Red Wagon Farm Gives Cleveland a Taste of Fall with Fresh Goods and Pumpkin Festival

COLUMBIA STATION — Red Wagon Farm, a family-owned operation located at 16081 East River Road in Columbia Station, Ohio, is celebrating its 60th year of providing locally sourced produce, baked goods, and beverages to the Northeast Ohio community. On a recent visit, Nikkie Brown of Cleveland 13's "Hit the Town with Nikkie Brown" stopped by to explore the fall festivities and speak with Shari Ross, the owner, about what the farm has to offer this season.

Ross emphasized the farm's commitment to keeping everything as local as possible. "Everything we sell is as local as we can get, and we try to give you a huge variety," she explained. Red Wagon Farm works with nearby farmers to source produce, including garlic from Oberlin, baked goods from Grafton, and even local meats from Twinsburg’s Cowboys by Choice. Their renowned sweet corn is grown right on the farm itself. Ross also highlighted their in-house bakery, known for its pies, crumbles, fresh breads, and seasonal cookies. “We've got little pies, big pies, crumbles, fresh breads, cookies... adorable little Halloween cookies going on right now,” she said, with Brown enthusiastically adding, “Every flavor of Fall is right here in this building."

Besides offering fresh produce and baked goods, Red Wagon Farm also operates a brewery, complete with a recently finished outdoor patio. “It feels sort of like you're on vacation... minus the ocean,” Ross remarked about the space. The brewery features 12 beers on tap, hard cider, hard seltzer, and local wine from a nearby winery in Columbia Station. The patio is dog-friendly, and the venue hosts live entertainment every Friday and Saturday, and sometimes Thursdays. Additionally, Browns fans can catch games on Sundays as part of the brewery's weekend events.

Red Wagon Farm's fall season wouldn't be complete without its annual Pumpkin Festival, now in its 41st year. The festival takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout October. The event is filled with family-friendly activities, including pumpkin picking and a unique $10 "all-you-can-carry" pumpkin deal. According to Ross, the record for the most pumpkins carried at once stands at 13. Festivalgoers can also enjoy the farm’s food tent and brewery, both of which open at 11 a.m.

Brown shared fond memories of visiting Red Wagon Farm as a child and expressed her joy at returning now with her own family. “The adults have the brewery, and kids still have all of the amazing things they had when I was a kid, and more,” she said, illustrating the multi-generational appeal of the farm.

Red Wagon Farm continues to be a community hub, not only providing fresh, local food and drinks but also supporting local schools and charities through fundraisers and non-profit events. Ross noted that the farm has had to adapt over the years, particularly as more families focus on healthy, locally sourced foods. The farm has also upgraded its point-of-sale systems to better serve its customers.

Looking ahead, the farm is finishing construction on all-weather walls for the patio space, which will allow for private parties during the off-season.