Looking to add some pumpkin spice to your life? We found area farms in and around NYC where the pumpkin patches are poppin’. The spots below offer experiences of all kinds, from harvest festivals with fall fun and games, to chill spots offering fall foliage, baked goods, and maybe even a hayride. (Many also serve as a place to go apple-picking if you’re looking to double up, but you may need a reservation.) Need more ideas for things to do with the kids in fall 2021? Check out our list of to-dos here!
New York City
Queens County Farm Museum
You won’t believe how close you are to home at the Queens County Farm Museum. Dating back to 1697, the site is New York City’s largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland. Starting October 1, the farm’s fields are filled with pumpkins to pick and buy (according to circumference), and The Amazing Maize Maze returns for those wishing to get lost. Hayrides are offered on the weekends as well.
Hours: Oct. 1-31, Daily, 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free, except on days with special events.
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy
Queens
718-347-3276
Online: queensfarm.org
Decker Farm at Historic Richmond Town
Staten Island's Decker Farm dates to the early-1800s, and admission includes guided tours from historical reenactors. Weekends in October brings fall fun with pumpkin picking, pumpkin chucking, a hay maze and activities for kids. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and go on sale September 17.
Hours: Sat. & Sun. in October, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $6/in advance; $8/at door (availability not guaranteed)
435 Richmond Hill Rd.
Staten Island
718-351-1611
Online: historicrichmondtown.org
Long Island
Schmitt’s Family Farm
Head to Long Island's Schmitt’s Family Farm farm on weekends from September 19 through October 31 to enjoy the farm's annual Fall Festival. In addition to the usual suspects such as a pumpkin patch, free hayrides and a seven-acre corn maze (this year featuring a “Arabian Nights, Legend Of The Lamp” design), you’ll also find Long Island’s largest straw pyramid (for climbing), farm animals and pony rides, mini golf and even the opportunity to walk through the haunted house in the daytime — a semi-scary experience more appropriate for little ones than the evening’s full-on fright fest. Plus you can pick your own sunflowers and vegetables here—but no apples.
Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m. – 5p.m.; weekdays, Noon-4:30 p.m. (pumpkin picking and hayrides available throughout the week, other activities only on the weekends).
Cost: $10 at the door only, with some activities (corn maze, haunted house) additional fee.
26 Pinelawn Rd.
Melville, NY
631-271-3276
Online: schmittfarms.com
Elwood Pumpkin Farm
For purists, it’s not pumpkin picking unless you are the one to cut the vine. Sure, pumpkins acquired this way tend to be encrusted with dirt, and you have to edit the selection yourself, but that’s part of the authentic experience fun, right? Visitors are require to wear masks here and socially-distance. You will also find a kid corn maze and hayrides here, although space will be limited on the rides. (Like what you see? Come back in December to cut your own Christmas tree here.) Elwood opens for the season September 19, from 1 - 5 p.m. Note: it's cash only here.
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 3p.m.-5p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Open Columbus Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. as well.)
Cost: Free admission for pumpkin picking; pumpkins are priced by size.
1500 East Jericho Tpke.
Huntington, NY
631-368-8626
Online: elwoodpumpkinfarm.com
New York
Soons Orchard
At Soons Orchard, take a wagon ride up to the pumpkin patch for the full pumpkin picking experience—you can cut your pumpkin off the vine here, too. Online reservations are highly recommended, with some walk-up available. (Bring cash: it's cash-only for u-pick.) FYI, if it rains, the wagons don't go out; call the u-pick hotline at 845-670-4540 for the latest info. You can pick your own apples here as well. After you hit the pumpkin patch, take an adult break and check out Soons' tasting room featuring top-rated New York State wine, beer and hard cider.
Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Previous year's rates were $4/person for the hayride and pumpkins were 55 cents/pound.
23 Soons Cir.
New Hampton, NY
845-374-5471
Online: soonsorchards.com
Dykeman Farm
This Dutchess County, fourth-generation farm grows 70 varieties of pumpkins, and there's always free hayrides and free parking. Plus face-painting, corn pits and other fall fun. Pumpkin picking is open weekends only, and beginning September 25 and continuing throughout October.
Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
31 Dykeman Ln.
Pawling, NY
845-832-6068
Online: dykemanfarm.com
Outhouse Orchards
What began as a dairy farm in the 1800s is now is a family-owned and operated apple farm in the Hudson Valley. “Home of the Happy Apple,” Outhouse Orchards invites you to pick both pumpkins and apples, offers hayrides through its orchards and a corn maze with educational clues. Its farm stand is stocked with all kinds of farm-fresh goodness, including apple cider doughnuts, produce, maple syrup and more.
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m.– 5p.m.
Cost: $30/small bag of apples; $45/large; $10 corn maze. Weekends by reservation, $12/car.
139 Hardscrabble Rd.
North Salem, NY
914-277-3188
Online: outhouseorchardsny.com
Fishkill Farms
If you’re looking for a lower-key, more ecologically conscious pumpkin picking experience, check out Fishkill Farms in the Hudson Valley. Owned by the same family for more than 100 years, the picturesque 200-acre farm utilizes sustainable farming practices whenever possible, avoids synthetic pesticides and even grows a portion of its apple acreage organically. Weekends in September bring Fall Harvest Festivals with live music, wagon rides and hard cider sipping. Reservations are required for pick-your-own; make them here.
Fishkill is one of our favorites for apple-picking and you can "add-on" pumpkin picking to an apple-picking reservation. As of this writing, reservations for pumpkin picking only have not yet been posted, but should be up by mid-September.
Hours: 9 a.m.- 4:45 p.m., Tues. - Sun., by reservation only.
Cost: Starting at $46/ five people weekends, $40/weekdays
9 Fishkill Farm Rd.
Hopewell JCT, NY
845-897-4377
Online: fishkillfarms.com
New Jersey
Secor Farms
Secor Farms offers traditional fall activities like hayrides, a corn maze, mini hay maze for little ones and a petting zoo. They also decorate the farm with fun things like giant hay bale spiders and fun cut-outs for photo ops. Hayrides to the easy-to-navigate pumpkin patch are $5 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekends, and 3-4:45 p.m. weekdays.) Secor Farms also sells a huge selection of mums, plants, and Halloween decorations to bring a little bit of the farm back home, as well as fall treats like apple cider doughnuts, pies and candy apples.
Hours: Mon. – Fri. 3 p.m. – 5 p.m, Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Cost: Free entry, pumpkins per pound.
85 Airmont Ave.
Mahwah, NJ
201-529-2595
Online: secorfarms.com
Hillview Farm
This quiet, not crowded farm is the real deal, and pumpkin picking begins in October here, where you hop a tractor up to the pumpkin patch. This family-owned farm has been around for almost 150 years and doesn’t disappoint- check out their farm market on your way out for fresh produce and festive gifts.
Cost: No admission fee; tractor ride is $5 per person
223 Meyersville Rd.
Gillette, NJ
908-647-0957
Online: hillviewfarmnj.com
Alstede Farms
You can pick your own pumpkin and a whole lot more at Alstede Farms. (They give you the update on conditions for everything from veggies, to berries to apples, here.) Whatever you pick, it's by reservation only—make yours here. Admission price starting at $19.99 gets you access to two corn mazes, one for smaller kids, another for older ones, an evergreen maze, sunflower trail, hay pyramid and more. Additional opportunities for fun for an extra fee include pony rides and mini-tractor rides.
Hours: Daily, 9 .a.m - 5 p.m.
Price: Pumpkins priced per pound
1 Alstede Farms Ln.
Chester, NJ
908-879-7189
Online: alstedefarms.com
Ort Farms
Ort Farms is another northern New Jersey grower that really brings it in the fall. A family farm that’s been around for a century, Ort offers pumpkin picking (off the vine if you like), hayrides, pony rides, farm animals, a mini tractor play set, apple canons, a hay pyramid and even Monster Truck rides! Purchase a ticket to the farm's Fall Festival in advance ($8/person) and attend any date from September 4 to October 31. Fall Fest admission includes hayride, corn maze, farm animals and kiddie corral. Get tickets here.
Hours: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun.
Cost: Pumpkins are 70 cents a pound, and other activities are priced individually.
25 Bartley Rd.
Long Valley, NJ
908-876-3351
Online: ortfarms.com
Connecticut
Harris Hill Farm
It's only open to the public on October weekends, but Connecticut’s Harris Hill Farm, located in the hills of Litchfield County is worth the trip if you're in the area. Pick pumpkins in a thoroughly bucolic setting complete with weathered red barn and enjoy the view of the rolling hills in all their autumnal glory. The farm has a large selection of gourds, large pumpkins, white and pink pumpkins, and squash. Social distancing and masks are required.
Hours: Weekends in October, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
106 Ridge Rd.
New Milford, CT
860-354-5856
Online: harrishillfarm.com
— Mimi O’Connor
feature image: Jason P. via Yelp
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