Riley's Farm in Oak Glen, CA

Close to our new home in Banning is the quaint sleepy little town of Oak Glen. It looks very much like my beloved hillsides of Virginia. Riley's Apple Farm hosts a variety of Colonial celebrations and activities which are reminiscent of my trip to Colonial Williamsburg and every year I will attend several of their events. They have a Colonial tavern that serves delicious period food.

There are two annual events that I have attended there so far. The first is the Sleepy Hollow Dinner Show which includes hay rides through haunted cornfields, trips past the creepy graveyard and a drive by Van Tassel's farm. The dinner includes a delicious meal of either chicken or beef, all the pumpkin soup, corn chowder and hot apple cider you can consume. It is held in converted barn and the tables are festooned with fall decorations and china. While you dine a cast of Colonial players re-enact the tale of Sleepy Hollow on a stage. Between acts there is a dance with traditional Colonial dance steps that they teach you, pumpkin carving, and, of course, a pumpkin seed spitting contest. There are too many activities for me to mention. The night is topped off with a daring display of the headless horseman chasing Ichabod Crane down a dirt path. The Headless Horseman is astride a great black steed and holds a flaming pumpkin in his hand which he tosses at the terrified Ichabod!

 

In the fall Riley's has a huge pumpkin patch where you can pick your favorite holiday squash to carve. They also have Civil War enactments complete with cannons!

The second is event I've attended twice so far is their A Christmas Carol dinner event. Once again the barn is festooned in holiday décor with a large Christmas tree. The dinner fare is English roast beef or cider baked ham, cheddar potatoes, home baked bread, candied carrots and buttered green beans. Then there's all you can eat delicious corn chowder, and the dessert table with bread pudding or apple pie, You can have all the dessert your heart desires. Once again there's dancing, and fun activities plus you sing all the traditional Christmas carols that you know and love. While you dine the players perform the tale of A Christmas Carol.

Here's a picture of this years Scrooge being haunted by the terrifying Jacob Marley...

Many times you will be greeted by a snow covered hills when you arrive or exit. This year it snowed while the festivities were going on in the barn and everyone was treated to a winter wonderland as they exited to go to their cars. Many of the children (and even the adventurous adults) engaged in snowball fights. It was pure bliss for me.

I've yet to attend the Fourth of July celebrations. I hope to do that this year as Eric has to work and staying home alone doesn't interest me. If I get to go I will make another post with plenty of pictures.

Here's the link to their site if you should be interested in seeing anything more about this rare and marvelous place located in Southern California of all places!
Riley's Farm - Where History Comes Alive