It’s Time for the Great Pumpkin

The leaves are starting to turn beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow, the air is crisp, the campfires are going, and the pumpkin patches are packed with all kinds of pumpkins and gourds. These days you’ll find giant orange ones, mini white ones, and everything in between. Whether you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin for your garden, or a bunch to let the kids carve or paint, there’s plenty to go around. Read below as Patch takes you to…the patch.

will host its annual Pumpkin Festival fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be activities for the whole family, such as hay rides, games, caramel apples, a farmer’s market, pumpkin carving, a haunted house, raffle baskets and lots of other games for kids and adults too. The public is invited to attend.

in Broomall will host a fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local police and firefighters will make guest appearances throughout the day to meet and greet both young and old residents. The kids will have fun playing on the moonbounce and maneuvering the obstacle course. In addition, face painting, pumpking painting, putt-putt golf, pony rides, a slide and blood pressure check, for adults, will be available. Hot dogs, chips and dessert will also be available for purchase. A rain date has been scheduled for Oct. 22.

The Newtown Square nursery is a go-to garden center for expert to casual gardeners. This time of year they carry pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, fall plants, like Mums, cornstalks and other Halloween decorations. They carry all kinds of plants, even unique varieties for both the indoors and out, as well as home and garden accents.

Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards really is a family tradition here in the Delaware Valley. During September and October, people come from near and far in search of pumpkins, and the experience that goes with it. There are more than 100 tons of pumpkins on display in every shape and size. You’ll find larger than life scarecrows and other Halloween decorations. Take a hayride, enjoy roasting marshmallows by a campfire, and feed the animals at the petting zoo. There’s also a farmers market where you can pick up a homemade pumpkin pie or apple pie, fresh fruits and veggies grown right there on the farm, and many other delicious goodies.

Tyler Arboretum Pumpkin Days

You’ll find a large selection of pumpkins at Tyler Arboretum’s Pumpkin Days on Saturday, Oc.t 15, and Sunday, Oct. 16. There will be live music by Makin’ Music, The Jersey Corn Pickers bluegrass band and Lost Northern Tribe zydeco band. There will be lots of family-friendly activities, including a hay wagon tour, scarecrow-making and corn maze.

Highland Orchards Farm and Market

West Chester’s Highland Orchards offers fun on the farm throughout the fall season. During Fall Harvest Weekends, you can pick pumpkins and apples, and there’s a shuttle on weekends to take you to the patch and orchard. There’s a “kid korral” maze, a farm animal pet exhibit, hayrides and scarecrow-making.