Fall is officially here and it’s time to start carving some pumpkins. Yes, you can go to any number of roadside carts or supermarkets to pick out the perfect jack-o-lantern base, but if you’re looking to make a memorable experience out of it, a true pumpkin patch is the way to go. Here in Boulder, we’re fortunate to have many options when it comes to the number of local farms in the area. To help you decide, I’ve narrowed down the list to my three favorite pumpkin patches this year:
Halloween Pumpkin Patch Festival
Hosted annually by East Boulder’s Cottonwood Farms, the Halloween Pumpkin Patch Festival is open now through October 31st. There is a hand-cut corn maze, and an adorable miniaturized straw bale maze, making it the perfect place to bring your kids. Parents are seated to have a bird’s eye view of their kids’ fun and adventures as they make their way through – so don’t worry, you’ll still be able to keep an eye on your tikes. The pumpkin patch itself is well known around Boulder, and rents out complimentary wagons to help families haul their pumpkins. A hayride, freshly grown vegetables sold on the premises, and many opportunities to interact with animals while exploring the farm round out the unforgettable experience that is the Halloween Pumpkin Patch Festival.
Rock Creek Farm
With over 100 acres of you-pick-em fields, kids will certainly enjoy running around Rock Creek Farm to find the perfect pumpkin, and they’ll absolutely love the Family Fun Area, which boasts an inflatable super slide as the main attraction. The best part? It’s the only playground big enough for parents to enjoy, too. Located in Broomfield, the farm has been part of family traditions in the area for many years. Opened in the late 1800’s and bounced around in ownership, the surrounding land has slowly been marked for preservation by Boulder Open Space, and acts as a great buffer between the growing cities around it.
Fall Harvest Festival
Lasting until mid-November, the Fall Harvest Festival is a yearly celebration at Miller Farms that’s both educational and entertaining for the whole family. Located near the edge of Longmont, this pumpkin patch is just a short drive from Boulder, and won’t let you down. Known for growing many more vegetables than just pumpkins, the farm’s 180 acres of crops are open to anyone willing to hop off the complimentary hayride and do some picking. The produce is a free-for-all, and every visitor is allowed up to five bags of anything they can find. Included with the cost of admission, kids also have the opportunity to say hello to their favorite farm animals at the petting zoo. Afterwards, treat yourselves to an authentic roasted Colorado chile, prepared in-house.
As you can see, finding a pumpkin patch is pretty easy in these parts, and we hope that one of the places on our list will become a part of your fall family traditions. Where will you pick up your pumpkins this year? Tell us in the comments below!