Things are looking a bit more spooky at Old MacDonald’s Farm in Rapid City.
The 12th Annual Fall Festival will take place every Saturday this month with activities like wagon, train, and pony rides, a corn bin, playground, bouncy houses, Pick a Pumpkin, and more.
“The Fall Festival at Old MacDonald’s shines, offering a pumpkin patch and plenty of family fun, all set outdoors with animals and fresh autumn air,” said Visit Rapid City’s director of marketing Dani Benne.
Old MacDonald’s festival was started by owners Thane and Gina Rose, who purchased the attraction in January of 2014.
“We have a mix of guests who have and have not been on a farm before.”
– Gina Rose
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“The previous owner had the farm set up well. It’s a great environment for families and kids of all ages,” said Gina.
After a few years into ownership, the Roses made some “needed” additions, including the Fall Festival event.
“We lived in Minnesota for a few years, and there are a lot of fall festivals there,” said Gina. “When we purchased the farm, we wanted to offer something like that to the locals.”
The inaugural event included bobbing for apples, fresh-baked goods, apple cider, wagon rides, a corn bin, and a pumpkin patch. To the Roses’ surprise, it was a huge hit.
“We were blown away by the amount of interest, so we added a few more things—pumpkins, face painting, caricatures, a balloon artist, and some food,” described Gina.
Along with fall-themed activities, guests can also expect the typical Old MacDonald’s experience like the Billy Goat Bridge, bird aviary, pig races, and over 100 animals to have unique, hands-on encounters with.
“The neat thing about Old MacDonald’s Farm is really the interaction with the animals,” said Gina. “You can pet, feed, and play with almost all of them.”
Animals include chickens, turkeys, emus, goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas, long-horn cows, donkeys, ponies, draft and quarter horses, and some pot belly/kune pigs. A special one-on-one moment for visitors is helping feed the animals.
“We have bottle feedings where you can get hands on with a large bottle of milk and feed calves or sheep,” said Gina. “We also have our poultry house where you can hold baby chicks and see their growth from eggs in the incubator to the large chickens running outside.”
And just like an actual farm (with hundreds of guests during tourism season), the team at Old MacDonald’s takes pride in keeping the animals safe and happy and working together for general property upkeep.
“We strive to be a clean, pleasant experience by having scheduled rounds, morning and evening chores, and a staff that cares about the animals,” said Gina.
“There is a lot to see, but when you are spending time with animals and are able to interact with them, the time goes super fast.”
– Gina Rose
Along with the festival, the Roses also recently upgraded their gift shop, including offering new treats like ice cream and a bigger selection of gifts and toys.
“We are really excited about offering space in our store with our new addition,” explained Gina. “Guests can stay for a while and not be walking on top of each other any longer.”
As the team prepares for the autumn event, they’re stocking up on things like merchandise, hot food and drinks, and pumpkins.
“Pumpkins are really the best part, and you can paint them on site,” said Gina.
Admission is $9 (ages 2 and under are free), and certain activities incur an additional ticket.
Check Out These Rapid City Fall Events
Cruiser Car Show | Oct. 4
Black Hills Powwow | Oct. 10-12
Bierbörse Festival | Oct. 11
Gina says the best part of the Fall Festival is watching guests enjoy the farm and the changing season.
“I love the feeling of fall—the colors,” said Gina. “We really get a kick out of seeing all the guests having fun, taking pictures, and making memories.”
Since Old MacDonad’s is located off of Highway 16, visitors can add the Fall Festival to an autumn trip itinerary, since it’s on the way to other popular Black Hills attractions.
“I absolutely love how Old MacDonald’s Farm brings the tactile joy of rural life right onto the road to Mount Rushmore from Rapid City,” said Benne. “It offers a welcome, low-pressure, educational break from the big-name monuments in the Black Hills and Badlands, and reminds us how amazing a few cute goats and a tractor ride can be.”
For more information, visit VISITRAPIDCITY.COM and OLDMACDONALDSFARMRC.COM+
