Picking your own pumpkins for Halloween decorations and cooking is a fall tradition just about everywhere in the United States. Arizona is no different, and there are several places you can go to enjoy picking your pumpkins from a pumpkin patch, beginning in the end of September. These harvest festivals are presented in alphabetical order, by the name of the farm or location.
Pumpkin Patches
The Great Pumpkin FestivalDesert Botanical Garden
Papago Park, Phoenix
Take a hayride out to the Garden's pumpkin patch, where children 12 and under can choose their own free pumpkin. Get lost in the Amazing Hay Bale Maze, visit with adorable farm animals in the petting zoo, enjoy lively country and western entertainment and carnival style games. Free pumpkins for children 12 and under. Activities and hayride included with Garden admission. Pony rides for additional charge.
In 2012: October 25 - October 28
See photos of the Desert Botanical Garden Pumpkin Festival.
Watch a video about visiting Desert Botanical Garden.
MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch
26540 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
Petting zoo, hay maze, sack racing, a gem mine, western golf game, horseshoe pits. Additional vendors will be offering a bounce house, rides, face painting, sand art. Horse or Mule drawn Hay ride to and from the pumpkin patch. See the little pig Charlotte and her son Jimmy Dean, the miniature ponies, goats, sheep, the miniature donkeys Pete and Repeat and all of the other critters. Pony rides available, no charge but tips are appropriate so bring some cash. $8 entrance fee per person. Bring one or more cans of food for donation and receive $1 off. Pumpkin prices vary by size. You may bring your own sack lunch.
In 2012: October 5 - 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (closes at 1 p.m. on Halloween)
See photos of MacDonald's Ranch.
Pumpkin Patch at Mother Nature's Farm
1663 E. Baseline Rd., Gilbert
Pumpkin Patch is stocked with fresh pumpkins daily, ranging from 1 ounce to 500 pounds at a family owned farm. Did you grow a huge pumpkin? Register for the Pumpkin Weigh-Off for cash prizes. Pumpkin weigh-off October 6, 2012, winners announced at noon. $10 per child includes an OZ pumpkin, an individual bag of stickers, decorating your pumpkin, the air bounce, a hayride, straw bounce, feeding the animals and Alexander’s Adventure Maze. Adults are $3 to tag along and ride the hayride. Bring a picnic lunch or buy snacks. October 6th and 7th: canned food drive, bring in 3 cans of food and get 1 adult admission free. October 13th and 14th: if your birthday is in the month of October your admission is free (bring proof). The Phoenix Herpetological Society will bring snakes, alligators and reptiles on October 20th and 21st from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Close at 3 p.m. on October 31st.
In 2012: September 24 - November 4
See photos of October festivities at Mother Nature's Farm.
Schnepf Farms Pumpkin and Chili Party
24810 Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek
At the Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party, activities include hay rides, pig races, roller coaster, swingin lady bugz, honeybee adventure, country road rally, miniature golf, 4 acre and 10 acre maze, flying farmers ride, bon fires, marshmallow roasting, carousel rides, petting zoo, lil farmers play yard, bmx show, live entertainment and extreme canine show. Additional costs for food, pumpkins and train ride that becomes spooky at 6:30 p.m. $16 per person. Check at Fry's for discounted tickets.
In 2012: Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October
See photos of October festivities at Schnepf Farms.
Tolmachoff Farms
5726 N. 75th Avenue
Glendale, Arizona
A 6-acre family corn maze (search for pieces of your map as you walk through), mini corn maze (perfect for little ones), petting zoo, train ride, hay pyramid, farm theme activities (corn grinder-grind corn to feed chickens), play area (corn box, adult/child pedal cart track). Admission $8 each ages 2 and up, includes family & mini maze, petting zoo, play areas, bounce house (bounce house weekends only). Extra charge for train ride (weekends only). Check online for discount coupon.
In 2012: October 1 through November 11 except Mondays in November. Open on Columbus Day.
See photos of October festivities at Tolmachoff Farms.
All dates, times, prices and offerings are subject to change without notice.
