One of the staples of the Durham Region is its selection of family-friendly You-Pick farms. In Courtice and Bowmanville, Pingle’s Fun Farm on Taunton Road, and Watson Farms on Highway 2 operate in various capacities throughout the year, adapting to each season’s unique offerings .
During the warm months, these farms are known for their events and a welcoming atmosphere for all ages. Pingle’s is famous for its corn maze in the fall and seasonal activities like apple, berry, and pumpkin picking. Watson Farms offers a similar range of You-Pick options, including berries and beans.
These farms are very popular in the fall, especially with Halloween themed-events, like Pingle’s annual “Harvest Festival.”
But what happens at these farms when the weather turns cold and growing season ends? The answer lies in their festive transformation as they embrace the Christmas spirit.
Pingle’s is the most eager to attract customers and families over the holiday season. They convert their grounds into a Christmas-themed market, complete with Santa visits.
Jen Harding, the event manager at Pingle’s Farm, is at the forefront of these preparations. “We have a Christmas tree lot out front, and then of course we have Santa here for the little ones,” Harding said.
The transformation is extensive. Their greenhouse, usually filled with planters and pots, becomes a Christmas market and eating area with a serving bar and a makeshift kitchen.
“We have children’s entertainers come in for Saturdays and Sundays, then this space is used for our ‘ugly Christmas sweater parties’ on Friday nights,” Harding said.
Those Friday nights are for the adults, as their bar changes from the ‘Buddy the Elf’ bar to the ‘Naughty Elf’ bar on Fridays, with signature cocktails for the parties that Pingle’s hosts.
The regular play area for kids on site is also transformed into a Santa’s Village, with huts for hot chocolate and fudge, as well as a photo tent decorated for photoshoots with Santa Claus.
This past weekend marked the season’s final ‘Christmas Fest’ at Pingle’s, drawing families from various locations. Among them was Joshua Kizwieck, who, along with his two young sons, came from nearby Hampton despite inclement weather, eager for an
opportunity to meet Santa.
“We love that they host the Christmas events because it gives them [the kids] something to go to and be kids. There is a magic with Christmas that is good for them,” Kizwieck said.
Jodie Platt of Newcastle said she came to check out the assortment of baked goods at the market inside.
“They have so many options here, and the last one that my mom picked up was so good. We wanted to grab some for Christmas day for the family,” Platt said.
Kristen Connelly, who manages the indoor market, says that since Pingle’s was acquired by Willow Tree Farms, the year-round market has attracted people from afar.
The events extend beyond the market area. “One of my favourites is the snowshoeing and the Chef in the Bush event, where guests come in January and take snowshoes out around the property. They can also go down to the bush, where we have a temporary kitchen setup and a chef who makes great food,” Connelly said.
Harding says that they have been on a year-round schedule under the new ownership and are trying to create more events to bring people out for the winter months. Their relationship with Willow Tree Farms also allows them to get freshly butchered meat throughout the year from Willow Tree.
Watson Farms in Bowmanville takes a different approach. While they don’t undergo the extensive transformation seen at Pingles does, they make use of their space to help the community instead.
Ted Watson, a Rotarian, offers the farm’s parking area and market to the Rotary Club of Bowmanville for selling Christmas trees.
“We’ve been doing it now for quite a few years,” says Mike Desrochers, a Rotary club member.
The proceeds from those sales support various community initiatives, including bursaries for high school students and the Mattawa nation Thunder Bay.
“The trees range in price from $75 to $85. That’s based on the type,” Desrochers says highlighting the community-focused nature of their sales.
Up until recent years, both farms would close outright for the season once the cold set in. However, now it seems that the local You-Pick farms have embraced the Christmas spirit, remaining open throughout the year, and they show no signs of stopping.