Mayfield Farm Park Offers More Than 40 Activities for Families

The outside temperature makes it feel like summer, but fall is in the air in McMinn County, Tennessee! Mayfield Farm Park is preparing to open its doors for the fall season, which runs from September 26 to November 8, 2026. What started as a corn maze and expanded into a pumpkin patch has now become one of the region’s most popular farm attractions, with more than 40 activities for kids and adults alike.

“People tell us all the time that they had no idea how much stuff we have out here,” says Michael Mayfield, owner of the farm. “Half of our visitors never even get to the corn maze –  maybe even more. Some people run out of time doing all the other activities built around it.”

Mayfield continues to invest in his farm, adding new amenities and games each year. If you haven’t been out to the farm yet, it’s a must-visit throughout the fall. 

Family Members of All Ages Love it Here

Many of the activities at Mayfield Farm Park are geared towards kids, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for adults to enjoy themselves. Mayfield actually creates three corn mazes: kiddie, medium, and difficult, allowing parents to get in on the a-maze-ing fun. Adults can explore the pumpkin patch with their kids and sit in awe of the giant sunflowers that grew this year.

Kids won’t know where to go first when they arrive at Mayfield Farm Park. There’s a jumping pad, slides of all sizes, hillbilly pig races, a candy cannon, pedal cars, tetherball, and an obstacle course – just to name a few popular attractions.

A favorite activity for kids is the corn boxes, an alternative to gritty sandboxes. Mayfield spoke with one family whose child is neurodivergent and rarely focuses on one activity for more than a few minutes. Their kid loved the corn boxes and wanted to play in them for hours – and the parents said they planned to build a smaller one at home.

Mayfield is adding music this year, with new acts scheduled for every Saturday and Sunday. In the evening, the Silo Light Show offers family-friendly entertainment to end an exciting day. This year’s theme is celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary, with an homage to the late, great Dolly Parton, who is particularly beloved in Eastern Tennessee.  

Mayfield Farm Park Offers a (Mostly) Screen-Free Day

Mayfield prides himself on creating a family-friendly event free of video games, AI, phones, VR headsets, and other technology. Kids can run and play, get dirty, and enjoy farm life.

“We like to tell people that we’re selling memories and traditions,” he says. “If you come one year, you’ll be back the next. I get so much satisfaction from watching families and different generations come out and have fun together.”

For the first time, Mayfield is installing TVs around the corn maze as an entertainment option. They will broadcast various football games and sporting events throughout the year, allowing guests to cheer on the Volunteers on Saturdays and the Titans on Sundays (and maybe the Commodores, too – if they’re good).

Mayfield confesses that so far, the TVs make him nervous. He loves the idea of creating a no-screen zone for families, but also knows how watching your favorite team score a touchdown can make a good day even better. 

Fall is Also Field Trip Season

The end of September also marks a period when kids can visit Mayfield Farm Park with their schools. Field trips are offered on Thursdays and Fridays, with kids and teens of all ages learning about farm life. This year, Mayfield is offering two talks during these trips: one on the lifecycle of a pumpkin and the other on running a dairy farm.

Mayfield enjoys hosting kids because it's often their first experience with farm life. A century ago, around 50% of the labor force worked on farms. Today, less than 2% of Americans earn their income from farming. These field trips show kids where their food comes from.

“People just don’t know anything about farming,” says Mayfield. “Our goal is to teach them anything we can about growing things and raising animals.”

Field trips also allow kids to run around and play for a few hours, giving them a break from the classroom. There’s plenty of room for several classes to visit the farm at once.

Mayfield says the field trip days and fall weekends are fun, and laughs at the chaotic nature of his business model. “We go from absolutely no one on the farm for months on end to thousands of people visiting over a few weeks,” he says.

Mayfield Farm Park hires 50 short-term employees to cover the fall season. His full-time staff and farmhands bring the farm's total employment to around 70 people in October.  

Plan Your Fall Visit to McMinn County

Visitors to McMinn County, Tennessee, can buy tickets in advance to Mayfield Farm Park or pick up season passes through October. But this is just the first step in planning your vacation. Explore other fall events in the community, like the annual Scream Chamber haunted house. There are also options for people who don’t want to be scared witless, like the Living Heritage Museum’s Annual Quilt Show.  

Fall is a wonderful time to visit McMinn County. Explore upcoming events and fill your calendar with activities. We can’t wait to show you everything we have to offer.