Another Autumn tradition, fall festivals aside, is a visit to your local pumpkin patch (if you don’t have one in your area, a visit to an apple orchard works just as well). Don’t think that just because Halloween has passed that you can let this family outing slide. Thanksgiving brings to mind fresh pumpkin pies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins and those wonderfully scented pumpkin spice candles that everyone craves.
Finding a pumpkin farm near you.
We count ourselves lucky to have a nearby farm that celebrates the autumn with their pumpkin patch. This is truly a family farm tradition, and the local farmers go all out with hayrides around the enormous pumpkin and ornamental gourd fields, a corn maze (it’s sorghum really, but tall, so who really cares), hay forts and slides and of course their yearly field of sunflowers.
the pumpkin patch
They charge per person ($2). Some farms with bigger mazes charge more, like Coon Hollo in Micanopy, Florida at $10 and North Georgia Corn Maze (open til Nov. 16th!) at $10 in Cleveland, Georgia. Then you enjoy your family day and maybe come home with a pumpkin or two. Family farms have geared themselves for this autumn event as a way to support their farms (and families). A major amusement attraction it is not, but it IS a great way to support your local farmers! (And get really awesome autumn pictures of your kids- I mean who doesn’t look good posing with pumpkins, right?)
corn maze at the pumpkin patch
Most mazes/pumpkin patches are only open on weekends and after school hours on Fridays- so call ahead for hours. Grab the family and head on out on this beautiful weekend and have a farm friendly day!
at the pumpkin farm