Best Farms for Pumpkin Picking on Long Island, New York
Pumpkin picking is a fun family activity on Long Island near New York City. This post shows you where to find pumpkin patches on Long Island and other information on pumpkin picking in New York.
As the weather starts to get cooler and the days grow crisper, you know fall has arrived in New York. Maybe you are still sad about how fast summer has gone by, but fall in New York is even more fun in my opinion.
Instead of drenched in sweat in 90 degree weather, you can now bust out those cute fall outfits and over the knee boots and not have to worry about random thunderstorms ruining your plans. Yup, autumn is in full swing, and you know what that means – it’s pumpkin picking season!
While you won’t find any pumpkin patch in Manhattan itself, there are plenty to pick from on Long Island (and in the Hudson Valley). Besides the annual tradition of apple picking, pumpkin picking is probably even more popular among families with kids (or people of all ages especially if you are looking to decorate your homes for Halloween). Pumpkin picking is like a treasure hunt where the prize is a pumpkin that’s perfect for you.
Now let’s me show you some of the best places for pumpkin picking on Long Island, New York.
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Facts about pumpkins you did not know
- Pumpkins, squash and gourds are all from the same family and they are all fruits, not vegetables!
- Each pumpkin has over 500 seeds
- You may know pumpkins as Jack O’Lantern but the first Jack O’Lantern were made with potatoes and turnips
- Pumpkins grow on vines and can be picked directly on a farm
- Every part of a pumpkin is edible, not just the “meat” inside
- The pumpkin capital of the world is in Illinois
- Pumpkins require 3-4 months to mature to be harvested from vine
When to pick pumpkins in New York?
Most pumpkin patches are open on Long Island from the 2nd or 3rd week of September to the end of October. Different farms have different opening dates, with the earliest opening the weekend after Labor Day.
The best time to go pick pumpkins in New York would be end of September to mid October when the pumpkins are ripe. You don’t want to go too late in case the nice ones are all gone.
During the fall most farms on Long Island also have a fall festival type of event on the weekend, therefore depending on where you go, you may need to pay $20-30 a person to enter the farm. Once you are in, you can do all sorts of activities like hayrides, corn maze, etc.
Most farms are also only open on the weekends to the public, occasionally you may find a farm with pumpkin patch that is open during the week.
What to bring to pick pumpkins?
This depends on whether you are picking pumpkins on vine or you are going to a pumpkin patch to pick up a pumpkin.
If you are just going to a pumpkin patch, then you just need to bring a bag or better, a small wagon with you to put the pumpkins on. Since the pumpkins on the patch are already cut from the vine, you do not need any tools with you.
If you are picking pumpkins off vine, then you need to be more prepared. For one, you need to bring a large sharp knife or a garden lopper with you to cut off the thick vine. When cutting, be sure to cut about 4-6 inch from the base of the stems. If you cut too close to the pumpkin it will rot faster.
If you are harvesting your own pumpkins, you should wear garden gloves since the pumpkin vines can be prickly.
Remember to always hold the pumpkins from the bottom and not by grabbing its stem so you don’t risk damaging the pumpkins.
Where to find pumpkin patches on Long Island
Without further ado, here are some of the most popular pumpkin picking and pumpkin patches on Long Island. Some of these farms also have apple picking whereas others are better known for their pumpkin patches. You can expect to find delicious ciders and cider donuts as well as other farm food at most of these farms below.
Fink’s Country Farm
Address: 6242 Middle Country Rd, Wading River, NY 11949
Website: https://finksfarm.com/fall-farm-stand.html
Admission: ticket required for Fall festival on the weekends
Pets: Not allowed
If you are looking for a super family friendly farm for pumpkin patches then you definitely should not miss Fink’s Country Farm. Located in Wading River, Fin’s country Farm is known for its fall festival in September and October (starting the weekend after Labor Day weekend).
Fink’s is honestly one of our favorite farms on Long Island because there is just so much to do.
You need to pay $23 to enter the fall festival (children 2 and under are free). Admission allows you to access numerous fun activities including character appearance, giant jumping pads, farm animals, pedal carts, wooden play structures, tractor pull, hayrides, bean bag toss, corn pit (kids’ favorite), parachute bouncing, and live music.
You can pay additional for pony rides, face painting, pumpkin picking, kiddie train, etc. Be warned that this farm is HUGE. You should absolutely go as early as possible otherwise it’s hard to see everything!
You will also find fresh produces, a sunflower grove and delicious farm food at Fink’s.
Elwood Pumpkin Farm
Address: 1500 E Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743
Website: https://www.elwoodpumpkinfarm.com/
Admission: $7 per person
Pets: dog friendly
Elwood Pumpkin Farm is the most western pumpkin farm on Long Island and it is one of the only farms that actually offer pumpkins on the vine (instead of just a pumpkin patch where you pick the pumpkin). You know it is fresh if you have to pick it off the vine yourself.
Pumpkin Season starts mid September at Elwood and the farm is generally open from 3pm to 5pm on weekdays (or by reservation) and it is open 10am to 5pm on the weekends.
It costs $7 per person to enter the farm and you need to pay for the pumpkins you picked based on size. There is also a small corn maze and wagon ride around the farm, both cost extra.
During the winter months you can make an appointment to come to the farm to cut Christmas trees!
Elwood Pumpkin Farm is cash only.
Harbes Family Farm
Address: 715 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY 11952
Website: https://harbesfamilyfarm.com/
Reservation: $29.95 per person for the barnyard adventure, buy tickets online. Weekday admission can only be purchased onsite. Children 2 and under are free
Pets: Not allowed on premise
Harbes Family Farm is a large farm located near Riverhead on Long Island. There are actually 3 locations:
- Harbes Famly Farm: 715 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY
- Harbes Orchard: 5698 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY
- Harbes Farms Jamesport: 1223 NY-25, Jamesport, NY
All 3 locations offer pumpkin picking and the Harbes Orchard and Harbes Farms Jamesport locations offer apple picking.
Harbes also offer pumpkin picking on the vine in their fields so you should definitely bring gloves and tools to help you pick that perfect pumpkin. And if you want a white pumpkin, you can find that at Harbes as well.
I think Harbes is another one of our favorites on Long Island because the Harbes Family Farm location offers a massive variety of kids activities on the weekend.
You will find things like musical hayride, jumbo jumping pads, giant slides, obstacle courses, farm animals, hedge maze, playgrounds, sports zone, foosball, small tractors, duck racing, sandbox, pretend milking cow and pig racing at Harbes Family Farm.
Harbes is great for adults with its apple blasters, spooky night maze and a vineyard. There are also various festivals throughout the year making things fun all year round. It is a place worth returning to every season if you have kids.
Brightwaters Farms
Address: 1624 Manatuck Blvd, Bay Shore, NY 11706
Website: https://www.brightwatersfarms.com/
Admission: $20 per person on the weekend & Columbus day, under 1 year old free; free Tuesday – Friday
Pets: Not allowed
Brightwaters Farm is a family friendly farm located in North Bay shore. It is the perfect farm for those living on the west side of Long Island or in Queens.
The pumpkin patch is part of the farm’s Fall Harvest festival starting September 23, 2023 and the farm is open everyday except on Mondays.
The Fall Harvest festival costs $20 per person (kids 1 or under are free) on the weekend (you can visit for free Tuesday to Fridays). At the farm you will find a large playground, farm animals, a magician, face painting, hayrides, games.
For additional fees, you can do tony rides, animal feeding, bouncy house and tractor rides. There is also live entertainment on site as well as food (burgers, hog dog, turkey leg, roasted corn, etc). The farm also provides wagons for you so you don’t have to carry your pumpkins around the entire time.
There is no apple picking at Brightwaters Farm.
White Post Farm
Address: 250 Old Country Rd, Melville, NY 11747
Website: https://www.whitepostfarms.com/
Admission: $28.95 per person; children under 15 months are free
Pets: Not allowed
Another very popular family friendly farm is White Post Farm in Melville, only about 45 minute drive from Queens (depending on where you are in Queens).
White Post Farm is known for its animals like Giraffe, birds and fam animals as well as pony rides, train rides, hayrides and other kids’ entertainments. They also have magic show a few times a week depending on the months.
Starting at the end of September (September 23, 2023) and through the month of October, there is a fall festival on the weekends and on Columbus day. You will find the pumpkin patch during this time.
We visited during the summer so there was no pumpkin patch yet, but the farm was fun nevertheless and there were a ton of kids.
This farm is cash only, including entrance ticket of $30 so be sure to bring a lot of cash with you.
F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm
Address: 26 Pinelawn Rd, Melville, NY 11747
Website: https://schmittfarms.com/
Admission: $15 a person; children under 16 months are free.
Pets: Not allowed
Located only about 2 minute drive from White Post Farm, F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm is another popular pumpkin patch to visit during the fall months (from Sep 23 to Oct 30th, 2023).
Similar to other farms, during this period, the farm has its annual fall festival which requires a ticket to enter, and you will get access to hayrides, playground, mini golf, and its massive pumpkin patch where you will find a wide varieties of pumpkins and gourds. Ticket must be purchased at the door so you should expect a line.
F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm also has farm animals and you can feed the animals or visit the corn maze for additional fee. Besides pumpkin, you can pick beets and eggplants and in the summer there is a nice sunflower field. In fact if you time it right when you go pick pumpkins you can still visit the sunflower maze, how cool is that?
Lewin Farms
Address: 812 Sound Ave, Calverton, NY 11933 <- address to farmstand
Website: http://www.lewinfarm.com/new-page-1
Admission: You pay for what you pick
Pets: Not allowed
Lewin Farms is a fruit and vegetable picking farm with tons of things to pick year round. The address above is the address to their farm stand but the actual picking happens in their fields near the farm stand. They do rotate the location of the fields every year.
Pumpkin picking at Lewin Farms is on the vine, so they are not pre-cut and arranged on the field like some of the other farms on Long Island. Therefore you will need to bring your own cutter and gloves to pick pumpkins here. But if you just want to purchase pumpkins then you can find a ton of them at the farm stand instead.
During the summer you can come to Lewin Farms to pick strawberries (which is what we did), raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and other vegetables. They also have an apple orchard for apple picking from late August to late October.
There is no playground at Lewin’s and every October there is a corn maze. If you just want to pick fruits and pumpkins then this is a great spot since there is no entrance fee. But if you are looking for a festival type of farm then this is not the place for you.
Windy Acre Orchard
Address: 3810 Middle Country Rd, Calverton, NY 11933
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057161333097
Admission: None, you pay for what you pick
Pets: Allowed when leashed
Windy Acre Orchard is the most-worth-it farm on Long Island! There is no entrance fee like most farms on this list and there is a large play area for kids with wooden play structures (for free!).
In the summer months Windy Acre offers strawberry picking and in the fall there is apple picking and a pumpkin patch. You can rent a wagon for free so you can put your pumpkin (and your kids) in to drag them around, which is a nice addition.
You can essentially pick apples, fruits (like eggplants, peppers and other veggies that you can find in the fields) and fill up a large crate (and pay for what you pick)
The farm is stroller friendly and also has many animals, such as horses, peacocks and goats.
Hank’s Pumpkintown
Address: 240 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, NY 11976
Website: http://www.hankspumpkintown.com/pumpkin-picking.html
Admission: $20 on the weekend; $15 during the day
Pets: Not allowed
As the name implies, Hank’s Pumpkintown is great for pumpkin patches and pumpkin picking! In fact you can do those here!
At Hank’s Pumpkintown you will find over 30 acres of activities including narrated wagon rides, giant jumping pads, 3 corn mazes, barrel train rides, apple picking, pumpkin picking on the vine and pumpkin patches.
Starting September 9, 2023, you can come to the farm for apple picking and pumpkin picking. Pumpkin picking is everyday, and apple picking is only on the weekend.
You can pay for admission to enjoy all the fun activities including pumpkin patch but you can also just skip all that and go pumpkin on vine for $0.79 per pound but you won’t have access to pumpkin patch or anything else.
You can of course find farm food at Hank’s Pumpkintown, including apple cider donuts, corn dog, roasted corn, apple cider and a lot more.
Albert H. Schmitt Family Farms on Bagatelle
Address: 6 Bagatelle Rd, Dix Hills, NY 11746
Website: https://schmittsonbagatelle.com/
Admission: $5 to enter the pumpkin patch
Pets: Not allowed
Located in Dix Hills on Long Island New York, Albert H. Schmitt Family Farms is a great place for pumpkin patch and some autumn fun.
Starting from mid September to early November, you can pay $5 to enter the pumpkin patch which includes their instagram-worthy pumpkin house and duck racing for kids.
At the farm you can also find lots of fall and Halloween decorations, hayrides and animal train rides (for a fee), and other yummy food like apple cider donuts, apple cider, roasted corn and other typical fall farm foods.
Milk Pail U-Pick Farm
Address: 50 Horsemill Ln, Water Mill, NY 11976
Website: https://milk-pail.com/u-pick-farm.php
Admission: Not required
Pets: Not allowed
Milk Pail U-Pick Farm is known for its apple picking and pumpkin picking. They have over 15 types of pumpkins and squashes for picking on vine, so you know they are super fresh! You can find a large range of pumpkins from mini ones to giant pumpkins on the farm.
There is no entrance fee and you pay for what you pick so it’s a great deal if you are just looking to pick pumpkins without all the extra stuff other farms offer, perfect for couples without kids to entertain. The farm does offer a farm wagon tour during the U-pick season.
Their U-Pick season are in September and October and they are only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. If you want to buy fresh produce you can find all types of flowers, vegetables and fruits at their fresh market. And if you visit in September you can find a large sunflower field as well.
Bonus: Queen’s County Farm Museum
Address: 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004
Website: https://www.queensfarm.org/fall-public-events/
Admission: No admission
Pets: Not allowed
Technically not located on Long Island, The queens’ County Farm Museum is a historical farming site that dates back to 1697. This farm museum now provides educational programs and learning opportunities for visitors and school program and it is also a great place for families to visit for free.
Every fall the Queen’s County Farm Museum has a series of fall events, including a free pumpkin patch, farm animal viewing and feeding, and a visit to the grounds. It also has paid events such as the Queens County Fair, Halloween celebration, a fee-per-ride hayride, corn maze ($16 per person), etc. There are usually pumpkin/ fall themed installations (for Instagram photos) every fall as well that require tickets.
The pumpkin patch is very popular even though it’s not a large area. You pay for what you pick and you will need to bring your own bag. There is no fruits or vegetable picking at the Queen’s County Farm Museum.
We’ve been to Queen’s County Farm Museum twice during the fall and both times were quite lively! They do take credit cards here so you don’t have to worry too much about bringing a lot of cash.
Summary of Best Pumpkin Picking on Long Island
Here is a summary of where to find pumpkin patches on Long Island.
The most kids friendly pumpkin picking on Long Island:
- Fink’s Country Farm
- Harbes Family Farm
- Windy Acre
- Brightwater Farms
- F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm
- White Post Farm
- Hank’s Pumpkintown
Pumpkin picking on vine on Long Island:
- Elwood Pumpkin Farm
- Harbes Family Farm
- Lewin Farms
- Hank’s Pumpkintown
- Milk Pail U-Pick Farm
Pumpkin patches with apple picking on Long Island
- Harbes Orchard
- Lewin Farms
- Windy Acre Orchard
- Hank’s Pumpkintown
- Milk Pail U-Pick Farm
Other Things to Do on Long Island, New York
There are a ton of other fun activities you can enjoy on Long Island besides pumpkin picking. Here are some of the best activities on Long Island:
- Visit a beautiful sunflower field or get lost in a sunflower maze in August and September.
- Watch the sunset over the the water at Steppingstone Park
- Hike the trails, see a castle and visit a beach at Sands Point Preserve
- Transport yourself to the English country side at Old Westbury Gardens, where movies like The Age of Innocence, Cruel Intentions and American Gangster were filmed at.
- Live your fairytale at the Oheka Castle, a beautiful Golden Coast Castle where Taylor Swift filmed her music video Blank Space.
- Eat fresh seafood at Jordan Lobster Farms and see the airshow at Jone’s Beach end of May.
- Visit the famous Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum at the tip of Long Island
- Explore 3 museums for kids on the Museum Row on Long Island
- Visit the historical Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
Other New York Articles
If you are interested in other things to do in New York, whether it’s exploring more farms or find the best places to go for Christmas, see my other New York City blogs.
New York City Seasonal and Family Friendly Articles
- Why You should visit NYC in the fall
- Best Fall Hikes in NYC
- Apple Picking in the Hudson Valley in New York
- Where to Go Apple Picking on Long Island
- Where to Pick Strawberries near NYC
- A Complete Guide to Diggerland: a Construction Themed Amusement Park in NJ
- Best Sunflower Fields in NYC
- NYC Winter Survival Guide
Christmas and Holiday Season in New York City
- Most Instagrammable Places in NYC during the holidays
- Most Festive Pop Up Bars and Restaurants in NYC during the holidays
- Best Holiday Markets in NYC
- Things to do with kids in NYC during the holidays
New York City Itineraries & Things to Do