FAQ
Whether you’re planning your first visit or you’re a returning berry-picking regular, we want your experience at Cottle Strawberry Farm to be smooth, fun, and full of great memories. Below you’ll find answers to the questions we hear most often — from strawberry pricing and U-Pick hours to FunPark admission and Fall Festival details. We have two South Carolina locations, Hopkins and Florence, each with something special to offer. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re happy to help! Check our Facebook page for the latest seasonal updates.
Cottle Strawberry Farm has two locations in South Carolina: Hopkins (near Columbia) and Florence. The Hopkins farm is home to the Cottle FunPark and is open both spring and fall.
Strawberry season runs in the spring. Both farm locations open March 27, 2026, and remain open through mid-June, 2026. Farm Markets are open daily from 8am to 7pm, Sunday 10am to 7pm, with the last U-Pick starting at 6:30pm. For the latest updates on availability and picking conditions, check our Facebook page.
Both options are available! U-Pick lets you head out into the fields and pick your own berries — and sampling a few while you pick is perfectly welcome. If you’d rather skip the field work, we’ll pick them for you.
We-Pick prices: Gallon $22 | 1/2 Gallon $14 | Quart $7
U-Pick prices: Gallon $20 | Quart $7
U-Pick hours are daily from 10am to 6:30pm.
Individuals and families do not need an appointment — just show up! However, school field trips and other groups should schedule visits in advance so we can accommodate everyone. It’s always a good idea to call ahead and check on crop availability.
Hopkins Farm: 803-695-1714
Florence Farm: 843-317-0031
Cottle FunPark is a 20-acre family fun destination at the Hopkins farm packed with 50+ attractions and photo props — including mega slides, a jumping pillow, apple cannons, wagon rides, rubber duck races, yard games, and much more.
Spring hours: Friday–Sunday, March 27 through mid-June, 2026 | 10am–7pm (last ticket sold at 6pm); Fall: late September to late November.
Admission (ages 2+): $18 at the farm | $15 + fees online
All attractions are included in admission except Paintball and Apple Cannons.
Our Fall Festival runs Friday through Sunday, September 18 through November 15, 2026, from 10am to 6pm (last ticket sold at 5pm). It features the Cottle FunPark with a corn maze, wagon rides, climbing wall, games, and photo props. You’ll also find pumpkins in all shapes and sizes, fresh chrysanthemums, food trucks, and snacks. The Hopkins Farm Market is open daily for shopping with no admission required.
Admission (ages 2+): $15 + fees online | $18 at the farm
We have plenty to snack on! On-farm offerings include nachos, cotton candy, kettle corn, slushies, and frozen lemonade. Local food trucks also visit to serve up additional eats. The Farm Market carries strawberry products like syrups, breads, and preserves, plus SC-grown produce, jams, jellies, bakery items, and local honey (selection varies by season).
We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable visit! Here are a few things to keep in mind:
• No pets are allowed on the farm. Registered service animals are welcome.
• Children age 16 and under may not be dropped off unattended. A supervising adult must be present at all times.
• Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the farm.
• We’re a family-friendly place — please refrain from profanity.
• Photos posted to social media from the farm may be shared and used by Cottle Strawberry Farm.
Yes! We love welcoming school groups and homeschool visitors. Field trips are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm during both spring and fall seasons. Reservations are required for all groups. Visit our Field Trips page or call the farm to book your visit.
Absolutely! Cottle Strawberry Farm offers options for birthday parties and private events. Visit our Parties or Event Hosting pages for details on availability and packages, or contact us to start planning your celebration.
Yes! Parking is always free at Cottle Strawberry Farm. We also provide portable toilets, hand-washing stations, and picnic tables in both sunny and shaded areas for your comfort.
The best way to stay in the loop is to follow us on Facebook, where we regularly post berry updates, market hours, and FunPark news. You can also call us directly:
Hopkins Farm: 803-695-1714
Florence Farm: 843-317-0031
Cottle Strawberry Farm & Cottle Fun Park
Severe Weather & Storm Policy
The safety of our guests and employees is our highest priority. Because Cottle Strawberry Farm and Cottle Fun Park are primarily outdoor attractions, weather conditions may occasionally require us to delay activities, temporarily close attractions, evacuate certain areas, or close the property.
Management reserves the right to modify park operations at any time when weather conditions create an actual or potential safety concern.
1. Rain
Cottle Strawberry Farm and Cottle Fun Park operate during light or intermittent rain whenever conditions allow.
Rain alone does not automatically result in park closure, refunds, or rain checks. Individual attractions may temporarily close because of wet conditions, standing water, high winds, lightning, or other safety concerns.
If weather conditions deteriorate, management may temporarily suspend some or all activities.
2. Lightning & Thunderstorms
Lightning is considered a significant safety hazard because most of our property is outdoors.
When lightning or dangerous thunderstorms are approaching the property:
Management may immediately suspend outdoor attractions and activities.
Guests may be instructed to return to their vehicles or proceed to a designated shelter.
Hayrides, playgrounds, inflatables, corn mazes, pumpkin fields, strawberry fields, ropes or climbing attractions, animal areas, and other outdoor activities may be closed.
Employees will stop outdoor operations and move to their assigned safe locations.
Outdoor activities will generally remain suspended until at least 30 minutes after the last observed lightning or thunder, or until management determines that conditions are safe.
Each new occurrence of thunder or lightning may restart the waiting period.
3. Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Warning
If a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Tornado Warning, or other dangerous weather alert includes or is approaching the farm:
Management may immediately suspend all operations.
Guests will be instructed to:
Follow employee directions immediately.
Leave exposed outdoor areas.
Proceed to the designated severe-weather shelter when one is available and appropriate; or
Return to their vehicles and/or evacuate the property if directed by management.
For a Tornado Warning affecting the immediate property, guests and employees should not remain in open fields, tents, picnic shelters, corn mazes, hay wagons, playgrounds, or other exposed locations.
Employees will direct guests toward the safest available designated location based on the circumstances.
4. High Winds
Certain attractions may close before the remainder of the park when winds reach unsafe levels.
This may include:
Inflatables
Tents and temporary structures
Hayrides
Ropes or elevated attractions
Corn maze areas
Shade structures
Outdoor games
Attractions involving projectiles
Areas near trees or overhead hazards
Management has sole discretion to determine when wind conditions require an attraction or area to close.
5. Evacuation
If management orders an evacuation, guests should calmly follow employee instructions and proceed toward the designated exits or other locations communicated by staff.
Employees should:
Stop admitting guests into attractions.
Assist guests already inside attractions.
Direct guests away from fields, trees, temporary structures, water, fencing, metal structures, and other exposed areas.
Keep emergency access lanes clear.
Assist children, elderly guests, and guests requiring additional help when reasonably possible.
Report to their assigned location after their area has been cleared.
Guests should not attempt to reenter closed areas until management has given permission.
6. Hayrides, Mazes & Remote Areas
Because some attractions may place guests farther from buildings or parking areas, management may stop loading these attractions before severe weather reaches the property.
When storms are approaching:
No new hayrides should depart once management suspends operations.
Wagons already operating should return to the nearest designated unloading location.
Employees should begin clearing corn mazes, fields, pumpkin patches, strawberry fields, and other remote areas when directed.
Guests should not be permitted to remain in remote areas to wait out a storm.
7. Attraction Reopening
The decision to reopen attractions belongs to park management.
An attraction may remain closed even after rain or lightning has ended if:
Surfaces are slippery.
Standing water is present.
Wind remains excessive.
Electrical equipment needs inspection.
Trees or structures may have been damaged.
Roads or pathways are unsafe.
Other conditions could create an unreasonable risk.
Different attractions may reopen at different times.
8. Tickets, Refunds & Rain Checks
Because weather can change quickly, purchasing a ticket does not guarantee that every attraction will remain open for the guest’s entire visit.
No refunds or rain checks are provided solely because of rain, forecasted weather, heat, cold, or the temporary closure of individual attractions.
However, if Cottle Fun Park management closes the entire park for the remainder of the day because of severe weather, guests who purchased admission and had been in the park for less than two hours may receive a complimentary rain-check admission for another eligible operating day during the same season.
Rain checks:
Have no cash value.
Are not refunds.
May not be resold.
Are valid only during the season and dates designated by management.
May exclude separately ticketed special events.
Are issued only when management officially declares a weather closure.
Management may make reasonable exceptions when circumstances warrant.
9. Field Trips & Group Events
School field trips, birthday parties, company outings, private rentals, and other scheduled groups may be delayed, modified, rescheduled, or canceled when severe weather threatens the property.
For advance reservations, management may work with the group organizer to select an alternate date when practical.
Unless otherwise stated in the group’s contract, normal cancellation and deposit policies remain in effect.
10. Employee Authority
Any employee who observes an immediate weather-related danger should immediately notify a supervisor or manager.
Managers have the authority to suspend an attraction without waiting for a property-wide closure when they believe conditions are unsafe.
No employee should continue operating an attraction simply because guests request that it remain open.
11. Weather Monitoring
Management will monitor available weather information throughout operating hours, including radar, lightning activity, severe weather alerts, and observed conditions on the property.
Weather conditions can develop rapidly, and no weather-monitoring system can guarantee advance warning of every hazard.
Guests are also encouraged to monitor weather conditions and make appropriate decisions for themselves and their families.
12. Management Discretion
Weather decisions will be made based on the conditions affecting or expected to affect the property, not solely on conditions at the time a decision is made.
Cottle Strawberry Farm and Cottle Fun Park reserve the right to delay opening, close early, evacuate the property, suspend attractions, or modify operations whenever management determines that weather conditions may threaten the safety of guests or employees.
Guest cooperation with employee instructions during severe weather is required.
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STAFF WEATHER RESPONSE — QUICK REFERENCE
RAIN ONLY
Continue normal operations unless individual attractions become unsafe.
THUNDER OR LIGHTNING NEARBY
Suspend exposed outdoor activities and notify management.
LIGHTNING / DANGEROUS STORM APPROACHING PROPERTY
Close outdoor attractions and move guests toward designated safe locations or vehicles.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING AFFECTING PROPERTY
Management determines whether to shelter, suspend operations, or evacuate.
TORNADO WARNING AFFECTING PROPERTY
Immediately stop operations and direct guests and employees to designated severe-weather locations. Keep guests out of fields, tents, mazes, wagons, playgrounds, and exposed structures.
ALL CLEAR
Only management may authorize reopening.
LIGHTNING REOPENING STANDARD
Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder or observed lightning, unless management requires a longer closure.
