As the vibrant hues of summer’s red, white, and blue fade with the last of the Fourth of July fireworks and the final barbecues of a lazy Labor Day weekend, the Pacific Northwest once again welcomes the rich, warm tones of autumn’s embrace. As the soon sets sooner, the region transforms into a breathtaking canvas of fiery oranges, deep crimsons, and velvety blacks, reminding us of all our favorite things about the season: the mysterious allure of black cats, the nostalgic sweetness of candy corn, and, of course, sprawling fields of pumpkin patches just waiting to be explored!
In these bewitching realms, friends and family gather to pick the perfect jack-o-lantern, sip on steaming mugs of hot apple cider, and revel in the thrill of hayrides and corn mazes (haunted or otherwise). These magical moments, bathed in the golden glow of the fall equinox, create cherished memories to keep us warm through the coldest winters. As we welcome autumn’s comforting embrace again, we eagerly anticipate all the thrills and chills of everyone’s favorite spooky season at these enchanted fields. Be sure to mark your calendars for a chance to explore Salem and all of Marion County’s pumpkin patches in 2024!
Bauman’s Farm and Garden
12989 Howell Prairie Road NE, Gervais
503.792.3524
Consistently voted #1 Pumpkin Patch in the Willamette Valley, Bauman’s Farm and Garden proudly boasts a bountiful season harvest festival with over 30 activities for kids of all ages! For 37 years, the farm has transformed into an autumn wonderland during their annual Bauman’s Harvest Festival, complete with a three acre corn maze, obstacle courses, giggle-worthy rides, cuddly farm animals at the petting zoo, and plentiful pumpkins. There’s even a Dark Maze for those willing to get lost in the dark, an apple cannon where event-goers can shoot apples at targets at unbelievable speeds just to watch them explode, a Nut House where little ones can experience the unique thrill of diving into a giant bin of hazelnuts (they promise its much more exciting than the traditional ball pit), and even a Pumpkin Hill where if you make it to the top, the reward is a speedy ride back down via the slide.
While the littles enjoy playtime, parents can enjoy the Bauman Cidery Tours to see how the farm makes their award-winning hard ciders. With so many activities, crisp-fall weekends spent at Bauman’s Farm and Garden are sure to be oodles of fun with something for everyone, and the farm is even dog friendly, which means even the canine companions can join in on these paw-some festivities!
Fordyce Farm Inc.
7023 Sunnyview Road NE, Salem
503.362.5105
Since 1959, family-owned and operated Fordyce Farm Inc. has been happily celebrating the changes of the seasons with the Salem community. Already the farm is decked out for fall, with a bounty of pumpkins and seasonal décor just waiting to be discovered. Here, all pumpkins, including specialty ones, are just 49 cents a pound, and decorative gourds are two for $1.
While parents are pumpkin picking on the U-pick farm, kiddos are welcome to tackle the massive hay fort free to play on. Its just one of the many features of the farm’s annual Fall Fest, which also includes a massive corn maze that is already open and ready for wanderers to come explore as they experience the magic of the harvest season.
E. Z. Orchards Farm Market
5504 Hazelgreen Road NE, Salem
503.393.1506
E.Z. Orchards Farm Market is gearing up for HarvestFest 2024. The festival will run from September 28 until October 30 and consist of a variety of fall favorites, including a petting zoo, corn maze, cider and donuts, and, of course, a pumpkin patch! Stop by on the weekends for additional autumn events, such as face painting, gold mining, live music, and horseback riding.
Delicious seasonal treats like apple cider and fresh pumpkin donuts will also be available. Kiddos will surely delight in the farm’s festive games and activities, finding endless entertainment in duck races, steer ropin’ ring toss and pedal tractors.
Fir Point Farms
14601 Arndt Road, Aurora
503.678.2455
Admission to the Harvest Festival is free at Fir Point Farms, with this including unlimited access to tetherball, badminton, volleyball, corn hole toss, and the petting zoo, all of which are open daily to the public. Weekend visits to the farm bring even more excitement, with extra activity options available from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Little monsters, heroes, and princesses will have ghoulish fun with Fir Point Farms’ six-acre corn maze, giant slide, paintball shooting gallery, art center with mini pumpkin painting, Hazel’s Nut House, Polka Dot Express, hay wagon rides, and bounce house.
There is also an additional Kids Zone for those ages 0 to 8 that features teeter totters, bouncy balls, a John Deer Trike, corn hole toss, and Noah’s Ark with three slides. Participating in any of these fall-filled activities is only $7, with the exception of the corn maze, which is $8. Visitors can also purchase an all-day wristband at the ticket booth for $28.
French Prairie Gardens
17673 French Prairie Road NE, St Paul
503.633.8445
French Prairie Gardens is ready to prove that fall on the farm is much more than a simple pumpkin patch. They kick off the season with their annual Sunflower Fest, which will run until September 29. The Pumpkin Patch Festival will begin the following weekend, beginning October 5 and ending October 27.
In addition to the 12 acre pumpkin patch with over 20 different varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds, the festivities will include a double super mega ride n’slide, a huge corn maze with games inside, hay maze, animal feeding, a farm ninja challenge, and for the adults, there’s even Hops in the Cornstalks – an adult corn maze egg hunt adventure! Of course, while there is so much to do for all ages, and its hard to believe there could ever be a favorite, it seems the main attraction that keeps people coming back to the gardens year after year is their famous Pigtucky Derby Pig Races that you won’t want to miss!
As the vibrant hues of summer give way to autumn’s rich, warm tones, the world once again transforms into a magical realm for everyone’s favorite spooky season. It’s the perfect time of year to cozy up on a hayride, sip on hot apple cider, and immerse yourself in delightful fall activities and more with the help of these Marion County pumpkin patches in 2024!
