Under the Stars Farm

I was in a group of six at the One Sweet Night lavender dessert event on Aug. 12, 2023 which was described as "a delicious way to celebrate the end of 2023 Lavender Season under the stars." I arrived a few minutes before the event was slated to start, and there was a young guy at the front of the parking lot who I assumed was carelessly chatting with the person in the car ahead based on how long they were taking, so I drove around. (I later discovered that he was directing traffic and served no other purpose, so I didn't understand the hold up. He wasn't checking tickets or anything to warrant the wait.) One of the owners was also directing traffic and parked the cars too close for my liking, but they barely have the space to accommodate the number of tickets they sold, so I get it, kinda :-/The farm is seemingly small and basic. There were a few bloomed flowers (including sunflowers) but I suppose since lavender season was over, there wasn't much of anything else in bloom or anything esthetically pleasing that you'd find at a lavender farm.There was a guy singing and someone else playing guitar. Mostly covers. Meh.The other owner got up on the mic every now and then to give their story, announce the desserts, explain that they were running behind, etc., but it was extremely difficult to hear her at times. They could really use a few industrial fans under the tents. Even though the weather cooled off after the sun set, we could barely tell because it was noticeably warmer under the tents where all the dinner tables were placed.The food and what not:-- They treat you to a sample of Sly & Clyde lavender and hibiscus hard cider when you check in. It was the best thing I tasted all night. Bubbly, refreshing, and the perfect balance of sweet and dry. -- The lavender lemonade was truly Southern and super sweet. I'm Southern so I didn't mind.-- The lavender infused Laurel wine wasn't enjoyable. Based on the description ("sophisticated and unique blend with strong, sweet aromatics"), we weren't expecting something so bitter.-- The dessert trio included lavender sweet bread which had great flavor but could've benefited from some warmth because the texture was a little hard; a scone which was quite moist surprisingly and mild flavored (my fave of the 3); and and a stale-tasting cookie.-- The bread pudding was the best dish of the night. The rum glaze tasted like melted vanilla ice cream in the best way possible. The dish needed to be heated up, though. The bread pudding was a little custardy and the texture was off-putting at times. -- The charcuterie board was delicious. Everything seemed fresh and there was plenty of variety. They even accommodated my kosher friend and added chicken and turkey, so that was nice.-- The cheesecake brownie tasted store-bought. The blueberry sauce on top was incredibly salty. We were so confused. -- Something happened to the eclairs and they weren't served. Again, it was hard to hear the owner on the mic.-- The zefir was inedible. We couldn't get past the texture which reminded me of poorly mixed fondant or hardened shaving cream. -- The lemon tarts were somehow simultaneously extremely tart and sweet. -- They graciously allowed everyone to try out their new lemon sorbet which made us all pucker.For every single dish and drink (except the hard cider sample), the lavender flavor was either elusive or subtle at best. Such a disappointment. All in all, it was a great concept but poorly executed.

I have always wanted to attend an event that Under the Stars Farm hosts. They had an upcoming UnWined event September 2021. I was about to purchase tickets to attend when Yelp had a giveaway on their social media outlets. I entered immediately, and won a tickets for myself an a guest along with another person who entered. The days leading up to the event the communication was fantastic! We arrived a few minutes early. There was still a little set up happening. Closer to 6pm we walked up and checked in. The tent set up was lovely. They suggest wearing comfortable shoes. I second that. It's an outdoor setting with hay, grass and typical holes in the areas walked... it's a farm land and makes complete sense. We were greeted warmly by the host, and owners Caren (CJ) and her husband Billy. The waiter, who so think was their son was great. He was kind and brought us refills of the delicious lemonade. Everyone was helpful and attentive to our needs throughout the evening. The music was great. It added a nice atmosphere in the end. This farm set up started opening to the public about 2 years ago. I enjoyed hearing about their vision and the journey they have done to get where they are. They have worked extremely hard to get where they are now. They have a great positive outlook that helps. Tips: Fans inside the tent circulating air if possible. The humidity was a little much under the tent at times. Walking outside the tent gave us a nice cool off when needed. Charcuterie board and cupcakes. Keep them cool before serving. The cheese and other items were melting or extremely soft. Thank you for a wonderful night an partnering with Yelp. My husband and I enjoyed our first date since moving back to Virginia on orders 15 months ago. We look forward to future engagements.

We found this place on Facebook and decided to take a visit. It's a small, family owned farm and they have an amazing story. When we went the lavender was gone and the sunflowers were slowly dying, due to being out of season. I wish they listed that in the ad because we were looking forward tithe lavender. The farm is so beautiful and has some kid activities as well. The lavender lemonade was delicious!

Tucked away in the northern part of Gloucester Virginia, this family-run lavender farm is a vision in the making! I had won two tickets to their "unWINEd under the stars" evening, so I brought a friend to enjoy some wine, cheese, and live music amidst the scenic backdrop.Upon arrival, I was somewhat surprised to find the place is more of a work-in-progress than what I had in mind, but I appreciate that the owners were very transparent around sharing their vision as it unfolds, and soliciting feedback from all their guests. Everything was contained under tents; there was a farm shop where you could buy lavender sundries such as lotions, simple syrups, and bath bombs, and then the main even tent, where a collection of rustic looking tables were set up. Since it was off-season, the lavender field itself was closed. We were greeted with a glass of lavender lemonade (delicious!) and then promptly delivered a beautiful charcuterie board that well exceeded our expectations. We also got to sample two flights of wine, some infused with lavender, and provide our ratings on a card. Everything was sourced locally through Good Luck wine cellars. The music was a nice touch, and though the team faced a few logistical challenges, everything was handled with grace and they made an earnest attempt to ensure their guests were taken care of.I'm excited to hear about their plans for building the farm out, which includes an event barn and storefront, accompanied by some major events.Thank you CJ and family (and Yelp Elite!) for having us!

We love lavender and we love Under the Stars Farm! While we haven't been to the actual farm itself because of Covid, we have participated in every one of their Lavender Day Drive Thru Events! I cannot express to you enough the amount of deliciousness that is their lavender lemonade! So so so good! The first drive thru event I made the mistake of only getting two, so I had to double up the second go round as well as snag a bottle of their lavender simple syrup! We bought a lavender plant and it is flourishing in our front walkway. Another favorite of ours is the blueberry lavender wine! CJ and her team really did an awesome job during the drive thru events! The setup was very organized, the staff was practicing social distancing guidelines and even with masks on they all had smiling eyes! I follow them on Facebook and Instagram and they have been posting that they are back open on certain dates/times with limited capacity. I honestly can't wait to get some time to go to the actual farm!

The concept is good but the delivery needs an overhaul. Not sure why as this was not their first time doing this. In fact, you'd think they would have streamlined this to a tee.The fondue was less than average given the price we paid, about $38 per person. The cheese for the vegetables was delicious. It tastes like Emmental. The beef on the skewers were well marinated but a bit tough to chew from being overdone. The chicken was dry, probably from being over cooked. The sauces for the meat were flavorful. To add insult to injury, they had the nerve to charge $17 per flight of beer and $17 per flight of wine, which was a complete joke, given the flights were nothing more than shots. And why did it take almost 45 minutes just to get water on a hot sweltering day with the heat index at 102 degrees?!?! And forget about the beer! They charged $8 for a can of warm beer!! And the the dessert (strawberries, bananas, rice krispy squares, and some raspberry-filled mini muffins) was mediocre at best. The worst part was the ridiculous length of time it took to serve the food, definitely due to the lack of coordination. In fact, the waitress was about to serve the dessert to the table of ladies next to us when she was rudely intercepted by the "photographer" woman who told the waitress, "No, start over at that table on the other side" of the venue. The waitress and everyone within ear shot and, of course, the ladies at the table were aghast at such rudeness. What even made matters worse was the staff lit our sterno for the chocolate fondue but failed to deliver us the strawberries, bananas, and other items to dip-go figure! So how embarrassing was it that we took our friend out for a special dinner for her birthday, only for her to have to go up to the owner and tell her that we didn't even receive our fruit and dessert for the chocolate fondue! This was AFTER the announcement was made "We all hope you enjoyed your Evening under the Stars!"Finally, the waitress brought a plate of the dessert to dip and said "we gave you extra and hope the wait was worth it!" Well, let me say not only was the wait NOT worth it, but neither was the price nor the experience! I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy!! Here's a tip: Don't bother driving to BFE, nor waste your time or money!! We thought we'd give this event a try. One and done! It was an EPIC FAIL and a hard lesson learned! Our friend was so gracious about the whole fiasco, but as far as I'm concerned I'm taking her out somewhere far better than this "I don't even know what to call it" for lack of a better name. Fuming that I wasted my time and hard-earned money on this!!! But more importantly that it was such a huge disappointment, not the kind of surprise we had in mind for our dear friend's birthday celebration. This is one experience I wish I could forget, in fact, one I hope no one else has to suffer through.. so don't bother!! No stars that night, more like thunderstorms!!!