Smucker Gardens knows how to kick off fall in style! My first visit was for their 2025 Mum…read moreFestival, and let me tell you--it was everything I hoped for and then some.
The Scene: Easy to find on GPS, well-signed from the road, and plenty of parking in the gravel lot. Their greenhouses are massive and overflowing with plants, and inside the main building you'll find home décor, gifts, and seasonal goodies galore. Prices lean a touch higher than some other local greenhouses, but given the location and setup, it felt fair.
The Mum Festival: Perfectly organized. Food trucks up front (grab a bite first, wander later--smart!), vendor tents sprinkled throughout, live music filling the air, and kids' activities that looked like pure joy. It was a warm, sunny September Saturday--ideal fall fest weather.
The Adventure: While mums and pumpkins were great for the vibe, my main goal was something a little...unexpected. The ad mentioned camel rides. Yes, CAMEL rides. At a mum fest. At 40 years old, I had never ridden a camel, and I wasn't about to miss my shot. I called ahead to confirm that the "kids activity" was indeed open to grown-ups, too. Fast forward to the fest--I see the sign: "Camel Rides $10 Per Person." Ten bucks for a once-in-a-Central-PA-lifetime adventure? SOLD. Nervous, excited, and slightly in disbelief, I climbed aboard. And it was everything I hoped it would be--totally worth the thrill (and the bragging rights).
The Food: Yummy eats from food trucks and coffee from Brewboxx to keep the energy high. Perfect fuel for festival hopping.
All in all: a fun, unique, and memorable event. Smucker Gardens is worth a visit on any regular day--but during Mum Fest? Add it to your fall bucket list.
