This article is all about New Jersey pumpkin patches.
The leaves are turning and the weather’s getting cooler — that can only mean one thing. It’s pumpkin picking season in New Jersey!
Celebrate this year’s autumn harvest by visiting New Jersey pumpkin patches. Local farms across the Garden State offer pumpkin picking, along with a laundry list of other activities.
We’ve updated our list of NJ pumpkin picking information with pricing, schedule and crop information for the 2024 fall season.
Do you like homemade pumpkin pastries and farm fresh apple cider? What about a spooky hayride or petting zoo for the kids? We found dozens of NJ farms that offer all these activities and more — so how do you choose the right one for you?
Here are 5 things to consider when selecting the best pumpkin picking NJ has to offer:
- Location: There are many places to pick pumpkins in NJ. Find one close to home and make the trip easier on your family.
- Price: Does the NJ pumpkin patch offer family or group pricing? Does the price go up on the weekends? What does the cost include?
- Hours of Operation: When can you go pumpkin picking? When is each location more and less crowded?
- Family Friendly Environment: Is the facility family friendly? Do they have special offers for younger guests? How do they specifically cater to families?
- Other Entertainment: What else can you do at each NJ pumpkin patch? Do they offer farm animals or pony rides for kids? Are there hay rides? Do they sell or serve pumpkin pie?
We used this criteria to select the 4 best overall New Jersey pumpkin patches for families — 2 in North Jersey, and one each in Central Jersey and South Jersey.
The Best New Jersey Pumpkin Patches for Families
North Jersey’s Best: Wightman Farms
The Wightman Farms Fall Festival has it all. Hayrides, apple picking, a picnic area, seven different hay and corn mazes — and of course, pick-your-own pumpkins.
The Fall Festival at Wightman Farms is open on weekends from 9 am – 5 pm. All Access tickets are $25 apiece and include free parking, unlimited hayrides, maze access, and a souvenir tote bag. Children ages 3 and under enter for free.
The best part? You get a free pumpkin with every hayride ticket at no added cost. Apple picking is also available for $3.29 per pound. End your day with a picnic on the farm while you play corn hole and hula hoop with the family.
2024 Information: Wightman Farms weekend activities happen Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am – 5 pm. The farm market is open 7 days a week from 8 am – 6 pm
1111 Mt Kemble Ave, Morristown, NJ | https://wightmanfarms.com/
North Jersey’s Best: Demarest Farms
Book your pumpkin patch visit in advance on the Demarest Farms website for just $8. The cost includes free parking, pumpkin patch entrance, hayrides, petting zoo and playground access. School groups may purchase tickets at a rate of $20 per person for a unique field trip experience.
But that isn’t all Demarest Farms offers for fall fun! The Halloween Light Show is a wonderful annual exhibit that combines a great autumn farm experience with a spooky light show the kids will love. Enjoy a guided tour of all 32 acres of Demarest Farm, lit up for the season!
It’s the largest Halloween Light Show in New Jersey, and you must make reservations in advance online to attend. Tune your car radio to 107.9 FM once you arrive, and enjoy the show!
2024 Information: Demarest Farms’ fall schedule is Monday-Friday from 8 am – 5 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am – 6 pm.
Click here to purchase tickets to the Demarest Farms Halloween Light Show. The show runs through October 31st, with the exception of Oct 15-16.
244 Werimus Rd, Hillsdale, NJ | https://demarestfarms.com/
Central Jersey’s Best: Terhune Orchards
Terhune Orchards is a family-owned orchard and winery in Mercer County. Their Fall Family Fun weekends are a great way to take the kids pumpkin picking in a safe, comfortable environment.
Fall Family Fun takes place on fall weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They feature live music, a corn maze, and pumpkin picking for the family. Kids also enjoy pumpkin painting, duck races, a hay bale maze and adventure barn.
Choose from 4 combo ticket prices based on your family’s needs (kids under 3 are free). Terhune Orchards also offers Read & Pick Pumpkins for $12 per child on select dates — find the schedule on their website.
2024 Information: Read & Pick events at Terhune Orchards happen on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 and 11:30 am. Check the website for details on each event.
330 Cold Soil Rd, Princeton, NJ | https://www.terhuneorchards.com/
South Jersey’s Best: Johnson’s Corner Farm
Harvest Festivals at Johnsons Corner Farm in Medford are a ton of fun. These weekend events include live music, a food tent, daily sunflower picking, a corn maze, plus duck races and a discovery barnyard for the kids.
The Farm is also open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is 25% cheaper than on weekends (see 2024 information for details). Enjoy a wagon ride to the fields and orchards, where you can pick pumpkins, gourds and apples.
Visit the Johnson’s Corner Farm website to purchase tickets in advance — they’re cheaper online than at the entrance.
2024 Information: Johnson’s Corner Farm’s 2024 fall harvest runs every day from September 7 to October 31, including Columbus Day. Admission is 25% cheaper on weekdays, with the exception of Columbus Day 2024 (October 14th).
133 Church Rd, Medford, NJ | https://www.johnsonsfarm.com/family-activities/fall-activities/
Pumpkin Picking North Jersey
Abma’s Farm
Abma’s Farm is a multi-generation family farm that does family pumpkin picking very well. They offer public, private and school field trip hayride packages with free pumpkins. Each ticket comes with a petting zoo experience.
Abma’s Farm now offers 2 locations — Wyckoff and Hillsborough, NJ. The Hillsborough location is a retail and wholesale extension of the original family farm in Wyckoff, and features a farm market, petting zoo, pumpkin patch and corn maze.
Unlike prior years, Abma’s Farm now offers online ticketing for U-pick pumpkin picking, hay rides and other fall activities through its website.
700 Lawlins Rd, Wyckoff, NJ | https://www.abmasfarm.com/wyckoff/
282 Amwell Rd, Hillsborough, NJ | https://www.abmasfarm.com/hillsborough/
Alstede Farms
Alstede Farms is one of North Jersey’s largest and most diverse farms, and the pumpkin fields don’t disappoint. Pick orange and white pumpkins, mini “munchkin” pumpkins, gourds and various types of winter squash.
The fall ice cream stand and kid’s activities are fantastic at Alstede Farms. There’s also an active cider mill and wine tastings courtesy of Tomasello Winery.
1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester, NJ | https://www.alstedefarms.com/
Fairfield Farms and Greenhouses
Fairfield Farms is a 20-acre farm on the border of Essex and Passaic Counties. Their fall festivities are particularly charming — start at the market area with pumpkins, gourds, apple cider, and handcrafted fall decorations.
Pumpkin picking is designed for family fun here. Check out the new “Spooky Trail”, take a hayride, or let the kids loose on rides, mazes, and the pumpkin slingshot.
177 Big Piece Rd, Fairfield, NJ | https://www.fairfieldfarms.net/
Heaven Hill Farm
The annual Great Pumpkin Festival is a wonderful fall activity for the whole family at Heaven Hill Farm. Enjoy 12 carnival rides, an Big Top themed corn maze, paintball, hayrides, pig racing and even a dog stunt show.
2024 Update: The Great Pumpkin Festival happens weekends from September 14 through November 3, 2024. There are several new events at the festival this year, including a Baseball Speed Throw, new carnival rides, and the Apple Cannon. Make sure to grab the famous Heaven Hill apple cider donuts!
451 NJ-94, Vernon Township, NJ | https://heavenhillfarm.com/
Ort Farms
Ort Farms occupies 400 acres of Morris County and offers a variety of great autumn PYO (pick your own) options. Go pumpkin picking, or try something different — Ort Farms has apples, sweet corn, squash, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and more fall veggies.
If you have a younger child, Ort Farms hosts Mommy & Me on Mondays at 10 am. and Ort Farms Story Time on Thursdays at 10 am and noon. Mommy & Me events are $9.95, and Story Time is $6.95.
2024 Information: Ort Farms Mommy & Me is closed on Columbus Day 2024. Family events will always occur in the large Ort Farms event tent across the street from the farm store, rain or shine. Tickets should be purchased in advance online.
25 Bartley Rd, Long Valley, NJ | https://www.ortfarms.com/
Riamede Farm
Want the classic “pumpkin on the vine” picking experience? Riamede Farm is the best pumpkin patch in North Jersey for an old-school, traditional farm experience. There are jack o’lantern pumpkins for the kids, and great cooking pumpkins as well — try the cheese and sugar pumpkins.
There’s plenty of other veggies to pick at Riamede Farm. Grab some smaller gourds at the bottom of the pumpkin patch, or opt for acorn, spaghetti or butternut squash.
New for 2024: Check out Halloween Line Dancing at Riamede Farm on October 25, 2024 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.
122 Oakdale Rd, Chester, NJ | https://www.riamedefarm.com/
Pumpkin Picking Central Jersey
Giamarese Farm & Orchard
Fall Harvest weekends at Giamarese Farm & Orchard are full of autumn fun. Pick your own pumpkins, apples and tomatoes, and enjoy a 90 minute hayride through the entire farm.
Admission and price-per-pound information for U-pick activities at Giamarese Farm vary from crop to crop, and entry ticket costs differ on weekdays and weekends. It’s encouraged to purchase your tickets online in advance — call the farm at (732) 821-9494 for daily updates.
2024 Information: As of this update, the following attractions at Giamarese Farm are weekends only: hayrides, corn maze, pony rides and petting zoo. Note that the pony rides and petting zoo are cash only at this time.
Current admission hours are 9 am – 5 pm from Tuesday through Sunday. Giamarese Farms is closed on Monday. The last daily hayride around the farm departs at 4:30 pm.
155 Fresh Ponds Rd, East Brunswick, NJ | http://www.giamaresefarm.com/
Happy Day Farm
2024 Information: The Happy Day Farm 2024 Fall Festival runs from September 14 through November 3, with tickets at $27.50 per person. Tickets are required for ages 2 and older, and should be purchased in advance online.
The festival includes a ton of free activities, such as pumpkin bowling, Tire Mountain, corn maze, corn tunnel and hay maze. Guests of all ages can enjoy Giant Jenga, tetherball, tractor rides, cornhole and an animal zoo.
Guests at Happy Day Farm’s fall festival can enjoy paintball, pony rides, a corn cannon, pumpkin blaster, pick your own pumpkins and sunflowers for an additional cost.
106 Iron Ore Rd, Manalapan Township, NJ | https://www.happydayfarmnj.com/
Norz Hill Farm
Norz Hill Farm is famous for its Scare Farm Halloween event, but its Fall Harvest is a great way to visit the farm with your family. Grab a charcoal-grilled hot dog or hamburger and let the kids roam the Kids’ CORNer, complete with hay bale maze and corn boxes.
Then, head out to the pumpkin patch for various pumpkins and gourds. There’s a wonderful variety of colors — orange, white, green, even blue and pink!
120 S Branch Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ | https://www.norzhillfarm.com/
Schaefer Farms
Like Norz Hill Farm, Schaefer Farms is well-known for its Farm of Horrors Halloween event. But it’s so much more — Schaefer is a cornerstone of Hunterdon County farming, with beautiful farmstand items like handcrafted candles, milk, cheese, butter, jellies and local honey.
After the Schaefer farm stand, take a scenic hayride to 40+ acres of pumpkins — pay $18 with card or $15 with cash. Children under 8 ride and military veterans ride for free. Hayrides also lead to local breweries and corn mazes.
2024 Information: According to their website’s fall 2024 update, Schaefer Farms’ farm stand is open Monday through Thursday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm, Friday & Saturday 9:30 am – 10:00 pm, and Sundays 9:30 am – 9:00 pm.
Hayrides to the pumpkin patch start on September 14th & 15th (Saucetoberfest weekend), as well as the 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th and every Saturday and Sunday in October.
1051 County Rd 523, Flemington, NJ | https://www.schaeferfarms.com/
Von Thun’s Country Farm Market
Weekends are Fall Festival time at Von Thun Farms. If you’re going multiple times, invest in the full Season Pass on their website for an excellent bargain ($45.99 for unlimited fall access, even when the Festival date is sold out).
Enjoy the Luke Bryan corn maze, pedal karts, singing chicken show, John Deere tricycle course, barnyard mini golf — and of course, 2 pumpkin patches to choose from.
2024 Information: The 2024 Von Thun Fall Festival runs Saturdays and Sundays from September 14 through October 27 from 10 am – 5 pm. The last tickets for each day are sold at 4 pm. There are a variety of new ticket options for different you-pick pumpkin and apple activities, and it’s advisable to do your research and buy tickets in advance online.
519 Ridge Rd, South Brunswick, NJ | https://vonthunfarms.com/sb/sbfall-fun/
Pumpkin Picking South Jersey
Creamy Acres Farm
Daytime fall fun at Creamy Acres Farm starts with a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch, where guests pay by the pound for PYO pumpkins. The pumpkin patch is cash only, and features pumpkins weighing up to 25 pounds.
2024 Information: Creamy Acres 2024 Fall Festival tickets are $15 per person, with children under 2 free. Hayride only tickets are $7 per person. The Farm Park is a highlight for all ages, especially kids — check out the tube chute, pedal karts, zombie paintball and more.
2024 hayrides, pumpkin picking and fall activities at Creamy Acres are only open on Saturdays on October and Columbus Day (10/14). Hours are 10 am – 4 pm, and the last hayride leaves at 3:45 pm.
Fall store hours at Creamy Acres Farm are Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm. The store is closed on Sundays.
448 Lincoln Mill Rd, Mullica Hill, NJ | https://www.creamyacres.com/
Duffield’s Farm
Duffield’s Farm 2024 pumpkin picking rides happen every half hour. Weekday rides are from 12 pm – 5 pm, and weekend rides run from 10 am – 5 pm.
Tickets are available through the Farm website and feature a variety of buying options.
The amount of ticket choices on Duffield’s website is nice. Want to pay for hayrides only? Apple picking and pumpkin picking? A hayride to pumpkin picking? Each ticket is a unique price and allows for purchasing flexibility.
New for 2024: Check out the Duffield’s Farm pumpkin painting night on October 25, 2024 from 6:30 – 9 pm. Pre-register for this event by visiting the Duffield’s website.
280 Chapel Heights Rd #9355, Sewell, NJ | https://www.duffieldsfarm.com/
Hill Creek Farms
2024 Information: The 2024 Hill Creek Farms fall U-pick season runs Fridays through Sundays from September 13 through November 3, 2024 — it’s also open Columbus Day. The best deal is to go on Fridays, when admission is free and you only pay for what you pick.
There is a $20 per vehicle charge on Saturdays and Sundays. This charge includes a hayride for your party as well as a picking bag. Pumpkins are $0.90 per pound in the 2024 picking season.
Hill Creek Farms 2024 fall weekend events offer a wide variety of experiences. Check out the Pumpkin Festival from Oct. 12-14, Foodie Weekend Oct. 18-20, and the Halloween Fun Festival on Oct. 26-27.
Guests can pick pumpkins at each event, as well as apples, sunflowers and vegetables. Visit the website for specific online ticketing for each event.
1631 NJ-45, Mullica Hill, NJ | https://hillcreekfarms.com/
Springdale Farms
As Cherry Hill’s last working farm, local residents take pride in supporting Springdale Farms during fall harvest season. Pumpkin picking hayrides are a highlight of fall events, and run continuously from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September and October weekends.
2024 Information: For the 2024 season, Springdale pumpkin picking hayrides run on Saturdays and Sundays from September 28th through October 27th. The last tractor ride leaves at 3:30 pm. Pumpkins are priced per pound, and admission is $7.50 (plus tax) for guests.
Note the Springdale Farms supervision rules: there must be at least one adult present for every 6 children under the age of 10. Children 12 months and younger are free.
Pick your pumpkins at Springdale Farms, then stick around for some great eats. They’re part of the South Jersey “Farm to Fork” program, and their pies, cakes and muffins are excellent.
1638 South Springdale Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ | https://www.springdalefarms.com/
Family Pumpkin Picking NJ Style
There are so many great New Jersey pumpkin patches to visit — you can afford to be picky! Choose one with the right price point, location and extra activities for your family.
Whether you’re looking for a jack o’lantern or ingredients for a homemade pumpkin pie, New Jersey farms have the pumpkins you need. Chances are you can enjoy a farmer’s market or relaxing hayride during your visit!
Select a pumpkin patch from this list, and support a local New Jersey farm. You’ll discover a new fall activity to enjoy for years to come.
