A New Fall Family Tradition: Pumpkin Patch Adventures

There’s something timeless about a pumpkin patch. Wide open fields filled with pumpkins in every color, size, and shape stretch under a bright October sky. You bump along on a tractor-pulled wagon to reach the fields, then celebrate your find with a slice of homemade pie and a cup of cider as you wander through a corn maze.

This year, our family discovered the perfect spot to make an annual tradition — a little pocket of autumn magic.

These outings are more than just a photo op (though, yes, I take far too many pictures). They’re a chance to be present, have fun together, and make the kind of memories that stick — the ones that come rushing back years later when your kids are grown and searching for the same sweetness with their own families.

That’s the beauty of tradition.

The Beauty in the Tradition

Pumpkin patch adventures are a perfect fall outing — a sure sign the season has arrived and an experience both the young and young at heart can enjoy. Whether it’s a small local farm or a sprawling harvest festival, there’s something beautifully simple about it all: choosing pumpkins, petting goats, sharing donuts, and watching little legs race through corn mazes.

It’s easy to treat these things as just another seasonal experience to check off the list, but they hold deeper meaning. They remind us of the joy in simply being together. In a world so full of screens and instant entertainment, it makes my heart sigh to see kids delighting in vintage tractors, piles of dirt, and acres of corn.

The classic, wholesome things are still the best things. Perfect days still look like sunshine, dirty boots, and sticky hands.

Our Perfect Patch

For anyone local or just curious, our new family favorite is Anderson Farms in Erie, Colorado. I stumbled across it through a simple Google search, and though it’s quite a trek from home, it was absolutely worth the drive.

Living in the mountains, we’re surrounded by nature but not many attractions like this - which made it even more special. Consider this your friendly reminder that sometimes the best adventures are a little ways off the beaten path. Make the journey part of the experience: pack cider for the road, a picnic for later, or stop for a fun meal on the way home. Listen to an audiobook or let everyone take turns picking the music.

Uninterrupted family time like that is rare - soak it in.

Making the Most of Your Fall Family Tradition

Once you’ve found your local patch (and I promise there's something fun nearby you too), here are a few simple ways to turn your visit into a joy-filled adventure instead of a rushed checklist:

1. Plan Ahead

This is the mom in me talking — but planning preserves the fun. Check open days, ticket requirements, and what’s included before you go. Find out which days are busiest, whether strollers are allowed, and if food is available on-site. (We learned the hard way that even a Wednesday can be sold out!)

2. Go Early, Go Slow

Arrive early to beat the crowds and give yourself plenty of time to explore. Wander the rows, let the kids lead, and don’t rush the hunt for “the one.” The best memories live in the process, not the perfect photo.

3. Let Kids Take Ownership

Let your littles spread their wings. Give them the freedom to pick their own pumpkin, choose the next stop, or linger a little longer at their favorite activity — even if it’s feeding goats for the 15th time. These small moments build confidence and connection, and they remind us to slow down and savor.

4. DELIGHT IN the Small Things

Warm cider, hayrides, vintage tractors, carnival games - take it all in. Our daughter spent twenty minutes on a jump pad while I played nearby on a simple carnival game made of pulleys and a golf ball - and it was the most relaxed I've felt in awhile. When you slow down enough to notice the details, ordinary outings become extraordinary memories.

5. Sneak in a Little Learning

As a homeschool mama, I’m all about learning through play. Pumpkin patches are perfect for this. Ask your kids what they see, smell, and hear. Engage every sense. For littles, point out colors and shapes and opposites. Talk about farm animals, plant life, and the foods we eat. Show them how pumpkins grow from seed and how one seed can create hundreds of new plants. Connect what they see to something to learning and let them learn by experiencing.

6. Extend the Adventure at Home

The fun doesn’t have to end when you leave the farm. Carve or paint pumpkins, roast seeds, bake pumpkin bread, or read autumn picture books together. Ask your kids about their favorite part of the day. Tell them how much fun you had with them. Share and even print pictures of your adventures. These little rituals turn a simple outing into a family tradition worth savoring.

A Faith-Filled Reflection

Every fall, I’m reminded that the harvest season is about gratitude — for growth, for provision, for the beauty that comes with time. As mamas, we plant so many seeds in our children’s hearts: love, patience, curiosity, faith. These family adventures are the harvest - the moments where we see the fruit of showing up, being together, and curiosity and learning come to life.

So as you wander your own pumpkin patch this year, remember: it doesn’t matter which pumpkin you bring home or how perfect the photo turned out. What matters is the laughter, the wonder, and the togetherness that come with it.

A Few EXTRA Fun Family Traditions

• 📏 Take a “How Tall This Fall” photo each year beside a pumpkin or landmark to see how much your kids have grown.

• 🍂 Bring a nature bag to collect leaves, corn husks, or seeds for crafts and sensory bins.

• 🎃 Make a thankful pumpkin at home — write something each family member is grateful for.

• 🙏 End the day with a prayer or reflection for the beauty and blessings of the season.

The Heart of It All

Pumpkin patch adventures aren’t really about pumpkins — they’re about presence. About saying yes to muddy boots and messy hair, to laughter, light, and the fleeting joy of childhood. This fall family tradition is one that you don't want to miss.

So grab your sweaters, pack plenty of snacks, and go find your own patch. You don’t need perfect pictures — just open hearts and a willingness to explore.

And mama - go ahead and ride the barrel train too. Because these are the moments that will become the stories our kids tell someday - remembering the smell of dirt, the sound of laughter, and the warmth of your hand in theirs beneath the wide, autumn skies.