DMV FUN
By Gina Gallucci-White
EMBRACE THE
Yes, There Are
Things We Can
Do this Fall
Taylor and Brandon Huffman have wanted to
host a sunflower festival at their Thurmont-based Winterbrook
Farms for several years. Yet they were nervous because you’ve
got to time the blooms just right. “We decided to go for it this
year,” Taylor Huffman says. “I personally love sunflowers, and
we thought it was another way to get the public out to the farm
near our (annual) fall festival.”
The Huffmans planted more than 100,000 seeds across 4
acres for their inaugural Sunflower Festival taking place Sept.

12-13 and 19-20. Their Fall Festival runs every weekend from
Sept. 26-Nov. 1. Both feature access to more than 25 activities,
including apple cannons, zip lines, a jump pillow and a corn
maze stretching more than 15 acres. This year’s maze theme is
dedicated to Platoon 22, a nonprofit raising suicide awareness
for military and first responders.

Winterbrook Farms will also be hosting a private ticketed
event, Sippin in the Sunflowers, from 6-8 p.m. on
Sept. 12, in partnership with Catoctin Breeze
Vineyards. Guests may take pictures in the
10 Washington FAMILY SEPTEMBER 2020
sunflower fields while listening to live music and enjoying red or
white wine in a souvenir wine glass .

“I think the great thing about our farm is that there really is
something for all ages,” Taylor Huffman says. “Our corn maze
is still the largest in Maryland, and it is still pretty challenging
to go out there and try to find all the check points. I think
(guests) are really just going to have a good time, and I think
that is what everybody needs right now—a little happiness
outside of their house.”
The Huffmans considered cancelling the festivals due to
the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but they decided to proceed
because their activities are outside and spaced out. They cut
their hayrides because people could not social distance prop-
erly and are adding hand sanitizing stations. They’ll also be
spraying a solution that sanitizes each activity and regularly
wiping down surfaces with heavy contact points.

Taylor Huffman hopes the festivals give families something
to look forward to at a time when “it seems like everything
else is cancelling,” she says. (winterbrookfarms.com)
Horses and foliage
Fall is usually one of the busiest seasons for events. Organizers
and patrons enjoy the cooler temperatures, the fall foliage and
getting in fun times before cold temperatures grasp hold of the
region. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, most event
calendars for 2020 have been erased save for a few.

As of mid-August, The Preakness at Pimlico Race Track will
still be held on Oct. 3 though the InFieldFest has already been
cancelled. Traditionally the second race in the Triple Crown,
this year’s event will be the final competition and could be run
without fans in the audience. The Capital Challenge Horse
Show is also still set to take place on Sept. 25-Oct. 4 at the
Prince George’s Equestrian Center, featuring competitions as
well as exhibitors. (preakness.com; capitalchallenge.org)



For those looking to take a drive, the annual Autumn Glory
Festival in Oakland will be running from Oct. 7-11. Usually
featuring antique and craft shows, band competitions, concerts
and parades, the event has not yet announced if some of these
activities will be postponed or restructured. (oaklandmd.com)
What about festivals?
Oakland is not the only place opening its doors. Fall has always
been festival season—and DMV families who love these outdoor
events can still ready their calendars despite these crazy times.

Many events are happening, albeit with social distancing and
mask requirements.

Leesburg’s Pumpkin Village 2020 is one such event. Dig out
the carving knives, but let the kids know there are no moon
bounces or indoor play areas this year. Scavenger hunts replace
the wagon rides, but there is still live music on the weekends.

The event takes place Sept. 21-Nov. 1 at Leesburg Animal Park.

(pumpkinfestleesburg.com) And here’s another one, but just for parents. Mount Vernon’s
Fall Wine and Sunset Tours takes place Oct. 9-11. This is one
of the DMV’s longest-running events for oenophiles, and it
features offerings from more than 20 Virginia wineries. Sip
something special and take in the views of the Potomac River
with your someone special. (mountvernon.org)
Finally, Cox Farms has been keeping us motivated throughout
the pandemic with its clever signs. If you don’t follow the farm
on social media, put that on today’s to-do list and appreciate
the timely messages. The farm remained closed through the
summer and is not hosting its fall festival. But it offers a fall
drive-thru market from Sept. 25-Nov. 2. that promises to be way
cooler than any fast food line; it might be one of the few drive-
thrus that offers cider doughnuts. Get the kids road trip ready,
order some doughnuts and then hit the road in search of fall
foliage. (coxfarms.com)
Hike, bike ... and glamp
While events are less frequent, there are plenty of things to
do this the fall beside watching every show on Netflix and
ordering too many items off Amazon. “We’ve seen a huge spike
in outdoor recreation,” says Matthew Scales, public relations
specialist for the Maryland Department of Commerce Office
of Tourism.

Highlighting Maryland’s outdoor collection, Scales notes
many have made their way to the numerous hiking and biking
trails in the state, including the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail,
the Great Allegheny Passage, Patapsco Valley State Park and the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Along the
canal, people can even stay overnight at several lockhouses on the
path. “It is cool during the fall because of the foliage,” he says.

For those who still want to isolate but get away from their
homes, glamping is a great option. There is no roughing it at
Savage River Lodge. Surrounded by 700 acres of state forest
lands in Frostburg, the getaway features two-story luxury cabins
and large round tents known as yurts, which are popular in the
west coast region.

“We have been set up for social distancing since we opened in
1999,” says Elizabeth Williams, marketing manager. “The yurts
only accommodate two people so it is great for romantic getaways
or just get-out-of-town getaways, which is what we have been
seeing a lot of this summer. It’s just a blend between having your
own space and privacy while not having to trek too far away.”
But be prepared. There is cell service but no Wi-Fi or
televisions. “It encourages people to unplug and disconnect
from everything that is happening in the world on a normal time
and especially now,” Williams says.

With private accommodations including bathrooms with
running water, guests don’t have to share elevators, hallways
and other common areas like a hotel. “It is definitely proving
to be a really great best of both worlds location,” she says. As
of late July, their onsite dining and bar was only open to onsite
guests for carry out only.

Reservations are quite popular in the fall with peak
foliage ranging from late September to mid-October. And if
adventure is calling, the property hosts 14 miles of trails for
hiking—perfect for sunny days. “That is definitely a big plus,”
Williams says. “The weather is really conducive for outdoor
recreation in the fall.” n
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