Your guide to pumpkin patches near Philadelphia

Kicking off its pumpkin-picking season in mid-September, this farm is traditionally known for Christmas trees, but doubles as a fall-festive pumpkin patch during autumn months, with hourly wagon rides through the week and a surprisingly eclectic number of kid-friendly activities—everything from “Jumpin’ Pumpkin” for toddlers to a hay bale maze that snakes around the edge of the patch. If you’re really feeling the vibe, swing for a private bonfire, bookable in two-hour time slots for $8 per person. Only looking for pumpkins? Those will run you $1.50 to $25.95, depending on the size.

This Jersey pumpkin-lovin’ outpost opens its patch near the end of September each year, offering a fairly standard experience—as far as pumpkin patches go—that’s rounded out with some exceptionally delicious pumpkin pie and pumpkin cream cheese available for purchase. Before picking your pumpkins (they’re 79 cents per pound), relax in the plant yard, where you’ll find everything from mums to fairy-garden decor. There’s not much in the way of thrills, really, but for approximately $10 kids and young adults can take part in the “Lost Civilizations”-themed corn maze.

Pumpkins are aplenty at Duffield’s, packaged with an educational, narrated hayride or purchasable as standalones for $6 each at the market. The farm also works with schools to organize field trips to their “Learning Barn.” Come early in the morning to get an inside look at the baking process for their donuts, and stick around for lunch—they have a rotating soup and sandwich menu that changes weekly alongside the crop harvest. The rustic and altogether charming Country Barn Market is worth a perusal after, whether for produce or accessorizing your pumpkin with some mums.

Through October, during weekends, Country Barn offers a variety of pumpkins—both in size and color—for 50 cents per pound. Among them: Peanut Pumpkins, Jack-B-Littles and several types of gourds—not to mention, it’s your best bet for finding a green pumpkin, should that be your preference. Kids entertainment comes in the form of Barnyard Kingdom, an $11 admission that includes access to a five-acre corn maze, a pig show and petting zoo.

As much an amusement park as a pumpkin farm—seriously, there are potato sack races, a jungle trail maze, bull roping, bell ringing, etc.—the 18-acre Hellerick’s Family Farm is a charming experience for kids and adults. Eighteen dollars secures admission to the “Adventure Farm” all day, with as many as 45 activities accessible through the week. The real allure of Hellerick’s, though? The hilarious pumpkin-rolling competitions, where you’ll get lost watching kids gleefully chucking the lumpy orange globes down the Bucks County hillside. Fork over 65 cents per pound to take home some of your own rolly pollies.

The pride and joy of Gloucester County for pumpkins, you’ll find pumpkins both giant and mini here, plus gourds and Indian corn. For the patch, guests pay a flat fee to embark on a 20-minute hayride to the whimsical, purple and pint-sized “Hilda’s House,” where kids pick a small pumpkin and select a prize from Hilda’s Cauldron. It’s also the only farm that makes pumpkin donuts. Not to mention pumpkin cakes and iced cookies. Pumpkins here will set you back 69 cents per pound.

This Lansdale mainstay packs its patch with pumpkins perfect for both consumption and optimal carving. The farm gets some notable extra credit for its solid customer service—they’ll spill all you need to know about keeping your produce, pumpkin or otherwise in tip-top shape. For the farm’s most festive pumpkin experience, plan to attend the annual lighting of the “Great Pumpkin,” where adults can jam to live music and kids can sit cross-legged in the crisp fall air for story time.

Though you’ll have to pay a fee for admittance to the weekend Fall Fest, the bright side is that this accessible farm and orchard jampacks the day with things to do: apple-picking, an animal education mini-exhibit, a corn maze and the usual collection of inflatable attractions and storytimes. The highlight of the experience, though, is the assortment of Di Bruno Bros., Stonewall Kitchen and Rose Bank Winery goods available at the farmers’ market. Plus, pumpkin bars and, as the days get even colder, eggnog doughnuts. Punkin hunters will pay 59 cents per pound for their gourd.