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Health & Fitness

The Exclusive Inside Story: Caroling Hayrides at Linvilla

“Imagine a bonfire. Now make it bigger. Throw some more logs on the fire. That’s the size of the massive winter solstice conflagration at Linvilla Orchards. It’s part of a decades-long wassailing tradition at the farm, better known to visitors as Christmas Caroling Hayrides.

Back in the late 70s we started this, my mother got excited about the English custom of wassailing,” says Sue Linvill Jochum, who’s in charge of the annual event. In olden days, farmers would bless the trees of the orchard by splashing them with cider to increase the yield of the harvest.

In Linvilla’s family friendlier version, the assembled group takes a hayride into the hills, douses the orchard with fresh, not hard cider, and sings well-loved Christmas carols like Jingle Bells and Silent Night.

“It’s really evolved into a nice evening,” says Jochum, who runs 2 caroling hayrides every Saturday at sunset through December 21. “We build a humongous bonfire, between the apple and peach orchard. It’s the biggest of the year at highest spot on the farm. Jochum tells stories to the assembled crowd, spinning tales about the solstice and the legend of the evergreen tree. With over 30,000 pines planted at Linvilla, the trees are significant.

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Each caroling hayride has a limit of 80 participants. Sometimes tickets sell out. Jochum recommends making an afternoon of it, picking up a tree, gifts and food. “If you are going to cut your own tree, do it beforehand so you have the natural light until the sun goes down,” counsels Jochum. “We’ve got a fire going all day at the bottom of the steps by the Cut Your Own Tree area. You can cook marshmallows over the fire, visit the Garden Center Café, which is open and serving hot chocolate in the warmth of the greenhouse surrounded by poinsettias. It’s beautiful.”

She reminds visitors that they can also pick up gifts, food, gift baskets and holiday pies at the farm.

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If You Go:

Christmas Caroling Hayrides are fun for kids and grownups alike. They take place Saturdays through December 21 at 5:30 and 6:30. There’s a limit of 80 tickets sold per ride, and tickets, priced at just $5, may sell out.

Make an afternoon of it. Get your tree, ornaments, winter foliage and holiday foodstuffs. Pick out gifts for every member of the family, and then take an exhilarating hayride to the highest point on the farm. 

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