If you’re looking for a unique holiday adventure, you’ll definitely want to check out The Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green, KY.
The Reindeer Farm is one of the few places in the United States where you can book a live reindeer encounter. It’s also the only reindeer farm in Kentucky that’s open to the public.
I was joined by my friend and her daughter for a fun holiday-themed adventure at the farm.
Thanks again to The Reindeer Farm for inviting us to their media day. All opinions are my own. This article may contain affiliate links.
Enjoy Spending Time on a Small Family Farm
The Reindeer Farm is a great place to experience the magic of Christmas for the holiday season.
What’s even more impressive is that everything that you see on the small family farm, founded in 2020, has been built by the Anderson family, down to each barn and fencepost.
We enjoyed chatting with the co-owner of The Reindeer Farm, Jessica Anderson, who shared her dream to raise a family on a small farm.
She and her husband, Russel Anderson’s dream is now blessing other families by creating opportunities to share a holiday adventure together.
I was also excited to learn that they were close friends with the owners of a reindeer farm in Leavenworth, Washington, that my family had previously visited.
Each year The Reindeer Farm continues to expand in what it offers for visitors to help make memories with their loved ones around the holidays.
How Much is it to Visit The Reindeer Farm?
You can choose from the following options to visit The Reindeer Farm:
- Day Pass to The Reindeer Farm/ General Admission Tickets – $15 (Ages 2 and under free)
- Day Pass + 30-minute Reindeer Encounter – $35
- Reindeer Encounter + Day Pass Santa & Mrs. Claus Edition – $45 for ages 3 and up/ $5 for ages under 3
- Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus (1.5-hour breakfast + Day Pass) Includes up to 6 guests for $200
*The Reindeer Encounter sessions fill up quickly!
What Does The Reindeer Farm Experience Day Pass Include:
The Reindeer Farm Experience Day Pass experience includes access to the following areas and activities:
- Indoor Playground
- Gift Shop
- Christmas movies in the Holiday Barn
- Write a letter to Santa Claus to send to the North Pole
- Meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus on select Santa Days
- Outdoor Games
- Snowball Fight Area
- Indoor Playground
- Visit the Reindeer Barn
- Fire pits
- Petting Zoo
- Wine is available for purchase for tastings and purchase from locally owned Carriage House Vineyards on Fridays and Saturdays
- Food Trucks with items available for purchase
- Christmas Karaoke at the Holiday Barn
- Bounce house
- Fire pits
- A cup of free hot chocolate
- Corn hole
- Photo ops
- View live reindeer (does NOT include a reindeer encounter)
Do You Need to Purchase a Day Pass for the Reindeer Farm in Advance?
You can purchase a day pass for the Reindeer Pass in advance or at the door when you arrive. You can enjoy the day pass during normal business hours for as long as you want.
What’s Included in The Reindeer Encounter?
The 30-minute Reindeer Encounter includes a 1/2 Hour scheduled time slot for the reindeer encounter and an all-day farm pass!
What to Expect During the Reindeer Encounter
Before your timed reindeer session you need to stand outside of the marked “Reindeer Encounter” barn. Staff will check your tickets and you’ll enter the building together as a group.
The session will consist of up to 25 guests and you need to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled session. If you arrive late, you could forfeit your reindeer encounter time slot.
Learn About Reindeer and See Them Up close
First, you’ll learn more about reindeer and have the opportunity to ask questions. Next, you’ll have time to pet a reindeer and get your picture taken in the sleigh with a reindeer posed in front.
You can enjoy the rest of the activities at the farm before or after your reindeer encounter during business hours.
Special Instructions for the Reindeer Encounter
If you have a child aged 3 or under they must be held while in the reindeer pen, no strollers, etc. Children who are under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
You participate in the reindeer encounter at your own risk and staff will instruct you how to approach and where to stand when you are near the reindeer.
Keep in mind that each reindeer has a unique personality and temperament. Each reindeer only “works” 1.5 hours at a time interacting with the public in some capacity.
You’ll be provided with specific instructions for how to interact with each reindeer in a way that keeps both the reindeer and visitors safe during the encounter.
For example, during our visit, there was a specific reindeer that we were told not to touch out of safety for the animal and its preferences.
We were still able to get pictures with the reindeer and the staff person was in the picture too. Many of the seasonal staff at The Reindeer Farm are WKU agriculture students and they love answering questions about the animals.
Have you been around goats or sheep right before your visit?
It’s important to know that exposure from goats and sheep can be deadly to reindeer. If you have been around them right before your visit, you must change your clothes and shoes before visiting the reindeer farm.
Photos During the Reindeer Encounter
During the reindeer encounter, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take pictures and capture video.
Make sure that you have your cell phone charged or your camera ready if you want to capture the moment.
Staff from The Reindeer Farm offer to take as many pictures as you want in Santa’s sleigh with the reindeer standing in front during your encounter.
You’ll end up with a lot of great options on your phone vs. being charged extra for photos from a professional photographer as an added value bonus.
A family picture next to a live reindeer is even better than a picture next to a perfect Christmas tree.
Make Sure That You Book the 30-Minute Reindeer Encounter in Advance!
As you can imagine, the Reindeer Encounters are VERY popular.
You’ll definitely want to book your preferred date and time for a reindeer encounter in advance because the reindeer encounters book up quickly.
Santa Visits at The Reindeer Farm
You’ll definitely want to check The Reindeer Farm’s Facebook page for more information about Santa’s upcoming visits to the farm.
Families of all ages can get a great photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus on select Santa Days.
Plan Ahead For Special Events at The Reindeer Farm
Several themed special events take place during the holiday season at The Reindeer Farm.
- November 17-19 – Santa and Mrs. Claus
- November 24-26 – Live Chainsaw Carving – Glowing Jacks
- December 1 – Cooking Decorating
- December 2-3 – Live Ice Sculpting – Danny Kissel
- December 8 – Cookie Decorating
- December 9 – Grinch Day
- December 10 – Frozen Day & Miss Kentucky
- December 15-16 – Santa and Mrs. Claus
- December 17 – Frozen + Santa and Mrs. Claus
- December 18-23 – Santa and Mrs. Claus
Strike a Holiday Pose at The Reindeer Farm
There are plenty of photo opportunities at The Reindeer Farm that are the perfect backdrop for your holiday card or as another fun reminder of your visit.
How Much Time Should You Allow For Visiting the Reindeer Farm?
I would recommend allowing several hours if you have a Reindeer Encounter session booked and want to experience all of the activities included with the day pass.
This is especially true if you have younger kids because they will love the play areas, the bounce house, and farm animals.
Siblings and families can also enjoy a friendly “snowball” fight with soft white dodgeballs.
Teenagers will most likely be drawn to singing Christmas music at the Christmas Karaoke, snowball fight area, basketball court, photo ops, and outdoor games.
Plenty of Room to Spread Out
One of the things that I really liked about the farm was the variety of activities for all ages and the areas to spread out.
There are a lot of activities within relatively close proximity but there are also wide paths to make it easy to navigate past the crowds on a busy day.
Adults will enjoy the spaces for wine tasting, a game of corn hole, the fire pits, and the indoor playground where they can monitor younger kids.
Concession and Wine Tasting at The Reindeer Farm
The Day Pass comes with a complimentary cup of hot chocolate. There is wine and concessions snacks and drinks available for an additional fee.
There are several picnic tables available for guests to use during their visit.
You can even purchase a kit to make mulled wine at home.
Animals at The Reindeer Farm
During your visit, you can view and interact with a variety of petting zoo animals at the farm.
Animals at The Reindeer Farm include:
- Chickens
- Pigs
- Cows
- Alpacas
- Highland Cows
- Reindeer
- Miniature donkeys
Guests can get closer to many of the smaller animals in the petting zoo and view larger animals from behind the fence.
Where is The Reindeer Farm Located?
The Reindeer Farm is located at 2541 Old Union Church Road, Bowling Green, KY
When is The Reindeer Farm Open in 2023?
The Reindeer Farm is open on the following dates and times:
November 17-December 17, 2023
- Fridays & Saturdays- 9AM-5PM
- Sundays 11AM-5PM
December 18- December 23, 2023
- Open daily from 11AM-5PM
*The Reindeer Farm is NOT open on Christmas Eve or Christmas.
Gift Shop at The Reindeer Farm
The gift shop has a lot of adorable stuffed animals, apparel, and items that make great holiday gifts.
There is a good chance that you’ll be able to find the perfect home for many of the items that you see.
How Far Is the Reindeer Farm From Major Cities?
Drive times to The Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green, KY
- Nashville, TN – 1+ hr
- Louisville, KY – 1.50+ hr
- Evansville, IN – 1.50+ hr
- Lexington, KY – 2.20+ hr
- Huntsville, AL – 2.50+ hr
- Knoxville, TN – 3.20+ hr
- Cincinnati, OH – 3.20+ hr
- St. Louis, MO – 4.20+ hr
Book an Overnight Stay in Bowling Green, KY
If you’re visiting Bowling Green from out of town, there are plenty of overnight accommodations to choose from in the area.
During our visit, we stayed at the Hampton Inn in Bowling Green.
Hampton Inn – 233 Three Springs Rd, Bowling Green, KY
You can also compare prices on hotels and book a vacation rental.
What Time Zone is The Reindeer Farm in?
The Reindeer Farm is in Central Standard Time.
It’s important to keep that in mind if you’re traveling from the Eastern Standard Time Zone. You’ll need to factor in the drive time and time change so that you don’t miss a scheduled reindeer encounter time.
You Can Book a Private Event at The Reindeer Farm Year-Round
The Reindeer Farm is open to the public seasonally around the holidays but you can book birthday parties, personal tours, and event space by appointment year-round.
Learn More About The Reindeer Farm
You can find out more from The Reindeer Farm website.
Holiday Adventures Around Kentucky
- 8 Unique Holiday Events in Kentucky
- Holiday Charm in Bardstown, Kentucky
- The Best Christmas Light Displays in Kentucky
Looking for More Adventures Around Bowling Green, KY?
Check out the articles below for more local adventures in the Bowling Green area.
