Farm Tours and Events

What kind of tour or event fits your farm?

Begin with the reason. Some farms hold a tour to teach, some to sell, some to thank customers and some to raise interest in a new product. Your reason decides the length, the route and the number of guests. A one-hour guided walk for a small group is very different from an all-day festival.

Look honestly at your land and your help. Count how many people you can safely host with the staff and parking you really have, and set the guest limit below that number. You can always grow next year.

• Guided walks for small groups.
• Harvest or planting days with simple tasks.
• Seasonal open houses.
• Classes or workshops on one topic.

What permits and approvals might you need?

Rules for gatherings are local. Your town or county may regulate events by size, parking, noise, temporary structures and hours. If you serve food or drink, health department rules can apply, and rules about alcohol are separate and strict. These vary by state, county and town, so ask before you promote anything.

Call your zoning or planning office, your health department and your fire marshal or local emergency office. Ask what size of gathering triggers a permit, whether temporary toilets or handwashing stations are required, and how emergency vehicles must be able to reach the site.

• Event or gathering permit questions.
• Food and drink rules for vendors and for you.
• Temporary structures such as tents and stages.
• Parking and traffic control.

How do you plan the route and the layout?

Walk the route yourself, then walk it again with a person who has never been to your farm. Look for uneven ground, ditches, electric fences, equipment, livestock areas, chemical storage and anything else that can hurt someone. Close off what cannot be made safe.

Plan the flow so that guests move in one direction and do not bunch up. Place restrooms, handwashing, water, shade and seating where people need them. Keep the working parts of the farm separate from the visitor path.

• Clear, marked paths and a single entrance and exit.
• Barriers around equipment, pits and animal areas.
• Handwashing close to any animal contact.
• Shade and a place to rest.

How do you keep guests and animals safe?

Animals can carry germs that affect people, and guests can stress animals. Ask your veterinarian and your public health office about handwashing, supervision and rules for animal contact at public events, and follow their guidance. Never let guests enter pens with large or protective animals.

Make a simple safety plan. Decide who is in charge, where the first-aid kit is, how guests can reach you and how you will call for help. Brief everyone who is working the event before guests arrive.

• Supervise children closely around animals.
• Post handwashing instructions.
• Keep sick animals away from guests.
• Know the nearest emergency address for your site.

What should you know about insurance and liability?

Call your insurance agent early and describe the event plainly. Standard farm or home policies may not cover public gatherings, and the agent can tell you about event coverage or limits. Ask what happens if a vendor or volunteer is hurt.

Your state may have rules or laws related to liability on farms with visitors. Ask your extension office or a qualified attorney instead of relying on a sign or a waiver form alone. A form does not replace safe conditions.

How do you handle vendors, food and volunteers?

If outside vendors will sell at your event, ask what licenses they hold and what insurance they carry, and confirm with your health department whether they need approval to operate on your property. Give each vendor a map spot and clear setup times.

Volunteers need a clear job, a short briefing and a way to take breaks. Do not give anyone a task that requires training they do not have, such as handling large animals or operating machinery.

• Written agreement with each vendor.
• A named contact for every area of the event.
• Water and rest for staff in warm weather.

How do you budget and review the day afterward?

Write down every cost category before you set a price or decide to give the event away: signs, rented items, restrooms, extra insurance, supplies, advertising, food and the time you and your helpers spend. Keep receipts together so you can see the true cost.

After the event, gather your helpers and write down what went well and what did not. Ask guests what they enjoyed and what confused them. Those notes are the best planning tool for next year.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.