When it comes to fall family fun, it’s hard to beat a local pumpkin patch on a crisp, clear October day in Minnesota.
Not only are our local farms glorious in autumn — with beautiful fields of U-pick pumpkins and golden mazes of rustling corn stalks — they’re also packed with other kid-friendly attractions, including hayrides, bouncy houses, giant slides, petting zoos and, a Minnesota classic, corn pits!
And that’s only the beginning: You’ll also find pig races, gourd trebuchets, apple cannons and, increasingly, kiddie zip lines.
Check out the following local farms to make the most of this most picturesque season.
🟠Lendt’s Pumpkin Patch
Grab a wagon and explore 40 acres of U-pick pumpkin fields.
Then check out the indoor corn pit featuring colorful characters.
Face painting and concessions are offered on weekends in October.
One-hour hayrides (available only by reservation Monday through Friday, and first-come-first-served on Saturday and Sunday) include one U-pick pumpkin per rider and feature three stops — the pumpkin fields, the farm’s beehives and the corn field, where each participant can pick an ear of Indian corn plus an ear of popping corn (that comes with microwave popping instructions).
Where: Wyoming, about 35 minutes northeast of St. Paul
When: Open daily through Oct. 29
Cost: Admission is free. U-pick pumpkins from the field are a bargain each for any size, shape or color. Pre-picked pumpkins (weighing up to 200 pounds!) cost more. Hayride reservations on Monday through Friday — with a 15-person minimum and 120-person maximum are required. On Saturday and Sunday, hayrides are first-come-first-served.
Info: lendtspumpkins.com
🟠Waldoch Farm Garden Center
Every fall, this 100-year-old farm and garden center is transformed into a family-fun mecca.
On weekends, check out hayrides, pony rides, a corn cannon, face painting and a food trailer with a menu full of kid-friendly staples.
Daily attractions include the pumpkin patch, a corn box, pedal carts and a barnyard with ponies, sheep, donkeys, horses, peacocks, chickens, and other poultry.
Where: Lino Lakes, about 25 minutes north of St. Paul
When: Open daily through Oct. 29
Info: waldochfarm.com
🟠Pinehaven Farm
This popular family farm was voted Best Pumpkin Patch year after year.
Here you’ll find trolley rides, a jumping pillow, pine-duck derby races, a pumpkin cannon, a petting zoo, a pumpkin-eating dragon, a sweet shop, a children’s play area, fun mazes, an animatronic pirate band, a mini train ride, a giant slide, trikes for kids and a 5-acre corn maze.
Where: Wyoming, about 35 minutes northeast of St. Paul
When: Open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and some Wednesdays through Oct. 29; other days are reserved for school groups
Info: pinehavenfarm.com
🔴Apple Jack Orchards
Apple cannons! Jumping pillows! And a zip line for kids. Need we say more?
This farm boasts numerous best-apple-orchard honors from area news stations and even Huffington Post, which named it one of the “10 Best Places in America for Apple Picking.”
There’s also a corn pit, wagon rides, a cow train, an animal park, an apple cannon and a corn maze, plus U-pick and pre-picked pumpkins.
There’s a gift shop and market plus a cafe.
Where: Delano, about 30 minutes west of Minneapolis
When: Most fall-fun activities are Saturday and Sundays through Oct. 29; the play area, animal park, farm cafe, store and bakery are open daily.
Info: applejackorchards.com
🟡Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze
This annual festival boasts Minnesota’s largest corn maze at nearly 20 acres, all just a short drive from Twin Cities’ urban core.
This year the maze will pay homage to the Minnesota United.
We recommend budgeting two to three hours at this event to take full advantage of admission, which includes a corn pit, a play area, a petting zoo and other fun activities.
Hard-to-resist add-ons such as the climbing wall and pumpkin slinger cost extra.
Feel-good bonus: In the past 10 years of operating the maze, owners the Bouwman family have raised more than $200,000 for local charities including the Twins Community Fund, the Minnesota Wild Foundation and the Minnesota Military Family Foundation.
Where: Brooklyn Park, about 20 minutes northwest of Minneapolis
When: Open Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 29, plus Oct. 20-21
Info: twincitiesmaze.com
🔴Pearson Farm Farm
Where: Clear Lake: 9241 100th Ave SE Clear Lake, MN 55319
When: Open Thursday – Sunday for the festival through Oct. 31
Info: Pearson Family Farm
🟡Sever’s Corn Maze and Fall Festival
Similar to Disney World, Sever’s is so beloved in Minnesota the venue has a Fast Pass line for pre-ticketed customers.
This year the festival will be at their Shakopee location including a 14-acre corn maze, jumping pillows, pumpkin blasters, food and beverage options, a gift shop, expanded corn pits, 10 acres of pick-your-own pumpkins and a giant slide.
When: Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct 29, plus MEA
Where: Shakopee, about 30 minutes southwest of Minneapolis
Info: severscornmaze.com
🔴Afton Apple Orchard
Want a challenge? Try six-plus miles of paths through the 15-acre corn maze.
When you tire of the twists and turns, pick your own apples or pumpkins on this 200-acre farm!
You’ll also find a jumping pad, a straw mountain, a tire hill, a petting farm, barrel train rides and hayrides.
We love the Johnny Combine play area, featuring a repurposed combine with slides and climbers coming out of it.
Best of all, there’s also a huge playground with a super-sized spider web feature, plus tire swings shaped like cars, motorcycles and elephants.
Where: Hastings, about 15 minutes southeast of St. Paul
When: Open daily through Oct. 29 for apple and pumpkin picking. Corn maze hours are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus MEA days, through Oct. 29 and other days by reservation.
Info: aftonapple.com
🟠Dehn’s Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze
At Dehn’s Pumpkin Patch you can hang out at the marketplace and enjoy a day at the farm. They offer wristband for anyone wanting to head through the corn maze, corn pit, hayride and more. For fun at night try out the Flashlight Corn Maze (Sept. 30th – Oct. 29th). For a really exciting time come and check out our Corn Maze at night. *Bring your own flashlight
The Spooky Bootique has Halloween decorations, costumes, accessories as well as fall and Thanksgiving Decorations.
Rhine Stone Ranch will be showing off their alpacas quality yarn rugs, hats and gloves for sale. * Saturdays and Sundays only.
When: Open weekends in September through Oct. 29, plus Oct. 19–20
Where: Dayton, about 25 minutes north of Minneapolis
Cost: There’s no charge to visit the pumpkin patch or the food court. Passes for the Fun Park and the corn maze have an admission fee.
Info: dehnspumpkins.com
🟠Nelson Family Farm
Visit Nelson Farm in the fall to visit their friendly farm animals, or to pick your own pumpkins and other harvest items to celebrate the fall season. You can view the beautiful fall scenery and walk along the trails next to the lake. You will marvel at the beauty of the fiery red sumac, the mighty yellowing oaks, and you may even catch a glimpse of some deer or other wildlife.
When: Open on weekends Sept 24-Oct 29 and MEA Oct 19 & 20
Where: Litchfield, about 90 minutes west of Minneapolis
Info: nelsonfamilyfarm.com
Visit our directory for a full list of pumpkins patches throughout Minnesota!
