The Best Pumpkin Patches around Richmond
- The West End Mom
- Sep 20, 2022
- 15 min read
Updated: Oct 3, 2024
Growing up in Richmond, I've visited my fair share of pumpkin patches and fall-theme gardens. In visiting new locations over the years, I've learned that not every farm works for us each season - some are better for babies and new walkers and others are better for big kids.
I've updated my pumpkin patch guide to include all 18 pumpkin patches and farms we visited over the last few year, so you know exactly which farm to try in 2024. I will also add tips for visiting new farms we try this year. Each farm has a superlative, so you know exactly which one will work for your family this year.
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Here are the best pumpkin patches for kids around Richmond!
The Biggest Corn Pit in RVA: Lloyd Family Farms
Located in Rockville, Lloyd Family Farms is a working farm run by 3rd & 4th generation Lloyd owners. It opened to the public in 2013 with their first pumpkin patch & now they grow 65 different types of pumpkins!
2024 Farm Opening Date: Saturday, September 21 - the farm is open 9am - 5 pm.
It costs $12 per person (2 and under enter free). This includes unlimited hayrides, visiting with the horses and goats, and playing in the corn maze, straw castle, sand pile, giant pinball field, and visiting the pumpkin patch. While this is the first farm we visited with a newborn, it wasn't really worth the admission cost for 2 adults (we didn't use any of the play areas -ha!), but now that our kids can WALK, they love this pumpkin patch! This is great patch to visit with toddlers, preschoolers and older children because the farm has age appropriate activities for all of them - sand play, trucks, animals, a huge hay bale castle with slides, face painting, a corn pit, etc.
Heads Up: You ride a tractor from the parking lot to both the play areas and the pumpkin patch. Once you're over in those areas, you have to wait for another tractor to get you back to the parking lot.
No reservations or appointments are required. You can buy tickets at the admissions booth, and Groupon runs a seasonal discount on a "family four pack" of tickets ($45 instead of $60). If you purchase with code SAVEMORE, you can grab them for $38.70
We usually try to visit on Fridays or school holidays. If we are able to do this, we practically had the place to ourselves. We usually spend around 2 hours at this pumpkin patch, even when mine were little. At 15 month old and 3 year old loved the pedal trucks, slides, and a sandpit with diggers and other trucks.
*Check here for my full review.
The Best Treats & A Budget Friendly Option: Skinquarter Farm Market
Skinquarter Farm Market has free admission, and that includes hayrides and access to the corn maze and pumpkin patch. This pumpkin patch also has corn hole, painted pumpkins and photo ops. Pumpkins cost .79 cents per pound.
Skinquarter Farm Market is great with younger children because everything is in close proximity. The parking lot is very close to the patch and the corn maze is just a short walk, and they have wagons available for use if needed. My 2 year old and 4 year old were able to walk everywhere without needing to be held or use the stroller.
Their hours are Monday through Friday from 2 pm-6 pm , and Saturday & Sunday from 9 am - 6pm. If you've visited Skinquarter before, you know that no visit is complete without a visit to Jimer's Frozen Custard, the food truck on property. Jimer's only accepts cash, and you can get a kid's cup for $2.75.
2024 Farm opening date: This farm usually opens towards the end of Septemer, around the weekend of September 20.
*Check here for a full review.
The Most Activities & The Most Expensive: Chesterfield Berry Farm
Chesterfield Berry Farm is open from September 14 through October 27. A general farm fun pass costs $24.99 and the Ultimate Farm Fun Pass costs $29.99. Children 2 and under are free. There is currently a half-price special on Chesterfield Berry Farm's website (as of 9/4/24) - you can purchase tickets for $12.49 or $14.99 (plus a $1 transaction fee).
Chesterfield Berry Farm has a barrel train ride, paintball target shoot, wagon train ride, corn cannons, 8 acre corn maze, gem mining & fun hay mazes. It also has a large play space called "The Fun Zone," with slides from a fire truck, a playground, and play equipment geared towards children 4 and younger. If you have children 2-6, the barrel train ride and the wagon train ride will be a hit. My kids love these! All of these play areas are within walking distance from the parking lot. If you'd like to take a hayride, you can hope on the tractor to visit the pumpkin patch and come back.
This farm is also stroller friendly from the parking lot to the play areas. They even have a stroller parking area! You can purchase food and drink: hotdogs, BBQ, milkshakes, slushies, etc.
2024 Farm Opening Date: The pumpkin patch opens on September 14 and 15 for Public Service Weekend.
Chesterfield Berry Farm is open on weekends from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. They also host special discounted weekends. On opening weekend, all Public Service members and their immediate family receive FREE admission - must provide your military ID or work ID to prove where you work. All county, state, volunteer firefighters, law enforcement, etc get in free on September 14 & 15.
A Budget Friendly Option with Free Activities: Levi's Pumpkins
Serving the community for 25 years, Levi’s Pumpkins is a family-owned & operated pumpkin patch that caters to children & families. With no admission cost, families can visit daily from 9am-7pm the entire month of October! Levi’s Pumpkins has home-spun games like ring toss, Jenga, Connect 4 & more. Kiddos can also take a ride on the barrel train! There’s plenty of cute photo ops too.
They have pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, straw bales & ornamental yard displays for sale. The prices start at $2.
2024 Farm Opening Date: First weekend in October
Location: 6110 Qualla Road, Chesterfield, Virginia
The Best Festival Atmosphere: Hanover Vegetable Farm
Hanover Vegetable Farm will be open for picking on September 28. All of their activities are back this year too: tractor rides, corn maze, petting zoo, corn bins and moon bounces! As of 2023, the "entry only" ticket costs $7 (for the fun & not picking pumpkins) & "pumpkin and entry ticket" is $15 (all the activities plus one pumpkin you pick from the field). All tickets are purchased at the gate. Hanover Vegetable Farm hasn't updated prices yet for 2024 season.
The farm is open 10 am-6 pm on weekends, and hay rides are from 2-6pm. They also host special discount days. On Sunday, October 27, anyone 17 and under who dresses in a costume will receive FREE entry. All children can trick or treat too - they will have candy at the entrance and at stations.
I like this farm because it is great for all ages. If you have babies, you can always visit the farm store that has pumpkins and snack without paying admission. This is a great spot to get harvest pictures, even with little ones. I also love this farm for preschoolers and older kids because it has a festival like atmosphere on weekends - there are pony ride, vendors, animals, corn pit and more.
2024 Farm Opening Date: September 28
On weekends, Hanover Vegetable Farm also hosts special ticketed events.
Saturday, September 7: Youthful Beginings Shrimp and BBQ Feast
September 14 & 15: Rock Rewind Fest IV
September 20: KOS Band
September 31: The Richmond East Moose Lodge Apple, Cider, Bluegrass Festival
October 12 & 13: The CW Hanover Septic Gourds, Goblets, and Ghouls Festival
*Check here for my full review.
The One with Farm Tours: Richland Dairy Farm
This working dairy farm has been a family farm since the 1700s. There are four generations of the Jones’ family working here, and they have over 500 cows. In addition to their Creamery & Kitchen, Richland Dairy Farm has a lot of family-friendly activities: Dinner on the Farm, Family Farm Day, Fall Festival, and tours. This farm is fun for all ages because of the smoother hayride, the playground, sand play, the animals and the indoor creamery.
Every weekend in October, families can enjoy hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and dairy farm tours. Admission costs $10 per person. Children 2 and under are free.
Don't miss out on the ice cream flights from the creamery during your visit!
2024 Farm Opening Date: usually the first weekend in October
*Check here for my full review.
The Budget Friendly Option & The One Open Daily: Gallmeyer Farm
Gallmeyer Farm is a 100 year old family farm is located in Varina. They have a veggie stand (June- October), berry patch (open spring & summer) & a pumpkin patch (open in the fall). This farm is also famous for their sweet corn - make sure you grab some next summer. The Pumpkin Patch is open daily from the last Saturday in September to October 31 from 8am until dusk.
One of my favorite things about this pumpkin patch is that it's open during the week - this is perfect for toddlers & preschoolers to explore without a crowd. There is free parking and free admission to the hayrides, straw bale maze, picnic and play area. They provide wagons for customers to put their pumpkins in, too. Bonus: this patch is near Richmond International Airport!
2024 Farm Opening Date: September 27
*Check here for my full review.
The One with the Largest Corn Maze in the Country: Liberty Mill Farm
Liberty Mills Farm is located in Orange, and it has the largest corn maze in the county at 34 acres. Besides exploring the four different trails in the corn maze, little ones can play in the outdoor play space that has a large wooden tractor play structure, a slide, natural stepping stones and more! They also have pick your own wildflowers and pumpkins in October. Don't forget to grab some tractor-made ice cream (yep - they make their own ice-cream with a tractor!) as a sweet treat to finish off your adventure.
Tickets cost $10 per person on week days and $14 per person of weekends (5 and up). The corn maze is open from September 14 to Novmeber 11, the pick your own pumpkin patch is usually opens the last weekend of September, and the you-pick flowers are open from June 25 thru October 31. During the fall you can rent your own campsite and a food truck will be there on weekends.
This farm is especially fun for elementary children and older because of the intricate corn mazes. There are 4 different mazes: the story maze takes about 30 minutes, the trivia maze takes about 45-60 minutes, the hole punch maze takes 2-3 hours, and the mystery maze takes as long as it takes you to figure it out. With that being said, my 2 year old and 4 year old loved picking wild flowers, exploring the play area that has a giant wooden tractor and slide, and running around.
2024 Farm Opening Date: The farm will be open from September 14 to November 11.
*Check here for my full review and check here for my review of the corn maze.
The Budget Friendly Option & The One Open Daily: Swift Creek Berry Farm
Swift Creek Berry Farm is opens for fall around mid-September through October 31 for fall pansies, mums and pumpkins. Their hours are Monday-Friday from 10-3, and Saturday & Sundays from 10-5. There will be no entrance fee for the pumpkin patch (not on the vine)! They have a corn hole set, building blocks, giant checkers, and footballs and frisbees. They will have carts for the pumpkins.
2024 Farm Opening Date: usually around mid-September
The One with a Fall Festival Every Weekend & A Free Pumpkin Patch: Braehead Farm
This Fredericksburg farm has been family owned since 1937. It’s located about 50 minutes from Short Pump, and it’s right off 95 - perfect for a day trip.
Braehead Farm has pick your own produce fields for strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, sunflowers, pumpkins, and more. The market has pre-picked produce, goods and ice cream. Behind the barn is an amazing play area for children with farm animals. Chickens roam freely! This is such a fun farm for children of all ages, and we sometimes make day trips just to play in their Children's Area.
Visit the farm every weekend from the lat weekend in September through October 27 to enjoy the Fall Harvest Festival. It costs $14 per person to enjoy the festival and the children's play area. If you want to just attend the festival, it costs $7 or visit just the playground it costs $5. Children 2 and under are free.
You can visit the pumpkin patch for free every day from 9am-6pm. There is no admission cost for the pick your own fields - you just pay for what you pick.
2024 Farm Opening Date: usually the last weekend in September
*Check here for a full review.
The Most Unique Play Area: Snead's Asparagus Farm
Snead's Asparagus Farm has whimsical, woodland play area plus PYO fields! This sustainable family farm is located in Caroline County, just over an hour from Short Pump. Snead's has pick your own sunflowers in late summer, pumpkins in the fall & cut your own Christmas trees in December. This farm is especially great for toddlers, preschoolers and elementary aged children because of the wonderful play spaces, trails, and mountain slides. It’s also stroller friendly almost everywhere. There’s even stroller parking for the hayride.
Snead's Fall Festival is family friendly, and it usually opens mid-September through October 27. It costs $10 per person on weekdays (children 2 & under are free), and this price includes unlimited hayrides and full use of the play areas. There will be a small amount of food vendors, so you can bring your own food. It costs $17 a person on the weekend, and this includes unlimited hayrides and full use of the play space. No outside food is allowed on weekends because there will be plenty of food vendors (BBQ, pizza, more).
This one is worth the admission and the trip! My children love this play area - especially the sand play and pedal trucks. The play space is so unique and there are so many options for pretend play and exploration. We haven't been to another farm like it!
Heads up: There are porta potties, but we always bring our car potty too!
2024 Farm Opening Date: usually the weekend around September 20
*Check here for my full review.
The One I Grew Up Visiting: Ashland Berry Farm
Ashland Berry Farm has 30 acres of pumpkins. This farm is open 10-5 on weekends and 10-6 on weekdays. There are a few weekdays it’s closed - check their website. They offer free parking & free hayrides to the patch, plus all you can carry pumpkins for $25! The Donut Shop opens on October 1, and it will serve fresh donuts on weekends only. They will also have hot dogs, corndogs and fries on the weekends. The Kids Activities also open on October 1 for weekends only. Passes cost between $5 - $12, depending on the activities you'd like to participate in.
When my son was one, I would take him during the week to explore the market for free! There are a bunch of pre-picked pumpkins, so it's perfect for pictures.
2024 Farm Opening Date: usually the last weekend in September (Saturday, Sep. 28)
The One Worth The Drive: Belvedere Plantation
Located in Fredericksburg, this 600+ acre working farm is about an hour from Richmond on the Rappahannock River. Also known as The Peony Farm, Belvedere Plantation hosts events in the spring, summer & fall. This farm has everything: hayrides, a pumpkin patch, flower picking, clean restrooms, changing stations, a market, food options & so many activities!
This is a fun place for all ages because the farm is massive! They have so many activities, and something for every age group, including pig races, a sand pit, swings, mountain tube slides & mountain slides, a race track for pedal trucks. Depending on the ages of your kiddos, you may need two adults (we went as a family).
There is currently a flash sale on tickets (through Sept. 8, 2024).
The Fall Harvest Festival is from September 14 to November 2 , and they have over 30 attractions.
2024 Fall Opening Date: September 14
*Check here for my full review.
The One with the Dreamiest Photos Ops: Sweethaven Lavender Farm
This dreamy farm in Williamsburg is perfect if your family enjoys a more upscale farm. You can cut sunflowers & other flowers, pick out pumpkins, eat lavender infused treats like cotton candy & brownies and explore the beautiful farm. You can also order a catered picnic to enjoy during your visit. Sweethaven Lavender Farm also has a wonderful children’s play area with play houses & hula hoops!
This is the second autumn season for Sweethaven Harvest, and they have pre-picked pumpkins and pumpkins on the vine. This farm is usually open from mid-September through the weekend before Halloween from 10 am-2 pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and 6 pm-9 pm on Friday and Saturday. Weekday admission is free, but reservations are required. Weekend visits costs $12 for adults, $4 for kids 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under. This price includes access to the pumpkin and sunflower fields, free parking, hayrides and live music.
At about an hour from Richmond, this is the sweetest weekday adventure if you've got young children. The property is stroller friendly, too. We've been visiting this farm during the week for the past three years.
2024 Fall Opening Date: usually mid September
*Check here for a full review.
RVA's Newest Pumpkin Patch: The Perfect Picks Flower Farm
Open since 2021, this family-owned flower farm has 10 acres of blooms! You can pick your own zinnia, cosmo, daisies, celosia, sunflowers, wildflowers and PUMPKINS! The fall flowers, including sunflowers, are ready to be picked - you pick flowers opens the week of September 16. The you pick pumpkins will be ready by October 1.
It’s $22 for *all you can pick* per adult. If you pay with cash, it’s $20. Ages 11 and under are free with a paid adult. Kiddos can help their grownup fill a bucket.
2024 Fall Opening Date: the first weekend of October
*Check here for my full review.
Mechanicsville's Pumpkin Patch: Windy Knoll Farm
This family-owned farm has been open to the community since 1977! It started as a Christmas Tree Farm, and the family has added flowers, berries, animals, and pumpkins since it’s inception. We visited recently for a barnyard experience - we got to interact with goats, a calf and ducks, hold chicks & G fed a pony! We also took a tractor ride around the whole farm, spending about ~1.5 hours.
Windy Knoll Farm is open for the fall season from September 21 to October 28, 2023. You can visit on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 5pm. They will have pumpkin picking, hayrides and more! Windy Knoll Farm does not have an admission cost - you only pay for what you pick. Pets are welcome on a leash.
*Check here for my full review.
Located Next to a Brewery & Stroller Friendly: Critzer Family Farm
Located in Afton, Critzer Family Farm has pumpkins, strawberries, peaches and apples. This PYO farm is free to visit - no admission cost, only pay for what you pick. The farm serves homemade ice cream, has a large picnic area & play space. The play area has trucks, a slide, seesaw, picnic tables & ducks! Porta potties are next to the play area. This farm is stroller friendly & easy to navigate with little kids!
Critzer Family Farm is located across the street from Blue Mountain Brewery, a family friendly brewery and restaurant. Blue Mountain Brewery has a large green space with plenty of room for children to run around.
*Check here for my review.
Quick Tips & Facts:
1) Almost every pumpkin patch has uneven terrain - vines in the patches or hayrides to the field. Strollers just don't work. Bring a baby carrier.
2) These are working farms. Dress accordingly.
3) Most PYO farms do not allow backpacks in the fields. Because we use a backpack as a diaper bag and we need it all the time, I've had our backpack checked before.
4) Some farms only have porta potties. We always bring our car potty because it's just easier for little kids. Click here for the one we use and love.
5) Hayrides are bumpy! Keep this in mind with newborns and young children.
6) Prices have increased from last year. Children 2 and under are usually free at every venue.
7) If you have a baby or a child under 2, try the free pumpkin patches first before visiting one with an admission fee. When my son was 6 weeks old (yep, you read that correctly) we paid to visit a pumpkin patch. It wasn't the best use of money when there are so many fun pumpkin patches around Richmond with free admission. That same farm that we went to with our 6 week old was my children's favorite last year (at 14 months and 3 years old).
8) If it has rained recently, the farms, including the play areas will be very wet and muddy. We visited one patch after the rain, and the entire play area was covered in puddles & water, so we couldn't play.
Easy Places for Pumpkin Pictures:
1. Any local nursery - They usually set up festive fall décor that's perfect for a picture.
2. The Great Big Greenhouse: This locally owned nursery is in Huguenot Village Shopping Center. We love The Great Big Greenhouse because they are so family-family & host many events throughout the year. They have Santa & model trains in December & January, festive seasonal displays throughout the year, petting zoos + bounce houses & a farmer’s market.
Starting the last week of September, they have a large seasonal display outside which is a great spot to get your harvest pictures without visiting a pumpkin patch.
3. Tom Leonard's: This local grocery store is located in Short Pump & they always have the most festive set-ups. Last year, they hosted Friday Night Movies at the Pumpkin Patch in October! The Pumpkin Patch opens mid September, and they have pumpkins, gourds, squash & mums - it's really easy to visit and you can get great pictures!
4. Wegman's: They have hay bales & pumpkins set up outside of the store at the Short Pump location. We love to visit for a picture & then check out the boats & fish at Cabela's.
Looking for more fall, family fun in Richmond? Check out my guide to free things to do around Richmond this fall.
*For more details on these fun, fall spots and more Virginia adventures, follow our family on @thewestendmom on Instagram!
