Autumn is officially around the corner, bringing a festive line-up of Bonfire Night, Christmas, and—first up—Halloween. Although we’ve had a record-breaking, long, hot summer with barely any rain, plenty of seasonal gourds still seem to be making it up through the ground, often ripe earlier than usual – so all signs point to pumpkin season going ahead, as close to usual as possible.
Whether you’re out to snap the ultimate seasonal photo or ready to carve a masterpiece, we’ve gathered the best pick-your-own pumpkin patches in Manchester to visit this season.
Cockfields Farm, Ashton-under-Lyne
A beloved staple in Ashton-under-Lyne, Cockfields Farm brings back its popular Pumpkin Festival during October weekends and half term. Visitors can grab a wheelbarrow, roam the patch, and take home their ideal pumpkin to carve, alongside enjoying children’s rides, a Halloween treasure hunt, and dedicated toddler sessions.
By night, Pumpkins After Dark takes over from 5pm to 8pm—complete with festoon lighting, live music, food and drink, stilt-walking Jack and Sally Skellington, and appearances by the Sanderson Sisters. Expect completely new pumpkin patch props, a thrilling new Halloween walk-through and a brand-new Halloween show—with so much more in store!
Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream
The Pumpkin Patch at Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream is returning! It’s much more than a picking spot—offering pumpkins in every shape, size, and color alongside festive photo ops, Halloween-themed ice cream flavors, and a kids’ scavenger hunt. Fuel up with street food classics like burgers and pizza, paired with everything from morning coffees to alcoholic drinks.
Kenyon Hall Farm, Warrington
Starting early on September 26th, Kenyon Hall Farm—just a 30-minute drive from Manchester—is opening its gates for PYO pumpkin season. This year’s display is huge, boasting over 20,000 pumpkins in every shape, size, and colour. Grab a wheelbarrow, roam the patch for your favourites, and wrap up your trip with a visit to the farm shop and cafe.
Lancaster Park and Animal Farm, Chadderton
A go-to spot for family fun in Oldham, Lancaster Park is going all-out for Halloween this October. Visitors can explore the pumpkin patch, pick their favourite pumpkin to carve, and enjoy a full line-up of kids’ activities—including a costume contest, Wizard School show and a Halloween Disco. Best of all, tickets include entry to the rest of the park to meet all the resident farm animals!
Reddish Vale Farm, Stockport
Reddish Vale Farm launches its Halloween festivities this October, combining access to regular farm animals and play zones with seasonal attractions. Highlights include pumpkin picking and carving, stilt walkers and roaming characters, spooky photo ops galore, a witch and wizard family fun show and much more!
This year the farm offers four Halloween events:
- Main daytime Halloween pumpkin festival
- Halloween Midweek offer
- Moonlight pumpkin evenings
- Halloween weekend special moonlight pumpkin evenings
Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, Blackburn
Mrs Dowsons Farm Park hosts a three-acre pumpkin patch filled with homegrown crops and 12 imported varieties. Grab a wheelbarrow to explore the fields, pick a pumpkin, and search for characters stationed around the site.
Before heading home, walk through the farm barns to meet resident animals and access both the indoor and outdoor play spaces. Opens 4th October, with bookings filling up quick.
Lymm Pumpkin Patch, Warrington
Open on October weekends and through half term, Lymm Pumpkin Patch is one of the only spots near Manchester boasting its very own mini maize maze! You’ll find thousands of pumpkins and squashes in every variation—from classic orange to mini, white, blue, and green. Beyond picking, visitors can join in on daily treasure hunts, snap photos with fun props, and guess a pumpkin’s weight for a chance to win a prize.
High Legh Pumpkin Patch
Located in High Legh near Warrington, this patch boasts over 22,000 pumpkins spanning 25 unique varieties—ranging from striking Blanco and Blue to Kabocha and Goosebump—making it ideal for creating eye-catching Halloween displays. Alongside standard daytime picking, visitors can look forward to special seasonal events including quiet SEN-friendly sessions, evening candlelit picking, and a daily golden pumpkin hunt during half term!
Tatton Park, Knutsford
Tatton Park is another great option for pumpkin picking near Manchester. Visitors can meet the resident animals at the farm before heading out to the patch to choose their pumpkins. Throughout October, the park is hosting several autumn activities including Skellies and Wellies, Myth, Magic and Mystery, and the Halloween Outdoor Cinema. Guests can also extend their visit by exploring the estate’s historic mansion and expansive grounds.
Bates Farm, Warrington
Pick from more than 30 varieties of pumpkins spread across an outdoor patch and an indoor shed at Bates Farm. The setup features seasonal photo spots, farm animals, tractors, and a visit from The Wandering Chapter book van. Food stalls serve woodfired pizza, Greek gyros, crepes, cinnamon buns, and seasonal coffees – it’s the perfect autumnal day out.
Pye Ash Farm, Macclesfield
Pye Ash Farm hosts its sixth annual pumpkin maze and outdoor pick-your-own patch, featuring more than 50 varieties of pumpkins alongside a pumpkin arch. Activities across the farm include sheepdog demonstrations, a pumpkin nature trail, ride-on tractors, face painting, marshmallow toasting, and a mini farmers’ market. Visitors can also see resident farm animals. The site is wheelchair and buggy accessible.
Food and drink options include Wood•Fire•Smoke, Giddy Up Mobile Events, Come Bye, and Buzzy Bee Bakery serving hot puddings and seasonal baked goods. Proceeds from the event support East Cheshire Hospice.
Smithills Open Farm, Bolton
Smithills Open Farm in Bolton hosts three distinct seasonal events throughout October 2026. A dedicated pumpkin patch operates with its own entrance separate from the main site, where visitors pay per pumpkin collected rather than per person.
During half-term week, the decorated farm grounds feature woodland sweet hunts, staff in costume, arts and crafts, and fancy dress competitions alongside standard animal encounters. For visitors aged six and older, a standalone Fright Night includes haunted tractor rides, zombie zones, guided farm tours, and dark woodland walks filled with actors, skeletons, and werewolves.
Jersey Girls, Bury
Jersey Girls opens its Bury patch for hour-long pumpkin picking sessions. Visitors choose their pumpkin directly from the field, then head into a Halloween-themed barn to carve their designs on-site. Each pumpkin ticket covers entry for up to two accompanying guests.
There’s also the chance for adults to get in on the fun, with an evening at The Back Barn. Guests can pick and carve a pumpkin to take home while enjoying a glass of fizz alongside a grazing table of cheeses and meats.
Grange Farm, Lowton
Grange Farm hosts its annual Pumpkin Festival featuring live shows, seasonal photo ops, and Halloween-themed food huts complete with a licensed bar. The grounds also include a fun fair, face painting stations, and enclosures where visitors can meet and feed the farm animals.
Pumpkins are sold separately, ranging from £2.50–£15 depending on size, and you must book in advance.
Summerseat Garden Centre, Bury
Summerseat Garden Centre hosts a fully covered indoor pumpkin patch set within an autumnal woodland scene complete with scarecrows, woodland animals, photo spots, and a seasonal trail. A new pop-up food hut alongside the patch serves sourdough toasties, hot mini doughnuts with dipping sauces, homemade cakes and cookies, autumn-spiced lattes, and loaded hot chocolates.
The Indoor Pumpkin Patch is open daily from 3rd–31st October, 9am–6pm, and is free to enter, with pumpkins available to purchase.
