Toronto

When Mason Anderson turned five, he had 10 kids and a bunch of mountain goats to his birthday party.

He had marked the occasion with friends and family at a working farm — Downey’s Farm Market and Winery, just north of Brampton. They painted pumpkins, went on a tractor-driven wagon ride and visited animals at the petting zoo. Mom Julie Anderson says the idea of holding his birthday at a farm was a natural choice.

“Both Mason and I were raised on a farm, and Downey’s mirrored the life we shared,” says the dental hygienist from Terra Cotta, Ontario.

While going to the movies or bowling are classic children’s birthday parties, a farm-themed celebration offers a unique experience — especially for today’s young and tech-savvy urbanite.

“A farm party provides a great family experience most suburban and city kids do not get from other party venues,” says Lillian Price, special events manager at Whittamore’s Farm Market in Markham. This includes rediscovering simple country pleasures such as going on straw jumps, collecting eggs from the chicken coop or just getting up close with Farmer Brown’s animal friends.

“Most people nowadays do not have a family member that is a true farmer, or has a farm where they can go and watch the growing process,” says Ruth Downey, co-owner of Downey’s. Not only can kids enjoy a fruit platter with birthday cake, they can actually see where the produce is grown, and even pick the strawberries, raspberries and apples themselves.

For Abbey Corbett’s seventh birthday party last summer at Springridge Farms in Milton, guests fed the goats, rode a pony, walked around the hay maze and even petted a baby calf. “They were constantly captivated; there was no time to get bored,” says Carla Corbett, a Toronto-based mom who highly recommends the experience.

Turns out kids are not the only ones who enjoy getting a fun reason to spend a few hours outdoors. Many bbirthday drop-offs have morphed into family outings where the adults pick strawberries, shop for fresh-baked goodies or just enjoy a beautiful day outdoors while waiting for their kids.

“Once, we hosted a party for a three-year-old girl who had invited her grandparents, great grandparent, and aunts and uncles,” recalls Geraldine Rounds of Rounds Ranch in Elmvale. “They wanted to learn everything about farming, what we did to grow crops and raise animals; the adults were just so excited to be in a working farm.”

The good news is you don’t have to drive deep into the countryside to enjoy a celebratory pause. There are several working farms around the GTA that offer birthday packages. In the city you can host a party with a country twist at Riverdale Farms. Most offer a range of outdoor activities geared towards kids aged three to eight years, with alternate activities for rainy days. And party food can be served nut-free upon request. Be sure to dress for the weather: sunscreen and hats for a hot summer’s day and raincoats and boots if there are dark clouds in the horizon.

Originally published in Today's Parent Toronto, June 2009