Borella Farm Stand Kicks Off its Fall Harvest Festival Saturday

Final last-minute preparations are underway to celebrate the fall season in St. James. 

Borella's Farm Stand in St. James will kick off its 6th annual Harvest Fall Festival this Saturday. Families from across the Smithtown area are invited down to enjoy the harvest, pick out pumpkins and enjoy a variety of seasonal activities. 

"It's a very exciting time of year. Every year we add more, every year there's something new," said Barbara Perrotta, who operates the Edgewood Avenue farm alongside Laura and Steve Gallagher. 

The newest attraction for the 2013 season is a corn launcher, where the young at heart - both kids and adults - can load up ears of corn to test their aim on a variety of targets. 

"I think the corn launcher is going to be the big attraction this year, along with the corn maze," Perrotta said. 

Each year, Borella's farm stand creates a two-acre corn maze for families to explore. This year's theme has been kept "top secret," but promises to have surprise around each corner and turn. 


Those who take the hay ride out to pumpkin patch will find a wide assortment of on-the-vine pumpkins to pick, from white and dark, bumpy-skinned varieties to more traditional orange pumpkins. 

"This year the pumpkins are outstanding. We've got pumpkins out there that weight over 100 pounds," Perrotta said. 

In addition to pumpkins, the farm stand sells a variety of fresh produce, homemade jams and jellies, baked goods and soaps. Those looking to add a little something from their yard can purchase corn stalks, decorative bales of hay, flowers and decorative lawn signs. 

Other attractions at the Harvest Fall Festival will include inflatable bouncers, face painting, hot roasted corn and a DJ.  

This weekend, local author and long-time farm stand patron Jeb Ladouceur will be signing copies of his new book, "The Dealer." He will also have gifts for young children. 

Borella Farm Stand's Harvest Fest runs every weekend in October, including Columbus Day. Admission is $11, with children under age 3 are free. A coupon for admission can be found on the farm stand's website.