploring all that Greenville has to offer. And she really loves baby goats. Follow her on Instagram at @scadventurer.

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Faye homesley
9 years ago

I would love to take my family to Denver Downs!

Janet
9 years ago

Looks like such a fun fall trip for the kids!

Linda
9 years ago

Would love to win! I love farms !

Dennis
9 years ago

Denver Downs is always a blast!

Tracy
9 years ago

I haven’t been to Denver Downs yet with my kids – but we’d LOVE to go!!! 🙂

Ashley OBrien
9 years ago

Haven’t been, so we’d love to win!

Nikki Smith
9 years ago

I’d love to win this! Such a big fan of farms and local farmers!

Hope
9 years ago

We love this place!!

christi
9 years ago

looks like it will be a fun activity!

jacqueline feher
9 years ago

Love Denver downs

Lisa kanea
9 years ago

We love Denver down. We go every year, last year the big his for our two year old was the hay piles and the train. Can’t wait to go back.

Marisa
9 years ago

This would be incredible to win for my boys!

Jessica Heller
9 years ago

This family of 8 would LOVE some tickets!!!

ELIZAB ETH HARTNETT
9 years ago

My kids love events like this. They’re always ready for a new adventure.

Ashli Vanderford
9 years ago

We love Denver Downs!

Donna
9 years ago

We’ve always wanted to go here but haven’t made it yet.

michelle silva
9 years ago

Looks like such a fun activity for the family. We have never been YET. I hope we win even though we would still have to pay for two.

Alisha
9 years ago

We went for the first time last fall. It was so much fun. My girls loved the zip line, playing in the barn, picking pumpkins, and most of all the corn maze. We’ve been talking about Denver Downs since last month.

Marissa
9 years ago

Love Denver Downs!

Kristin
9 years ago

My son is almost 1 and we’ve never done anything like this before! It would be so much fun!