There’s even a Lord Of the Rings-inspired maze!
The farms & orchards dotted around North Carolina are getting ready for harvest season with all things spooky and gourd. From pumpkin patches, to corn festivals, cider doughnuts and hayrides, there’s something going on nearly every weekend (and in some cases, every weekday as well) around NC, no matter where you live. Here, we’ve rounded up 13 farms that are all celebrating the autumn season in their own special well. We hope you enjoy and have an amazing spooky season.
1. Apple Hill Orchard
Purchase a picking pass and head over to Apple Hill Orchard to pick your own variety of apples and even fall warm-toned flowers. Because of this year’s relatively harsh winter, there’s a bit of a shortage on some varieties of apples, which is why Apple Hill Orchard is offering a picking pass. Once you’ve finished scouring the orchard to your heart’s content, head over to the bakery and order a slushie or a cider doughnut for the road.
Where: 2075 Pleasant Hill Ave, Morganton, NC 28655
2. Aw Shucks Farm
Over in Monroe is Aw Shucks Farm, an animal farm with a 3-in-1 corn maze and pumpkin patch with multiple varieties. Even better, they’re hosting their Carolina Corn Fest on September 18th to ring in the fall season. The fest will have more corn than you can possibly handle, live music, and arts and crafts, so don’t miss out on the chance to celebrate the harvest season.
Where: 3718 Plyler Mill Rd, Monroe, NC 28112
3. Hodges Family Farm
If you head over on the weekdays, Hodges Family Farm is free, with parking admission at just $5 on the weekends (per car). There’s a pumpkin patch (where prices vary from $5-$20), farm animals, and hayrides at $5 a person on the weekends.
Where: 3900 Rocky River Rd E, Charlotte, NC 28215
4. Lineberger’s Maple Spring Falls
Starting October 1st, you can search for that perfect, carve-able pumpkin at Lineberger’s, where they’re growing multiple varieties of different pumpkins. For only $6.50 you get access to both a wagon ride and access to the pumpkin patch, with different types of pumpkin’s ranging at different prices. Check out the corn crib and educational exhibits while you’re there for extra family fun.
Where: 906 Dallas Stanley Hwy, Dallas, NC 28034
5. Hall Family Farm
One of the coolest corn-mazes of the season will be at Hall Family Farms, with a Lord of the Rings inspired maze that’ll feel like you’re in Middle Earth. The maze starts September 24th through October 31st, with daily and nightly mazes that cover 7 acres of land. There are a few different fall activities, like hayrides and a pedal go karts at different price points.
Where: 445 W Rebound Rd, Lancaster, SC 29720
6. Riverbend Farm
Riverbend has been running their pumpkin patches for 29 years now. For $5.50, you and the family gets access to a farm-themed playground for the kiddos, a barn with animals, and a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch.
Where: 12150 McManus Rd, Midland, NC 28107
7. Red Wolf Farm
Red Wolf Farm will be opening every Saturday & Sunday starting October 1st, and you don’t even need a reservation! Head over and enjoy the pumpkin patch and an awesome, newly-designed corn maze you can try to escape. Tickets are $6 and include a long list of fall activities, such as all-you-can-ride Hayride, kids corn maze, adult corn maze, a bounce house, and even pumpkin bowling.
Where: 1900 H W Farm Rd, Maiden, NC 28650
8. Carowinds
Even though Carowinds ins’t technically a farm, they’ll be doing the Great Pumpkin Fest this year. There’s a range of fun for the kids, from dance floors to pumpkin patches and designated areas perfect for the kids. From the mummy pit with bubbly, sudsy fun and the Candy Corn Acres trail with tons of safe trick-or-treating fun for the kids.
Where: 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
9. Hunter Farm
Hunter Farm might be the farm that’s open the latest this season, all the way through November 14th. For $10, you can get a sizable pumpkin (3-5 pounds), wagon rides to the petting zoo, and more.
Where: 13624 Providence Rd, Weddington, NC 28104
10. Historic Rural Hill ‘Amazing Maize Maze’
The Rural Hill Farm’s ‘Amazing Maize Maze’ is seven acres of wild corn mazes you can explore, get lost in, or conquer one of the largest maze’s in the Southeast. Weekends start September 11th and weekdays start September 14th. In October, the night mazes finally begin.
Where: 4431 Neck Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
11. Wise Acres Family Farm
For just $3, check out Wise Acre Family Farm’s pumpkin patch, where you can choose from a variety of pumpkins at different prices. Aside from the patch, they’ve also got some zip lines, wagon rides, and a barrel train. Reservations are required.
Where: 4701 Hartis Rd, Indian Trail, NC 28079
12. Shelby Corn Maze
Get lost in these 8-acre corn mazes perfect for the family at Shelby Corn Maze. They’ve even got a haunted maze starting in October, with after dark hours on Fridays and Saturdays. On October 2nd and 3rd, don’t miss out on Harvest Fest where you can hitch a hayride and snag your own pumpkin.
Where: 120 Broadway Dr, Shelby, NC 28152
13. Sunny Oaks Farm
Open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Sunny Oaks Farm will be hosting some holiday harvest fun, with pumpkin patches, pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, face painting, and your chance to pick sunflowers, pumpkins, and other gourds. Opening week starts September 25th.
Where: 24522 NC 24 27 HWY Albemarle NC
[Featured image by Marius Ciocirlan on Unsplash]