Photo: pumpkin patch kid / Shutterstock
It's that magical time of year when the leaves begin to change into a multitude of warm, beautiful colours and the weather turns crisp and cool.
While Halloween is one of the most popular nights during the fall season, pumpkin patches offer a fantastic way to enjoy time with friends, family, or another loved one.
Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head - there's a size or shape of pumpkin to suit any creative idea you have in mind.
What's more, these pumpkin patches offer far more than simply jack-o-lantern canvases. Whether you enjoy a good ol' fashioned hay ride, a nice glass of wine, a slice of delectable apple pie, or even a bone-chilling chase through a corn maze, these fun spots have you covered.
Luckily, we've compiled a handy list of some of the best pumpkin patches that the Lower Mainland has to offer.
(UPDATE: This story has been amended to include the listed hours of operation during the 2020 season. Before stopping by any of the following Pumpkin Patches, visit each establishment's website to learn about COVID-19 protocols and plan your visit accordingly.)
Happy picking!
Pumpkin Patches in the Lower Mainland
Location:
Sept. 5 - Oct. 31
Daily: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Taves Country Farm offers everything from smaller pumpkins that are ideal for making pumpkin pies (especially Cinderella and sugar pumpkins), to larger ones that are perfect for carving the perfect jack-o-lantern. They offer a variety of shapes and colours, and super-size pumpkins average over an impressive 50 pounds. They also have heirloom pumpkins in blush pink, blue, and white. The fun-filled farm also offers a jumping pillow, hay ride, petting barn and bunny town, tractor trail, zipline, playground and slides, pedal karts, corn maze and much more. They even offer pony rides on the weekend.
Location:
Oct. 3 - 31
Daily: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Guests have two options to choose from when planning their pumpkin-picking excursion: The "Pumpkin Promenade," during which guests can walk into the Pumpkin Patch and choose one pumpkin, includes access to the Corn Maze and the various food vendors, and secondly, the Wagon Experience. Visitors can ride out to and from the Pumpkin Patch on a tractor-drawn wagon, alongside an entertainer, before picking out one Pumpkin.
Location:
Oct. 1 – 31
Saturdays 9 am - 5:30 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
They grow over 50 varieties of pumpkins (including giants ranging from 50-100+lbs)!
Bring the family out in Fall for a day at the farm, and enjoy a hayride to the pumpkin patch where you can pick your own, or grab a wagon and walk out to the patch. In addition, regular and specialty pumpkins are available for purchase in the yard in case you don't have time to walk out to the patch. They also have a petting zoo for youngsters, and admission is free.
Location:
Sept. 21 – Nov. 2
Pumpkin patch and daytime attractions: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Haunted hours: 7 - 10 or 11 p.m.
"Maan Farms Haunted Corn Maze is the Scariest Corn Maze in Canada, with over 5 acres of pure terror, consisting of scares that play on your senses like never before." Find out more information about the spooky attraction, as well as their new scary addition, Pitch Black, here.
While Maan farms is also known for having a truly terrifying corn maze, it is also home to some fabulous pumpkins. In fact, they offer the Snow White Pumpkin Patch as well as the cinderella patch. In addition, they offer hay rides, apple cider slushies, corn on the cob, and even a petting zoo. Of course, nothing beats Mama Maan’s crepes filled with BC apples and cinnamon and delicious whipped cream - yum! Maan Farms has also added the Lion King Corn Maze with scavenger hunt for little ones. They also offer a jumping pillow, pedal go–karts, a giant tire mountain, a wooden Fortress, a zipline, sand boxes, slides and a playground.
Location:
Oct. 5 – 31
Weekdays: noon – 5 p.m. | Weekends: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Open Thanksgiving: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Halloween 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Photo: Petey’s Pumpkin Patch / Facebook
The property offers five corn mazes, a family fun zone with bouncy rides including Petey the giant pumpkin, and a train or wagon ride out to the pumpkin patches. The property offers over 5,000 square feet of indoor activities, including an indoor petting zoo, which allows for plenty of space to enjoy when it's raining. In addition, the train and wagon are covered, so they may be enjoyed rain or shine.
Location:
Oct. 1 – 31
Monday through Friday: 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday and Holidays: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thanksgiving Monday: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Photo: Chilliwack Corn Maze
It's corn maze season in the Lower Mainland, and the Chilliwack Corn Maze offers one of the year's most beautiful mazes. Located in the picturesque Fraser Valley close to Highway 1, each year they create a new design based around a topical theme for our 14 acre maze. In addition to the corn maze, the farm is also home to a large pumpkin patch, a giant jumping pillow, pedal karts, duck races, an indoor hay bale maze, tractor rides, farm animals, a flashlight maze and more.
Location:
Oct. 1 - 31
Open Daily: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Photo: Westham Island Herb Farm
Offers ornamental gourds, cornstalks, miniature and full-sized hay bales and sweet sugar pumpkins for baking or cooking. Visitors will also find a great variation in pumpkin colour including white, grey, orange, red and variegated. Some are the size of a grapefruit, while others weigh in around 100 pounds. The owner remarks, "Have you ever tried pumpkin soup served in a hollowed out small pumpkin, you’ll never go back to bowls again!
Location:
Oct. 1 - 31
Weekdays: 3:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Weekends + Thanksgiving Monday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Guests are invited to play with the friendly farm animals, explore the Old Apple Orchard, and pick a pumpkin. The farm is home to a number of goats, chickens, horses and sheep, which offers a full day of fun for little ones and grownups alike.
Location:
Sept.19 - Oct. 31
Open Daily: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Pre-purchased tickets required on weekends)
Photo: Aldor Acres Family Farm
After visiting with all the animals, take a tractor-pulled hayride out to the pumpkin patch to find that perfect pumpkin. They grow over 15 different varieties of pumpkins spread out over 20 acres, so there is sure to be one for everybody. They also have a "Farmacy" where you can pick up farm fresh veggies, eggs and pork. In addition, the owners recommend that you're sure to pickup some of Grandma Anderson’s homemade preserves.
Location:
Oct. 3 - 31
Thursday through Sunday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Emma Lea Farms offers a wide variety of pumpkins and gourds to choose from. In addition, the farm offers an “Oat Maze” where guests can find hilarious jokes scattered throughout the field. After that, visitors can warm up with a delectable hot apple cider from The Ice Cream Shoppe and warm up around the fire.
