The leaves are turning and there’s a distinct chill in the air, which can only mean one thing – it’s finally Autumn!
Gone are the days of sweating against heat waves and trudging along in sandals. In are cosy jumpers, the more garish the better, snuggles with hot chocolate and a whole assortment of pumpkin flavoured delights (Starbucks anyone?). Indeed, pumpkins are synonymous with the season, and key seasonal celebrations would be incomplete without one adorning your home.
Of course, you could pop down to the supermarket and swipe up a pumpkin for the holiday. However, nothing can quite beat the feeling of plucking one straight from the patch on a crisp Autumn day. The photos of this are also far more memorable!
After a difficult year, getting outside and mucking about in pumpkin field puddles could do us all good. This is why we have put together this list! Live in the North and on the hunt for a way to celebrate this Halloween season with the whole family? Well look no further. Read on to find out about some of the very best pumpkin patches you can enjoy this year. We also have some blog posts detailing other fab pumpkin patches in the North West and North East.
Are your laces tied tight? Do you have your scarf? Perfect. Now, let’s get exploring!
Piglet’s Adventure Farm, York
Photo Credits: Piglet’s Adventure Farm
There’s no better way to get in stuck into the Halloween spirit than trawling your way through perilous pumpkin patches in the hunt for your next carving victim. That’s why Piglet’s Adventure Farm is such a spooktacular spot! Looking for something gnarled, something ghostly, or something monstrous? Well, with over 10,000 pumpkins to choose from, of all colours, shapes and sizes, you’ll be sure to hit the Jack-O-Lantern jackpot!
Pre-booking this year is a must. Head over here to get your hands on some tickets – we warn you that they’re selling out fast! Children’s tickets cost £12.95 and adult tickets cost £10.95. Members can join the festivities for free; however, fee paying children are all entitled to one free pumpkin each!
Activities on offer
Let your creativity shine at the pumpkin carving tent without the stress of having to clean up your mess afterwards. Be sure to creep down in your very best fancy dress as every day one lucky child will win a free annual membership to the farm! Curious creatures can enjoy an eerie adventure here at the Mysterious Maze. Race your way through acres of corn, but be prepared for a ghoulish spook or two along the way!
Photo Credits: Piglet’s Adventure Farm
Budding wizards and witches can sharpen up their magic skills with the Magic Hatter. In these fangtastic family shows, you can help with all sorts of mystifying magic tricks, from hatching dragon eggs, mixing peculiar potions to floating phoenix feathers and much more! However, if that’s not to your liking, you can still enjoy all manner of farm-themed fun. From zip wires, crazy golf, animal petting and farmyard trails, there’s something here for the whole family.
Opening times
You can celebrate this Halloween season at Piglet’s Adventure Farm every weekend of October. From October 23rd to the 31st, weekday slots will also open up. Entry begins at 9:30am with last entry at 3pm.
Where to find them
Towthorpe Grange, Towthorpe Moor Lane, York, YO32 9ST. You can check out their website here or give them a call at 01904 499183.
Newham Grange Farm, Middlesbrough
You’ll be amazed how this typically animal-filled farm park is transformed into something truly spooktacular come this Autumn season! This wonderful family-friendly venue makes for a great day out at anytime of the year, so why not check out their listing here to learn more? Complete with playgrounds and a well-stocked café, a trip here is a delight!
Pre-booking is a must, and you can do so here. Adult tickets cost £5, and children’s tickets cost £4.20. Pumpkins cost £3 each.
Activities on offer
Follow along the Halloween trail if you dare and encounter all manner of ghouls and monsters! Try your hand at some Halloween crafts or carve your own pumpkin at the carving station. Be sure to come decked out in your most fearsome fancy dress to have the chance to win some peculiar prizes!
Opening times
The Halloween trail and pumpkin patch are open from October 23rd to the 30th. Entry begins at 10am and last entry is at 4pm, though the park is open until 5:30pm.
Where to find them
Newham Grange Farm, Wykeham Way, Middlesbrough, TS8 0TG. You can find their website here or give them a ring at 01642 515729.
Spilman’s Pumpkin Patch, Thirsk
Photo Credits: Spilman’s Pumpkin Patch
This lush Yorkshire farm is a wonderful spot to see all year round – though Autumn does truly take the cake! With over 10 acres of farmland dedicated to growing pumpkins, you’re truly spoilt for choice. Indeed, you’ll find over 80,000 pumpkins and gourds in a great array of shapes and sizes. What’s more, there will be a veritable rainbow of pumpkins in a variety of colours, so there’s no way you can leave empty handed.
Pre-booking is essential so that unnecessary contact between households can be limited. You can book here. Please note that though you must buy entry tickets for £5 per person, you are reimbursed with a voucher of equal worth, which you can apply to the costs of pumpkins, food or activities.
Activities on offer
Haul your great pumpkin finds to the carving barn, where you can leave the mess of your efforts behind – no more mucking up your kitchen this year! Practise your aim with the corn cannon and pumpkin slingshot. What’s more, you can tour around the patch on a tractor ride before rounding off your day in the bumper cars at their very own fairground! Clamber up the bale mountain for some Instagram-worthy pics or brave the scary walk – if you dare! Though if you’re a bit tired after lugging pumpkins around all day, a visit to the onsite farm shop café is a great treat.
Opening times
The pumpkin patch is open from October 2nd and entry begins at 9am. Last entry to the patch is 3:30pm.
Where to find them
Church Farm, Sessay, Thirsk, YO7 3NB. You can find their website here or you can call them at 07754 857284.
Williams Den Pumpkins, North Cave
There’s no better way to get stuck in with Autumn than exploring the great outdoors. This is just what the crew over at William’s Den value, and they have spent a lot of time crafting the perfect fun-filled family event for you all to enjoy this Halloween! Rove through over 5 acres of pumpkin patch, filled with all manner of knobbly, colourful and crooked pumpkins. In fact, you’ll have your pick from over 20,000 pumpkins, so you’ll be sure to find your perfect pumpkin pal to celebrate the season with or the ideal ingredient for some festive treats!
You must pre-book a ticket for this event. Head over here to snatch up a ticket. Ticket costs for children aged 3-18 years and adults range from £1 to £4. These tickets include free parking, access to the pumpkin patch and the photo areas. Costs for pumpkins range from £1 for tiny tykes to £25 for absolute monstrosities.
You can also purchase an additional ticket to join the ghoulish fun of William’s Wicked Halloween Event, which you can learn more about below. For this, adult and children’s tickets cost £11.95, though you can checkout their website here for further details.
Activities on offer
Wade your way through acres of fields that are just waiting for you to snatch up one of their petrifying pumpkins. You can pose with your bootiful bounty at one of the numerous photo opportunities to remember your spook-filled day by. Worked up an appetite from your busy bloodcurdling day? Then head to The Kitchen Table restaurant to feast on a great range of snacks and hand-cooked meals. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.
If you’d like to get a bit more out of your stay at William’s Den, then you can also purchase a ticket to Williams’ Wicked Halloween Event. With this, your little beasties can run themselves ragged playing in the indoor and outdoor play facilities all day long. With zipwires, sandpits, rope bridges, a huge treehouse and much more in store, children will have a blast. If you dare, you can also brave the Wicked Woodland Trail, but beware that there might be a scare or two!
Opening times
The pumpkin patch is open every weekend from the 2nd of October. From October 22nd to the 31st, you can book a slot for everyday of the week. Entry starts at 10am and last entry is at 4pm.
William’s Wicked Halloween Event starts on October 23rd and runs all the way up to the 31st. The event begins at 10am and ends at 5pm. There are no time slots for this event, so you can spend the whole day having fun at William’s Den.
Where to find them
William’s Den, Castle Farm, World Hill, North Cave, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU15 2LS. You can checkout their website here or give them a call at 01430 472230.
Farmer Copleys, Pontefract
Photo Credits: Farmer Copleys
On the lookout for a pumpkin so utterly unique, delicious, or grotesque, this Halloween season? Well, look no further as Farmer Copleys has you covered! This award-winning farm has really upped their game this year to bring you over 27 different pumpkin varieties to sink your (fanged) teeth into. From Munchkins and Howdens to Casperitas and Baby Bears, you won’t find just plain old orange pumpkins here! Bakers amongst should look out for the Blue Crown Princes, which reportedly make for delicious baked goods. What’s more, there are a whopping 130,000 pumpkins waiting to be snatched up – so make sure to bring strong bags, or rather, strong hands!
Pre-booking is a must this year. You can book your tickets here. Please note, that your ticket just serves as an arrival slot and you can stay for however long you like at the festival itself. You can book tickets for either peak or off-peak dates. Peak dates cover every weekend of October, whereas off-peak dates cover the rest of the week. You can find further information about this below. Peak tickets cost £4 and off-peak tickets cost £2, though children under 3 get in free. Pumpkins are priced from £1.50 to £12, depending upon their size.
Activities on offer
Slither on down to the farm in your very best fancy dress for the chance to win some spookalicious prizes at the daily fancy dress competition! Face painting is also on hand to transform you into a real thing of horror. There are plenty of photo opportunities for you to pose with and to remember your dastardly day by. Help the Pumpkin Princess find her perfect pumpkin and do not fear the ‘Not so Wicked’ Witch of the West. Though you’ll see her creeping through the farm, she’s happy to help you have a diabolical day out – and she might even have a little surprise or two for you!
Photo Credits: Farmer Copleys
However, there’s plenty more in store for those who aren’t keen on the limelight. Trundle your way through the farm high atop the tractor ride or face the fearsome Falconry Show head on. Tootle along on some vintage rides or be bewitched by the Magical Mr Zen and his magnificent show. You can even fling some arrows down at their very own archery range! Halloween pot painting activities and family storytimes are also on offer, plus loads more.
After a busy day getting up to no good, you can taste some seasonally spooky treats throughout the farm. Stop by the Farm Shop to nosy through locally grown produce and farm made delights. The Moo Café is also a frightfully good spot to enjoy some tasty titbits, such as ghoulish gelato and cursed cakes.
Opening times
If you’re keen to enjoy the pumpkin festival as soon as possible, be sure to snag some peak tickets. With the peak slots, you can join the Halloween festivities every weekend throughout the month of October. Peak slots start on October 2nd and finish on the 31st.
Off-peak tickets are also available. These slots cover the working days of the week. Off-peak slots start on October 18th and finish on the 29th.
Regardless of ticket type, entry begins at 9:30am, and last entries are at 3:45pm. You can stay for however long you like; however, you must arrive during your specific arrival slot. Arrival slots cover only 15 minutes – so be sure to get here on time to avoid disappointment!
Where to find them
Ravensknowle Farm, Pontefract Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF7 5AF. You can pop on over to their website here or give them a ring at 01977 600200.
Birchfield Pumpkin Festival, Harrogate
Photo Credits: Birchfield Ice Cream Farm
Tucked in the Nitterdale valley, the farm of Birchfield Family Dairies has passed through four generations. Though you might know them for their hard work and heavenly home made ice cream, their haunting Halloween festivities are not something to be trifled with! Marvel at how this typical working farm transforms into something utterly spine-tingling. Complete with top notch catering facilities as well as a whole host of family fun events, Birchfield is a wicked spot to celebrate this Autumn season.
You do not need to pre-book a ticket to attend the Pumpkin Festival. You aren’t charged any admission fees solely for the pumpkin patch. Instead, you just pay for whatever you pick. Pumpkin costs range from £1 for miniature monsters to £12 for wretched whoppers. However, if you wish to enjoy all that the farm has to offer, and many of the activities described below, you should buy tickets at the farm entrance. Card is accepted and tickets cost £5 per person, though children under 2 get in for free.
Activities on offer
If you just head to the pumpkin patch, you can explore winding fields full of rambling vines and peculiar pumpkins. After plucking your pumpkin, head over to the carving station and let your imagination loose. However, a trip to the pumpkin washing station beforehand is recommended! Dispose of your yucky pumpkin guts by feeding them to the pigs – how macabre! Though you can also get up close to all manner of charming critters, including piglets, donkeys, guinea pigs, ponies and many more. See how many pumpkins you can knock over at the pumpkin shy.
Photo Credits: Birchfield Ice Cream Farm
Jump yourself silly on the bouncy castles or go mad on the go karts. Weave your way through the 6 acre maize maze and keep busy finding cryptic clues to complete your maze quiz. Wander along the wicked Woodland Walk or scramble up the towering Bale Mountain for excellent pics and even better views. There’s even a sandpit for little ones to play about in and get even more mucky!
Opening times
The Pumpkin Festival begins on October 2nd and finishes on the 31st. They are open 7 days a week, from 10am until 5pm.
Where to find them
Oakmount House, Birchfield Farm, Summerbridge, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 4JS. You can have a nosey at their website here or give them a ring at either 01423 781792 or 07763 191458.
Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley
Photo Credits: Cannon Hall Farm
For over 30 years, Cannon Hall Farm has made for a delightful family day out, and this Halloween season is no exception. With a brand new pumpkin patch and all a whole host of eerie events, you’ll be sure to have a hair-raisingly good time! So what are you waiting for? Pull some sturdy boots on and go out there for some frightful fun!
You must pre-book a slot, and you can snatch up your tickets online here. Adult tickets cost £10.95 and children’s tickets cost £12.95. Free pumpkins are also included for all fee-paying children! Under 2s get in free and pumpkins cost £3.
Tickets to the pumpkin festival give you access not only to the pumpkin patch but also the whole farm. What’s more, tickets include all-day farm access!
Activities on offer
Join the team at Cannon Hall Farm for a spot of pumpkin picking and some spooky goodness. Join in on the Halloween fun with a range themed activities, including the pumpkin decoration station. Cheer on racing sheep and ferrets or pose with your newfound pumpkin companion for some frightfully good pics. Fancy dressing to impress? Well you’ll fit right in! Those of you who really strike up fear might even be awarded a prize or two by the shuffling skeleton crew. Though a second pair of clothes are recommend for the rest of your time getting up to no good in the indoor and outdoor play areas! Creep your way through the animal foot safari and get up close to some of Cannon Hall Farm’s most famous residents. From Ozzie Horseborne, Pony Hadley and Helen the alpaca, you’ll meet a whole host of interesting characters.
You can check out their video here to learn even more about the pumpkin festival.
Photo Credits: Cannon Hall Farm
Opening times
The patch is open every weekend from the 16th of October. Weekday slots are available from the 25th until the 31st. There is a 10am start time and final entry is at 2pm.
Where to find them
Cannon Hall Farm, Cawthorne, Barnsley, S75 4AT. You can have a look at their website here or give them a call at 01226 790427.
Final thoughts
Hopefully this guide to pumpkin patches in the North has inspired you to embrace the Autumn spirit this year. We wish you all the best for your future family days out and we can’t wait to get out there ourselves!
If you visit any of the patches mentioned here, please let us know! You can tag us on Instagram or Facebook. We love hearing about all the fun you guys get up to.
Have you been to the patches we described above? Any must-see’s you think we’ve missed? Have some fun stories you’d like to share from previous pumpkin patch outings? Leave us a comment down below.
