Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

Wolf Oak Acres will be host to their 3rd Annual Big Toys For Big Boys Weekend.  Their official Harvest Festival begins Friday night from 4-10pm with flashlight maze and family movie (Disney Pixar CARS - as a segway into the weekend events!) Saturday from 10am-10pm  and Sunday from 10-5pm the farm will have vendors from around CNY display and demo some unbelievable products!  Bobcat, Massey Ferguson, New Holland, tractors, implements and equipment will be on display.  Atv's, utv's, and amphibious vehicles (performing demos on the 2 acre pond), and more - including CNYBMX kids performing stunts and exhibitions, and live radio remotes.  NYS Champions - the Hayes Team will be bringing their award winning Super Stock Tractors for display as well!  
Regular harvest festival activities, including: 10 acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, wagon rides, pedal karts, cow train rides, duck derby, hay maze, corn crib, gem mining, corn cannons, spud slingers, jumping pillow and pig races are open Fridays through Sundays each weekend in October - through Halloween. 

Wolf Oak Acres is the newest agri-tourism destination located in the heart of Central NY.  This past weekend marked the beginning of their third season, hosting an array of activities and events that will pack every moment of their seven week season. Everything fall can be found  on the 150 acre farm, nestled in the outlying valleys of Oneida.  Pumpkin patch, pig races, gem mining, pedal karts, animal barn, corn crib, corn cannon, spud slingshots, jumping pillow, a 10 acre corn maze and tons more.  Caramel apples, fudge, apple blossoms, cider, hot beef sundaes and a vast array of treats and foods are available. Hay bales, corn stalks, mums, and a huge variety of gourds and pumpkins are available for all of your fall décor.
Special events take place each weekend; including:  Sept. 25&26: Autism Fall Family Fun Weekend - families and persons affected by autism will receive discounted pricing  all weekend - those who are members of CNY Autism Society of America, Families for Effective Autism Treatment, or Dietary and Nutritional Intervention for Autism may register in advance with CNYASA or families may contact Wolf Oak Acres for information.  In October: Big Toys for Big Boys - hosting NYS Super stock tractor champions THE HAYES TEAM, antique and new tractors, implements, atvs, utvs, CNY BMX demos just to begin!  Single Action Shooters - cowboy trick shooting hosting competitions.  A Hot Air Balloon/ Pride of NY wine & farm market weekend - with live bands, balloon launches, balloon glow, fireworks, and unbelievable vendors selling all the best in local wines and fare. Farm Days - with farm themed events, games, and prizes; and Halloween Trick or Treating on the farm.  Friday and Saturday nights in October will be the flashlight maze and family movie nights this year sponsored by Price Chopper!
There's always tons to do and see, with activities for all ages - young and young at heart!  Weekends in September: Saturday and Sunday hours - 10-5pm, in October Flashlight maze and family movies will be hosted on Fridays 4-10 and Saturdays until 10pm, in addition to regular 10-5 hours.
For additional information on field trips, group outings, special events or anything else, contact: www.wolfoakacres.com or 315-762-3090.

Oftentimes I get asked "Just what is Agritourism?"  Well if I could bottle this upcoming weekend and hand it over to the inquisitive soul, they would have the perfect answer.  The best part about early fall in Central New York is the abundance of the harvest. This weekend we are all about it and I have some great ideas for you and your family to enjoy.  Don't forget to check out all of our events on our webpage.
1. Celebrate all things hops this weekend at the 15th annual Madison County Hop Fest.  From hop mustard, to great craft brews made with local hops, you will enjoy this educational, culinary, beer tasting event in Oneida.  Grounds open at 11, food and beer pairings are at noon, beer tasting begins at 2:30.
2. Have you ever wanted to see how honey is extracted from the bee hive?  Well this fall is your chance.  Tomorrow Johnston's Honeybee Farm will be open to the public for the annual extraction event. The honey house utilizes a gravity flow system that allows bottling of raw honey without the use of pumps. Located at 3653 State Route 26, half way between Eaton and West Eaton, the driveway is due north of the intersection of Bradley Brook Road and Route 26. Honey and candles will be available for sale; there is no charge for the demonstrations.
3. It is the annual Fall Migration Festival at the Great Swamp Conservancy in Canastota.  It's Madison County's only nature center and they will be celebrating fall this weekend with an antique show and Kids Konservation Days. 10am-4pm.  There will be environmental displays, food, music, and outdoor fun to highlight the day. $2/adults $1 children..
4. Critz Farms is open for the season.  Come and see the Harvest Moon Cider Press in action.  Taste fresh cider, shop at the Balsam Barn Gift Shop and explore the Firetruck Corn Maze.  You will find pumpkins galore as it is one of the biggest crops in a long time!  They are honoring firefighters this weekend with free admission.
5. Wolf Oak Acres is open for the season.  This year their corn maze features hot air balloons.  This week is their Live to Learn Teacher Appreciation weekend.  If you are a teacher and you received a post card from Wolf Oak Acres your admission is free.
6. Farmer's Markets-- Of course the farmer's markets in Cazenovia and Hamilton are overflowing with a huge selection of fruits and vegetables grown locally by local farmers.  Get out and enjoy the bounty!

Time to get the pumpkins and fall decorations out.  Two of Madison County's biggest and best agritourism venues open for the season tomorrow morning.  Critz Farms in Cazenovia and Wolf Oak Acres will open their gates to thousands of families looking to have a great time.
At Critz their opening weekend is also the start of cider pressing at the Harvest Moon Cider Mill.  There will also be live music, the cafe will be open and you can enjoy their famous apple fritters.  One of the highlights of the fall festival is the corn maze and this year it is a tip of the hat to our wonderful volunteer firefighters with a firetruck corn maze.  Firefighters and their families get in free this weekend.
Over in Oneida at Wolf Oak Acres, they open the season and their corn maze Saturday too.  They will be honoring hard working teachers with their Live to Learn Weekend.  It means free admission for teachers if they bring the postcard they received in the mail with them.  The corn maze at Wolf Oak Acres this year focuses on Hot Air Balloons which reminds us to remind you to mark your calendar for the 2010 Pride of NY Wine, Farm Market and Balloon weekend October 15, 16 and 17. 

The Hop Fest opens on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 11:00 am- 5:30 pm with video presentations on a variety of hop related topics throughout the afternoon.
From 12- 2 pm is The Taste of Hops: a food and beer-pairing event that pairs area restaurants with a craft brewery to create an appetizer that uses beer as one of the ingredients. The Colgate Inn of Hamilton is preparing Saranac Pale Ale Jewett’s Cheddar Cheese Soup with Pumpernickel croutons, paired with Saranac Pale Ale; Blue Barbecue of Chittenango is serving Blue Point Brewery Ale ice cream sandwiches made with Queensboro’s cream and butter. Johnnie’s Pier 31 of Canastota is making Saranac Lake Placid Indian Pale Ale Shrimp Boil, paired with Saranac Lake Placid Indian Pale Ale; Someplace Else is preparing pulled pork nachos with beer cheese paired with Cooperstown’s Old Slugger IPA; Ye Olde Landmark Tavern of Bouckville will be making crispy shrimp cakes with a tomato and corn salsa and hoppy remoulade paired with Middle Ages Impaled Ale IPA. Zabroso of Oneida will also be at the Taste of Hops. Tickets are limited- only 150 will be sold.   Tickets are $15 advance or $20 at the door if available. Tickets can be purchased at www.mchs1900.org/hopfest, or by contacting the participating restaurants. 
From 2:30-5:30 on the society’s grounds, under the Beer Sampling Tent, come sample over 40 styles of craft beer from the following breweries: Matt-Saranac; Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Magic Hat; Southern Tier, Oskar Blues, Long Trail, Ithaca, Sam Adams, Middle Ages, Empire, Cooperstown, Sacketts Harbor, Ommegang, Brooklyn, and more!! Tickets for the Beer Sampling are $25 advance and $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at www.mchs1900.org/hopfest, or Kraig’s Kegs/ Corey’s Beverages in Sherrill.
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