What's Happening Near You This Weekend? Your Guide to Events at Hidden Valley Orchards
It’s Thursday afternoon, the week is winding down, and the same question starts up again: what are we going to do this weekend? If you want something that gets the kids off the couch, works for the whole family, and doesn’t drain your wallet, the answer might be closer than you think.
Just up North State Route 48 in Lebanon, Ohio, Hidden Valley Orchards fills its weekends with live music, story time, animal meet-and-greets, farm-fresh food, and seasonal celebrations. This is your guide to weekend events at Hidden Valley Orchards: what happens, when it happens, and how to make the most of a day on the farm.
The short version: From Thursday through Sunday, Hidden Valley runs a mix of recurring and seasonal events for all ages. Entry to the farm is free, some events ask for a quick RSVP, and the Apple Play Yard needs a ticket. The lineup rotates through the season, so the live Farm Calendar is always the best place to confirm what’s on this weekend.
What's Happening Near You This Weekend? A Quick Look
One of the best things about Hidden Valley is its predictable weekly rhythm. The farm is open Thursday through Sunday, and each stretch of the weekend has its own flavor. Here’s the quick map:
● Thursdays Learn & Play Thursdays plus Pizza Night in the evening.
● Friday evenings the Concert Series brings live music to the outdoor amphitheater on select dates.
● Friday through Sunday mornings Story Time for the little ones at 10:30 AM.
● Weekends Meet the Animals at 11:15 AM, plus rotating seasonal celebrations.
Because special events and exact dates change through the season, treat this as the reliable backbone and check the live calendar for the current weekend’s full schedule.
It’s also worth knowing how much you can do without spending anything. Parking is free, wandering the grounds is free, and the weekend Meet the Animals sessions are free too. That makes it easy to plan a full outing around a single ticketed activity or none at all depending on your budget and how much time you have.
Your Weekend Guide to Events at Hidden Valley Orchards
Here’s a closer look at the recurring events that give each weekend its shape.
Learn & Play Thursdays
Learn & Play Thursdays are a relaxed, budget-friendly way to kick off the weekend. You get discounted Play Yard admission plus a free farm learning experience at noon, where kids can meet farm animals, get up close with wildlife, and hop on a tractor ride. It’s hands-on, educational, and easygoing. An RSVP is requested so the team can plan for the day.
Pizza Night Every Thursday
When you’d rather not cook, Pizza Night has you covered. From 4:00 to 9:00 PM every Thursday, the farm bakes fresh French Bread Pizzas that are perfect for sharing. RSVPs are required to help manage capacity, and there’s a fun bonus: a free donut with your pizza purchase on Thursdays. It’s a low-stress family dinner with a farm view.
Friday-Night Concert Series
On select Friday evenings, the Concert Series turns the farm’s outdoor amphitheater into a summer-night stage, with live music from around 6:00 to 9:00 PM. RSVP for complimentary admission, then settle in with food and drinks for an evening under the open sky. It’s a laid-back date night that still works if the kids come along.
Story Time (Friday Through Sunday)
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10:30 AM, Story Time offers a calm, cozy farm morning built especially for toddlers and young kids. It’s a gentle way to ease into a weekend day, and an RSVP is requested to keep the experience relaxed and manageable for families.
Meet the Animals (Weekends)
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:15 AM, the team brings a different farm animal out to the Social Lawn for a free, up-close experience. One weekend it might be goats or sheep; another it could be small pigs, cows, bunnies, chickens, ducks or a surprise guest. It’s one of the easiest crowd-pleasers on the farm, and it doesn’t cost a thing.
Toddler Farm Adventures
For the youngest visitors, Toddler Farm Adventures is a weekly experience designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years and their caregivers. If you have a little one who loves animals, open space, and gentle activity, this is a program worth building a weekday or weekend visit around.
Seasonal Weekend Celebrations
Beyond the weekly rhythm, Hidden Valley layers in bigger seasonal events. Summer weekends bring celebrations like Peach Days and Summer Palooza, packed with lawn games, farm food, and family fun. As the season turns toward fall, the farm’s classic favorites arrive: sunflowers, hay rides, U-pick pumpkins, and the corn maze. These are the weekends that tend to draw the biggest crowds, so arriving earlier in the day and reserving anything that needs an RSVP will make the visit smoother. Because these celebrations rotate, the Farm Calendar and All Events pages are the best way to see exactly what’s happening on any given weekend.
Beyond the Events: Things to Do Any Day You Visit
Even if you arrive on a quiet weekend with no special event on the schedule, there’s more than enough to fill a day:
● Apple Play Yard has more than 30 family-friendly attractions, from Sproutsville Tiny Town to the Apple Crate Crawl and Grain Bin Basketball. (Ticket required.)
● Petting Zoo is a favorite stop for animal-loving kids.
● Bee Barn & Exhibition Garden peek at the observation hives and explore the outdoor classroom.
● Eat & Drink cider donuts, caramel apples, and Big Barn Buns at The Great Barn, plus savory bites from the Orchard Kitchen, Pizza Barn, and Farm Stand, and Croptails and cider slushies at The Crate Room.
You can also simply wander the grounds, the Great Lawn, the waterfall, the sunflower field, the pumpkin patch, and the animal paddocks are all part of the experience, and exploring the farm itself is free.
How to Plan Your Weekend Visit
A little planning goes a long way toward a smooth day on the farm.
Hours
During the spring and summer season, Hidden Valley is open Thursday and Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM and again from 4 to 9 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. The farm is closed Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesdays are reserved for toddler programs and field trips. Hours shift with the season, so confirm the current schedule on the Plan Your Visit page before you head out.
Free Entry, Tickets, and RSVPs
Entry to the farm, parking, and exploring the grounds are all free. A ticket is only needed for the Apple Play Yard. Several events including Pizza Night, Story Time, the Concert Series, and Learn & Play Thursdays ask for an RSVP so the team can manage capacity, so it’s smart to reserve your spot ahead of time, especially for popular weekends.
Getting There
Hidden Valley Orchards is located at 5474 North State Route 48, Lebanon, OH 45036. One quick tip from the farm: spell out "North" in your GPS so you’re not accidentally routed toward South Lebanon.
A Few Handy Tips
● Reserve early for events that fill up, like Pizza Night and the Concert Series.
● Come hungry outside food and drinks aren’t permitted, but there’s plenty to enjoy on-site.
● Leave pets at home; service dogs are welcome.
● Dress for the weather and for a working farm comfortable shoes are your friend.
Why Hidden Valley Is a Great Weekend Spot for Families
Plenty of places promise a fun weekend, but a working family farm delivers something different: fresh air, real animals, homemade treats, and space to just be a kid. The mix of free and ticketed experiences means you can plan a big day or a simple one, and there’s something for every age from a toddler at Story Time to grandparents enjoying live music.
That range is part of why the farm has earned a 4.3-star rating from more than 1,400 guests, with visitors often noting there’s more to do here than at other farms in the area. After nearly 70 years as a family tradition, Hidden Valley has had plenty of practice turning an ordinary Saturday into the kind of outing families come back for season after season.
A quick way to plan: if you’re bringing toddlers, build the visit around a morning Story Time and the 11:15 Meet the Animals, then let them explore the free play areas. If you have older kids with energy to burn, the Apple Play Yard is the anchor. And if it’s more of a grown-up evening, aim for a Friday Concert Series date and a stop at The Crate Room. The same farm works for very different weekends, which is exactly what makes it such a dependable local go-to.
FAQ
What events are happening this weekend at Hidden Valley Orchards?
Weekends typically include Story Time (Friday–Sunday at 10:30 AM), Meet the Animals (Friday–Sunday at 11:15 AM), and rotating seasonal celebrations, plus Learn & Play Thursdays, Pizza Night, and the Friday Concert Series to bookend the weekend. Because the lineup changes, check the Farm Calendar for this weekend’s exact schedule.
Is it free to visit Hidden Valley Orchards?
Yes. Entry to the farm, parking, and exploring the grounds are free, and some events (like Meet the Animals) are free too. A ticket is only required for the Apple Play Yard, and certain events may have their own admission or RSVP.
Do I need to RSVP for events?
Many events including Pizza Night, Story Time, the Concert Series, and Learn & Play Thursdays request an RSVP so the team can manage capacity. Reserving ahead is the best way to guarantee your spot, especially on busy weekends.
What days are Hidden Valley Orchards open?
In the spring and summer season, the farm is open Thursday through Sunday, with Wednesdays reserved for toddler programs and field trips, and Mondays and Tuesdays closed. Hours vary by day and season, so confirm on the Plan Your Visit page.
Are the events good for toddlers?
Absolutely. Story Time and Toddler Farm Adventures are designed specifically for little ones, and Meet the Animals is a hit with young children. The farm is very much built with families and young kids in mind.
Is there live music at Hidden Valley Orchards?
Yes. The Concert Series features live music in the farm’s outdoor amphitheater on select Friday evenings, typically from around 6 to 9 PM, with complimentary admission when you RSVP.
Where are Hidden Valley Orchards located?
The farm is at 5474 North State Route 48, Lebanon, Ohio 45036, in Warren County. Remember to spell out "North" in your GPS to avoid being routed to South Lebanon.
Conclusion
The next time the weekend rolls around and no one can agree on a plan, Hidden Valley Orchards makes the decision easy. Between Learn & Play Thursdays, Pizza Night, live music on Friday evenings, weekend Story Time and Meet the Animals, and the seasonal celebrations that roll through all year, there’s almost always something happening near you and most of the farm is free to enjoy.
The single best way to lock in your plans is to check the current lineup and reserve any events that need an RSVP. See what’s on this weekend, grab your spot, and come make some memories on the farm.
