Pumpkin Picking Ontario | 16 Best Pumpkin Patches to Visit
The whisper of fallen leaves, the crisp air, and cozy nights in – fall in Ontario is for family, friends, festivities and thankful spirits. Sorry if we went a little wax-poetic on you, but it’s pumpkin picking Ontario time! From delectable pies to spiced lattes (love it or hate it), pumpkins are the symbol and the star vegetable of this festive season.
While there is an abundance of fall activities in Ontario, Pumpkin picking is a well-known family pastime that adds a sense of whimsy to the air.
Unsure where to get pumpkins in this Canadian province? We’ll take you on a journey to the top pumpkin picking spots in Ontario to ensure an ample supply of the favoured festive treat in your pantry.
Last Updated: July 26, 2023
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Best Time to Visit Pumpkin Farms
The harvest time in Ontario for pumpkins takes place in the fall, specifically in September and October. This means cooler temperatures and fewer tourists. Ontario autumn provides stellar opportunities to participate in some seasonal fun.
Be sure to forage for these orange beauties at the correct times. While a very mild frost will not necessarily damage fully matured pumpkins, it is advisable to harvest before temperatures drop too low.
**Tip: Be sure to call these pumpkin picking farms to check their current stock and, in some cases, book ahead of your visit, as spaces can get limited during this season.**
Top Pumpkin Patches in Ontario
Whether you prefer pumpkin carving for Halloween or preparing fall-flavoured baked goods, this seasonal activity will create magical memories.
Get your wheelbarrows and sense of adventure ready – an enchanting pick-your-own pumpkin adventure awaits on these charming Ontario pumpkin patches.
Pumpkin Farms Near Toronto
Downey’s Farm Market
Nestled in Caledon, this Ontario gem celebrates the delightful playfulness of a pumpkin harvest like no other. It’s a great option for those that are searching for pumpkin patches in Toronto and the surrounding area!
Walking along the thousands of pumpkins on the lawn, you’ll have ever-flowing produce. Make your way through the 10 km of trails in the corn maze, where you’ll get lost most epically.
Downey’s Farm also offers a Pumpkinfest in mid-September to celebrate the season in style. Featuring wagon rides to pumpkin-flavoured treats, this homey farm provides a unique fall experience for all ages.
Inglewood
13682 Heart Lake Rd, Inglewood, ON L7C 2J5
Andrews Farm Market & Winery
Andrews Farm, also known as Andrew’s Scenic Acres, provides a fantastic foraging experience throughout the year and a fun pumpkin farm in Toronto and the surrounding area. This includes fresh flowers, blueberries, apples, and pumpkins. Located on the sunny side of Milton in Ontario, this 165-acre space is the very essence of carefree and electrifying energy.
Much more than just a quaint countryside experience, these open fields offer various activities that cater to every type of visitor. Whether you prefer exploring the walking trails or looking to cuddle up with a farm animal, this farm has everything and more.
**Tip: Enjoy some festive fun for a cause! Check out the Pumpkin Palooza on October 16 & 17, as the proceeds help support the Townsend Smith Foundation to build North Halton’s first hospice residence.**
Milton
9365 10 Side Rd, Milton, ON L9T 2X9
Pumpkin Picking Farms In Ontario’s East End
Knox’s Pumpkin Farm
Are you looking for an authentic countryside pumpkin-picking adventure? On Knox’s Pumpkin Farm, the space is filled with the vibrant orange glow of a sea of plump pumpkins.
Known as a local favourite, this picturesque farm in Clarington has been farming in the region for close to 200 years. You’ll be able to pick your own pumpkins while admiring the stoic grandeur of century-old trees lining the farm.
With this charming fourth-generation family-run farm, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get your boots muddy with fun activities. This includes wagon rides and an abundance of farm animals to immerse the farm life spirit fully.
Hampton
6325 Enfield Rd, Hampton, ON L0B 1J0
Pingle’s Farm Market
This pumpkin patch in the Durham region is a 148-acre countryside property that creates a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city. While Pingle’s Farm Market hosts a pick-your-own experience for in-season produce all year round, the glorious pumpkins steal the show in the fall.
This vegetation haven also hosts a harvest festival at the end of September. Equipped with an Alice in Wonderland-themed corn maze and farm-to-table produce, Pingle’s pumpkin farm is the place to be when fall arrives.
Hampton
1805 Taunton Rd, Hampton, ON L0B 1J0, Canada
Watson Farms
Opening its door in 1970, this slice of farmland heaven is a family-run business that transports you back to the tranquillity of simple living. These stretches of green pastures are home to many pick-your-own produce experiences throughout the applicable seasons.
From delectable strawberries, apples, and pears – the fall season, however, brings the joyful vibrance of a field of pumpkins ripe for the picking. You’ll be able to enjoy the petting zoo, wagon rides, and corn maze to capture a glimpse into the fun-filled life on a farm.
Be sure to visit the photo stations to encapsulate your enjoyment of the day to add to this year’s Christmas card.
Bowmanville
2287 Durham Regional Hwy 2, Bowmanville, ON L1C 3K7
Saunders Farm
In 1974 Bill and Anne Saunders bought a run-down property near Goulburn, Ontario. Both the University of Ottawa teachers were keen to reconnect with their rural past. They found an opportunity to start a new business.
They started by harvesting berries and selling them locally. Then, they branched into apple production and began selling apples throughout the region. Today, Saunders’ Farm remains committed to producing fresh fruits and veggies for local consumers.
They are one of Canada’s greenest attractions, having planted 150,000+ trees (some made into Mazes) that produce oxygen and store carbon. In addition, their kitchen waste is composted, and their wastewater is filtered through a state-of-the-art tertiary treatment plant using natural moss.
Munster
7893 Bleeks Road, Munster, Ontario, K0A 1B0
Millers Farm & Market
Are you looking for a pumpkin patch in Ottawa? Miller’s is an Ontario farm that began growing berries in 1981. It now extends 15 hectares of raspberries, 25 hectares of strawberries, and 2 hectares of cloned wild blueberries.
They expanded their business by building a larger barn and adding a smaller shop selling fresh local and Ontario produce. Meanwhile, Ron and Simon have been busy tending to their garden centre’s annual flowers, perennial plants, vegetables and herb gardens.
With its great activities for children, it’s a perfect place to buy pumpkins, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
Ottawa
6158 Rideau Valley Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K4M 1B3
Log Cabin Orchard
Log Cabin Orchard has a fantastic location near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It offers visitors a chance to enjoy the fall season with their family and friends. Their store sells delicious treats, including baked goods, cider, and apples.
One of the most important historical features is The Cabin, initially built by an Irish immigrant named Clarke Moses in 1841.
Osgoode
6121 Cabin Rd, Osgoode, Ontario, K0A 2W0
Forsyth Family Farms
For several years the Forsyth Family Farms has been committed to providing wholesome, nutritious foods grown by people who care about where they come from. They believe that experiencing and enjoying agriculture helps children understand the importance of farms in their everyday lives. As a result of these efforts, they offer school tours and provide ways for families to connect to agriculture and nature.
They also offer to pick your own fruits and vegetables, farm animals, a fun farmyard for children, hiking trails, and seasonal celebrations to celebrate farming.
Our on-site farmers’ markets feature fresh produce from our fields and other local products.
Uxbridge, ON
1025 Cragg Rd, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R3
Where To Get Pumpkins In Ontario’s West End
Snyder’s Family Farm
This dog-friendly pumpkin patch is the perfect addition to any sunny (or rainy) day. The perfect jack-o’-lanterns await at this overflowing pumpkin patch.
With a 15-acre dotted golden orange-hued pumpkin patch in Ontario, you’ll have a variety of backdrops to capture the best quintessential pumpkin-inspired Instagram picture. Be sure to visit the Fear Farm on the premises to experience one of the best Halloween farms in Ontario.
Once the first leaves drop, this farm becomes a magical fall celebration. Equipped with corn mazes, hayrides, and haunted houses – you’ll go into the spooky season with a bang. S’more pumpkin pies, anyone?
Bright
936685 Blenheim Rd, Bright, ON N0J 1B0
Thames River Melons
If you enjoy picking apples or pumpkins, you’ll love visiting Thames River Melons! It’s one of the best ways to spend an afternoon in Woodstock. This is a great fall destination for those looking for pumpkin picking in London and surrounding areas.
Thames River Farm is family-owned and runs a farm that grows various fruits and veggies. Everything from asparagus, squash, berries, potatoes, onions, broccoli, rhubarb, tomatoes, garlic, zucchini, sweet corn, cucumber, peppers, beans, and melons. And, of course, pumpkins.
Innerkip, ON
775530 Blandford Rd, Innerkip, ON N0J 1M0
Merry Farms
Adorned with a name that certainly does not disappoint, Merry Farms is the epitome of merriment to get into the seasonal spirit. The 176-acre pumpkin and Christmas tree farm is the perfect place to stock up on all your holiday decor.
With the option to pick your own pumpkin or select a pre-picked vegetable at the store area, you’ll have plenty of time to explore this rustic farmland.
While children can get their fill of festival treats, such as kettle corn and cotton candy, Merry Farms provides various interactive activities to work off those sugar highs. This includes the Giant Jumping Pumpkin attraction to have youngsters jumping for joy.
Lynden
1974 Concession 2 Rd W, Lynden, ON L0R 1T0
Shantz Family Farm
Located a stone’s throw away from the Mannheim Mennonite Church in Petersburg, Shantz Family Farm becomes an animated fall dreamscape during September and October. Upon arrival, you’ll feel welcomed by a friendly decorated straw character equipped with pumpkin eyes and a corn mouth to kick-start your fun-filled journey.
Adorned with wheelbarrows, corn stalks, and beaming smiles of laughter — Shantz Family Farm is the place to be if you’re looking for an experience to remember. This exceptional farm has been selling prime produce since 1996 and offers a beautiful selection of pumpkins in the fall.
You’ll be able to pick your way through a loaded minefield of pumpkins to find the ultimate festive fall-picking commodity. Beyond pumpkins, Shantz Family Farm provides other, yet no less noteworthy vibrant vegetables. This includes squashes, gourds, and even the mosaic marvel of decorative corn.
**Tip: Bring your loonies and toonies along, as the farm only accepts cash as a payment method. The farm also offers bagged campfire wood and straw bales throughout the year for purchase.**
Petersburg
1544 Bleams Rd, Petersburg, ON N0B 2H0, Canada
Northern Ontario Pumpkin Patches
Chappell Farms
From late September until Halloween, and not too far from Barrie, Chappell Farms puts on its Fall Festival! They have it all! Animals, a corn maze, a tricycle track, a farm lookout, sand diggers, a magic show, and pumpkin picking. The Chucky Cheese of farm fun is great for kids and adults alike. They also have a barn store that sells all your favourite treats and knick-knacks.
Barrie
617 Penetanguishene Rd, Barrie, ON L4M 4Y8
Brooks Farm
Established in the 1800s, Brooks Farms has been a pinnacle in the community for curating the ultimate family farm fun experience. With a wide variety of delicious produce, including some of the best apple picking in Ontario, this farm provides a kaleidoscope of foraging adventures.
From corn mazes to wagon rides, this farm in the fall is an Autumn wonderland. However, the start of the pick-your-own pumpkin harvest has been the catalyst for the Fall Fun Festival on the farm. Open weekends from September 11- October 31, you’ll be able to pick the perfect pumpkin while the kiddies enjoy a cornucopia of fun activities.
Mount Albert
122 Ashworth Rd, Mount Albert, ON L0G 1M0
Top Tips for a Successful Pumpkin Harvest Excursion
- Choose comfortable and functional pumpkin picking outfits – Wearing uncomfortable clothing can make an otherwise fun trip unbearable. Choose clothes with the weather in mind, like a fleece sweater on a cool day, and footwear that you can stand and move in comfortably all day.
- Know when the pumpkin is ready to harvest – The rind of this fall veggie should be firm and hard and a deep shade of orange. Leave the slight green and pale yellow ones to mature further and provide a perfect pumpkin for someone in the future.
- Knock on your pumpkin – This might seem odd, but a ripe pumpkin makes a specific sound. If your chosen pumpkin sounds hollow, you know you’ve struck gold.
- Take a wheelbarrow or wagon – Lugging these heavy produce around is a tiring business. Bring a wheeled companion like a portable folding wagon to lift the load off your back.
- Feel around for bruises – When contemplating your desired pumpkin, look for soft spots, as this is often a sign of a pumpkin past its prime.
- Leave a section of the stem – This tip is essential if you’re harvesting your pumpkin for decorative purposes. Leaving a few inches of the stem on your pumpkin can slow decay and have your jack-o’-lantern lasting longer.
Final Thoughts on the Top Pumpkin Farms Ontario Has To Offer
Autumn in Ontario is undeniably a magical time. What better way to absorb the seasonal cheer than on an entrancing pumpkin patch? From the sweet scent of freshly picked flowers to the salivating aroma of baked pumpkin pies – the farm air is filled with a sense of rejuvenation and wonderment.
Take a trip to these local farms to scour the earth for your perfect prized pumpkin to transform it into something extraordinary. We are sure you’ll create unforgettable memories by harvesting a few seasonal fall treasures – don’t forget to take lots of pictures!
