BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Back Home on the Farm added a theatrical twist to its fall festival this past weekend as Act One, a local youth theater group, staged Beetlejuice Jr. for visiting families.
According to play organizer James Langford, the show was performed by junior actors with support from volunteers. Langford said the group had recently been restructured under the Act One name.
“This is the first time this particular group of this banner has done it,” he said. “Most of the actors, as well as myself, have been involved in previous groups. But it’s been reformed into an organization called Act One.”
According to the farm’s website, the fall season runs from Aug. 30 to Nov. 9 and features more than 40 attractions. Guests can explore a seven-acre pumpkin patch with over 60 varieties, wander through a themed corn maze and ride the Virginia History Carousel. The website also highlights pig races, a cow train, and hayrides across the 240-acre property.
At this year’s event, children crowded the petting zoo, visitors posed for photos among hay bales and scarecrows, and others lined up for cider slushies and warm doughnuts. Other visitors stopped at the Country Store, where shelves were stocked with jams, pickles, and handmade sweets. Hand-dipped ice cream, fudge, and apple cider doughnuts were among the most popular treats. The variety of food options allowed guests to make a day of the visit without ever leaving the farm.
Cambria Lee, who traveled from New Jersey, said she decided to return after attending last year.
“The pumpkin patch is definitely my favorite,” Lee said. “Walking through the rows of pumpkins and picking out the perfect one feels so nostalgic, and it’s a great photo opportunity.”
The Harrisonburg Tourism website describes Back Home on the Farm as a gathering place where seasonal attractions mark the rhythm of the year. Admission covers all activities, from barnyard animals to underground slides, with discounts for grandparents and military families.
Each $16 admission includes entry to both the farm and the theater performance.
Future showings of Beetlejuice Jr. are scheduled Oct. 3-5. For many visitors, the mix of live theater and fall traditions created an atmosphere that marked the season’s arrival.
