Now that fall in North Carolina is officially here, there’s no better way to spend a crisp autumn afternoon than to take the family to a pumpkin patch. There’s just something about riding on the back of a hayride and wandering through rows and rows of brightly colored pumpkins that brings a warm feeling to your heart. So, if you’re in North Carolina or find yourself just passing through the Tarheel State this fall, make sure you check out these festive and welcoming pumpkin patches.
Carrigan Farms, Mooresville
Family-owned and operated, Carrigan Farms in Mooresville has been in the pumpkin patch business since 1975. Every year, during the month of October, adults and children come to the farm to ride along on their tractor-driven hayride out to the pumpkin patch, where they can get out and choose their own pumpkin from the thousands grown in the field. There are small pumpkins that only weigh a pound or two for the little ones, all the way up to gargantuan 20-pound pumpkins! After your trip to the patch, make sure you stop by the farm market, where you can get lots of other goodies like apple cider, gourds, greens, flowers and local honey.
Dates: Starts September 30th, 2023
Official Website
Hodges Family Farm, Charlotte
Hodges Family Farm is another family-owned and operated farm, which is also listed on the National Historic Registry. Although it was originally a dairy farm when it was first established over 100 years ago, it is now an educational farm that offers field trips, a variety of annual events and educational programs about farming and farm animals. Each October, they also host a pumpkin patch with guided tours, hayrides, pick-your-own pumpkins and a giant hay mountain to climb on.
Dates: September 23rd – October 31st, 2023
Official Website
Naylor Family Farm, Fuquay Varina
Naylor Family Farm is another family-owned business that is located close to both Fayetteville and Raleigh. Although they do have a tractor-pulled hayride out to the pumpkin patch where you can pick out your own pumpkin, that is just the beginning. There are lots of other things to do, including going gem mining, meeting the farm animals, playing in the corn crib, riding on the barrel train, getting lost in the 10-acre corn maze or even playing a challenging game of “capture the flag” in the 22-foot farm tower fort!
Dates: September 16th – November 5th, 2023
Official Website
Huckleberry Trail Farm, Siler City
Located between Pittsboro and Siler City and close to Chapel Hill, Durham and Greensboro, Huckleberry Trail Farm is a beautiful place to escape the city for a fall afternoon in the country. During the month of October, their fall festival features a corn maze, a tractor-drawn hayride and a pumpkin patch where you not only get to pick your own but even cut it right off of the vine! They also have plenty of games, a mini-maze for the kids and a cotton patch.
Dates: September 30th – October 28th, 2023
Official Website
Grandad's Apples N' Such, Hendersonville
Grandad’s Apples N’ Such is located in Hendersonville, just outside of Asheville. This 100-acre family-owned farm has a 5-acre pumpkin patch that’s full of all sizes and shapes of pumpkins for picking. During your visit to the farm, you can also test your skills in the corn maze, jump pillow or apple cannon, then meet the barnyard animals in Grandad’s Corral and visit Grandad’s Country Store, where you can sample delicious goodies like homemade apple cider doughnuts or apple ice cream.
Dates: Pumpkins arrive on the farm in late September
Official Website
Mike's Farm, Beulaville
If you’re on or near the coast of North Carolina, make sure to check out Mike’s Farm in Beulaville. This gorgeous property isn’t your typical farm. In fact, besides being a working Christmas tree farm, they also offer educational programs, a petting zoo, a restaurant, a full-service bakery, a gift shop and even dinner theatre shows! During the fall, though, one of their most popular events is their rousing hayrides that take visitors out into the pumpkin patch, where they can pick their own pumpkin to take home. Just make sure to allow yourself plenty of time after you go picking so you can enjoy all the other things there are to do here!
Dates: Select Days in October
Official Website
