If you’re looking for a kid-friendly way to spend the final stretch of summer, Great Country Farms is bringing back its Big Dig Potato Harvest and Big Rigs Touch a Truck this weekend.
The annual family festival takes place Saturday, August 15th, and Sunday, August 16th, at the farm in Bluemont, Virginia, giving kids a chance to get their hands dirty while exploring a working farm.
The weekend combines a hands-on potato harvest with the farm’s popular Big Rigs Touch a Truck experience, making it an especially appealing outing for children who love construction equipment, emergency vehicles and anything with wheels.
And while the event is just outside Washington, D.C., families can spend much of the day at the farm, with admission also including access to its 15-acre play area, farm animals and other attractions.
What are the Big Dig and the Big Rigs Touch a Truck events?
The Big Dig Potato Harvest lets kids and their families head into the fields with a shovel and hunt for potatoes growing beneath the soil.
Great Country Farms describes it as a potato treasure hunt, with tractors ripping rows throughout the day to make the potatoes easier for little diggers to find.
Potatoes are sold separately by the pound, so families can take home the fruits — or, in this case, vegetables — of their labor.
The Big Rigs Touch a Truck event is a particularly fun addition for young vehicle enthusiasts.
Children can get up close to a variety of large vehicles and equipment, including cranes, fire trucks, farm trucks, construction equipment and more, while also meeting some of the people who operate them.
The event even includes a map and passport activity sponsored by Extreme Steel Crane & Rigging, with children able to collect stamps at vehicle stations and earn a prize.
Parents of very young children should also come prepared for some noise.
Great Country Farms suggests bringing headphones or sound-reduction headsets for little ears, particularly for children who are prone to overstimulation.
When and where is it taking place?
The Big Dig and Big Rigs weekend takes place Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Great Country Farms, 18780 Foggy Bottom Road in Bluemont, Virginia.
The potato harvest runs both days from 10am to 4pm, giving families the entire weekend to participate in the Big Dig.
The Big Rigs Touch a Truck is Saturday only, running from 9:30am to 2:30pm on August 15.
That means families specifically interested in the trucks and heavy equipment will want to plan their visit for Saturday.
Admission also provides access to the farm’s 15-acre play area, where kids can enjoy slides, swings, farm animals and other attractions. Visitors can also visit the farm animals and feed the goats during their visit.
How much does it cost to attend?
Advance admission for the Big Dig and Big Rigs is $13 per child and $15 per adult.
Tickets purchased at the gate are $16 per guest age 3 and older, so families can save by purchasing their tickets online ahead of time.
Children ages 2 and under are free, while Farm Club members also receive free admission.
It’s worth remembering that the potatoes are not included in the admission price: harvested potatoes are purchased separately by the pound.
Great Country Farms also recommends bringing a shovel, bucket, water bottles, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes or boots for the outdoor activities.
For families looking for something a little different to do near Washington, D.C. this weekend, the combination of digging for potatoes, climbing around giant trucks and playing on a 15-acre farm makes the Big Dig and Big Rigs a distinctly hands-on summer outing.
