Raprager Family Farms — Attraction in Citrus Park

Sept 23, 2023, we were excited about checking out a new pumpkin festival this year. We were so very very disappointed. We drove an hour and it was disappointing. To make a first impression on the public, the ones who pay to come in you should be smiling and happy not sitting there like you your nursing a hangover. Even out front driving in was so dreary looking. There were so many safety issues around this place. We started at the petting barn and looked at some farm animals. Talk about being disorganized, the lady who was running it acted like a prison guard. She had to announce all these rules and didn't matter if 1 person was waiting to go through 2 sets of gates. To get out, you had to wait for her 5-minute speech to tell others coming in. It was awful and I almost was getting ready to pass out, it was so hot, that there was no place to get out of the sun and cool off. No shade or nothing except to bake out in the heat. Who we felt sorry for the animals. There were some with no shade and no cold running water. They had one sprinkler going in one pen. The goats were so hot they were fighting for this little bit of shade. They were panting because of the heat and thirst. The Emu birds were in a pen, one was pacing back and forth because of thirst. Chickens seem to have the best of stuff in their pens. We go to the sugar shack where they're supposed to be selling fudge, donuts, etc. We arrived around 4:30 and practically everything was sold out, so we were told. Remember there was hardly anyone there. They said sold out from yesterday and this morning. Well, I can't believe just opening up a festival and you are out of stuff. So we start walking to find these vendors and the goods they are selling. On the way we saw homemade lemonade and icees, Guess what NO ICE. We ask about the vendors. We were told we could take a hayride over in the middle of the field. I was not going to wait outside for a hayride. So we hike it over in the middle of the field and what a huge disappointment, again. There were only 12 vendors. Some of the vendors didn't make sense as to why they were even there because it was supposed to be fall and Halloween items. So we walked across this field to go back to the festival, and the only thing that was happening was all the kids on this huge jumping trampoline. It was covered by the sun. No signs are posted to show which way to go. They handed out paper maps which were very hard to read at 125 degrees with the hot sun beating down. Save trees, and put up nice signs where everyone can read and see them. The only thing that was decorated was the pumpkin patch. They had those huge, very large, and tall monsters that we could go to Lowe's or Home Depot to see them. No one was very cheerful or went out of their way. NO ICE, NO COVER, NO FANS...Crossed off our list of not coming back for any events. I forgot there was excitement! The 2 big tortoises were fighting. My husband just reminded me, that the bathrooms over where the vendors were broke. The main bathrooms up front didn't flush....

HIGHLY RECOMMEND place to come for Fall activities . I would honestly say this place is suited for kids 1-12 year olds. Great safety measures in place. Anything above that I honestly feel like they would be bored. ⚠️ BEWARE OF FL HEAT ⚠️ As soon as you arrive there is a 3$ fee to park, I suggest getting there early to get a parking close to the gate. There is a fee for adults and children. Once inside you can walk down and see a variety of vendors or you can stop by the little pumpkin picture area and snap a cute picture with the hay barrel, or you can go and see the animals and get a pony ride. The lines for the pony ride are long so arrive early. They lord of animas to pet. They have great safety measures for the guest and the animals. Need to take a break ? You can use one of the 6 bathrooms which a located in the middle of the farm, they are very clean, and very well made. Not a port a potty. Which is great! They also have a bathroom section “Mothers Room” for changing littles and breastfeeding if needed. I wish they had more than one of these. They have many food venders which all taste great! ADULT BEVERAGES ARE SOLD HERE They have a live band that plays and takes requests. Lots of seating sections, some are covered to protect From the Florida sun and others are out in the open to enjoy the heat. There is also a corn pit. A giant bounce pillow is also there with a tent to protect the kids from the sun as well. It’s very well supervised by the staff and has the safety procedures posted for parents to read before allowing their kids in. They have a giant tractor ride which was very fun! And also with a tent to give lots of shade. There is a section for arts and crafts and lots of snacking options. They have a giant slide, gem mining, maze, face painting and other activities for the kids to enjoy! All the staff is very nice and very attentive to their guest. I saw a child faint from the heat and the staff was quick to jump into action and get the child the medical treatment he needed . With that being said…dress for the occasion!! It is a farm in Florida which means the heat is STRONG! For picture taking in the pumpkins I would suggest taking the clothes and putting it on for the picture and changing the kids into clothes you don’t mind getting dirt, hay, grass and food etc on and is cool. Bring a fan for yourself and your kids! They. Have a great IGLOO tent to cool off in but it is small. They have signs placed on every activity for help and safety precautions..The only thing I would change is setting up a nicer area with a backdrop or nicer set up of the pumpkins for picture taking ..Overall this is a great place!!! They also set it up for Christmas! We will for sure...

I had the unfortunate experience of attending the fall festival at this sad excuse of a farm, and I have to say it was a massive letdown. The photos they used for promotion were incredibly misleading, painting a picture of a vibrant, bustling event. The reality was far from it.

The cherry on top of this disappointing experience was the farm owner or manager's behavior. When we asked for a refund due to the misleading advertising and overall lackluster festival, he displayed a shocking level of arrogance and appeared disheveled, which made me wonder if he might have been drunk. Can you imagine? He should have been ashamed of himself for providing such a poor event and handling customer concerns so poorly. He stated "we went and did everything" and "now we wanted a refund?" No sir. We didn't do a thing here. We walked through your sad bird zoo for 15 minutes, and that was the extent of it.

Regarding the experience, you can immediately notice the festival is extremely empty and lackluster. It felt like a ghost town, and there was a distinct lack of activities and vendors. You'd think it would be full of activities, things to buy from vendors or food from vendors, but NO. In the past, I've been to fall festivals (HUNSADER FARMS IN BRADENTON! A+) that had multiple food trucks offering a variety of options like fresh pizza, burgers, turkey legs, cider, hot cocoa, coffee, kettle corn, and funnel cake. This festival had only one sad-looking food counter, then one in the back selling kettle corn that looked oily and repulsive.

Moreover, the festival advertised a petting zoo and cow feeding, which were among the main reasons we decided to attend. However, the petting zoo was another major letdown. Instead of the diverse range of animals one might expect, 80% of the area was filled with chickens, then only handful of pigs, goats, and other birds. Didn't see any cows anywhere. This was a far cry from what was promised in the advertisements, leaving us feeling deceived and unfulfilled.

What's even more frustrating is the way he responds to negative reviews. He appears to be in constant denial of any responsibility, dismissing the valid concerns of customers and telling them that they're all wrong. It's shameful behavior. Utter lack of accountability.

In conclusion, I wouldn't recommend this farm's fall festival to anyone. It's a shame that such a potentially enjoyable event turned out to be such a disaster. If you're looking for a fun and vibrant fall festival, look elsewhere, because you won't find it here. Even if I had a small child, I would've been embarrassed to have taken them to this "festival". Do your family a favor, and don't support this...