Visiting a pumpkin patch is a great family experience for fall.
You get the chance to pick up nicer orange gourds than you’d find at the supermarket, but the main reason to go is to spend a fall day in a lovely corner of the countryside. The weather may be misty and damp, or sunny and crisp, but the scenery will be gorgeous either way. And almost all pumpkin patches offer more than just pumpkins. Mud, for starters.
Some pumpkin patches are slow-paced, with plenty of time and space to gaze at the scenery. Others have fairground atmospheres complete with rides, raucous activities and entry fees.
Some pumpkin patches, particularly the ones close to the city, sell out every year, so don’t leave it too long to get out there.
Some attractions you have enjoyed in previous years may not be available this fall, or might be altered. Things that were offered inside a building might be altered or unavailable. Hay rides will have limited capacity. And though you can see animals, you may not be able to pet them
What makes sense for your family is up to you.
Some pointers:
-Don’t bring pets.
– As October continues on, some places do run out of pumpkins, so call ahead.
– Dress for mud.
– Many of the farms have beautiful displays of pumpkins that make perfect backdrops for portraits of your family or kids. Take your pictures BEFORE you go out in the field.
-Follow coronavirus precautions. Wear masks, keep your distance, and have the hand-sanitizer ready.
Pumpkin patches with corn mazes
Craven Farm
Craven Farm has two corn mazes, a 15-acre one built on an “Alice in Pumpkinland” theme, and a smaller one geared for younger folks. The big maze is open 9:30 a.m. until dusk Sept. 19 through Oct. 30, and closes at 3 p.m. on Halloween, plus there are “Flashlight Nights” Fridays and Saturdays in October. Also at Craven Farm: miniature golf, an apple slinger, and rubber duck races.
13817 Shorts School Road, Snohomish360-568-2601
Swan’s Trail Farms
This farm has a 12-acre corn maze inspired by the geography of Washington State, with corn-y renditions of 400 towns and landmarks, each labeled with educational facts. Open noon to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends Sept. 26 through Oct. 31. Also at Swan’s Trail Farms: petting farm, wagon rides, live duck and pig races, and a hay maze in the barn.
7301 Rivershore Road, Snohomish425-334-4124
Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm
Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm boasts a 10-acre corn maze, plus a kids’ corn maze. The farm is in Pumpkin Patch mode 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day from Sept. 19 until Nov. 1, and the big corn maze 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights Sept. 26 through Oct. 31. You can rent a fire-pit inside the maze, if you like. Also at Bob’s: hayrides, trike track, slides and cow-train rides.
10917 Elliott Rd, Snohomish360-668-2506
Thomas Family Farm
Along with the 10-acre corn maze, there’s a paintball, apple cannons, and other activities. Open weekends in October 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Look here to find which nights the farm is open.
9010 Marsh Rd, SnohomishStocker Farms
Along with the corn maze, you can enjoy duck races, a cow train, a sport ball arcade, corn box, and other sources of hilarity. On the first two weekends, you can also hand-pick sunflowers. (Or just take pictures with sunflowers.) For teens with an appetite for fright, there’s an after-dark feature called “Stalker Farms,” which creates the feel of a horror movie. (This year, it’s a drive-thru.) The corn maze and family adventure farm are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 19 and 20, Sept. 26 and 27, and throughout October.
8705 Marsh Rd, Snohomish360-568-7391
Carpinito Brothers
Along with a state-of-the-art corn maze, this pumpkin patch has a farm fun yard where kids can see animals and do activities. The Carpinto Brothers pumpkin patch is open from Sept. 25 to Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to dusk.
27508 West Valley Highway N, KentSpooner Farms
Spooner Farms has a five-acre corn maze. The pumpkin patch is open Oct. 1 through Oct. 31. Maze hours 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends.
9710 State Route 162 E, Puyallup
253-840-2059
Thomasson Family Farm
Thomasson Family Farm has a five-acre corn maze. There’s also a Kids Korral full of activities including a hay maze. On weekends, there’s also laser tag available. Open Oct 1 to 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., open 9:30 a.m. until noon on Halloween.
38223 236th Ave SE, Enumclaw360-802-0503
Schilter Family Farm
The theme for five-acre corn maze is “Schilter Sunny Days Maze.” Other activities include a hay maze, slides and animals. Sept. 26 through Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closes at 4 p.m. on Halloween.)
141 Nisqually Cutoff Road SE, Olympia360-459-4023
Double R Farms
This farm has a five-acre corn maze, three pumpkin slingshots (one of which just for kids), farm animals, and, on weekends when the weather isn’t too terrible, tractor-pulled hayrides. Open through October. Call (253) 227-5385 for hours.
5820 44th St E, Puyallup253-227-5385
Picha Farms has a five-acre corn maze, a slingshot they claim is the best in the Puyallup valley, and hayrides. Open Sept. 28 to Oct. 31. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends.
6502 52nd St E, Puyallup253-841-4443
There’s a four-acre corn maze plus other activities such as wagon rides and zip lines, and nightime attractions such as a flashlight maze and “Haunted Woods” (not recommended for kids under 11.) To go to Maris Farms this year, you need to buy advance tickets online. Pumpkins are available Sept. 26 through Oct. 31.
25001 Sumner-Buckley Hwy, Buckley253-862-2848
Rutledge Corn Maze
Rutledge Corn Maze is big and changes every year. Daytime activities include zip-swings and a cow train. Open Sept. 29 through Oct. 31. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Corn maze stays open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.) A separate haunted maze is available some nights.
302 93rd Ave SE, Olympia360-357-3700
Serres Farm
This 24-acre Redmond farm reimagined its corn maze this year. According to the website: “This year it isn’t a MAZE as you have seen in the past. This year you try to choose the path that doesn’t have a ‘monster’ sign. It’s a 50/50 chance. If you do come across a ‘monster’ sign you should do what it says until you come across the next set of arrows. At the end count up how many ‘monster’ signs you came across and check your score on the scoreboard.” Open (while pumpkins last) 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends in October, and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.
20306 NE 50th St, Redmond425-868-3017
More farm fun and games
The Family Fun Park has lots of rides, including a half-sided steam train, kid-sized roller coaster, Ferris wheel, miniature Model Ts, pedal cars and a carousel. Their Fall Harvest event runs weekends Sept. 26 until Halloween. Check the website for hours.
6104, 32610 NE 32nd St, Carnation425-333-4135
Jubilee Farm
If you want to get a chance to take a wheelbarrow and pick out pumpkins at this farm, be one of the first people to arrive and park in the lot. Once the lot is full, no-one else gets in. There will be food and some activities. Alas, the trebuchet, hay rides and hay maze are not available this year. Saturdays and Sundays in October 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
229 W Snoqualmie River Rd NE, Carnation425-240-4929
Carleton Farm
This farm has two pumpkin cannons, which send pumpkins sailing over the fields with a wallop of air. Also at Carleton Farms: a five-acre corn maze, hay rides, kids’ play area, and paintball gallery. (The paintball gallery is only open on weekends.) Sept. 25 through Oct 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
630 Sunnyside Blvd SE, Lake Stevens425-334-2297
This organic farm and education center has a pumpkin slingshot available for use during its Oxtober Fall Festival. There will also be hayrides, self-guided tours, and access to a hiking trail. Oxtober fall festival runs October weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year, the farm is changing the entrance for the fall festival, so keep an eye out for signs.
10819 Carnation Duvall Rd NE, Carnation
425-788-1134Pick fruit and vegetables (other than pumpkins)
Bailey Family Farm
Check ahead to find out what’s ready for harvest at this farm which offers a variety of U-pick vegetables. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
12711 Springhetti Rd, Snohomish360-568-8826
Bellewood Acres
You can pick an astonishing variety of apples in this immense orchard. You can ride the “apple bin express,” a tractor-propelled train, out to the trees. The farm’s U-pick apple page lists which varieties of apples are available. There’s also a corn maze. Pumpkins are available to pick starting on Sept. 26, and the farm is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Check the website or call the farm (360) 318-7720 in advance to check what’s available on the day you are coming.
6140 State Route 539, Lynden360-318-7720
Fox Hollow Farm
Buy your tickets ($45 per car) in advance, and when you get there, follow a one-way trail around the sights of this scenic 22-acre farm, where you can stop for pictures by the apple trees, the corn field, or the river. There are animals, hay maze and a giant hay pyramid. At the end of the trail, you can pick up a pumpkin or buy other produce from the farm. Starts on Sept. 18.
12123 Issaquah Hobart Rd SE, Issaquah
Simple farm fun
Fall City Farms: Scenery and farm animals are the main side benefits to picking up your pumpkins at this farm, less than ten minutes from Snoqualmie Falls. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 through October. Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3636 Neal Rd, Fall City425-222-0522
Two Brothers Pumpkins at Game Haven Farm
If you are looking for a pumpkin patch which is all about pumpkin cultivation, and not about the extras, this could be the place for you. They do have farm animals, though. Open Sept. 26 to Oct. 31. Call (425) 333-4313 before you go.
7110 310th Avenue NE, Carnation425-333-4313
Not opening in 2020
Foster’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze 5818 WA-530, Arlington 360-435-6516 Fairbank Animal Farm: 15308 52nd Ave W, Edmonds 425-743-3694More ways to celebrate fall in Seattle-area farm country
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