Autumn is here and there’s nothing more that we love than the anticipation that the season brings. From Halloween and Bonfire Night, to the huge countdown to Christmas – the season is filled with happy occasions to share with your nearest and dearest. But first on the agenda: Halloween. Whether you’re doing it for the ‘gram or just absolutely love getting your carve on, we’ve rounded up the best pumpkin patches in Manchester to pick your own this autumn.
1. Cockfields Farm, Ashton Under Lyne
A family fave spot in Ashton Under Lyne, Cockfields Farm‘s Pumpkin Festival will take over the plot again this October, adding pumpkin picking to their already fun list of activities. Guests can grab a wheelbarrow and pick their perfect pumpkin, before heading off home to create their masterpiece. The festival also has a number of rides suitable for children, as well as a Halloween treasure hunt, plus specific toddler slots for picking smaller pumpkins.
The ‘Pumpkins After Dark‘ is also returning this year, bringing a spooky, food and drink filled experience to pumpkin carving, between 5pm-8pm. With live music and cosy festoon lighting, Pumpkins After Dark will welcome Jack and Sally Skellington stilt-walkers are back by popular demand, making appearances throughout the night, alongside the first ever sightings of the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus!
📍 Cockfields Farm, Lees Rd, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8AR.
🚗 37 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 You can book all events here.
2. Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream, Altrincham
Unfortunately, the extremely popular Dunham Pumpkins at Dunham Massey, Altrincham, will not be going ahead this year due to a poor crop, but neighbouring Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream are keeping a close eye on their pumpkins. Pumpkin picking and buying opportunities will be updated over on their Facebook page, and in the meantime the Dunham Pumpkins team and The Apple Barn have announced that they will be creating the Dunham Apple Festival, an exciting new event packed with fun for the whole family.
Families will be able to explore the 20 acre orchard at Boundary Farm alongside beloved activities like wagon train rides, the Apple Character Hunt, and numerous photo opportunities. The festival will also feature apple pressing workshops, and visitors will have the chance to taste award-winning apple juice and cider — perfect for the adults!
📍 Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm, 34 Station Rd, Dunham Massey, Altrincham WA14 5SG | Dunham Apple Barn, Boundary Farm, Sawpit St, Dunham Massey, Cheshire, Altrincham WA14 5SJ.
🚗 Around 38 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 Book here.
3. Kenyon Hall Farm, Warrington
Kicking off in October, Kenyon Hall Farm, just a 30 minute drive from Manchester, will be ready to welcome back guests to their pumpkin patches in time for PYO Pumpkin season. The patch is usually pretty spectacular, too, with a variety of sizes and colours to pick from. Guests get to run about with a wheelbarrow while picking their perfect pumpkins, before enjoying the farm shop and cafe.
📍 Kenyon Hall Farm, Winwick Ln, Croft, Warrington, WA3 7ED.
🚗 30 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 The Pumpkin Festival will be open every day from Sat 28 Sept to Thurs 31 Oct 2024, and you can book here.
4. Lancaster Park and Animal Farm, Chadderton
Lancaster Park is one of Oldham’s best activities for families, and this year they’re really getting into the Halloween spirit. With a number of sessions taking place throughout October, guests can check out their pumpkin patch, before choosing one of their own to carve. Kids can also enjoy a costume competition, as well as a Spooky Haunted House before enjoying the rest of the park and farm’s animals.
📍 Lancaster Park and Animal Farm, Middleton Road West, Chadderton, Oldham, OL1 2TG.
🚗 30 minute drive from Manchester city centre and 12 minutes by train.
🎃 Find tickets here.
5. Smithills Open Farm, Bolton
Venture north of Manchester to the pumpkin patches at Smithills Open Farm and take part in the pumpkin picking extravaganza. Taking place in October as part of their special Halloween event, you can bag yourself a beautifully bright orange pumpkin to take home. As well as pumpkin picking, Smithills Open Farm will be all decked out for Halloween and will be hosting a Halloween Fright Night nearer to the big day. The night will feature ghoulish guided tours including werewolf woods, zombie barns, haunted tractor rides and a spooky woodland walk.
📍 Smithills Open Farm, Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, BL1 7NS.
🚗 42 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 Find dates and tickets here.
6. Reddish Vale Farm, Stockport
Head down to Reddish Vale Farm for a spooktacular time this Halloween. Visit all of the animals and indoor/outdoor play area, and then join in some ‘fangtastic’ fun. Head to the pumpkin patch, grab a wheelbarrow and search amongst 1000s of pumpkins! Don’t forget to visit the Halloween Village to take lots of photographs, before taking your pumpkin to the carving cavern to create your own masterpiece (they’ll clean up the mess).
One pumpkin is included per paying child, and you can follow it up with a ride on the Spooky Express through the haunted woods and gruesome graveyard, stopping off to feed the greedy pigs on the way for £2 per ride. There’ll be plenty more fun in the form of fairground rides, Halloween games and brand new witches and wizards show and dance, alongside mystical potion making.
📍 Reddish Vale Farm, Reddish Vale Country Park, Reddish Vale Road, Stockport, SK5 7HE.
🚗 31 minute drive from Manchester city centre and 32 minutes by train.
🎃 Tickets start from £8.50 and you can find them here.
7. Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, Blackburn
Providing an Instagrammable, picture perfect autumnal adventure this October, Mrs Dowsons Farm Park near Blackburn is getting us in the autumn spirit. The farm’s pumpkin festival features three acres of homegrown pumpkins plus 12 rare imported varieties from teeny tiny squash to the weird and wonderful, as well as new characters and new autumn activities, to make for a great day out.
📍 Mrs Dowsons Farm Park at Hawkshaw Farm, Longsight Road, Clayton-le-Dale, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 7JA.
🚗 1 hour drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 Book here.
8. Jersey Girls, Bury
Whether you’re a skilled carver or a first-timer, this pumpkin picking event near Bury is all about having fun. This October, head to the farm with your friends, family, or even make it a date as there’s something for everyone. The Jersey Girls (or Ghouls) kiosk is usually open serving up savoury goods, scooping only the finest ice cream and of course plenty of seasonal specials will be on offer too. The Back Barn has been renovated for visitors to get their carve on, plus you can brave the spine-tingling Spooky Tunnel and say hello to the nearby animals.
📍 Jersey Girls Dairy Ice Cream, Higher Woodhill Farm, Bury, BL8 1BS.
🚗 35 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 Tickets and dates can be found here.
9. Lymm Pumpkin Patch, Lymm
Open on October weekends and during the half term, Lymm Pumpkin Patch is one of the few patches near Manchester with its own mini maize maze. There are also thousands of pumpkins to choose from across many different varieties including traditional, miniature, white, blue and green pumpkins as well as squash. You’ll also find fun activities to get involved in like a daily treasure hunt, props, photoshoot opportunities and guessing the weight of a pumpkin to win a prize.
📍 Lymm Pumpkin Patch, Massey Brook Lane, Lymm, Warrington, Cheshire, WA13 0EG.
🚗 40 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 Entry to the pumpkin patch is free (pay per pumpkin), and you can book the mini maze here.
10. Grange Farm, Lowton
This autumn, Grange Farm will offer visitors the chance to pick and carve pumpkins plus enjoy a host of entertainment including a fun fair, maize maze scavenger hunt and children’s games. As well as wondering the pumpkin patches on this farm just a 40-minute drive from Manchester, you can visit the animals of Grange Farm too. Look out for their stunning herd of Highland Cows and their beautiful new arrival, baby llama Lucy. There is also a fully-licensed bar and plenty of Halloween-themed goodies to indulge in.
📍 Grange Farm, Stone Cross Lane South, Lowton, Warrington, WA3 1JU.
🚗 38 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 Find tickets here.
11. High Legh Pumpkin Patch, High Legh
At High Legh near Warrington, over 10,000 pumpkins in 10 different varieties have been planted in the past, so you’ll likely have plenty to choose from this October. From Blanco to Blue, Kabocha to Goosebump, all will make perfect additions to your Halloween decorations this year. High Legh will likely also host SEN pumpkin pick sessions, in addition to a candlelit pick and a golden pumpkin hunt.
📍 High Legh Pumpkin Patch, Wither’s Lane, High Legh, Cheshire, WA16 0SG.
🚗 35 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 Entry is free with no need to book, and you can find special event times here.
12. Tatton Park, Knutsford
Adding to the host of pumpkin patches located in and around Manchester is Tatton Park where you can head down to the farm, meet all your farmyard favourites and then set off to search for your perfect pumpkin. the park is also offering a host of Halloween events and activities this October including a kids silent disco, wizard’s gathering at the Old Hall and finding Mog the Forgetful Cat inside the spooky maize maze. Also why not explore the mansion and huge grounds whilst you’re there?
📍 Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN.
🚗 44 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 £4 per pumpkin + standard farm and parkland entry – tickets here.
13. Bates Farm, Warrington
Open every weekend in October and throughout half term, Bates Farm has grown thousands of pumpkins of all colours, varieties and sizes for you to come and pick. The farm is also offering a farm experience to meet the farm animals, refreshments, face painting and much more, so you’ll be well catered-for on this pumpkin picking excursion, not too far from Manchester.
📍 Bates Farm, Warrington Rd, Risley, Croft, Warrington WA3 6BN.
🚗 30 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
🎃 £12 per car – book here. Pumpkins are priced at an extra £2-£12 depending on size.