There's nothing like fall in New York. The landscape transforms into an autumn wonderland of gold and red leaves and crisp air. Best of all, a bounty of pumpkin patches, orchards, and festivals pop up around the city and surrounding areas. We've rounded up the best places to pick pumpkins, drink hot cider, get lost in a corn maze, and more!

 

The Best Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals in New York to Celebrate Autumn

Cityside Pumpkin Patch

You can experience all the fun of fall on the farm without having to leave the city. Cityside Pumpkin Patch in LIC is a rooftop pumpkin patch that offers locally harvested pumpkins from upstate New York, along with a pumpkin-smashing activity zone, scarecrow archery, an array of scrumptious treats and beverages, a "not haunted" haunted house, and lots of Halloween-inspired decor and photo ops!

Where: The Summer Club: 8-08 Queens Plaza S, Queens, NY
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Fishkill Farms

Pick your own Honeycrisp apples, pears, peaches, and pumpkins at this sustainable farm, which also has delicious Jamaican Jerk Chicken and apple cider donuts to chow down on. During the fall harvest season, guests can take in the stunning orchard with a wagon ride, wander the corn maze, and finish the day sipping hard cider flights at the Treasury Bar. A full lineup of live music is planned in the courtyard, and plenty of BBQ and homestyle cooking is on the menu.

Note: Reservations for pick-your-own are required, and reservations for the cider bar are encouraged.

Where: 9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell JCT, NY
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Queens County Farm Museum

Queens County Farm Museum is one of the longest continually farmed sites in New York state, running for 325 years. Their Amazing Maize Maze, a 3-acre living labyrinth, is an absolute must-see in NYC.

They also host NYC’s only corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and sheep and goats guests can feed with bags from their Farm Store. For four nights only (October 7, 14, 21 & 27), the Amazing Maize Maze will be open for wandering in the moonlight.

Where: 7350 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY
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Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm

A combo bakery and winery (with hard cider options), it’s hard not to oversell the sweetness of Wilkens. Their farm markets sell everything from their own pressed apple cider, freshly baked pies, famed apple cider donuts, and more. They also have rotating pick-your-own fruit and veggie seasons, with pick-your-own apples in September and pumpkins in October.

Where: 1335 White Hill Rd Yorktown Heights, NY
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Queens Botanical Garden

The outdoor one-acre pumpkin patch at the QBG farm is full of harvest-themed photo ops! Tickets are $10 for non-member adults and $14 for children 4+ years old (pumpkin included).  Tickets also include admission to both the patch and the botanical garden, with activity stations like seed planting, crafts, and autumn and garden-themed book readings. And for adults 21 and older, harvest and pumpkin-themed beers and ciders are available for purchase.

Where: 43-50 Main St, Flushing Queens, NY
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The Feast of San Gennaro

Little Italy comes alive with delicious food, festive colors, live music, and a mountainous crispy cannoli eating contest at the Feast of San Gennaro (September 14–24). The festival stretches along Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston St, but the main stage is on the corner of Grand and Motts Street, hosting live, free entertainment at 6:30 PM each night.

Where: Mulberry St. between Canal and Houston, Manhattan, NY
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The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze: Hudson Valley

From the team behind Jack O’ Lantern Blaze: Long Island, the Hudson Valley event creates its own, electrifying immersive pumpkin trail on the grounds of an 18th-century estate. The glowing path has over 7,000 artfully hand-carved pumpkins, including an entire Pumpkin Planetarium and working carousel. New Yorkers can attend for the views, fall-themed sweets and snacks at the cafe, and libations from Captain Lawrence microbrews.

Where: 525 S Riverside Ave, Croton-On-Hudson, NY
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Outhouse Orchards

Within scenic North Salem lies a beautiful orchard to explore, offering apple picking and pick-your-own pumpkins. All pumpkins on the vine are free (we recommend garden gloves to grab those!), and you can pay by weight for pre-picked pumpkins.

There’s also an alien and outer space-themed corn maze for you to conquer, scenic hayrides through gardens and apple trees, and Halloween decorations for sale that you can peruse.

Where: 139 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY
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Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard

A ticket to Harvest Moon Farm includes all the ingredients for a perfect fall date. You can enter the picturesque hillside orchard, pick apples, scoop the perfect pumpkin in their patch, and then kick up your heels to the sound of live country music. Split some cider donuts or grab a locally grown treat from the farm store to close out the day.

Where: 130 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY
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Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals in New Jersey

Happy Day Farm

Happy Day Farm has pumpkin and zinnia picking, “pumpkinville” installations for fall photo ops, a corn maze to wander through, a giant slide, a feeding zoo, and pig races—just to name a few fall festival offerings. There’s a total of 35 activities included with admission ($24 per person), so there’s no shortage of options.

Where: 106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, NJ
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Secor Farms | New Jersey

Secor Farms gives you a scenic hayride to their pumpkin patch and corn maze, where you’ll pass a pond, willow trees, and fall decor. Group hayrides are available Monday through Friday for 20 or more people and include the hayride to their "U-PICK" pumpkin patch, a pumpkin, and an apple.

Afterward, guests can relax and have lunch in their indoor glass greenhouse. Speaking of lunch, be sure to shop at their Farm’s Market, which carries New York State apples, fresh pressed apple cider, and homemade apple cider donuts.

Where: 85 Airmont Ave Mahwah, NJ
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Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals on Long Island

The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze: Long Island

Get transported to a spooky 19th-century world of glowing pumpkins at Long Island’s most electrifying event! The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze is an immersive trail of over 7,000 hand-carved jack-o-lanterns, including a Pumpkin Planetarium and animated Headless Horseman.

Where: Old Bethpage Village Restoration: 1303 Round Swamp Rd, Old Bethpage, NY
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Elwood Pumpkin Farm

To pick a fresh pumpkin off the vine—minus the crowd—stop by the Elmwood Pumpkin Farm! It’s also pup-friendly and kid-friendly, with a small corn maze your little ones can explore.

Note: Picking pumpkins off the vine is a messier job than one might think, and the vines are prickly. We recommend bringing some gardening gloves and good shoes!

Where: 1500 E Jericho Turnpike Huntington, NY
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F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm

F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm is a huge field with hundreds of pumpkins to pick. The expansive grounds also offer a 7-acre corn maze (this year’s theme is Alice in Wonderland), a farm animal petting zoo, mini-golf, pony rides, a sunflower picking field, and so much more—it's basically a fall carnival on top of the pumpkin patch. There are also plenty of fall treats and food at their concession stands like roasted corn, hot dogs, and fresh pies.

The $15 admission price includes the hayride, playground, mini golf, and pumpkin picking. Whatever you come for, make sure to arrive early to avoid crowds.

Address: 26 Pinelawn Rd, Melville, NY
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F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm on Bagatelle

Thought Schmitt’s was done? Nope, there are even more pumpkin patches, cornstalks, and fall flowers located in Dix Hills! They also have a few unique attractions, like adorable duck races and tasty apple cider donuts. Open Saturdays and Sundays only from late September through October 31st.

Where: 6 Bagatelle Road, Dix Hills, NY 11746 (1/4 Mile North of the Long Island Expressway, Exit 50). If using GPS, type in "Huntington Station."
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White Post Animal Farm of Melville

Don’t skip the famed White Post Animal Farm, now in its 31st year! The animal farm itself is the signature attraction, with two giant free-flight bird aviaries, a primate enrichment barn to see monkeys play, and even two giraffes named Patches and Ollie.

There’s also a pumpkin patch and an area to paint them, fall food stations, plus the fan-favorite sing-a-long hayride. Perhaps most spectacular, though, is the five kid-friendly variety shows featured on America’s Got Talent.

Where: 250 Old Country Road, Melville, NY
For more information on White Post Animal Farm