It's the quintessential way to welcome the harvest season: a family pumpkin patch adventure. There's no shortage of pumpkin picking near Philadelphia; the suburbs abound with places for kids to load up a wagon with their top pumpkin picks and enjoy a whole host of family-friendly activities. Whether you're looking to carve a spooky jack-o-lantern or whip up some cozy fall recipes with the kids, autumn just isn't the same without pumpkins.
Wherever you choose to get your pumpkins, you're bound to spend a couple extra hours hanging around once the picking is done. Discover even more for Philly kids in our Fall Activity Guide, where you can find amazing corn mazes, apple picking, our Fall Bucket List and more.
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Best Pumpkin Patches Worth the Drive
1. Arasapha Farms — Glen Mills
Pumpkin picking barely scratches the surface of family-friendly activities here. Start with a hayride to the four-acre pumpkin patch. Afterwards, kids can try out the pillow bounce, mini golf, or tire tower from the menu of options. Don't leave without navigating the five-acre corn maze, featuring a scavenger hunt. The farm is open to visitors Saturdays and Sundays starting the last week of September.
2. Charlann Farms — Yardley
Hop a hayride to the Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch at Charlann Farms, where you can also enjoy a corn maze and lots of harvest games for kids. Prices vary by activity package and pumpkins are an additional cost per pound.
3. Colonial Gardens — Phoenixville
Not only does Colonial Gardens offer families a bevy of pumpkins from which to choose, it also has daytime hayrides for any age and evening haunted hayrides for the big kids. Check out the maze, funhouse, and, of course, Pumpkinland, the farm's display of cartoon characters, scarecrows, and more than ten tons of pumpkins. Opens mid-September and continues through Halloween.
RELATED: Best Apple Picking Orchards for Philadelphia Families
Pick the perfect pumpkin, then play fall games at Hellerick's Family Farm. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
4. Hellerick’s Family Farm — Doylestown
With 55 different varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squash ripe for the picking, Hellerick's Family Farm makes a great choice from mid-September to early November. This destination farm looks more like an amusement park on weekends with its towering aerial park. The 18-acre adventure farm has a corn maze, giant slides, a tractor tire playground, an obstacle course, and a junior farmers area for children under five, among some 40-plus attractions. Kids two and under are free, and reservations are required.
5. Highland Orchards — West Chester
Whether pumpkin picking or apple picking is on the agenda for the day, Highland Orchards has a convenient shuttle to take families out to the pick-your-own fields. Parents love to take advantage of the beautiful photo ops available throughout their scenic grounds as well as the playground and picnic table area. Be sure to squeeze in a hayride, grab a beer at the Levante Beer Garden, and check out the market and bakery, where all goodies are locally sourced.
RELATED: Great Halloween Activities for Families in Philly
Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards is always a local favorite. Photo courtesy of the orchard
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6. Linvilla Orchards –– Media
Widely known as one of the best places for pumpkins near Philadelphia, Linvilla Orchards is a Delaware Valley family tradition, coming in at number 3 on our list of 100 Things to Do in Philly with Kids. Their Pumpkinland features more than 100 tons of pumpkins in every shape, size, and hue, in addition to a plethora of kid-approved attractions. Stock up on some carve-worthy picks, head to the fields to pick apples, and enjoy hayrides day or night. For an extra special treat, evening hayrides to the Witch's house offer spookier thrills. Pumpkinland is open daily through early November.
7. Maple Acres Farm and Market — Plymouth Meeting
'Tis the season for apple cider, freshly baked pies, and of course ... pumpkins. Maple Acres sells a huge variety of pumpkins and features Instagram-worthy photo ops on huge tractors, giant hay stacks, and even their own LOVE sign, just like the sculpture downtown. Kids like seeing the farm animals at the barn, taking hayrides on weekends, and feeding the ducks in the farm's small pond.
8. Merrymead Farm — Lansdale
Merrymead is a local favorite come pumpkin season, and there are always plenty of pumpkins to pick from. Autumn kicks off with the Lighting of the Great Pumpkin on Saturday, September 23. This event is complete with storytelling, music, and hayrides, and the Great Pumpkin stays lit for guests to enjoy in the evenings throughout the season. Other fun-filled activities include Harvest Days, where children can ride a wagon train, sling apples, observe the animals, and complete a scavenger hunt through the famed moonlight maze. Don't forget to pick up some seasonal pies to take home.
9. Milky Way Farm — Chester Springs
Far from outer space, the Milky Way Farm's pumpkin patch in Chester Springs is open weekends from late September through Halloween, with the option of private hayrides. On a good year, their 8-acre patch yields roughly 25,000 pumpkins! A ticket gets you on the farm to visit the patch, run through the corn maze, and visit the farm animals.
10. Shady Brook Farms — Yardley
This sprawling Bucks County farm has one of the best pumpkin patches near Philadelphia. Shady Brook's FallFest invites guests to its patch to find pumpkins for purchase by the pound and then stick around for a jam-packed slate of kid-friendly entertainment. Shady Brook is truly a fall wonderland with games, wagon rides, a jumping pillow, live music on select weekends, and much more. Don't miss Eerie Illuminations, a Halloween-themed light display. Save by booking a ticket in advance.
RELATED: Fall Festivals Near Philly for Harvest Fun
Kids love to pick the biggest of the pumpkin patch. Photo courtesy of Snipes Farm.
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11. Snipes Farm — Morrisville
This sustainable farm features educational activities, horse and wagon rides, a hay pyramid, scarecrows, and a nature path to keep kids entertained. Plus, families can meet farm bunnies, chickens, and goats during a pumpkin-picking excursion. Snipes Farm runs their Fall Harvest Festival every weekend in October. As an added bonus, the farm also features pick-your-own flowers as well as fresh cider and donuts for sale.
12. Solly Farm — Warminster
In addition to pick-your-own pumpkins, this farm also has an array of pick-your-own apples and many varieties of peppers. Pumpkin picking and hayrides to the patch begin late September or early October (as is the case with many farms, Solly Farm relies on the weather). Call ahead of your visit, and when you do decide to go, be sure to hit up the Scarecrows of American History attraction.
13. Styer Orchard — Langhorne
In addition to pumpkins, bountiful varieties of apples, squash, and corn are available for picking. Take a free hayride to the orchard to load up your stock, and be sure to check out the market for a deli or baked good snack, including pumpkin pie by the slice.
14. Sugartown Strawberries — Malvern
Kids and grown-ups are continually impressed with the selection at this destination for pumpkin picking near Philadelphia. Interestingly shaped gourds and colorful Indian corn are also for sale to use as fall decor. The hay bale maze and hayrides are family favorites, and there are tons of photo ops here, so don't leave the camera at home. The pumpkin patch is open weekends from late September through Halloween.
15. Weaver's Orchard — Morgantown
Weaver's pumpkin patch opens mid-September as does their Saturday Fall Fest, which continues every Saturday through October. At Fall Fest, families can find entertainment, food, and activities, including the barrel train, goats for feeding, playground, and hayrides. Apples are, of course, also in season and available for picking, and if you'd prefer to shop in the market, pumpkins are for sale there as well.
Best Pumpkin Picking in New Jersey
16. Johnson's Corner Farm — Medford, NJ
Visitors can nab pumpkins for from the patch at Johnson's Corner Farm and wander through a corn maze or watch the animals at the Discovery Barn. Wagon rides to the fields and orchards begin in the morning and run until 5pm every day. Now through October 31, catch the Harvest Festival (weekends only), with food tents, a sunflower stroll, gem mining, and duck races.
17. Duffield's Farm and Market — Sewell, NJ
Every Saturday, Duffield's offers pumpkin picking, hayrides, and fun fall activities for your family. While you are there, enjoy some treats form the bakery or homemade soup from the deli.
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18. Creamy Acres Farm — Mullica Hill, NJ
Starting in late September, Creamy Acres Farm offers pumpkin picking, hayrides, and fun-filled fall activities like a kiddie corn maze, Farm Park with games and attractions, and a petting zoo – perfect for young children and animal lovers alike. Take a visit to the bakery and dairy farm while you are there.
19. Hill Creek Farm — Mullica Hill, NJ
Hill Creek Farm offers something for everyone. From hayrides and a playground, to live music events and a winery, families can enjoy everything the farm has to offer throughout the fall. Kids will enjoy picking their own pumpkins, and the unqiue Barrell Train rides. Make sure to grab some treats at the farm market and bakery before you leave.