Last weekend, we met up with my friend Emily and her family at the St. Pete Pier Pumpkin Patch, and it was slammed. Honestly, I found the amount of people there overwhelming, and we didn’t feel we got to take all the pumpkin patch photos we were looking for – though we did get some cute ones of our sons together.
We’ve decided we want to scope out more pumpkin patches nearby – based on reviews, as well as some of my past experiences, these are our best options:
Hyde Park Village Pumpkin Patch
October 4 – October 26
Free to access
In Village Circle in Hyde Park, just outside of downtown Tampa, you can find a truly adorable pumpkin patch with plenty of photo opps. They have open hours throughout the week, so you don’t even have to fight the weekend crowds. Check the calendar to see when Posie’s Flower Truck will make an appearance, or catch storytime in the patch on October 20. Bonus: all proceeds from the pumpkin patch benefit The Humane Society of Tampa Bay, which is where we got our dog, Jem.
Gallagher’s Pumpkins and Christmas Trees
Open daily, starting September 19
Free to access
Located on 4th St. in St. Pete, Gallagher’s locally owned, family operated pumpkin patch is well known and highly regarded. Last year was my first year attending, and after seeing some of this year’s offerings, I think we’ll have to go back. They’re open daily, 9am – 9pm, so there’s plenty of opportunity to fit in a visit. They recently shared on Instagram that they have purple pumpkins this year, which is enough of a reason for me to go by – especially since they’re dog-friendly, so we can bring the pups!
Raprager Family Farms Pumpkin Festival
Friday – Sunday, September 17 – November 13
Ticket prices vary
The Fall Pumpkin Festival & Haunted Farm is an annual tradition at Raprager Family Farms in Odessa, so they know how to do it up. Not only do they have a ton of pumpkins available, but they have plenty of other fall activities to keep you busy. Hayrides, a petting zoo, ax throwing, and a corn pit are just a few of the options when you’re spending a day on the farm. Note that you do need to buy tickets in advance with a set arrival time, and they are likely to sell out.
Sweetfields Farm Fall Season
Friday – Sunday (and select Mondays), September 24 – November 6
Tickets are $10.75 + taxes and fees; 2 and under is free
While my preferred time to visit Sweetfields Farm in Masaryktown (outside of Brooksville) is during sunflower season in the spring, their fall season offering is still a great time. They’re best known for their corn maze during this time of year, but the pumpkin patch and play areas are equally great, especially when you’ve got kids in tow. They also require purchasing tickets in advance; I actually went to purchase tickets a few weekends back, only to find they were sold out. Learn from my mistakes and book early!
Heights District 5th Annual Fall Festival at Armature Works
October 15-16, 22-23
Free to access, but requires registration
Some of the best eats in Tampa are at Armature Works, so you won’t want to miss out on this added fun! If you didn’t make it to the festival this weekend, you still have a chance to go between October 22-23 and take part in the pumpkin patch, craft station, and photo opps. Their fall market also has some cool seasonal vendors, so you’ll want to swing by there as well. The festival includes a food drive supporting Metropolitan Ministries, so there’s another reason you can feel good showing your support.