Quick Info: Southlands Heritage Farm
Southlands Heritage Farm is a private working farm, not a municipal park. Hours, admission by donation, and the pet policy are all set by the farm and can change with the season, so check the official site before visiting.
A working farm tucked inside city limits
Southlands Heritage Farm sits in Vancouver’s Southlands neighbourhood, a quiet pocket near Point Grey where a small, family and friend run farm has held onto its fields instead of giving way to development. It’s an unusual find this close to downtown: real horses, real livestock, and real crops on land that’s been kept working rather than paved over.
The farm runs on a mission of connecting city residents, kids especially, to where food comes from and what farm life actually looks like day to day. Riding lessons, a farm school program, camps, and guided field trips all operate alongside the open-to-the-public visiting hours, so the farm functions as both a working operation and a hands-on classroom.
It’s a fitting stop for a slower, quieter afternoon that doesn’t require leaving the city at all, especially when paired with nearby UBC or a wider Southwest Vancouver route.
Meeting the animals on a casual visit
During open visiting hours, the farm welcomes the public to walk the grounds on their own and spend time with the animals, which include horses, goats, chickens, and ducks, along with farm cats that tend to turn up wherever visitors are standing. There’s no formal tour attached to a free visit; it’s a self-directed wander, with a tire swing on site for kids who need a break from animal watching.
Because this is a small, privately run property rather than a public park, visitor numbers and hours are more limited than at a large commercial farm, so a quick check of current hours before heading over saves a wasted trip.
Pony rides for young kids
Pony rides run on weekends, with a short ride of about five minutes led through the farm’s orchard. The ride is aimed at younger children, roughly ages two through seven, which makes it one of the few pony ride options in Vancouver proper aimed squarely at toddlers and early-school-age kids rather than older riders.
Unlike the general donation-based visiting hours, pony rides need to be booked in advance through the farm’s online booking system rather than paid for at the gate. Spots during the weekend window can fill up, so booking a day or two ahead is worth doing if a specific ride time matters.
Riding lessons for older children and adults are offered separately by appointment, alongside the shorter pony rides built for the youngest visitors.
Pumpkin season in October
Each October, the farm switches over to its Pumpkin Fest, its best-known event and the reason many Vancouver families first come across the property. Visitors pick their own pumpkin straight from the patch, climb the straw pile, warm up by a bonfire, and spend time with the same horses, goats, chickens, and ducks that are part of the regular farm.
Compared to larger commercial patches out in Richmond or the Fraser Valley, Southlands leans smaller and more low-key, with a rustic barn setting that feels closer to visiting a neighbour’s farm than a full festival production. Admission during Pumpkin Fest runs separately from the rest-of-year donation visits, and regular free visiting hours pause for the month while the event is on.
Free visits are self-guided, with no tour included, so plan on exploring at your own pace. Bring cash for the donation box, and wear shoes that can handle a working farm, since the ground can be uneven, muddy, or animal-adjacent in places.
This is a private, small-scale farm rather than a public attraction with fixed year-round hours. It closes periodically for private events, pauses free visits during October’s Pumpkin Fest, and can adjust its schedule with little notice. Confirm current hours on the official site before making the trip.
A working farm, a handful of animals, and a tire swing, a few minutes from Point Grey and a world away from the rest of the city.
General visits during open hours are by donation rather than a fixed admission fee. The October Pumpkin Fest is a separate event with its own admission, distinct from the rest-of-year donation visits.
Horses, goats, chickens, and ducks are all part of the farm, along with resident farm cats that visitors often spot wandering the grounds.
Yes. Pony rides run on weekends, with a roughly five-minute ride through the orchard suited to children ages 2 to 7. Rides need to be booked in advance through the farm’s online booking system rather than paid for at the gate.
No booking is required for a casual, self-guided visit during open hours. Pony rides, riding lessons, camps, birthday parties, and field trips do need to be booked in advance separately.
No. Free visits are self-guided, so visitors explore the grounds on their own. Guided tours are available separately for group bookings and school field trips.
The Pumpkin Fest runs each October, with exact dates and hours changing year to year. Check the official farm site closer to fall for current dates and admission.
Pet policy can vary by season and event, since this is a working farm with livestock. Check the farm’s current Farm Rules page before bringing a dog along.
The visitor entrance is at 3208 West 51st Avenue in Vancouver, at Balaclava Street, in the Southlands neighbourhood near Point Grey.
Building a Southwest Vancouver day
Southlands pairs well with a broader visit to Vancouver’s west side, from UBC’s gardens and museums to a wider look at the city’s fall attractions.