A day at the pumpkin farms is easy to plan. A few things make it go better.
When to come
Most of the farms open for fall in mid to late September and stay open through Halloween. Each one sets its own dates, and some activities only run on weekends, so check the farm’s website for the current season.
October weekends are the busiest, especially the two before Halloween. If you can swing a weekday, or get there right when the gates open on a Saturday, you’ll have the patch mostly to yourself and you won’t sit in traffic on the way in.
Getting here
Snohomish is about 30 miles northeast of Seattle. Most of the farms sit on the valley floor along Marsh Road, Elliott Road, Springhetti Road and Rivershore Road, between Snohomish and Everett, with Carleton Farm just across the valley in Lake Stevens. They’re close enough together that you can easily do two in a day.
These are two-lane country roads, and on a busy Saturday the line to park can back up. Be patient, carpool if you can, and follow the farm’s parking crew.
What to wear and bring
- Boots or shoes you don’t care about. Pumpkin fields after a fall rain are pure mud.
- Layers and a rain jacket. Mornings can be cold and the weather turns fast.
- A wagon or a stroller with big wheels. Small stroller wheels and plowed fields don’t get along. Many farms have wheelbarrows for pumpkins, but they’re for pumpkins.
- Something to protect your car. An old towel or a box keeps a muddy pumpkin off your seats.
- A camera, or a charged phone. You’ll want pictures.
Tickets and prices
It varies. Some farms let you walk into the pumpkin patch for free and charge for the corn maze and other activities. Others sell a single admission ticket, sometimes online only on busy days. Pumpkins are usually priced by size or by weight. Look at the farm’s website the week you plan to go, since prices change every year.
Please leave pets at home
Pets aren’t allowed on the farms. Between the crowds, the farm animals and the machinery, it’s not a good place for a dog, and a car in the parking lot isn’t either. Service animals are a different matter. Check with the farm if you have questions.
A sample day
- Morning: Get to your first farm at opening. Do the corn maze while the crowds are thin and pick your pumpkins before the good ones get picked over.
- Lunch: Head into downtown Snohomish. First Street has restaurants, bakeries and a long run of antique shops to walk off lunch in.
- Afternoon: Pick a second farm with something different. If you did a maze in the morning, try a hayride, the animals or a pumpkin cannon.
- Evening (optional): A couple of farms run night mazes or haunted attractions on fall weekends. They’re best for older kids and adults.
Questions people ask
What if it rains?
Go anyway. This is the Pacific Northwest and the farms stay open in the rain. Wear boots, bring a change of socks for the kids and enjoy the shorter lines.
Are the farms accessible?
Pumpkin fields are uneven and often muddy, so they can be hard going with a wheelchair or walker. Many farms have pumpkins already picked and set out near the entrance or market, along with paved or graveled areas. Call ahead and ask what will work best for you.
How do I pick a pumpkin that will last?
We wrote a whole post on it: How to pick a pumpkin that makes it to Halloween.
Who do I call about hours or lost items?
The farm itself. Each farm runs its own operation, and they’ll have the most current information. Their websites are listed on the farms page.