Coverdale Farm Preserve
Delaware Nature Society's 377-acre working farm in Greenville — free admission, real animals, seasonal hayrides, and the farm market that turns Friday-through-Sunday into a ritual.
543 Way Rd, Greenville, DE 19807 · ~20 min from downtown Wilmington
Hours
12 PM – 6 PM
Show the week Hide the week
| Fri | 12 PM – 6 PM |
|---|---|
| Sat | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Sun | 11 AM – 3 PM |
| Mon | Closed |
| Tue | Closed |
| Wed | Closed |
| Thu | Closed |
Last checked 2026-08-23
- Cost
- Free
- Best for
- All ages, sweet spot 1-7
- Indoor / outdoor
- Outdoor
- Typical visit
- 1-2 hours
Free farm animals on a weekend schedule, with a picnic area, restrooms and drop-in programmes; open April to November.
The Quick Version
- • 377-acre working farm run by the Delaware Nature Society (200 acres nature preserve, 177 acres active farm). Free admission. Real farm animals, real fields, and almost no commercial gloss.
- • The Market at Coverdale runs Friday-Sunday, April-November — local meat and produce from the farm, plus a small playground area kids gravitate toward.
- • Knee High Naturalists, summer camps, and seasonal family programs are the marquee ticketed events. Hayrides during fall weekends.
- • Budget 1-2 hours for a casual visit. A program day (camp, Knee High, festival) is 2-4.
Best Ages
All ages, sweet spot 1-7
Plan For
1-2 hours
Admission
Free
What to Expect
Coverdale is not a fall-festival farm. It's a real working farm with real chores happening while you visit, run by the Delaware Nature Society as part educational, part agricultural, part land conservation. The animals are out because they live here, not because they're on display. The kids' programs are about understanding food and land, not entertainment.
That framing matters because it sets expectations. There's no BIG BackYard, no apple cannon, no haunted maze. There's a small market, animal yards with sheep, cows, pigs, goats, and chickens, walking trails out into the pastures, and a Sunday-morning calm that feels rare around here.
The market on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is the rhythm. Families show up with strollers or wagons, kids run to the animal yards, parents shop for the week. There's usually a small playground feature or a hay bale climb for toddlers. The market includes farm meats, eggs, and produce from the property plus regional cheese, bread, and prepared foods.
Knee High Naturalists is the under-five program everyone in NCC knows about — outdoor, hands-on, seasonal themes, twice a week. It books up. Summer camps are similarly strong and similarly sought-after.
Fall is the busiest stretch. Hayrides, the Coverdale Fall Festival, and harvest programs add a layer of activity without changing the character. Lambing in spring brings a separate rush.
The Coverdale move is to pair it with Ashland Nature Center, 10 minutes north — same Delaware Nature Society property, complementary experiences (Coverdale = farm, Ashland = forest/water). A morning at Ashland and a market run at Coverdale is one of the best easy weekend days in the county.
Who It's Best For
Babies and toddlers: the perfect first farm. Animals are real and approachable, the scale is small, and there's no spectacle pulling attention everywhere at once. Preschoolers: Knee High Naturalists is the headline program. Elementary: weekend programs, hayrides, the rhythm of the working farm. Older kids and tweens will enjoy it less unless they like animals — there's not a curated activity layer for them.
Highlights
The Animal Yards
All agesPasture-raised farm animals — livestock and poultry — visible during open farm hours. Free to walk through. The reason most families come.
The Market at Coverdale (Fri-Sun, Apr-Nov)
All agesPasture-raised meat, eggs, vegetables from the farm, plus regional cheese, bread, and prepared foods. Both an outing and a weekly grocery run.
Knee High Naturalists
Ages 2-5Outdoor preschool program (ages 2-5), Tuesday and Thursday mornings, seasonal themes. The most beloved early-childhood program in NCC. Books up fast.
Coverdale Fall Festival
Ages 1-10Annual fall event with hayrides, pumpkin activities, fire pits, animal demos. Smaller and calmer than the commercial farms — feels like a real harvest weekend.
Lambing Season (Spring)
All agesLate winter into spring. New lambs visible in the yards — kids can sometimes meet a lamb that's hours or days old. A genuinely magical Coverdale experience.
Walking Trails
All agesTrails through pastures and fields out from the main farm. Short, easy, peaceful. A good after-market loop with a toddler.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • Mondays through Thursdays during market season if you're hoping for the market — it's only Friday-Sunday.
- • Showing up expecting a Fall Festival farm experience. This is a working farm, not a destination farm. Reset expectations and the place is wonderful.
- • Hot summer afternoons. Animals retreat to shade or barns and the visit gets quiet.
Logistics
Admission
Free admission
Free admission during Apr-Nov visitation hours. The Market at Coverdale is free to browse — you only pay for what you buy. Knee High Naturalists, camps, hayrides, and special programs are ticketed (Delaware Nature Society members get discounts). Check current program prices on the DNS site. No dogs permitted on the property.
Membership tip: Delaware Nature Society membership ($60+/yr) discounts programs and camps across Coverdale, Ashland, and DuPont Environmental Education Center. Worth it if you do more than 2-3 programs per year or send a kid to camp.
Getting There
Parking
Free gravel lot inside the farm gate on Way Rd.
Way Rd is a narrow country road off Centerville Rd. Easy to miss the gate. Once you're in, the lot is small but rarely full outside major events. Festival weekends overflow to grass parking — staff direct you.
Entrance
Single gate off Way Rd. The market, animal yards, and program buildings cluster at the entrance. The walking trails and pastures extend out from there.
Parent Logistics
Yes for the core area near the market and animal yards — hard-packed dirt and gravel. The walking trails are dirt and grass with some elevation; jogging strollers handle it, lightweight umbrella strollers struggle. A baby carrier is the easiest option for the trails.
Restrooms in the program building near the market entrance. Limited but adequate.
Changing table in the main restroom.
Mixed. The market and animal yards have some shade. The pastures and trails are open. Bring hats and sunscreen in summer and water any time it's warm.
Food & Snacks
The Market at Coverdale (Fri-Sun, Apr-Nov) sells the farm's own pasture-raised meat, eggs, and produce, plus baked goods, cheese, and prepared foods from regional producers. Not a full lunch counter — this is grocery, not concession. Bring a picnic if you plan to eat on site.
Snack strategy: Bring snacks and a picnic. The market is excellent for stocking up on the way out — eggs, sausage, vegetables — but it's not built to feed you on arrival. Picnic tables sit in the shade near the market.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Pair with Ashland Nature Center, 10 minutes north on Brackenville Rd. Same Delaware Nature Society membership covers both, and they're a perfect morning+lunch combo.
- ✓ Knee High Naturalists fills up. Register the moment the season opens if you want a spot.
- ✓ Friday market is the calmest. Saturday morning is the best vibe. Sunday morning is also great and feels like the local move.
- ✓ Bring a wagon. Strollers work near the market but the trails are easier with a wagon or carrier.
- ✓ Bring cash for small purchases at the market — they take cards but cash moves faster on busy Saturdays.
- ✓ Spring lambing is worth a special trip — call ahead to ask when lambs are out.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Friday-Sunday during the Apr-Nov farm visitation season. Hours are Fri 12-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-3. Saturday mornings hit the peak — market open, animals out, the place at its liveliest. Knee High Naturalists is a Tuesday/Thursday morning routine. Avoid late afternoons in summer when the heat thins the animal yards.
Seasonal Notes
Farm Visitation & Market season runs April through November, Friday-Sunday only (Fri 12-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-3). Closed Mon-Thu. Lambing in spring is a draw. Summer brings camps and the farm at full activity. Fall has hayrides, harvest events, and the Coverdale Fall Festival. December-March the public visitation season is closed; programs and camps still run on their own schedule.
Rainy Day?
The market and animal yards run in light rain — animals are mostly under cover. Heavy rain cancels programs and thins the visit. Not a strong rainy-day pick. Save it for a clear morning.
While You're in the Area
Ashland Nature Center is 10 minutes north on Brackenville Rd — same Delaware Nature Society property, complementary experience (forest and water vs. farm). Mt. Cuba Center is 10 minutes north for a different kind of nature day. Greenville's coffee and lunch spots (Brew HaHa, Janssen's Market) are 5 minutes east on Kennett Pike — a market-at-Coverdale plus lunch-in-Greenville morning is a classic NCC family Saturday.
Upcoming Events
Families can enjoy a seasonal celebration at Coverdale Farm Preserve with a costume parade, hayride, animal demonstrations, fall-themed games, and hands-on crafts. Some activities may have a nominal fee, and the event runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Registration is required — book ahead to secure a spot.
More infoThis low-impact hike offers a chance to explore the happenings on the farm, visit with the animals, and take in the natural beauty.
More infoKnee High Naturalists: Pumpkins
Fri, Oct 30 at 10:00 AM
Families will explore pumpkins through hands-on outdoor activities guided by Teacher Naturalists. Children will investigate pumpkin parts and learn about their life cycle in a nature-focused setting.
More infoGather and Create: Pumpkins and Fall Florals
Sat, Oct 31 at 1:00 PM
Participants will transform a small pumpkin into a unique autumn display by hollowing it out and filling it with seasonal flowers. This hands-on workshop provides all the materials needed to create a festive centerpiece or gift.
More infoKnee High in the Kitchen
Wed, Nov 4 at 10:00 AM
Preschoolers and their grown-ups can participate in a hands-on cooking class, using simple, fresh ingredients from the farm. Children will mix, measure, and taste, exploring early math, science, and sensory skills, and building confidence with safe tools and gentle guidance. Each session concludes with a snack they prepare together.
More infoThis event offers a hands-on cooking experience where participants will prepare recipes from a featured cookbook. After cooking together, the group will share the meal they created. No prior cooking experience is necessary.
More infoKnee High Naturalists: Turkey Time
Fri, Nov 13 at 10:00 AM
Children can meet the turkeys at Coverdale Farm and observe how farmers care for them. The program offers hands-on nature discovery activities outdoors with Teacher Naturalists.
More infoWake up the Farm Breakfast
Sat, Nov 14 at 9:30 AM
Families will get to wander the farm, greet various animals like cows, pigs, and chickens, and then enjoy a simple breakfast together. Kids can experience the sights and sounds of a working farm up close, making it a gentle and engaging morning outing.
More infoRooted in Community: Craft Together and Pinecones
Wed, Nov 18 at 6:30 PM
Participants can create a fall floral arrangement using dried pine cones, transforming them into unique flowers with shaping, paint, and wire. The event offers a chance to craft and socialize with other makers in a welcoming environment, with light refreshments provided.
More infoBirthday parties here
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