The weather has teased us with chilly temperatures, and fall traditions are coming to us faster than expected. One of our favorite weekend plans for the autumn season is visiting local pumpkin picking farms in New Jersey. In fact, plenty of farms for pumpkin picking in New Jersey offer more than just a pick-your-own experience. Goers can also enjoy festivals, live music, family activities and don’t forget dining on apple cider doughnuts.
Whether you are looking for a future jack-o’-lantern, fall decor or want to turn your gourd into a delicious treat, these 13 pumpkin picking farms in New Jersey will guarantee a memorable experience for you and your loved ones.
1. Farms View Roadstand –Wayne, NJ
Photo courtesy by Farms View Roadstand
Starting on the last weekend of September and through the entire month of October, this farm welcomes everyone to come pumpkin picking. While you’re there, join their hayride experience for $10 per person, which includes a pumpkin of your choice and either a donut or apple to-go.
Despite the farm’s no-reservation policy on hayrides, they encourage visitors to call ahead if the weather conditions are questionable. If you prefer to skip the hayride experience, they also offer a wide selection of additional pumpkins inside the Farm Market.
2. Wightman Farms – Morristown, NJ
Photo courtesy of @northjerseydroneshots
The Autumn Harvest Festival at Wightman is the place to be this fall. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday guests can attend this all-inclusive experience which includes entry to the mazeland, unlimited scenic hayrides and access to the orchard where visitors are offered reusable souvenir tote bags. The hayride also includes one pumpkin per paid ticket, which is $25 per person, and free parking.
The grounds of Wightman Farms holds a giant corn maze, a rope maze, a paver maze, a rock labyrinth, a hay bale maze, pyramid and picnic area. The pumpkin slingshot is also open, only on the weekends, and tickets are separate from the cost of admission.
3. Secor Farms – Mahwah, NJ
Photo Courtesy by Secor Farms
At Secor Farms, PYO season kicks off quite early. Through the whole month of October, this farm hosts hayrides, corn mazes and a large patch for patch of pumpkins. Through the season, there’s a wide selection of jack-be-little pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and other traditional fall treats at their market.
Hayrides run from mid-September to late October and are offered to public and private groups. Public hayrides are $5 per person.
4. Demarest Farms – Hillsdale, NJ
Photo courtesy by @pinett_photography
This New Jersey pumpkin picking farm is not only ideal not only lets you pick your own, but also watch a movie right after. Demarest Farms is open seven days a week and reservations are mandatory for visiting. These can be made through their website.
Upon arrival, guests are given one hour to pick their pumpkins and are always encouraged to drop by their market to get some fresh produce.
The general admission is $7 and it includes free parking and entrance to the pumpkin patch. For $12, you can take home the largest pumpkin that you pick. Kids under two years old do not pay for entrance.
This year, they’re also hosting a Halloween Family Light Show. You can book your tickets here to drive your car through over 32 acres of spooky light displays. Guests can also make their own s’mores or enjoy hot chocolate around the fire pit.
5. Melick’s Town Farm – Califon, NJ
This family-friendly farm opens its doors for pumpkin picking starting the first weekend of October. As stated on their page, Melick’s Town Farm welcomes visitors to horse-drawn wagon rides and to pick their pumpkins straight from the vine.
They offer freshly baked goods, corn stalks, gourds, pumpkins in all shapes and sizes, as well as hay bales to decorate your home for the season.
6. Snyder’s Farm – Somerset, NJ
Snyder’s Farm welcomes pumpkin-pickers to their Fall Festival on weekends from October 2 to October 24. The festival experience includes hayrides, picking out pumpkins, a corn maze, food and music. A general admission ticket costs $15 and is required to go pumpkin picking.
7. Alstede Farms – Chester, NJ
This history-rich and family-based farm is always ready to entertain its visitors and provide fresh produce. When it comes to pumpkins, the orange or white ones, the munchkins or gourds, they have it all to help you get into that fall ambiance. The pumpkins are sold by reservation and priced by weight.
Besides picking your own produce, this place offers a particularly enticing event: Harvest Moon Hayride. It is intended for visitors to spend the night (from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) under the moonlight for a scenic ride. It includes a walk through the corn maze by flashlight, a bonfire and live music with a hot or cold choice of apple cider. Sounds quite tempting, right?
In order to keep guests and staff safe, they have established a pick-your-own-admission option on their website to be able to organize and control the number of people in every event.
8. Abma’s Farm –Wyckoff, NJ
From now until October 31, pumpkin picking, hayrides and more fall events will be waiting for you at Abma’s Farm.
This pumpkin picking farm in New Jersey stands out for maintaining family traditions. In light of that, scarecrow making, pumpkin decorations and mommy and me storytime events will continue to happen this fall. Like most pumpkin picking farms in NJ, tickets must be purchased in advance in order to control the number of guests.
Public hayrides are $18 per person and it includes free parking, a small pumpkin to take home and barnyard ticket admission. Children under two years old are free. Private hayrides are also available for $500 per wagon.
9. Stony Hill Farms – Chester, NJ
Photo courtesy of @northjerseydroneshots
In the Garden State, we love unique places and family-run businesses; Stony Hill Farms is both.
Their typical picking season for pumpkins starts late September through October and reserving a ticket at Stony Hill will assure you–at least–one of their massive pumpkins straight out of their field.
Besides the pumpkin patch, the farm offers many attractions for everyone in the family. It contains a life-sized barnyard board game, trike rides for the little ones, as well as the Noah’s Ark playground.
The entry fee at Stony Hill Farms starts at $7.99 plus tax per person. It will include hayrides (only on the weekends), access to the orchards, their giant 10-acre corn maze and gemstone mining.
Make sure you check their availability through their website and keep an eye on closings via their Facebook page as well.
10. Ward’s Pumpkin Patch – Ridgewood, NJ
Opened in 1940, this family-owned patch has worked throughout generations to bring their visitors the best pumpkins, haystacks and corn stalks. They take pride every year in the large range of pumpkins, selections of produce and homemade goods harvested on their grounds.
The Ward family invites everyone to pick from their over 15 types of pumpkins ranging from Baby Bear, Big Max and Cinderella to Full Moon, Orange Smoothie, Red Warty Thing and their famous painted pumpkins.
The patch is open from 10 a.m. to sunset every day in October. The prices start at only $1 for tiny pumpkins, $2.50 for small sugar pies and go up based on variety and weight. Without a doubt, expect to be treated as part of the family from the moment you arrive.
11. Happy Day Farm – Manalapan. NJ
For an Instagrammable pumpkin picking experience in New Jersey, Happy Day Farm has got you covered. During their Fall Harvest, which runs every weekend (plus Fridays) through the end of October, you can check out the sunflower fields, go pumpkin picking or take the all-important photo op at “Pumpkinville.” There’s also a corn maze, pig races, tractor rides and a feeding zoo.
For weekend admission, tickets have to be purchased in advance and are sold online only. If you visit during the week, Monday-Thursday, tickets are sold at the door only in cash. There’s no admission fee, however, to pick a pumpkin. All on-site purchases must be paid in cash.
12. Terhune Orchards – Princeton, NJ
At this family-owned, 250-acre sustainable farm in Princeton, there’s plenty of pumpkins waiting to be picked. Terhune even has a painting station during the weekends so you can decorate your pumpkin on-site. Admission here includes access to the nature trail, adventure barn, hay bale maze, corn maze, winery and the farm store. There’s also food and pony rides available for an additional price.
Tickets are $11 for adults (children under 3 are free) and must be purchased online in advance.
13. Riamede Farm – Chester, NJ
Riamede Farm in Chester, NJ does pumpking picking a little differently. They’re taking a literal approach by allowing visitors to cut their preferred pumpkin straight from the vine. You also have the option to visit their patch with a wide selection of pre-picked pumpkins. While strolling through the meadow, there’s also a variety of gourds, squash and decorative corn.
For entry, Farm Passes are required. These can be purchased online in advance for guaranteed admission. However, walk-up Farm Passes are also available. It inclues entry into the apple orchard, pumpkin patch, other produce fields, a farm wagon ride and access to on-site food and drinks.
Did we miss your favorite farm for pumpkin picking in New Jersey? Share your top 2021 picks below!
About the Author/s
Colombian writer, pizza and coffee addict.
1 comment
Gee, I guess South Jersey doesn’t count! What about Johnson’s Farm in Mt. Laurel, Zimmerman’s in Sewell, Springdale Farm in Cherry Hill, Duffield’s in Washington Township, etc.