The cooler, crisp nights are a sign that autumn will soon be here, but I always know it’s coming when local bakeries and restaurants start offering pumpkin treats. Pumpkin is really what autumn is all about to me. And pumpkin picking with my family is an autumn tradition.
Here’s where to go pumpkin picking in New Jersey. These farms offer much more than just pumpkins. You’ll find corn mazes, hayrides, delicious food and more. And apples are still ripe for picking:
Demarest Farms
244 Wierimus Road
Hillsdale, NJ, 07642.
201.666.0472
Hours: 10 am – 4:30 pm.
Cost: $5 per person for hayride. Kids under 2 get a free hayride. $8 per pumpkin
Alstede Farms
84 County Route 513 (old route 24)
Chester, NJ, 07930
908.879.7189
Hours: 8 am – 7 pm.
Cost: $5 per person (children under 2 FREE! includes a $2 coupon towards purchase and hayride to picking areas) Pumpkins are $.65/lb; $2.75 minimum
Horse Sleigh Farms
438 Route 57 W
Washington Township, NJ 07882
908.246.3044
Hours: Closed on Monday, Tuesday-Thursday 11 am – 5 pm, Friday – Sunday 11 am – 11 pm
Cost: Pumpkins cost $0.70/lb. Other activities require tickets.
Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
609.924.2310
Hours: Fall Family Fun Weekends – Saturday & Sundays, September 21 – October 27, 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Admission is $5 per person, kids under 3 free
Conklin Farm U-Pick
65 River Road., Montville, NJ
973.400.9460
Hours: Open daily from 10 am – 6 pm
Donaldson Farms
358 Allen Road
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
908.852.9122
Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm daily
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Heaven Hill Farm
451 Route 94
Vernon, NJ, 07462
973.764.5155
Pumpkin Land Festival is open daily from September 21 – October 31.
Hours and Cost: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 10 am-5 pm, admission $7 per person / Saturdays and Sundays: 10 am-6 pm, admission $9 per person
Fairfield Farms
177 Big Piece Road
Fairfield, NJ 07004
973.227.1011
Hours: 10 am – 5:30 pm
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Sussex County Strawberry Farm
565 Route 206 North
Andover, NJ, 07860
973.579.5055
Hours: Opens for pumpkin picking the first weekend in October
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Farm View
945 Black Oak Ridge Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
973.839.1212
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm, Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Melick’s Town Farm
170 Oldwick Road
Oldwick, NJ 08858
908.439.2318
Take a horse drawn wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch where you can select your own pumpkins still growing on the vine.
Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Ward’s Pumpkin Patch
553 Route 17
Ridgewood, NJ
Kids can take a barrel ride around to get pumpkins
Hours: 10 am – sunset
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Sun High Orchard
19 Canfield Avenue
Randolph, NJ, 07869
(973) 584-4734
Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Cost: Admission is $4 adults / $1 chidren
Battleview Orchards
91 Wemrock Road
Freehold, NJ
(732) 462-0756
Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Riamede Farm
122 Oakdale Road
Chester, NJ
(908) 879-5353
Hours: 9 am – 4:30 pm
You get to cut your pumpkin off the vine and need ot bring your own shears.
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Ripple Hill Farm
181 Mountain Road
Basking Ridge, NJ
(908) 647-1300
Hours: Sundays from 12 pm – 4 pm
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Abma’s Farm Market and Greenhouse
700 Lawlins Road
Wyckoff, NJ
(201) 891-0278
Hours: Monday – Friday 8 – 6, Saturday 8 – 5:30, Closed Sundays
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
Duffield’s Farm
280 Chapel Heights Road
Sewell, NJ
(856) 589-7090
Hours: Monday – Saturday from 9 am – 7 pm
Cost: Contact for current pricing.
How do you like your pumpkin: In a pie, a cake, in a pots de crème , your coffee or carved into a Jack O’Lantern?