Fall is upon us. The leaves are falling, the air is turning cool and crisp, children have gone back to school, and Halloween is right around the corner. Now it’s time to embrace that time-honored tradition of venturing to the pumpkin patch to bring home a perfect pumpkin, or a strange-shaped gourd that only a goblin could love.
Visiting the local pumpkin patch is an annual treat for many families. Over the years, pumpkin patches have become more than just a place to pick out a pumpkin to carve. They now offer hours of family fun with vendors, food stands, farmers markets, hay rides and petting zoos. Here are some of the top pumpkin patches across the U.S.:
Roloff Farms; Helvetia, Oregon
Oct. 1 – 30, Fri., Sat. and Sun. only from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
This 100-acre farm is 30 miles west of Portland, and has been featured in the popular TLC reality show “Little People, Big World.” Over 30,000 people visit this pumpkin patch each season, so crowds are to be expected.
Attractions and activities:
- Huge pumpkin patch with many pumpkin varieties
- Food corner with a large selection of vendors
- Shopping at the Gift Barn
- Wagon tours – $10
- Pony rides
- Face painting
- Kid’s zone adventure area with a hay pyramid, mazes, kiddy train, obstacle course and MUCH more – $7
Pros: Lots to do, large selection of pumpkins, and free, plentiful parking.
Cons: Crowded and a bit pricey.
Nash Ranch; Redding, California
Oct. 1 – 30, daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., some attractions open weekends only
Nash Ranch has been welcoming visitors for an impressive 26 years. The ranch itself has a rich history that dates back to 1865. It is a working ranch with corn, hay and barley growing in the fields, and sheep and lambs being raised.
Attractions and activities:
- 12-acre pumpkin patch with 30 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds
- Corn mazes
- “Dreams of Darkness” haunted house – $15
- Train rides – $2, kids under two free
- Pony rides – $5
- Bounce house and slide – $2
- Food and beverage concession stands
- Petting zoo – $1
- Little kids play area
Pros: Pumpkin patch open daily, free admission, lots of family activities.
Cons: Parking costs $3 on weekends (although this is a fundraising activity for various nonprofit organizations). It can get pricey if you want to do a lot of the activities.
The Pickin’ Patch; Dunnellon, Florida
Oct. 1 – 30, Fri. 3 – 7p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sun. 12 – 7p.m.
Most pumpkin “patches” in Florida are simply supplied with pumpkins from other states. But not this patch! Here you can pick a pumpkin right off of the vine thanks to innovative farmers who started this operation just six years ago.
Attractions and activities:
- Hay fort and slide
- Hay and corn mazes
- Hayride
- Sunflower picking
Pros: Admission is only $3 and includes all activities offered at the patch, free parking and a smaller, friendly atmosphere.
Cons: Smaller variety of activities, limited weekend hours.
Dewberry Farm; Brookshire, Texas
Mid-Sept. – Mid-Nov., Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. – sundown
There are almost too many activities to list at this action-packed farm that opens in fall for pumpkins and in winter for Christmas trees. There are a whopping eight acres of corn mazes to get lost in and another eight acres of land to walk through to find your perfect pumpkin. Each year, Dewberry adds new attractions so even families who have been many times will find something new to do each visit.
Attractions and activities (not all are listed):
- Pumpkin hollar with over 500 carved and lit pumpkins
- Gigantic, 26-foot-high slide
- Rubber duck races
- Kids playground areas
- Zip line
- Petting zoo
- Gem mining
- Pedal carts
- Carousel
Pros: An abundance of activities, lots of food selection, open until November.
Cons: Very crowded in the weeks before Halloween and activities can get expensive.
Howell’s Pumpkin Patch; Cumming, Iowa
Sept. 10 – Oct. 31, daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
They start the pumpkin festivities early at this pumpkin patch, with an open date at the beginning of September. Fittingly, you will find this patch on Howell Court, just 10 miles south of Des Moines off of I-35. Take a ride on one of their antique tractors out to the patch and corn maze, or stroll through the 15 acres of flowers on the property.
Attractions and activities:
- Wagon rides
- Corn maze
- Pedal go-karts
- Mud pies
- Hamster wheel
- Duck races
- Swings
- Slides
- Chalk farm
- Wiggle cars
- Pony rides
- Corn cannon
- Café with homemade ice cream and other treats
- Gift shop and dried flower shop
Pros: Opens early in the season, will appeal to kids and grown ups.
Cons: $10 admission leaves no option for just getting a pumpkin and opting out of activities.
Cox Farms; Centreville, Virginia
Sept. 24 – Nov. 6, Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Established in 1972 by brothers, this is a family-owned-and-operated farm that is open year-round, but then goes all out with a great Fall Festival. The most unique feature of the pumpkin patch is that on November 5th and 6th, you can bring back your used pumpkin and have fun destroying it! Pumpkins are dropped, squished, smashed and stomped in an event they call “Pumpkin Madness.”
Attractions and Activities:
- Giant slides
- Musical acts
- Mining for gems
- Pumpkin slingshot game and power house hammer game
- Food stands
- Hay tunnels
- Farm animal viewing
- Farm education and chores
- Nature trail
- Corner market
- Fields of fear
Pros: Offers discounts through its email list for seniors and visiting on weekdays, all activities are included in one ticket price, and tickets are available for purchase online.
Con: Ticket prices increase on weekends.