AMESBURY — Families looking to enjoy a unique trick-or-treating experience will be flocking to Cider Hill Farm this weekend to enjoy another round of the farm’s fifth annual Sweet Halloween.
“Everyone’s exhausted, but we’re ready for weekend number two,” Cider Hill Program Director Valerie Rosenberg said.
The event, which encourages families to get decked out in their favorite costumes, is set to take place on the farm from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
“We’ve grown it from one weekend to two because of the popularity,” Rosenberg said.
She said she loves watching the kids in their costumes enjoying what the farm has to offer.
“There’s really something beautiful about the kids trick-or-treating through the blueberry bushes and through the apple orchard and then into a corn maze,” Rosenberg said.
Rosenberg said that kids go around trick-or-treating at six tents set up around the farm.
“They go from station to station, wiggling around the farm. They’re getting treats at each station. Some are food treats, some are non-edible treats. So everything from donuts and kettle corn, to our homemade whoopie pies, and then our own honey straws, stickers and tattoos, and then we do glow sticks,” Rosenberg said.
The event brought in roughly 500 kids each day of the first weekend, according to Rosenberg.
“And that’s not including adults,” Rosenberg said.
She said that there will be something for everyone at the event, with adults able to enjoy hard cider and multiple food trucks.
“We have some games along the way, some photo ops along the way, live music, and it’s just been really special because even some of the videos that we’ve seen over the weekend that families are taking, it’s really just giving people the space and the place to create lifelong memories,” Rosenberg said.
One of Rosenberg’s favorite parts of Sweet Halloween is seeing the costumes of those who visit the farm.
“We do group costume contests. So like family groups, friend groups, and the largest family group or friend group photo that we captured last weekend had nine in it. They went Alice in Wonderland themed,” Rosenberg said.
She said that other highlights included a Moana themed group and an Up themed group.
“Even though we’re asking people to be creative, I think it’s mainly just about them showing up and enjoying themselves,” Rosenberg said.
In terms of tickets, Rosenberg said they are not going to sell out.
“We encourage people to certainly please book ahead so that we have enough treats for all the kids and try not to wait to the last minute,” Rosenberg said.
Tickets are $16 for a child. Adults and infants can attend for free. Tickets can be purchased at www.ciderhill.com/events/sweet-halloween
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.