Apple picking, pumpkin patches draw NC crowds — are they creating COVID-19 hotspots?
Apple picking, pumpkin patches, beer festivals and haunted houses — fall is here and with it, the group activities associated with the change of seasons. Grabbing a sweater and a pumpkin spice latte is easy, but navigating these traditional outings during COVID-19 can be tricky.
Some iconic annual events including SCarowinds and Hickory Grove Haunted Trail closed down completely this year, while others, such as Carrigan Farms and its haunted trail Scarrigan Farms, have moved to taking reservations in order to limit capacity during COVID-19. Many popular fall spots have outlined COVID-19 restrictions on their websites, but the degrees to which they are enforcing them seems to vary.
A crowd of nearly 1,000 people gathered at Reapers Realm Haunted House last weekend, despite COVID-19 guidelines on its website stating that it would be operating at reduced capacity. Things went from haunted to scary when widespread fighting and gunfire broke out. Deputies were called to the scene where one person was wounded and five juveniles arrested.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery looked as crowded as ever in videos posted online from its annual Mecktoberfest celebration. Video from the event, reported on by Fox 46 Charlotte, showed a packed beer garden with mostly maskless customers, despite a statement on the brewery’s website asking that masks be worn indoors and whenever ordering beer or food inside or out.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery did not respond to a voicemail and Facebook message seeking comment.
Update: On Oct. 6, Harris told county commissioners that two coronavirus cases have been connected to the event so far. “There were thousands of people there. Those folks need to be tested,” Harris said. On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the brewery announced that if you attended Mecktoberfest, you can return to the brewery on Saturday morning, Oct. 10, for free drive-thru testing.
‘Potential hotspots’ for COVID-19
Ahead of the event, county Public Health Director Gibbie Harris had called gatherings like Mecktoberfest “potential hotspots.” Harris said ahead of the event that county staff planned to visit public Oktoberfest celebrations “conducting surveillance.”
Mecklenburg officials said anyone who attends a large event should get tested for COVID-19. “Mass gatherings pose significant opportunity for spread of COVID-19, especially if there is little or no face coverings and social distancing,” county spokeswoman Rebecca Carter said in a statement. Mecklenburg County did not make a health official available for an interview.
One event over two weekends; reservations required
Another local brewery, Cabarrus Brewing Company, is taking a different approach to its Oktoberfest. The event was spread across two weekends this year to reduce crowding, and guests are required to make a reservation in advance.
Each reservation spans a three-hour time slot. Once your three hours expires, your tab closes automatically and the entire bar is cleared for 30 minutes for a deep cleaning. “Better to have a fraction of the event safely than no event at all or worse yet, an out-of-control one,” CBC managing partner Steve Steinbacher said.
As part of Cabarrus Brewing’s normal operating procedures during the pandemic, all staff are required to wear masks and gloves throughout their shift, and groups are limited to six people at tables that are spaced 6 feet apart.
“We are taking this very seriously and going to the nth degree,” Steinbacher said. “We don’t let anyone in without a mask and haven’t since day one. Even if you come to our door and you have a note exempting you from wearing a mask, we will happily serve you, but in a growler to go. I would say 99% of the people who have come in understand this and have been cooperative.”
‘It is customer behavior – not the restaurants – that may be causing spread’
Cooperative customers may be the missing link in some of the disconnects between established guidelines and followed rules. “Even if restaurants and breweries follow all COVID-19 protocols, it’s important customers do, too,” North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association President Lynn Minges told the Observer this month. “We are seeing that it is customer behavior — not the restaurants — that may be causing spread,” Minges said.
Other popular fall destinations such as apple orchards, pumpkin patches and haunted experiences are also taking varying degrees of steps to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions and seeing varying degrees of compliance.
At Carrigan Farms and its haunted trail, Scarrigan Farms, masks are required on the trail and when 6 foot social distancing is not possible. The farm is also reducing capacity by 50%, requiring reservations for both pumpkin picking and the Scarrigan Farms haunted trail, which opens Friday, Oct. 2.
Carlos Abrahams visited Carrigan Farms with his family this month. “It wasn’t too crowded. They had alternating tractors and some people chose to walk,” Abrahams said. “There was plenty of room and while I wouldn’t say everyone was exactly 6 feet apart, most people tried to spread out as best as possible. There were a few people who showed up without masks, but they were sent back to their car to get them.”
Connie Breedlove and her family went apple picking at Jeter Mountain Farm last weekend and found that there was ample room to spread out across the farm. “There were separate stations for paying for apple picking baskets, donuts, cider and the tasting room kept crowds down.” Breedlove said. “You have to ride a wagon to get to the apple picking and pumpkin patch, but there were many wagons running so there were opportunities to spread out or even just wait for the next less, crowded wagon to come through.”
Masks are recommended for guests, particularly when entering the Cider Barn or riding on a wagon to the orchard. Breedlove shared a tip for anyone not comfortable going inside the Tasting Room — utilize the outside window to order up a cider slushie.
The very first thing that you see when you go to the Sky Top Orchard website is a request asking guests to visit on weekdays whenever possible to help keep crowds down.
Robin Emery experienced these crowds firsthand last weekend. “I had never seen it that crowded. We had to park so far away, up the mountain where it was muddy. Cars were slipping and sliding everywhere,” Emery said. “I guess it’s been discovered because there were thousands of people there. My husband waited 45 minutes for their famous donuts (which were worth it). My grandaughters had a blast though! We go every year and probably will continue to, despite the crowds.” Sky Top did not immediately reply to request for comments.
Masks are required in any area where you encounter others, including but not limited to the fruit stand, doughnut line and playground, according to Sky Top’s site. Emery said that mask wearing was about 50/50, though she noted that the staff did have them on. Additionally, plexiglass barriers between guests and staff have been installed, sampling stations removed and alterations made to the picking process so that visitors keep the bag they pick their apples in.
Lauren Travis and a group of five friends decided that apple picking felt like a safe group activity that could be done outdoors, while socially distancing and wearing masks, so they headed to Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery.
“Our group had a great time,” Travis said. “They had hand sanitizer when you check-in and at touch points throughout the orchard. There is picnic table seating for cider and donuts afterward that is all spaced out. Plus, a band was playing live music. I think mask wearing came down to people’s personal comfort and safety. However, there was plenty of outdoor space to distance.”
Windy Hill’s website features a COVID-19 safety statement that indicates that the orchard asks that staff and guests wear masks, as practical, when social distancing is not possible. More than 10,000 people tried to get into Windy Hill’s online ticket ordering system on Monday to book 1,400 spots, The Charlotte Ledger reported.
At Aw Shucks Farms and its haunted The 13th Acre trail, they have limited the number of participants to 50 in both the corn maze and the haunted trail and spaced out the waiting area, though there is no mention of these COVID-19 changes on their website. When CharlotteFive reached out for a list of restrictions, mask requirements were not noted.
“We went to Aw Shucks today and it was completely shocking and disgusting,” Danielle Trainor emailed CharlotteFive on Oct. 4. “Absolutely no employees wearing masks, not one single one. And not even just hanging off their face but no mask in sight. And probably only about 10% of guests wearing them.
“We drove over an hour to get there from Huntersville so we stayed for a little and tried to keep away but people were awful there. Look at the reviews by other guests on Google reviews. It needs to be shut down,”’ she said. “I’m going to get tested ASAP. We shouldn’t had stayed but with over two hours of driving time on our Sunday off we just couldn’t at least go in and get a pumpkin. Even the cooks making food had no masks. It was just a joke and shocking.”
Reservations are scheduled every 15 minutes this year at Wise Acres, a family-owned, certified organic strawberry and pumpkin farm. Masks are required for staff and encouraged for customers, except on the wagon ride where they are required for all. Various photos tagged to the Wise Acres location on Instagram show children and adults complying with these rules on wagon rides.
Other COVID-19 guideline-friendly activities in the Charlotte area include hiking at Grandfather Mountain — where a limited number of entry tickets are being sold each day through an online reservation system; and driving through Lazy 5 Ranch, where visitors can see 750 animals from six continents, all from the comfort and safety of their car.
This story was originally published September 30, 2020 at 11:04 AM.
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