Demarest Farms - Hillsdale NJ

We like the petting zoo here. It’s very clean and features of a variety of animals. Tickets are five dollars each, and crackers are a dollar each. It’s small but perfect for small children (my 4yo loves it). There is also cooked food and a salad bar inside the market. The flowers here are also very beautiful.

It’s official. This light show is a Christmas must-do, provided you have the emotional fortitude for the traffic. This "farm" experience, is located in what I can only describe as the Bermuda Triangle of tight Bergen County roads (I think it's Bergen County here). The journey is a gauntlet. But is it worth it? Dammit, yes. The Admission Price: They charge by the car, my advice? Borrow the biggest damn vehicle you can find—a minivan, whatever—and pack it like a clown car. The Time Warp: When they say the ride is 30 minutes, they mean 30 minutes if you were driving on a deserted Martian highway. Realistically? You’re looking at 45 minutes to an hour maybe more from the moment you hit the property line until you exit. There is only one road in and one back out. But why rush... A Public Service Announcement: If you have the bladder capacity of a hummingbird, this is where you learn to regret every sip of coffee you've ever had. There is no bailout. You are strapped in for the full holiday parade. Prepare accordingly. The Glow-Up (Why I Forgave The Traffic) The lights are spectacular. Forget your typical big-box store light strings. This is a genuinely special, high-effort display. Turning off the headlights and just creeping through, you realize this isn't some quick commercial cash-grab; it's a true Christmas Treat. The effort they put in is truly amazing, and it elevates the whole thing past the traffic pain. After we completed our majestic crawl, we immediately went and found a nice pub for holiday cheer. They have a gift shop at a holiday shop too, but the way the traffic was, we weren't able to make our way in. However, I assure you will be back. More on this next year and yes, you should go. Go slow, enjoy the lights...

First time peach picking experience! I had so much fun despite the heat. I was able to buy tickets on-site, and the staff were very friendly. There were plenty of peach trees available, and the peaches were a great size—ripe, juicy, and delicious! Prices for other food items in the store were also reasonable. The restroom was a trailer, which was fine, but the biggest downside was how incredibly hot it was inside due to the lack of ventilation. Overall, it was a fun and memorable experience—I’d definitely go again, just maybe on a cooler day! 🍑

We have been to Demarest Farm twice so far in late September. A new find to explore with different friends/loved ones. First trip, when you go to Demarest Farm, you have options to either go apple picking to the left or the market to the right side. We came with friends and our kids and decided on apple picking and farm afterwards. Apple picking happened after you hopped off the hayride. Given one bag per family. The apples selection was vast with different kinds. Some trees had more than others, plenty to choose from if you favored certain kinds over others. All the apples had no wax on it (for example, what you see in the supermarket) and it is as natural and raw as you spot it. Once you complete the apple picking, you conclude where you started from the hayride. There is a playground and allows children of different ages to play together. By the time we got there, it was close to 12:45pm, the heat was building up and we were about to leave. The playground gave plenty of colored options amd our littles had a good time in the train. The market was good. Crowded but you knew it was lunch time and everyone was shopping around. The hot buffet had delicious macaroni anf cheese, apple cider donuts (plain, powdered, coated with sugar) , apple cider drink and more. By our second trip the following weekend, we came with another set of friends. We explored the petting zoo with our lil one, went to the market earlier and even though the hot buffet was not opened yet, still lots of food was available. My favorite was the turkey deli on a roll, with mustard and brie - it was so good. My husband loved eating the plain apple cider donuts, the plain was his favorite and rarely have I seen him eat anything plain. Suggestions for families - bring a stroller, keep in mind wheels might get muddy or dirty. Backpack for your lils waterbottles - sometimes apple picking was hot walking around. Petting zoo - children under 2 years old was free admission. If you wanted to feed animals, you need to purchase the crackers by the entrance. Staff was friendly and busy. Overall good day. Bring your own reusable bags. Will be back one day.

First time visiting this farm. I went with my organization and it really is a ‘fun fall activity’ for anyone. They have an indoor farmers market that sells homemade goods, packaged food, and sandwiches.