by John Hensler

Finally! It’s fall! We’ve been looking forward to the change of season so much this year that we’re hosting our own party. Officially, Fall All Over the Place, our 1st annual Fall Fest begins on Saturday, Sept. 13. Our celebration continues all the way through October, and we’ve already started to decorate our 40 acre farm, trails and barns.

Local crafter Donna Stanley created the Fall Fest figures. She has crafted many of the signs, figures, and peekers used at Hensler Nursery for Christmas Fest. Her craft pattern figures have a unique playfulness all their own.

Fall Fest will keep rolling into the following weekend with the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In on Saturday the 20th. We will host the Indiana Giant Pumpkin Growers and make our facility available for one of their fall weigh-in events. Participants of the pumpkin contest in the past have entered pumpkins that weigh between 170 lbs to nearly 1,000 lbs. Come out to Hensler’s for this unique event to view these sizable pumpkins!

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Find out more about the Indiana Giant Pumpkin Growers weigh-in.

We’re offering wagon rides out to the pumpkin patch where you can select your own pumpkin. You can also enjoy horse trail rides on Friday nights and on the weekends. We’ve harvested a wonderful selection of mums and will have fall decorations like gourds and hay bails for sale. The Christmas Barn will also be open.

At Hensler’s, we have enjoyed celebrating Christmas every year with our five-week Christmas Fest so much, that we decided to add another festivity. Fall Fest!

The idea is simple. Celebrate the Fall season and enjoy the beautiful change in colors, weather and seasonal activities on our 300-acre nursery. Starting September 13 through the end of October, visit Hensler’s and participate in Fall Fest events from horse trail rides to our special Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in contest.

One of the biggest attractions of Fall Fest is the food. Rent a campfire site for the evening and bring your own food to cook by the fire. Or you can visit our cafeteria with a selection of hamburgers, hot dogs, warm apple cider, apple dumplings and more. You may also purchase specially-prepared items to take home such as maple syrup, pies and apple butter, jams and jellies.

Below are some of the additional ways you can enjoy Fall Fest with us:

• Visit the pumpkin patch for a unique variety of specially-grown pumpkins.
• Attend the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in contest on Saturday, September 20, 2008.
• Enjoy horse-back riding? Horse trail rides are available with guided tours.
• Start decorating with straw, pumpkins, gourds and potted plants.

Bring your family, invite your friends and spend an afternoon at Hensler’s. Finally it’s Fall!

Enjoy horse trail rides through the nursery with 30-minute or 60-minute guided tours Friday-Sunday. The trail rides will be led by an experienced guide in small groups.

The trail traverses Hensler’s Nursery down the drive and through Black Oak and Scotch Pine wooded areas. The longer guided tour takes riders through the scenic Christmas tree fields and then on through the Pumpkin Patch.

To make the most of your experience, reservations are recommended in advance, but not required. For larger groups of 20 or more a reservation will be needed.

The horses are gentle, experienced and seasoned in trail rides. The tours are guided by experienced trail-hands. Guests on these rides will conform to the rules established by the Trail Concession group so all guests will receive a comfortable, safe and pleasurable experience.

In Brief:

• 30-minute or 60-minuted guided tours
• Trail rides available Friday-Sunday, or by special reservation.
• Experience guides will lead the horse trail rides through Hensler’s Nursery
• Small fee