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.
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 until 5:30 p.m. 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.
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. Add $12 for the biggest pumpkin you pick.
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!
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.
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. 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.
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.
U-Pick pumpkin picking is available at Abma’s Farm on a cash-only basis.
700 Lawlins Rd, Wyckoff, NJ | https://www.abmasfarm.com/
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 Alien Invasion corn maze, paintball, hayrides, pig racing and even a dog stunt show.
The Great Pumpkin Festival happens weekends through early November — check the website for details. And don’t forget your pumpkin!
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 12:30 p.m. and Ort Farms Story Time on Thursdays at 10 a.m.
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.
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 is $5 per person and lasts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hayrides are $10 apiece, and include a full farm tour and access to an 8 acre corn maze.
155 Fresh Ponds Rd, East Brunswick, NJ | http://www.giamaresefarm.com/
Happy Day Farm
Every day’s a Happy Day on this farm. Hop online for tickets to the fall festival and corn maze. Tickets include pumpkin picking, Minions corn maze, pig races, fun slides and tractor rides.
Add on the fun with extra family games and activities. Pick your pumpkins, then enjoy activities like Giant Checkers and Connect Four, rubber duckie races, pumpkin bowling, and even a pirate ship.
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, pay $18 for a scenic hayride to 40+ acres of pumpkins. Children under 8 ride and military veterans ride for free. Hayrides also lead to local breweries and corn mazes.
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 Reba McEntire corn maze, pedal karts, singing chicken show, John Deere tricycle course, barnyard mini golf — and of course, 2 pumpkin patches to choose from.
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.
There’s plenty for the kids to do at Creamy Acres. Enjoy a cow maze, pedal karts, tire mountain, zombie paintball shooting and more. Tickets are $7 for adults, $15 for kids, and free for children under 2.
448 Lincoln Mill Rd, Mullica Hill, NJ | https://www.creamyacres.com/
Duffield’s Farm
Duffield’s Farm pumpkin picking rides happen weekdays from noon to 5:30 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 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.
280 Chapel Heights Rd #9355, Sewell, NJ | https://www.duffieldsfarm.com/
Hill Creek Farms
Hill Creek Farms harvest events take place Friday through Sunday on fall weekends. U-Pick pumpkin patch tickets are available, as are tickets to pick your own apples and sunflowers.
Pre-pay for your tickets online and save $5 on all aspects of your trip. Pre-paid parking is $12.50 per vehicle (instead of $17.50 on premises), for example. Pumpkins, fruits and veggies are paid for by the pound.
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.
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.
