Ardenwood Historic Farm

Call Directions Website

Ardenwood Historic Farm We demonstrate how farms provide vital resources, drive innovation, and bring communities together.
(708)

George Washington Patterson came west in 1849 to seek his fortune in the goldfields of California. Instead he "struck gold" in the fertile farm fields of southern Alameda County. This farm was originally owned by the George & Clara Patterson family from the 1850s. It was turned over to the City of Fremont in 1978, and the East Bay Regional Park District has operated the property as a fully functioning, turn-of-the-last-century farm since 1985. A visit here is a journey back to the time of the 1850s Patterson Ranch--a prosperous, 19th-century country estate with a beautiful Victorian mansion and elaborate Victorian Gardens. The farm still grows the same kind of produce that was grown in the region in the last 100 years, utilizing agricultural practices from the 1870s to the present, demonstrating the transition from horse-powered to horsepower farming. The interpretive staff and volunteers, attired in Victorian clothing, guide guests through the Victorian house, demonstrate farm chores, and explain what life was like in the early 1900s. From December to mid-February monarch butterflies overwinter here.

10/08/2026

Our cornfield is ready for harvest. Heritage apples have been picked for c***r pressing. The first wintering sparrows have returned to the farm. With temperatures forecast in the 60s this weekend, autumn has arrived at Ardenwood! 🍂

Join us this Saturday and Sunday for Harvest Festival, our biggest celebration of the year! Help harvest our corn crop, press fresh apple c***r, make a corn husk doll, ride the train, tour the Patterson House, and enjoy live music, dancing, and old-fashioned entertainment.

Saturday & Sunday, October 10-11
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Ardenwood Historic Farm | Fremont

Advance tickets are available at EBParks.org through Friday at 4 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the park both days.

Get your pick of the corn before our turkeys do! 😊

We hope to see you here!

What happens at Ardenwood as day turns to night?Join a Naturalist for Evening at the Farm on Saturday, September 26. We’...
09/20/2026

What happens at Ardenwood as day turns to night?

Join a Naturalist for Evening at the Farm on Saturday, September 26. We’ll explore the farm at a casual pace, looking and listening closely for plants, animals, sounds, and changes around us.

Along the way, we’ll share what we notice and add our observations to a field journal we’re building together across the seasons. You might spot wildlife settling in for the evening, hear something unexpected, or notice a familiar part of the farm differently.

Saturday, September 26 | 6:15-7:30pm
Ages 7+ | Adult supervision required
Free | Registration required

You can register through this link or call 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757, option 2):

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ebparks/activity/search/detail/60073?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

September brings fresh apples, seasonal traditions, and plenty of reasons to spend a day at Ardenwood Historic Farm!As s...
08/27/2026

September brings fresh apples, seasonal traditions, and plenty of reasons to spend a day at Ardenwood Historic Farm!

As summer winds down, come enjoy some of the activities that make this time of year special. Join us and press some fresh apple c***r, eat some farm-grown popcorn, and celebrate the coming autumn season by making traditional mooncakes. Explore the farm after hours with a special Evening on the Farm program on Saturday, September 26th (registration required)!

Make a day of it, bring the family, and enjoy a little fall fun on the farm!

Frederick has shed his train! Frederick is currently our only peacock at Ardenwood and he is officially done trying to i...
08/19/2026

Frederick has shed his train! Frederick is currently our only peacock at Ardenwood and he is officially done trying to impress our chickens for the season. Peacocks normally shed their long and wondrous tail feathers in late summer or early fall, replacing them with a healthy and vibrant new set just in time for mating season in spring. We have also been hearing much less of his honks and shrieks in the past few weeks, another signal that he is ready to take a break from his ongoing search for a mate.

Frederick can be found wandering around various locations throughout the park throughout the day. Keep your eyes on the café rooftop and near the Patterson house windows, where he can often be found gazing longingly at his own reflection. Make sure to give him at least 10’ of personal space when you find him, and make sure to remind him of how pretty he is, even without his feathers.

Unfortunately tomorrow, Sunday 8/9/26, the train at Ardenwood will not be running. We apologize for the inconvenience an...
08/08/2026

Unfortunately tomorrow, Sunday 8/9/26, the train at Ardenwood will not be running. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to have things up and running next week!

August is filled with hands-on history and late-summer fun at Ardenwood Historic Farm!Press some fresh apple c***r, turn...
07/25/2026

August is filled with hands-on history and late-summer fun at Ardenwood Historic Farm!

Press some fresh apple c***r, turn up the heat with Hot Hot Peppers, and cool down with We All Scream for Ice Cream! Along the way, meet the farm animals, explore the gardens, and enjoy interactive activities the whole family will love. And don't forget our Ardenwood Family Movie Night on 8/22 at 8:00pm where we will be watching Zootopia 2!

Whether you're visiting for the first time or making another trip to the farm, there's something happening every weekend.

Check out our August schedule below and start planning your visit!

The wheat is ready, and it's time to harvest!Join us at the farm this Sunday to discover the journey from wheat to flour...
07/08/2026

The wheat is ready, and it's time to harvest!

Join us at the farm this Sunday to discover the journey from wheat to flour. Watch our farmers operate a historic threshing machine, then try your hand at threshing, winnowing, and grinding wheat with historic hand tools.

Along the way, enjoy whole wheat chocolate chip and butter cookies baked in our woodstove, explore the grains we grow at Ardenwood, tour the Patterson House, ride the train, meet our farm animals, and more.

🌾 Wheat Harvest
📅 Sunday, July 12
🕙 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

We hope to see you at the farm!

July is packed with hands-on history and summertime fun at Ardenwood Historic Farm! Churn butter, make old-fashioned ice...
07/01/2026

July is packed with hands-on history and summertime fun at Ardenwood Historic Farm!

Churn butter, make old-fashioned ice cream, meet the chickens, gather blackberries, explore the wonders of pollinators, stroll through the gardens, learn how wheat becomes flour, and much more. Plus, don't miss our Independence Day Celebration on this Saturday, July 4, and Wheat Harvest on next Sunday, July 12!

Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning for another adventure, there's something happening almost every weekend.

Check out our July schedule below and start planning your visit!

How did communities celebrate Independence Day more than a century ago?By gathering for music, races, games, contests, c...
06/26/2026

How did communities celebrate Independence Day more than a century ago?

By gathering for music, races, games, contests, crafts, and good old-fashioned fun.

Join us at Ardenwood Historic Farm as we continue that tradition at our annual Old-Fashioned Independence Day! Try your hand at competitions like cherry seed spitting, nail driving, potato sack races, and tug-of-war. Enjoy live music and magic shows, make crafts, tour the Patterson House, ride the narrow-gauge train, and experience a working historic farm near the edge of the Bay.

Saturday, July 4
10 a.m.–4 p.m.

We encourage purchasing tickets in advance using the link below. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the park on the day of the event.

See the flyer and schedule below for all the day's activities. We hope you'll celebrate with us!

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ebparks/activity/search/detail/59495?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

Join a Naturalist at Ardenwood during one of its most peaceful hours—sunset. On Saturday, June 27, we’ll host Evening at...
06/17/2026

Join a Naturalist at Ardenwood during one of its most peaceful hours—sunset.

On Saturday, June 27, we’ll host Evening at the Farm, a free, family-friendly program for ages 7 and up (adult supervision required). We’ll walk at a casual pace and discover how the farm changes as daytime gives way to evening.

Along the way, we’ll pay attention to the plants, animals, and other lives that share this place with us. Dusk is one of the most beautiful times at the farm—and one that few people get to experience.

When: 8:00–9:15 p.m.

Entry fee waived | Registration required
To sign up, call 1-888-EBPARKS (option 2) or register online below.

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ebparks/activity/search/detail/58955?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

Address

34600 Ardenwood Boulevard
Fremont, CA
94555

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(510)5442797

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ardenwood Historic Farm posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category