This weekend (July 26-27, 2025) presents the perfect opportunity to explore Montgomery County's agricultural heritage without venturing too far from home. The 2025 Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale features 27 participating farms, orchards, breweries and wineries offering free guided visits, with several outstanding options practically in our backyard. Here's your curated guide to the farms nearby that offer the most compelling experiences for suburbanites seeking authentic agricultural encounters.

Address: 14531 Montevideo Road, Poolesville
Hours: Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Contact: 301-825-8075 | [email protected]

Enjoy wine tasting in their historic bank barn tasting room, take a stroll around the expansive farm grounds with a glass of wine, or sit with family and friends while sharing a bottle. Their handcrafted, low-intervention wines and ciders are produced and bottled right on-site. The family-friendly atmosphere includes an expansive kids play area, making it perfect for multi-generational visits.

Dining Excellence: No need to pack a lunch—Argentinian steaks are served on Saturday and Wood Fired Neapolitan style pizzas on Sunday, elevating this beyond typical winery fare to a complete culinary experience.

Farm-to-Table Shopping: The on-site market allows you to take home their 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, extending the farm experience to your own dinner table.

What Makes It Special: Guided tours at 2:30 PM both days provide structured learning opportunities, while the historic bank barn setting adds authentic character. The combination of serious winemaking (low-intervention, estate-produced), quality dining, and comprehensive farm market creates a complete agricultural destination that rivals anything in Virginia's wine country—but it's practically next door to Potomac.

Address: 14705 Sugarland Road, Poolesville
Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Contact: [email protected] | www.bluffinggoat.com

This 204-acre goat dairy specializes in the production of goat cheese and goat milk skin care products, with a growing herd of 100+ goats milked twice daily in their 24-stall milking parlor. The milk is gathered in their bulk tank and processed into cheese about twice a week, then aged in their specialized aging room before distribution to local wineries, breweries, specialty cheese shops, grocers, and restaurants.

Farm Tour Experience: Visitors can pet the goats, tour the complete dairy operation, and witness the goat cheese production process through their large viewing window—providing an authentic behind-the-scenes look at artisanal dairy operations.

What Makes It Special: The farm represents a true revival story, created to restore a dairy farm that had fallen into disrepair. The scale of operation (100+ goats, professional milking parlor, dedicated aging room) demonstrates serious agricultural commitment while maintaining the charm and accessibility that makes it perfect for families. Children will be enchanted by the friendly goats, while parents can appreciate the sophisticated cheese-making process and the farm's contribution to the local food ecosystem through their distribution network.

Address: 15604 Sugarland Road, Poolesville
Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Contact: [email protected] | www.homestead-farm.net

This family owned and operated pick-your-own fruit farm grows a variety of crops throughout the summer and fall. Their onsite farm market features pre-picked produce as well as local preserves and honey, offering flexibility for those who prefer to shop rather than pick.

Planning Your Visit: Check their website for current pick-your-own availability as seasonal fruit availability varies (blackberries are excellent right now) and there may be admission fees for picking activities.

What Makes It Special: The extensive hours (9 AM to 5 PM both days) provide maximum flexibility for families, and the combination of pick-your-own experiences plus a well-stocked farm market means you can customize your visit based on your family's interests and energy levels. The farm's reputation for quality fruit and their selection of local preserves and honey make this an ideal stop for both authentic agricultural experiences and thoughtful provisions for your own pantry.

Address: 15700 Darnestown Road, Darnestown
Hours: Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Contact: (301) 750-9463 (WINE) | [email protected] | www.windridge.wine

Windridge Vineyards produces award-winning, estate-grown wines in classic, European styles that reflect their unique Piedmont Ridge Terroir. This beautiful vineyard and winery is owned and managed by three generations of a Maryland farming family.

Set between the suburban edge of Darnestown and the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, Windridge's solar powered tasting room takes advantage of its hillside location to offer beautiful views of rolling farmland.

What Makes It Special: The three-generation family farming heritage combined with their focus on classic European-style winemaking creates an authentic agricultural experience with sophisticated results. Their award-winning wines demonstrate that serious viticulture thrives in Montgomery County, while their Piedmont Ridge location provides the elevated wine experience practically next door to Potomac. The combination of family farming tradition, environmental consciousness (solar power), and award-winning wine quality makes this a destination that satisfies both agricultural curiosity and refined palates.

Address: 5511 Muncaster Mill Road, Rockville
Hours: Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Contact: 301-926-9281 | www.camp-olympia.com

This established facility operates as a year-round horseback riding center, nursery school, and summer sports day camp that has been serving the community for over 66 years. Farm Tour visitors can observe staff and camper demonstrations showcasing riding, sports, and swimming activities, with different presentations offered every half hour throughout the day.

Interactive Experiences: Pony rides are available throughout the day for an additional fee, providing hands-on equestrian experiences for children who want to participate beyond just observing demonstrations.

What Makes It Special: Located conveniently near Rockville and backing onto Rock Creek, Camp Olympia offers cross-country trail riding and takes full advantage of its extensive outdoor farm setting. The combination of professional programming, established reputation, and proximity to Potomac makes this an accessible introduction to equestrian activities. The regular demonstration schedule ensures visitors can plan their arrival to catch specific activities of interest, while the Saturday-only Farm Tour participation creates an exclusive glimpse into this long-standing local institution.

Address: 16915 Darnestown Road, Boyds
Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Contact: 410-310-8636 | www.honeyacres.net

Tour gardens, purchase produce, visit the petting zoo, partake in games and crafts and enjoy music and artwork. The farm features retired horses and a specialized foal field playground for children. Educational opportunities include a sheep and alpaca fiber exhibit that demonstrates the process from animal to textile production.

Complete Farm Experience: In addition to fresh vegetables, visitors can purchase cottage food products and browse local artwork while enjoying hands-on activities designed to create meaningful family connections.

What Makes It Special: The combination of educational tours, hands-on activities, and entertainment creates a comprehensive farm experience that justifies the drive to Boyds while providing genuine agricultural learning opportunities. The focus on fiber arts education and retired horse sanctuary adds unique elements not found at typical petting farms.

Address: 18028 Central Park Circle, Boyds
Hours: Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Contact: 301-254-6575 | [email protected] | www.mooseum.org

This unique educational facility features comprehensive dairy farming exhibits including life-size breed models (notably "Astronaut," Montgomery County's prize Holstein bull), vintage milking equipment, and interactive learning stations. The barn showcases a detailed map of local dairy farm locations with family histories, a model of the original King farm home, and hands-on activities like butter churning and cow milking demonstrations using model cows.

Special Farm Tour Programming: From 10 AM to noon, enjoy free balloon animals for all ages and educational presentations by Warrior Canine Connection at 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM, featuring an ambassador service dog and information about their veteran assistance mission.

Family Features: The dedicated Children's Room provides farm-themed play areas for younger visitors, while Macie's Attic gift shop offers dairy-themed merchandise. The newly updated "How to Milk a Cow" exhibit provides modern agricultural education alongside historical context.

What Makes It Special: This Saturday-only schedule makes it an exclusive Farm Tour experience, combining serious agricultural education with meaningful programming that supports veterans. The comprehensive approach to dairy farming history, from vintage equipment to modern techniques, provides multi-generational learning opportunities that connect Montgomery County's agricultural heritage with contemporary farming practices.

Address: 16820 Black Rock Road, Germantown
Hours: Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Contact: (202) 903-4140 | [email protected] | www.buttonfarm.org

As Maryland's only living history center focused on 19th-century plantation life, Button Farm offers guided tours through their historic bank barn, farmhouse, museum garden, and slave cemetery. The 40-acre site within Seneca Creek State Park provides immersive historical experiences that place visitors at the center of authentic period interpretation.

Educational Experience: Interactive programs reveal the nation's social justice legacy through the stories of slavery and the Underground Railroad, featuring heritage breed farm animals and opportunities to purchase farm products that connect past and present agricultural practices.

What Makes It Special: This represents serious historical education disguised as farm touring—exactly the kind of meaningful cultural experience Potomac families value. Through hands-on history and guided facilitation, guests become active participants in understanding how enslaved labor shaped the landscape of modern Montgomery County farming. The combination of agricultural heritage and social justice education creates profound learning opportunities that extend far beyond typical farm experiences.

Download the App: Download the Visit Montgomery Adventure Planner app and access the Farm Tour Digital Passport. The app allows users to map routes, filter locations by interest and check in at each site.

Timing Strategy: Most farms open between 10-12 PM, giving you flexibility for a leisurely Saturday morning start. Sunday tends to be less crowded while still offering full experiences.

Group Planning: For group or bus tours, contact the farms directly three days before the tour. For more information, call the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture at 301-590-2859 a week before the tour.

What to Expect: In addition to the free walking tours, many of the farms offer additional activities, such as tasting products from wineries and creameries, pony rides, and outdoor yoga.

These farms represent the best of Montgomery County's agricultural offerings within easy reach of Potomac. Each provides authentic agricultural experiences while maintaining the quality and sophistication our community appreciates. From wine tasting in Darnestown to goat cheese education in Poolesville, this weekend offers genuine farm experiences that don't require sacrificing comfort or convenience.

This self-guided tour offers residents the opportunity to shop local, learn about Montgomery County's rich agricultural heritage and support the local farming economy. Consider it civic engagement with immediate rewards—supporting local agriculture while providing your family with memorable, educational experiences.

For complete farm listings, hours, and directions, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/agservices/farm-to-table/farm-tour.html or call 301-590-2859. Group tours require advance contact with individual farms.