Visiting a pumpkin patch is a rite of fall, as young children with parents in tow search for the perfect orange orb to be carved into a Halloween jack o’ lantern, while mom and dad get a chance to spend some time away from home and work worries to enjoy the fresh, crisp and cool air of a fall day in the country.
For those of you in the Empire State, a trip to a New York pumpkin patch is just the thing to properly usher in the fall season! But remember — that part of the country has a spooky association with pumpkins in early American literature!
So, if you’re willing to take the chance that you won’t run into the scary Headless Horseman, made famous in Washington Irving’s Halloween tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (set in the northern New York port village of Tarrytown), read on to learn about some of the best pumpkin patches in New York.
10 of the Best Pumpkin Patches in New York
Families — and other folks, of course — living in New York have a wide variety of options when considering where to go to find that perfect pumpkin, whether for Halloween fun or taking on the challenge of making bread, or soup, or whatever, from a real pumpkin.
And it’s not just the variety of pumpkin patches in New York that make the state a special place for the fall and Halloween — it’s the quality of those pumpkin patches that ensure a seasonal good time for all.
To help you plan your fall outing(s), we’ve organized our list by region in the state. That way you’ll easily be able to find a pumpkin patch near you.
Best Northern New York Pumpkin Patches
It’s About Thyme Farm
In the northern part of the state, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better New York pumpkin patch than It’s About Thyme Farm in Olmstedville.
It’s About Thyme features acres of ground planted with pumpkins and gourds, virtually assuring that you’ll find that perfect pumpkin, whether for carving into a scary face or finally trying to make something delectable from an actual pumpkin rather than a canned pumpkin product.
For all of your Halloween needs, It’s About Thyme Farm offers carving kits and Halloween decorations for purchase, giving it a special place among all the pumpkin patches in New York.
You’re also invited to pack a lunch and explore the trails set up at the farm, decorated with scarecrow scenes, and with views of the beautiful fall colors in the Adirondack Mountains.
Country Dreams Farm
In the far northeastern corner of the state is a New York pumpkin patch that is all about Halloween in September and October. During that time, Country Dreams Farm in Plattsburgh adds a corn maze and wagon ride to ensure the seasonal fun of choosing that just-right pumpkin.
There is a kid’s play area for the young ones to burn off any excess energy they may have from an exciting day on the farm. And just like the rest of the Country Dreams Farm season from May through October, there are goats, chickens, and potbelly pigs to get to know in the farm’s petting area, and horses and cows also abound.
Country Dreams Farm also sells various produce and eggs, and if you’re particularly captured by its charm, it’s available for parties and other events so that you and your friends can enjoy an outstanding New York pumpkin patch.
Old McDonald’s Farm
Yes, old McDonald really does have a farm, and you can find it in Sackets Harbor, on the shores of Lake Ontario, where Old McDonald’s Farm ranks among the best pumpkin patches in New York.
Veteran pumpkin pickers who make time to head to this New York pumpkin patch know it as the place where you can enjoy a warm homemade cider doughnut to ward off whatever chill might be in the air.
A pumpkin-picking visit to Old McDonald’s Farm — the season is typically from mid-September through October, also offers views of beautiful fall foliage to add to the experience.
And while you’re there, be sure to check out the Visitors Center, where you’ll find seasonal produce and local food products.
Best Central New York Pumpkin Patches
Akron Acres
Akron Acres, located west of Rochester in the city of Akron, is a family-run business focused on “agritourism,” a way to teach you about role of agriculture in your life and the life of your family.
Part of the family farm’s commitment to that approach is its seasonal visiting program, which includes from-the-vine pumpkin picking beginning in late September.
But if you’re not careful, you might also have a lot of fun while you’re learning, as Akron Acres offers hayrides, a chance to visit animals in the barn, hayrides and a corn maze to add to your visit to one of the top pumpkin patches in New York.
Cullen Pumpkin Farm
You’ll have to wait — but not for long — to visit Cullen Pumpkin Farm in Richfield Springs to pick out your perfect Halloween centerpiece. The farm won’t be open until September, but when it does open, you can visit this New York pumpkin patch from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily.
Established as a family dairy farm in 1953, Cullen Pumpkin Farm didn’t start growing its namesake fruit — that’s right, pumpkins are botanically classified as fruits, not vegetables — until 1984.
Three years later, the farm was focused solely on crop farming, with pumpkins and hay taking center stage, to be augmented later by flowers.
Today, the you-pick season at this New York pumpkin patch adds to the fun with wagon rides, special spots for photos to record your visit, and a play area for the youngsters.
Critz Farms
Located smack in the middle of the state, in the town of Cazenovia, Critz Farms clearly is among the best of all the pumpkin patches in New York.
Pumpkin season typically starts around mid-September and goes through late October at Critz Farms, but if you’re planning a visit, you should check the farm’s social media channels, including Facebook, for picking days and times. There is no admission fee for picking pumpkins during the week at this special New York pumpkin patch.
Beyond picking pumpkins, Critz Farms has a decidedly adult attraction. The farm includes a brewery and cidery, with tours designed to cover the entire process, from growing hops and barley to getting the brews into bottles or kegs. There’s also a tasting room to sample the various brews and hard ciders.
Best Southern New York Pumpkin Patches
Harbes Family Farm
Located on the Long Island Sound just east of New York City in the town of Mattituck, Harbes Family Farm is among the best New York pumpkin patches precisely because it has more than one you-pick pumpkin patch to enjoy.
The Barnyard Pumpkin Patch is located adjacent to Harbes Barnyard Adventure, a family-friendly paid admission area of the farm that offers hands-on interaction with farm animals, along with a maze, a tricycle track and playgrounds.
The Barnyard Pumpkin Patch itself offers seven acres of you-pick fun, with many varieties of on-the-vine pumpkins from which to choose, marking Harbes Family Farm among the best pumpkin patches in New York.
Just across from the Harbes Family Farm farmstand, the South U-Pick Pumpkin Patch features eight acres of on-the-vine pumpkins for picking, along with concession foods, a corn maze and live music.
Greg’s U-Pick Farm Market & Community-Supported Agriculture
Greg’s U-Pick Farm Market in Clarence Center, just northeast of Buffalo in the southwest corner of the state, is one of the New York pumpkin patches that is worth your time for a visit.
The you-pick pumpkin patch is open on weekends from September through Halloween, and is also open on the Columbus Day holiday. But choosing a pumpkin is just one small part of the kid- and family-friendly activities available during pumpkin season at Greg’s U-Pick Farm Market.
A single admission price to the you-pick operation includes one pumpkin per person (as big a pumpkin as that person can carry from the patch, that is), wagon rides, a corn maze, a straw bale “mountain,” and even a chance to go bowling, play tic-tac-toe or checkers with pumpkins.
As a special keepsake of your visit to Greg’s U-Pick Farm Market, there’s an old-fashioned tractor around which family photographs can be taken to recall the special time had at this special New York pumpkin patch.
Decker Farm
If you’d like your pumpkin-picking adventure to include a sense of history, Decker Farm in the New York City borough of Staten Island is the place you want to be to see what a special New York pumpkin patch has to offer for seasonal delight.
Established sometime around 1810, Decker Farm remains the oldest family-type farm in New York City, having operated continuously since its founding on Staten Island.
Decker Farm is open on weekends in October for finding the perfect pumpkin, learning how life was lived on the farm in the 1800s, and not least, to sample a range of delicious fall food favorites.
Dykeman Farm
At Dykeman Farm in Pawling, New York, north of New York City at the Connecticut border, the simple question for autumn is whether the season truly is complete without pumpkin picking and hayrides.
For many visitors, Dykeman Farm has become a true family experience, as people who visited the farm as youngsters are now returning to the idyllic setting with their own children. On occasion, family groups returning to Dykeman Farm can number well beyond one dozen people.
Dykeman Farn earns regularly high marks from visitors for its abundant supply of pumpkins, friendly staff and the real farmers who operate the farm, clearly making it a great New York pumpkin patch.
Have a Pumpkin-Pickin’ Good Time!
Despite its permanent Halloween season association with the Headless Horseman and the hapless Ichabod Crane from Washington Irving’s classic “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” there is no reason to fear — but a lot of reasons to anticipate and enjoy — a seasonal visit to any New York pumpkin patches.
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