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 kicks off from October 14, adding pumpkin picking to their already fun list of activities. Guests will be able to grab a wheelbarrow and pick their perfect pumpkin, before heading off into the Spooky Carving Cave to create their masterpiece if they choose to. The festival will also have a number of rides that are suitable for children, as well as a Halloween treasure hunt.
There’s also the option to take smaller children to the pumpkin patch whilst the bigger kids are at school, and the brand new event ‘Pumpkins After Dark‘ brings a spooky, food and drink filled experience to pumpkin carving.
๐ Cockfields Farm, Lees Rd, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8AR.
๐ 37 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ Tickets for Pumpkin Festival start from ยฃ15.
2. The Dunham Pumpkin Patch, Altrincham
Located in Dunham Massey, near Altrincham, the Dunham Pumpkin Patch is back – and it’s perfect for grown-ups to enjoy. Head over and pick your perfect pumpkin (or two), before enjoying a delicious wood-fired pizza and a glass of their homemade cider, made from the very apples that you’ll find in the orchard by the pumpkin patch.
๐ The Dunham Pumpkin Patch, Henshall Lane, Dunham Massey, WA14 5SL.
๐ 38 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ Entry costs ยฃ6. Pumpkin prices vary from ยฃ1 to ยฃ15 depending on size.
3. Kenyon Hall Farm, Warrington
Kicking off in October, Kenyon Hall Farm, just a 30 minute drive from Manchester, is ready to welcome back guests to their pumpkin patches in time for PYO Pumpkin season, with over 15,000 pumpkins available to pick this year. The patch is pretty spectacular, too, with a variety of sizes and colours to pick from. Guests will get to run about with a wheelbarrow while picking their perfect pumpkins, before enjoying the farm shop and cafe.
๐ Kenyon Hall Farm, Winwick Ln, Croft, Warrington, WA3 7ED.
๐ 30 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ โEntry tickets cost ยฃ2.95 for adults and children; infants under 18 months go free. Pumpkin price varies from ยฃ2 to ยฃ10 depending on size.
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.
๐ Lancaster Park and Animal Farm, Middleton Road West, Chadderton, Oldham, OL1 2TG.
๐ 30 minute drive from Manchester city centre and 12 minutes by train.
๐ Tickets cost ยฃ14 which includes pumpkin plus entry to pumpkin patch and haunted house.
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.
๐ Smithills Open Farm, Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, BL1 7NS.
๐ 42 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ Halloween Fright Night costs ยฃ15 per person, pumpkins cost ยฃ6 and farm admission starts from ยฃ8.50.
6. Reddish Vale Farm, Stockport
Head to the pumpkin patch at Reddish Vale Farm, grab a wheel barrow and search amongst hundreds of pumpkins to find the one that catches your eye. Be sure to visit the Halloween Village and take lots of photographs with your prized pumpkin. There is also a carving cavern to create your own pumpkin masterpiece at. Plus, Reddish Vale Farm will also feature a Haunted Childrenโs Straw Maze – but do you dare enter it? Or why not take a ride on the Spooky Express through the haunted woods and gruesome graveyard stopping off to feed the greedy pigs on the way?
๐ Reddish Vale Farm, Reddish Vale Country Park, Reddish Vale Road, Stockport, SK5 7HE.
๐ 31 minute drive from Manchester city centre and 32 minutes by train.
๐ Tickets start from ยฃ10.50 which includes a pumpkin and farm entry. Extra pumpkins cost ยฃ5.
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 farmโs 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 is also offering an Pumpkin Night on October 15 where you can grab a hot chocolate with Baileys and meander through the paddocks full of sleeping animals into the forest before stumbling across to the homegrown pumpkin patch glowing by the light of the festoon.
๐ Mrs Dowsons Farm Park at Hawkshaw Farm, Longsight Road, Clayton-le-Dale, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 7JA.
๐ 58 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ Tickets start from ยฃ11.95 which includes pumpkin and farm park admission.
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. Between October 20 and 31, 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 will be 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.
๐ Jersey Girls Dairy Ice Cream, Higher Woodhill Farm, Bury, BL8 1BS.
๐ 35 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ Tickets cost ยฃ9 with each ticket including one pumpkin and admission for the pumpkin carver.
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 – a first for this year. 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.
๐ Lymm Pumpkin Patch, Massey Brook Lane, Lymm, Warrington, Cheshire, WA13 0EG.
๐ 40 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ Tickets to the maze cost ยฃ2 per person, children under 5 go free.
10. Grange Farm, Lowton
This autumn, Grange Farm is offering visitors 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.
๐ Grange Farm, Stone Cross Lane South, Lowton, Warrington, WA3 1JU.
๐ 38 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ General admission to Pumpkin Festival is ยฃ3.50.
11. High Legh Pumpkin Patch, High Legh
At High Legh near Warrington, they have planted over 10,000 pumpkins in 10 different varieties so youโll have plenty to choose from and the patch is open from October 7. From Blanco to Blue, Kabocha to Goosebump, all will make perfect additions to your Halloween decorations this year. High Legh are also hosting SEN pumpkin pick sessions on October 14 and 15 between 9am and 10am, in addition to a candlelit pick on October 13 (on Friday the 13th – spooky) and a golden pumpkin hunt between October 23 and 27.
๐ High Legh Pumpkin Patch, Witherโs Lane, High Legh, Cheshire, WA16 0SG.
๐ 35 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ The pumpkins vary in price depending on their size, but start from ยฃ2.
12. Tatton Park, Knutsford
Head down to the farm at Tatton Park where you will meet all your farmyard favourites and then itโs 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?
๐ Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN.
๐ 44 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
๐ ยฃ4 per pumpkin + standard farm and parkland entry