Fairytale Hayride

 
WEST NEWBURY -- Calling all princesses, dragons, and unicorns -- the first annual Fairytale Hayride is coming to Long Hill Orchard this week.  The non-profit Pentucket Arts Foundation has partnered with local farmers, John and Cindy Adams, and Director Rachel McGowan and the Pentucket Regional High School Theater Department  to bring this fun, family event to the community on Saturday, April 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. (Rain date: April 29)
 
This new community arts experience is free to the public, with donations to benefit the arts gratefully accepted in the giant pickle jar located at the welcome table.
 
A fun 10-minute hayride through the enchanting grounds at Long Hill Orchard, 520 Main St.,  will lead to an open field where Pentucket actors dressed in costume perform a few brief vignettes of classic fairy tales as the hay wagon meanders past.  The total ride should last about 30 minutes.  Parents and grandparents are welcome to accompany their youngsters on the ride.
 
Back at the farm stand, children are invited to say hello to the goats, baby rabbits and chicks; get their faces painted; do some coloring; and select a special fairy tale sticker.  Refreshments from the farm stand will be available for purchase.
 
Established in 1896, the 150-acre orchard and farm  offers picnic spots, hiking trails, and panoramic views of the Merrimack River, as well as locally grown, sustainable fruits and vegetables.   Open from June through December, the farm stand also sells  apple cider, cider donuts, and baked goods. “Scoops”, an adjacent ice cream stand is open April through October. This year the farm was nominated in the annual Best of North Shore contest (BONS)  in four sections of the “Indulge” category --bake shop and pastry, pies, cookies, and ice cream.
 
Applications to join the farmer’s popular Community Supported Agriculture program can be accessed at www.longhillorchard.com.  To subscribe to the Pentucket Arts Foundation free online newsletter of local arts happenings visit www.pntucketarts.org.