Farms, Food, Frolic

Farms, Food, Frolic is your comprehensive guide to everything agritourism in Chatham County—from farm tours and farmers markets to farm-to-fork tastings and dinners, annual festivals, and more. Whatever your preference, there are plenty of opportunities to experience our area’s agritourism and farm-to-fork offerings. We invite you to explore it all, whichever season and itinerary work best for you and your time with us.

Farms

Chatham County is well-known for its agriculture and farm life. Specialized farms, unique plant nurseries, farm stands and markets, bed-and-breakfast inns, award-winning goat dairies, and animal sanctuaries are all part of our scene. Seasonal pick-your-own berry and pumpkin patches, flower fields, and Christmas Tree farms round out our experiences and guarantee farm fun year-round.

The Inn at Celebrity Dairy

Silk Hope – Siler City, NC

Situated on a 300-acre small family farm in rural Chatham County, the Inn at Celebrity Dairy boasts an award-winning goat dairy and cozy bed and breakfast inn. Owners Brit and Fleming Pfann were doing “farm-to-fork” before anyone had coined the phrase. For over thirty years, they’ve offered a home-cooked breakfast featuring local free-range eggs, seasonal fruits and preserves, Fleming’s Market Scones, and, of course, their Chèvre.

The farm also hosts several events throughout the year, including Third Sunday Dinners, goat yoga, and the occasional open farm days. In recent years, Celebrity Dairy has partnered with Circle City Supper Club to host pop-up events, including dinners, summer camps, and cooking classes. The property also serves as a venue for weddings, business luncheons, and special occasions.

Fearrington House Inn

Fearrington Village – Pittsboro, NC

Fearrington House Inn was built on a historic dairy farm and combines the luxury and service associated with a AAA Five Diamond accommodation and Relais & Chateaux Property with a pastoral setting. The inn offers many amenities, beautifully crafted courtyards, winding brick paths, and picturesque garden views. Stroll the grounds and say hello to the belted galloways, fainting goats, and chickens.

Farm-to-table cuisine is available at the renowned Fearrington House Restaurant and their more casual eatery, The Belted Goat. Fearrington Village hosts farm-to-table wine-pairing dinners, tastings, and annual chef showcases. The Barn sits near the restaurant and is a lovely rustic elegant venue for weddings and special occasions.

Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge

Pittsboro, NC

Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge (PFAR) is a GFAS-accredited animal sanctuary and non-profit just a short drive from downtown Pittsboro. The refuge hosts Tour & Explore events on select Saturdays throughout the year. Wander the grounds at your own pace and meet the 120+ animal residents: rescued goats, sheep, ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, and cows. Knowledgeable tour guides stationed throughout the refuge are there to introduce you to the animals, share their rescue stories, and answer your questions. During your visit, you’ll see their curved brick memorial to past residents, unique architecture and animal-centered designs, a few vegan food trucks, and a beautiful pavilion to pick up your tickets, purchase refuge merchandise, and learn more about PFAR’s mission.

FireClay Cellars

Siler City, NC

Atop one of rural Siler City’s rolling hills, tucked among verdant pastures, is award-winning FireClay Cellars. The winery’s name reflects the bright red clay of the vineyard, where mineral-rich, deep, well-drained soil creates the perfect conditions for producing flavorful, sustainably farmed grapes.

Visit for a tasting or glass of wine and pair with Celebrity Dairy Goat Cheese and other nibbles from their pantry. Enjoy in the tasting room, on the wraparound porch with scenic vineyard views, or at one of the picnic tables dotted throughout the property. And, of course, pick out a bottle (or two) to bring home with you – the perfect way to remember your visit and savor the experience. Tours of the vineyard and winery are available – please inquire with their team for more details.

Carolina Hemp Tours and The Plant

The Plant – Pittsboro, NC

The Plant is a diverse 17-acre eco-industrial park on the east side of Pittsboro. They’ve turned local commerce into an experience with an art gallery, many outdoor spaces for gatherings and events, spirits, ciders, meads, beers, a coffee roaster, walking trails, axe throwing, and farm-to-fork eateries. Kingston 99 Kitchen, Fair Game Beverage Company, and bmc brewing use ingredients grown throughout the property. The beehives that produce honey for Starrlight’s award-winning mead sit beside their taproom.

One of their tenants, Carolina Hemp Tours, promotes the North Carolina Industrial Hemp culture as a progressive and positive movement. They offer educational tours to the public and provide a hands-on experience with those who create textiles, food, and other products with hemp. Hempsmith Clothing Company, also located onsite, is working to build the local hemp market and bring the production back home to North Carolina.

County Fresh Flower Farm and Jordan Lake Christmas Tree Farm

Apex, NC

Jordan Lake Christmas Tree Farm is a family-owned and operated choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm and you-pick flower field. In late November, they open their doors and welcome visitors for the Christmas season. Explore rows of NC Fraser Firs, White Pines, and Concolor Firs and find the perfect tree to bring home. Festivities offered throughout the season include hayrides, a bouncy house, ornaments and wreaths for sale, refreshments (including hot cocoa), and photo opportunities.

In recent years, they’ve experimented with growing flowers, and now open mid-Jul-Oct as County Fresh Flower Farm. Pick-your-own bouquet on the property or catch them at pop-up events in Apex and Chatham County. Candles and other seasonal gifts sourced from local vendors are also available.

Jean’s Neighborhood Market

Apex, NC

Established initially as a pick-your-own strawberry patch, Jean’s Neighborhood Market has slowly expanded into a year-round farm and market. Here, you can find seasonal produce, private-label goods made with farm-fresh ingredients, and a curated selection of unique gifts and edible souvenirs: snacks, sauces, jams and jellies, local honey, candles, soaps, skin care products, t-shirts, hats, and much more. Offerings depend on the season:

Order fresh-picked strawberries in the Spring.
Explore “Ragan & Holly’s Pumpkin Patch” in the Fall.
Shop trees and decorations during the Christmas season.

You can stop by at any time of year for a sweet treat, including a cone of homemade ice cream or mini-fried donuts topped with powdered sugar.

Student Farm and Natural Chef Cafe at CCCC

Pittsboro, NC

The Student Farm is part of Central Carolina Community College’s (CCCC) Sustainable Agriculture Program and an integral aspect of teaching and learning. The five-acre, year-round certified organic farm sits on the Pittsboro campus and serves as an outdoor classroom for research, demonstration, and crop production. Students plant, cultivate, and harvest a variety of produce. The site includes a greenhouse, student-built farm structures, and a masonry pizza oven.

Takeout lunches and occasional dinners (sit-down, family-style, and takeaway) are available from the student-led Natural Chef Cafe at CCCC. They utilize ingredients from the Student Farm and source meat and other produce from local farmers. Chef Regina Minter and Chef Kelly Burton are integral to the Cafe’s operations, education, menu preparation, and design. All fees collected are used to replenish the Cafe pantry and to keep the educational program operating.

For Garden’s Sake

Durham, NC

For Garden’s Sake (FGS) is a full-service landscaping company and family-friendly garden center owned and operated by Scott and Marsha Pearce, who have managed the day-to-day operations since 2010. The garden shop sits on a small farm – say hello to goats, geese, and chickens during your visit. The open field beside the pond – brimming with fish, turtles, and ducks – hosts occasional yoga classes in the warmer months and is the perfect setting for a sunny picnic. Craft beverages are available in the Potting Shed, including beer from locally-owned Carolina Brewery. FGS also hosts workshops, private classes, and pop-up events throughout the year.

Food

Farm-to-fork or farm-to-table – no matter what you call it, our area hosts a number of award-winning eateries featuring seasonal dishes. Discover tastings and tours, wine-pairing dinners, and food festivals at restaurants throughout our area. Find locally made products in Chatham County’s farm stands and boutique shops, online, and at eateries throughout North Carolina. Mead, cider, wine, spirits, and beer are all produced in our area, with some talented farmers working with our brewers, distillers, and winemakers.

The Sycamore at Chatham Mills

Chatham Mills – Pittsboro, NC

The Sycamore at Chatham Mills is a steakhouse and fine-dining restaurant offering farm-to-fork plates made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. On their menu, you’ll discover a curated selection of unique cuts, from ostrich and duck to dry-aged and prime steaks. Their menu changes regularly, depending on what’s seasonal, and you may discover more chef specials upon arrival. The Sycamore has a full bar and an exceptional craft beverage program. Choose a classic or specialty cocktail; their talented bartending team will mix the perfect drink to accompany your meal. They also have an extensive inventory of wines by the glass and bottle – hand-selected by the staff sommelier.

West End Kitchen and Catering

Pittsboro, NC

West End Kitchen and Catering offers elevated, farm-to-fork comfort food featuring Chef Hardin’s signature blend of modern inventiveness and culinary artistry. Their team aims to source all of their ingredients within a 30-mile radius of the restaurant. Their dishes and mini-market feature some of your favorite local Chatham farmers and businesses – Aromatic Roasters, Celebrity Dairy, Cackalacky, In Good Heart Farm, and more!

West End is open Wednesday through Sunday for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Though its menu varies depending on the season, it always has options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diners.

Cafe Root Cellar

Chatham Park – Pittsboro, NC

At Cafe Root Cellar, Chef Sera Cuni re-explores American cuisine and showcases the “go big or go home” award-winning dishes she’s known for without straying too far away from her original roots. Expect elevated farm-to-fork dishes that change regularly depending on available ingredients.

They offer indoor and patio dining for dinner Thursday through Saturday and Brunch on Sundays. Beginning August 21, Cafe Root Cellar will offer lunch Wednesday through Friday, 11am-2pm. Look out for power bowls, pasta, salads, and sandwiches made with farm-fresh ingredients.

Chatham Meat Company

Siler City, NC

Local butcher shop Chatham Meat Company has brought Tribecca Hospitality’s pasture-to-plate mission to Siler City, proudly serving high-quality meats and produce. Owned and operated by Chris Beal, a Chatham County Native, Chatham Meat Company offers a selection of natural, local, and sustainable products that reflect their commitment to supporting local farms and exceeding expectations. Shop prepared meats, cheeses, produce, and other local products. Many of our businesses choose Chatham Meat Company as their distributor, including Big Mike’s BBQ in Pittsboro, which crafts a new weekly burger based around their pasture-raised beef.

Phoenix Bakery

Pittsboro, NC

The Phoenix Bakery perfects recipes and pastries based on American traditions and creativity. They make everything in small batches, by hand, from scratch, every day to offer the best recipes to their customers. Ingredients are organic, non-GMO, and locally sourced, including Aromatic Roasters coffee and ingredients from many of the vendors at our local farmers’ markets. In addition to breakfast and lunch, the family-owned bakery offers event catering and custom pastries and cakes. Phoenix Bakery sells out and closes early on some days. Please like and follow them on Facebook for the most up-to-date information on their hours and offerings.

Postal Fish Company

Pittsboro, NC

Located in the old Pittsboro Post Office, Postal Fish Company is committed to serving fresh and seasonal fish and shellfish harvested by fishermen from Virginia to the Carolinas. Chef Bill Hartley’s love for fresh and local ingredients was inspired by growing up in Northern Jersey and working on a local farm as a boy. He specializes in incorporating locally-grown ingredients with his passion for fresh seafood. Chef Hartley makes trips to the coast multiple times a week to bring the freshest seafood from local fishermen to your plate.

The dishes are prepared and presented in an atmosphere where friends feel comfortable and relaxed, whether lingering over drinks and a dozen oysters at the bar or sitting and enjoying a piece of fresh fish cooked on the wood grill.

Kingston 99 Kitchen

The Plant – Pittsboro, NC

Kingston 99 Kitchen embraces an authentic Caribbean dining experience with 100% Jamaican-prepared cuisine, unique food twists, and exceptional customer service. They take pride in sourcing fresh, local ingredients like peppers from Heartsong Farm and bread from The Bread Shop. The Scotch Bonnets (Jamaica’s national pepper) that flavor their dishes are grown just fifty feet away in The Plant’s pepper patch. Their commitment to the community extends to working with local farmers, and they plan to continue networking with farmers at the Pittsboro Farmers Market and expanding their local ingredient selections in the near future. Popular menu items include pork, oxtail, spring rolls, and vegetarian red pea soup.

Chatham Marketplace

Chatham Mills – Pittsboro, NC

Chatham Marketplace is a co-op grocery located in Chatham Mills, an 80,000 sq. ft. former textile mill located just north of Pittsboro’s traffic circle. They offer a full selection of organically, sustainably, and locally-grown produce and a full line of grocery and dry goods products – deli, bakery, meat, bulk, dairy, vitamin, and health and body care items. Items from local makers include Vortex Roasters, Celebrity Dairy, bmc brewing, and Carolina Brewery & Grill. The Co-Op Cafe features healthy breakfast and lunch items made with high-quality, fresh ingredients.

Their beautiful Pollinator Garden, designed and maintained by local agricultural extension agent Debbie Roos, attracts people from near and far to the mill’s lawn for picnics and occasional pollinator garden tours.

Fearrington House Restaurant

Fearrington Village – Pittsboro, NC

The intimate dining rooms within Fearrington House Restaurant welcome guests with exceptional service and a seasonally changing menu. Executive Chef Paul Gagne’s commitment to outstanding farm-to-fork cuisine is woven throughout the dining experience. From partnerships with local farms, including Harland’s Creek Farm in Pittsboro and Lil Farm in Timberlake, to herbs harvested from gardens on the property and dishes that celebrate North Carolina’s seasons, The Fearrington House’s mission to provide Relais & Chateaux-level cuisine and service to guests has remained constant since opening in 1980. Look out for monthly dinners that pair seasonal dishes with great wine.

Frolic

Frolic encompasses events and activities that celebrate farm life of the past, present, and future. Visit for annual festivals and weekly farmers markets, farm-to-table tastings and dinners, farm tours, fall festivals, goat yoga, workshops, and celebrations of all things agriculture. We have several farm-to-table events for foodies, from events focusing on one ingredient to wine dinners and tastings celebrating local food throughout our area. We consider Chatham County to be the unofficial rustic elegant wedding capital of North Carolina, offering a number of barn and farm venues for intimate events and weekend escapes.

Spring Ag Fest

Pittsboro, NC

The Annual Chatham County Spring Ag Fest celebrates our area’s agriculture, forestry, and natural resources. This free community event, hosted at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center offers something for everyone: livestock arena events, pony rides, demonstrations, food trucks, Ready Set Grow Magic Show, and more. Indoor and outdoor exhibitors and vendors will highlight local farms, farmers’ markets, sustainable agriculture, agricultural support and advocacy, agribusiness, beekeeping, livestock, forestry, green industry, wildlife, conservation, and more.

Piedmont Farm Tour

Chatham County, NC

The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s Annual Piedmont Farm Tour connects guests to local farmers and farm sites in multiple counties. Farm visits include pasture-raised livestock farms, baby animals, fiber demonstrations, hayrides, farm equipment on display, an award-winning cheese dairy, locally grown and fermented pickles, newly established orchards, food trucks, locally grown hops, a farm with a brewery on site, and organically grown produce farms. Several Chatham County farms in Pittsboro and Siler City participate in this annual event. Past participants include Little Way Farm, Chatham Oaks Farm, Granite Springs Farm, and In Good Heart Farm.

Triangle Farm to Fork Picnic

Fearrington Village – Pittsboro, NC

Held in the Triangle for over 15 years, the Triangle Farm to Fork Picnic showcases North Carolina chefs, artisans, and farmers paired to create sips and nibbles of the region’s best flavors and seasonal ingredients! The Farm to Fork Picnic also features local food artisans and beverage producers, live music, and fun activities for children and the whole family. Bon Appétit magazine called it “the country’s best all-you-can-eat feast”! Grab your friends and family, a blanket, and some lawn chairs for a delightful summer picnic. Chefs will team up with a farmer or artisan to create small bites at tasting stations throughout the beautiful grounds of Fearrington Village.

Old-Fashioned Farmers’ Day

Silk Hope – Siler City, NC

Our love for farm life is deeply rooted in our culture, as evidenced by our annual Old Fashioned Farmers’ Day, held for almost five decades at Silk Hope Farm Heritage Park. Exhibits, demonstrations, and entertainment occur throughout the day, including clogging in the show barn, antique tractor pulls, a junior dairy show, raffle drawings, and much more. The festival also includes the nostalgic art of making old-fashioned ice cream, or steam cream. It introduces new features each year, keeping the event fresh and exciting.

Two of our other communities – Goldston and Bennett – host their own Old-Fashioned Days and fall festivals, primarily with a focus on history and heritage. Flatwoods Festival in Bennett, NC, typically falls the weekend after Old-Fashioned Farmers’ Day, and Goldston Old Fashion Day takes place in mid-October. Visit for tractor pulls and antique farm equipment.

PepperFest

The Plant – Pittsboro, NC

PepperFest, now in its 17th year, celebrates sustainable agriculture, local farmers, and the creativity of the Piedmont’s top chefs, brewers, and artisans. The event features peppers grown onsite in the Pepper Patch, a hot sauce contest, pepper food and drinks from The Plant denizens, a chili cookoff, pop-up vendors, live music, and many more pepper-related activities. You’ll also get to see how Fair Game Beverage Company makes its Flying Pepper Vodka. The average food for this year’s peppers can be measured as roughly fifty yards. Recently, The Plant hosted Pittsboro’s first-ever Okra Jamboree, sponsored by Kingston 99 Kitchen. The second-annual Chestnut Carnival takes place later this year.

Our State | Meet The Maker: Farm-to-Table Dinner

Fearrington Village – Pittsboro, NC

Join Our State Magazine at the award-winning Fearrington House Inn and Restaurant on the Garden Terrace as they bring together four of North Carolina’s most prestigious chefs, including Fearrington House Executive Chef Paul Gagne, for a one-night elevated farm-to-table dining experience. Go beyond simply tasting the food as you engage with the chefs in this unique opportunity to “meet the maker.” Kick off the evening with cocktails and pass hors d’oeuvres created by Chefs Paul Gagne, Luke Owens, Preeti Waas, and Gerald Hawkins, Jr. Enjoy a four-course dinner while sipping on sommelier-selected wine pairings and listen as the chefs share their inspiration and ingredient choices for their selected dish.

Huckleberry Trail Farm and Fall Festival

Siler City, NC

Family-run Huckleberry Trail Farm shines in the Fall during their annual festival. The days are starting to cool off, and the pumpkins are ready to be picked off the vine. Festivities include an old-fashioned corn maze, a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, hayrides, fall decorations, a mini field of dreams, and refreshments.

Accessibility is a significant part of their mission. Every year, Huck hosts a fundraiser for the North Carolina Autism Society. They donate a portion of funds to the Autism Society, which helps fund programs for families with autistic children. There are designated quiet areas for the entire season and other sensory-friendly activities. The farm has also raised funds to build wheelchair ramps and other accommodations to make the festival accessible to everyone!

Farmers Markets

Chatham County, NC (Fearrington Village, MOSAIC at Chatham Park, The Plant, and Chatham Mills – Pittsboro, Briar Chapel – Chapel Hill, and Siler City, NC).

Farmers markets are hosted several days a week throughout our area, so it’s impossible to miss our local growers and vendors. Bring your reusable tote bags and shop produce, eggs, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, beef and poultry, flowers, plants, and more. You’ll often spot some of our acclaimed local chefs shopping for ingredients. Our markets also offer an excellent option for Airbnb guests wanting to enjoy a quiet night in and cook a farm-to-table meal made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Find our local growers, chefs, and artisans at:

Fearrington Farmers Market: Tue, Year-Round.
Siler City Growers & Makers Market: Tue, Mar-Dec.
Monthly MOSAIC Market: 1st Wed, Jun-Oct.
Pittsboro Farmers Market: Thu, Year-Round.
Briar Chapel Farmers Market: 1st & 3rd Fri, Year-Round.
Chatham Mills Farmers Market: Sat, Apr-Nov.

Rustic-Elegant Barn Venues

Silk Hope – Siler City, Bear Creek, and Gulf, NC

In addition to the Fearrington Barn and the Inn at Celebrity Dairy, our area is home to rustic barns that have been beautifully restored to host weddings, intimate celebrations, and special occasions. Some offerings include: