Fall has arrived for Johnston County farmers, and a variety of events and festivals are scheduled beginning in October for families to enjoy including pumpkin picking, hayrides and corn mazes. Travel out of the city and visit several farms to learn more about the county's agriculture heritage -- and to just have some fun!

For the little ones, Clayton Fear Farm Daytime is child friendly and offers pumpkins in the patch still on the vine for picking (prices vary depending on the size).  Also suitable for children are the Seymour’s House of Dreams, Jumping Pillow, Corn Box, Spider Web, Family Dodge Ball, Picnic Shelter, Tire / Tractor Playground, Cow Milking and a giant slide. Open on Saturday and Sundays in October and Halloween Day, October 31^st.

At night and for the older kids with stronger hearts is the Clayton Fear Farm, the ONLY haunted Halloween scream park in the Triangle. This fear farm features seven scary haunted attractions including haunted houses that offer new horror features each year. The farm includes the following scary attractions: Fear Farm Academy, The Black Hole, Fear Forest Haunted Hayride, Slaughterhouse, The Farm House, A Walk In The Dark!, and the Haunted Cotton Maze -- Try to find your way through the cotton alone and not be sidetracked by something or someone following too closely. Open Friday and Saturday nights in October, Sunday the 14^th and 21^st and the full week of Halloween, October 25-31^st.

Both the Daytime and Fear Farm are located on the Boyette Family Farm at 1620 Loop Road, Clayton.  For more information call 919-553-0016 or visit, www.boyettefamilyfarms.com.

On October 13, journey to Smith’s Nursery Fall Festival to enjoy the day at the nursery with pumpkin picking, crafts, hayrides, relay races, corn hole, music, food and much more. Times for the festival are 10am-3pm.  Smith’s is located at 443 Sanders Rd., Benson (I-40, Exit 319) and for more information call 919-934-1700 or visit their website, www.smiths-nursery.com.

This year’s Wilson’s Mills Pumpkin Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 13 where visitors can join in the family fun with old fashion games, corn hole, antique farm equipment show, music, inflatables, dunk booth, and great food! And of course, get your pumpkins! Time of the event is 10am-4pm and all activities will take place at the Wilson’s Mills Town Hall area, call 919-938-3885 for more details.

For the first time, Tucker Lake in Benson is having a haunted hayride. These thrilling rides will take place every Friday and Saturday from 5pm-10pm, and Sundays from 1pm-5pm, September 28- October 28, and on Halloween. There will also be a kid friendly hayrides 5pm-7:30pm and all day Sundays. Come for the hayride, stay for the food, games, and fun. For more information go to their website, or call 919-207-1086.

For these fall events and a variety of heritage exhibits, Civil War programs, performing arts and October festivals like the Selma Railroad Days and the Ava Gardner Festival, check out the Calendar of Events on the Johnston County Visitors Bureau website, www.johnstoncountync.org or call for brochures, 919-989-8687.