Pumpkin Patch With Kids: A Complete Family Guide

There’s something about a trip to the pumpkin patch that makes it officially feel like fall. Wandering through rows of pumpkins, sipping something warm, letting the kids choose their own pumpkin. It’s one of those simple seasonal outings that can easily become a yearly tradition.

Of course, taking kids to the pumpkin patch can also involve muddy shoes, unpredictable weather, snack emergencies, and carrying a pumpkin that your child absolutely insisted they could carry themselves.

A little planning can make the whole day much easier. Whether you’re visiting with a baby, chasing a toddler through the pumpkin field, or bring the whole family along, this guide covers everything you need to know for a fun and memorable pumpkin patch day with kids, from what to wear and bring to choosing the right patch and making the most of your visit.

How to Choose a Pumpkin Patch

Choosing the right pumpkin patch for your family depends a lot on what you’re wanting to get out of it! If you’re wanting to make a day of it, look for a patch with lots of other activities like corn mazes, horse drawn wagon rides, farm animals or play areas.

You should also consider whether you want to pick your pumpkins directly from the field, or from pre-picked pumpkins. My family enjoys wandering around the fields looking for the perfect one, but pre-picked pumpkins are often more accessible if that’s concern for your family.

Pumpkin patches that offer more fun fall experiences may charge admission while others will just charge you for the pumpkins you buy. Keep in mind as well for more popular farms, they may sell tickets in advance and weekends and evenings can sell out quickly.

The Best Time to Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Visiting earlier in the season generally means a better pumpkin selection, and whether the pumpkins last all the way into the fall shouldn’t make too much of a difference since the pumpkins are already usually picked or the vines have died off by the time the patches open, if anything they will last just as long clean and dry on your porch instead of sitting in a muddy field as long as you wait until closer to Halloween to carve them.

The best time in a day to visit really depends on your family, I like to go earlier in the day before there are crowds, if you are able to go on a weekday morning the crowds will likely be the smallest. Evening (golden hour) can be a great time if you’re wanting some great family pictures but larger crowds in the evening can make this difficult as well.

I definitely do not recommend waiting until close to Halloween weekend. By then the fields may be largely picked over and very busy.

What to Wear

The weather can be all over the place in the fall so be sure to check the weather before you head out and dress in layers. You will want to boots or shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy as even if it hasn’t rained recently the patches can be mucky, especially if there has already been lots of visitors! Also consider coordinating everyone in cute but comfortable outfits if you plan to take pictures!

What to Bring

If your pumpkin doesn’t have wagons for you to borrow, consider bringing a sturdy folding wagon that you don’t mind getting muddy for carrying your pumpkins. You should also bring water and snacks for everyone to prevent hangry children! Depending on how late in the fall you go you may also want to pack sunscreen and/or raincoats!

Pumpkin Patch With a Baby

If you are bringing a baby to the pumpkin patch, you should come prepared to baby wear or carry them. Many patches bring people down to patches that aren’t walking distance with a wagon ride, and bringing a stroller isn’t always possible, or easy. And even if you do manage to get the stroller down to the patch, it may be too muddy, or too tight for you to comfortably push it.

Pumpkin Patch With Toddlers & Young Kids

When visiting with young kids leave lots of time for for them to play and explore! Many pumpkin patches may have play structures that your littles will want to spend all day on, so consider getting photos and choosing pumpkins out of the way first so they can play without feeling rushed, and you won’t have crying children protesting in the pumpkin field because they had to leave the play ground!

Making the Most of Your Visit

Leave more time than you think you need for exploring everything your pumpkin patch has to offer. Let your children linger on activities they are enjoying and don’t stress about fitting everything. Take a few photos, grab a fall treat, let everyone choose their pumpkin, and enjoy the little moments along the way. Some of the best memories are made in the unplanned moments; muddy boots, an oddly shaped pumpkin your child has to have, or going through the corn maze one more time.

Pumpkin Patch Photo Tips

If you are planning to get some family photos at the pumpkin patch, make sure to take them early in the visit while everyone is still happy to be there and not tired or hangry. Don’t forget to get some candid and detail photos as well like little hands carrying pumpkins. A great way to grab to get some candid photos where mom gets to be in the picture as well is to set up your phone on a small tripod and take a video where you can capture cute moments from the video later, just make sure you are setting the tripod up in a space where it won’t disturb other people!

What to Do With Your Pumpkin Afterwards

There are so many things you can do with your pumpkin afterwards aside from just carving them! The first thing you should do once you get your pumpkins home is wash off and mud and dry them thoroughly if you hope for them to last until Halloween, and wait to carve them until much closer to Halloween or you will have some very sad looking melted pumpkins by then!

For kids who are still too young for carving you can have a ton of fun painting them together! And if you visited the pumpkin patch with a baby, finding the biggest pumpkin you can and cutting the top, cutting leg holes, and cleaning the inside really well can make for some fun baby-in-a-pumpkin fall pictures!

Some varieties of pumpkins are also great pie pumpkins and baking a pie together from a pumpkin you picked out as a family can make a really memorable fall activity. Don’t forget to save and roast some seeds from either the pie pumpkin or the ones you are carving to roast for a tasty snack. Just make sure it is only pumpkin seeds you roast, decorative gourd seeds are very bitter and shouldn’t be eaten!

Make it a Family Tradition

If you want to turn your pumpkin patch visit into a memorable tradition that your family looks forward to year after year, here are a few ideas:

• Visit the same patch every year
• Take a photo in the same place
• Let each kid choose at least one pumpkin
• Get a special treat together afterwards.

Want to add a little extra fun to your pumpkin patch day? I created a free Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt that you can print and bring along. Kids can search for each item as you explore the farm, giving them something fun to focus on between picking pumpkins, visiting the animals, and checking out other activities.

A pumpkin patch trip doesn’t have to be elaborate to become one of those fall days your family looks forward to every year. Pick a patch that works best for your family, dress for the weather, pack a few essentials, and leave plenty of room in the day to simply wander, explore, and let the kids enjoy it.

Take the pictures, eat the treats, bring home a pumpkin (or five), and don’t worry too much about creating a perfect outing. The muddy boots, ridiculous pumpkin choices, and the little moments in between are the parts that make the best memories anyways.

If you are looking for even more ways to make the most of the season, check out our Fall Family Adventure Bundle, filled with printable activities and pages designed to help your family plan, enjoy, and remember your fall adventures.

And for even more ideas, you can explore our 25 Fall Activities for Kids and 15 Simple Fall Traditions For Families.