Pumpkin Patches To Try Near Millburn, Plus Hayrides And More – Yahoo News
MILLBURN, NJ — Halloween has origins in celebrations of the fall harvest, and there’s a bounty of autumn themed activities coming up in local towns as well as on farms throughout Central and North Jersey.
Are you looking for pumpkin patches, apple picking, hayrides, corn mazes, costume contests, drawing, or other activities? Scan our lists below.
If you have ideas of your own, leave a comment after the article.
And if you are a fan of creepy cartoonist Charles Addams, you can click here to find out about this year’s Addamsfest in Westfield.
Some pumpkin-related activities in the Essex County area:
PUMPKIN PICKING
Fairfield — Fairfield Farms & Greenhouses opened on Sept. 19 with pumpkin picking, hayrides, a corn maze, a “pumpkin slingshot” and other “in the field” activities. Its farm market sells other decorative items that may be useful for Halloween, such as mums, cornstalks and bales of straw. It’s located at 177 Big Piece Road in Fairfield. Contact them at 973-227-1011. Learn more here.
MAZE, PUMPKIN PICK-UP
Roseland — The Essex County Environmental Center at 621-B Eagle Rock Avenue in Roseland will be holding a Fall Fun Maze & Pumpkin Pick-Up on the following Fridays and Saturdays: Oct. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24. The events are open to children of all ages, and will feature a hay bale maze, sugar pumpkin giveaway and a take-away craft bag that includes pumpkin decorating materials. Book a time slot by calling 973-228-8776, or learn more here.
PUMPKIN PURCHASING
Caldwell — The Caldwell Farmer Market at 423 Bloomfield Ave. has pumpkins and several types of gourds, fall squash, field-picked tomatoes and corn. It’s open Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9 to 3 p.m. All costumers must wear a mask and distance themselves at least six feet from other customers. Learn more here or call 973-885-2190.
Cedar Grove – The Cedar Grove Garden Center stocks several “fall necessities,” including pumpkins. Learn more here, or call 973-256-1950.
PUMPKIN PAINTING
Belleville – The Belleville Public Library will hold Outdoor Pumpkin Painting on Oct. 23 from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will take place outdoors on Academy Street. Spaces are limited and registration is required. Call 973-450-3434 or learn more here.
Nutley – The Nutley Public Library will hold a pumpkin painting event for cardholders only on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children can reserve a personal painting kit and pumpkin to pick up and decorate at home. Learn more here.
Pumpkin patches and more in North and Central Jersey:
Name: Williams Nursery of Westfield
Address: 524 Springfield Ave., Westfield
Season opening/closing dates: Open every day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Attractions: Pumpkin Patch
Phone: 908-232-4076
Website: williamsnursery.com
Name: Ward’s Pumpkin Patch
Address: 552 NJ-17, Ridgewood, NJ
Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 1 – Nov. 1
Attractions: Pick-your-own pumpkins, as well as events on weekends leading up to Halloween.
Phone: 201-523-0824
Website: https://bit.ly/3302giq
Name: Secor Farms
Address: 85 Airmont Ave., Mahwah, NJ
Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 14 – Oct. 31
Attractions: The coronavirus pandemic has altered some features of the farm, but a pumpkin patch is still available.
Phone: 201-529-2595
Website: http://www.secorfarms.com/
Name: Demarest Farms
Address: 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale, NJ
Season opening/closing dates: Approximately Sept. 19 through all of October.
Attractions: Pumpkin picking, apple picking and a farm market. Your one-stop shop for fresh, local produce.
Phone: 201-666-0472
Website: https://demarestfarms.com/l Name: Abma’s Farm
Address: 700 Lawlins Rd., Wyckoff, NJ
Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 26 – Oct. 31
Attractions: Pumpkin picking and ticket-only hayrides are available this year with social distancing in mind.
Phone: 201-891-0278
Website: https://www.abmasfarm.com/
Name: Farms View
Address: 945 Black Oak Ridge Rd., Wayne, NJ
Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 26 – Oct. 31
Attractions: Starting the last weekend in September, the farm market also includes pick-your-own pumpkins and a hayride.
Phone: 973-839-1212
Website: https://farmsview.com/
Name: Goffle Brook Farm
Address: 425 Goffle Rd., Ridgewood, NJ
Season opening/closing dates:
Attractions: Alright, alright, so it’s not a pumpkin patch, per se, but pumpkins are available again at this Ridgewood staple. Back as well are the petting zoo, and the farm market is stocked with produce.
Phone: 201-652-7540
Website: https://gofflebrookfarms.com/
Fairfield Farms
177 Big Piece Rd, Fairfield, NJ 07004
Open daily ’till 5:30 p.m.
Activities offered this year: Hayrides, pumpkin picking, and more.
Phone: (973) 227-1011
Website: https://www.fairfieldfarms.net…
Heavenly Hill Farms
451 NJ-94, Vernon Township, NJ 07462
Open daily ’till 6 p.m.
It’s worth the drive into North Jersey bear country to check out their always-popular Fall Harvest Festival. This year, to ensure safety, you now must purchase tickets in advance. No exceptions. Purchase tickets here: https://heavenhillfarm.com/far…
Name: Snyder’s Farm
Address: 586 South Middlebush Road, Somerset
Season opening/closing dates: Weekends from Oct. 3 to 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Attractions: Fall Festival – hayrides, pumpkin picking, corn maze, food, music. $15 per person, children under 2 are free.
Phone: 732-496-0441
Website: snyders-farm.com/fall-festival
Name: Norz Hill Farm
Address: 120 South Branch Road, Hillsborough Township
Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 12 to Nov. 7
Attractions: Fall Harvest Days – Farm tours, pumpkin patch, corn maze, pony rides, kids corner, farm market, scare farm.
Phone: 908-371-2697
Website: norzhillfarm.com
Name: Hillview Farm
Address: 223 Meyersville Road, Gillette
Season opening/closing dates: October
Attractions: Apples and Pumpkin Picking
Phone: 908-647-0957
Website: hillview-farms.com
Name: Melick’s Town Farm
Address: 170 Oldwick Rd., Oldwick
Season opening/closing dates: Through October.
Attractions: Pick your own apples, pumpkins and sunflowers; wagon rides; cider press.
Phone: 908-439-2955
Website: melickstownfarm.com
Name: Wightman Farm
Address: 1111 Mt. Kemble Ave., Morristown
Attractions: Farm Market open 7 days a week 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Autumn Harvest Festival (hayrides, corn mazes and apple picking) weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 973-425-9819
Website: wightmanfarms.com
Alstede Farms, Chester
This farm offers pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, potatoes, and more. Apple season starts in August and runs through the end of October; pumpkins start mid-September and wrap up around Halloween. There’s also cider mill tours, a giant corn maze, and other family-friendly fall activities. Visit their website: www.alstedefarms.com
Bader Farm, Pine Brook
Starting in September, you can pick your own pumpkins, apples, broccoli and more at this family farm. If you miss the fall fun, they also offer Christmas trees and poinsettias after Thanksgiving. Visit their website: www.baderfarm.com
Conklin Farm U-Pick, Montville
In addition to pick-your-own pumpkins, the farm offers hayrides (both haunted and not), a snack stand with warm homemade donuts, and a field of sunflowers. Visit their website: www.conklinupick.com
Donaldson Farm, Hackettstown
Activities include 9-acre corn maze, pick your own pumpkins, apples, Indian corn and raspberries, hay rides, corn cannon, duck races, farm animals and pony rides. See their website: donaldsonfarms.net.
Middle Valley Farms, Mendham
Enjoy pick-your-own pumpkins and gourds, a corn maze, hayrides and more at this Mendham farm. Visit their website: www.middlevalleyfarms.com
Ort Farms, Long Valley
Known for their large corn maze, you can pick your own pumpkins at this Long Valley favorite. There’s also hayrides, an apple cannon, and monster truck and pony rides. They are open for the season now. Visit their website: www.ortfarms.com
Parks Farm, Chester
Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, and enjoy free hayrides. They also offer fresh cider donuts, winter squash, and decorations. Visit their website: www.parksfarmsllc.com
Riamede Farm, Chester
They offer pick-your-own apples and pumpkins at this farm. When you’re done picking, they offer free hayrides. Apple picking is underway, but they suggest you call before visiting for a variety report. Pumpkin field are set to open at “the end of September.” Visit their website: www.riamede.com
Stony Hill Farm Market, Chester
In addition to pumpkins and apples, you can also pick-your-own strawberries at this farm. There’s a corn maze, rope maze, and tile maze, plus gemstone mining. Visit their website: www.stonyhillgardens.com
Sussex County Strawberry Farm, Andover
Sussex County Strawberry Farm opens its gates for Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins the first week in October. The farm features pumpkins grown on location, hayrides every weekend in October, fresh local apples, corn stalks, Indian corn, gourds, mums, fresh local cider, carving supplies. For more details, visit the farm website.
Wightman Farms, Morristown
Hayride, pick your own pumpkins (from hayride field), giant corn maze, Mazeland Mazes, apple picking, tote bag, picnic play area (corn pit and pedal tractors), doughnuts and pumpkin slingshot. See the website for tickets and masking protocols.
Know about any other fall events, pumpkin patches, apple picking, corn mazes, or more? Let us know about it in the comments section below!
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This article originally appeared on the Millburn-Short Hills Patch