Where to get your pumpkins:
Howells – has a barnyard, kid activities, corn maze & tractor rides. They also have a gift shop & snacks for sale. They may have a small admission fee but I’m not sure.
Black’s Heritage Farm – Pick-your-own pumpkins, with other veggies for sale on this family-run farm, petting zoo, hayrack rides, etc.
Patch’s – $4 admission covers a straw maze, petting zoo, play center with train rides & bounce house, pumpkin cannon & tractor hayrack rides.
TimberPine – This local nursery & greenhouse offers “PumpkinFest” every weekend through the end of October, 9-4:30 on Saturday & 12-4 on Sundays. Free hayrack ride to the patch & marshmallow roasting. They also have a family funzone with bouncehouse, disc golf, slide & more, which is $4 per kid or $10 per family.
Pumpkinville – Cornmaze, farm animals, straw jump, train & other kid activities, campfires by reservation, hayrack rides on weekends and more will provide hours of fun!
Williamson’s Pumpkin Paradise – This is where my family usually goes. Just NW of Des Moines, between Ankeny & Altoona, they have pick-your-own or you can select from a nice pile. They also have a corn bin, petting zoo and fun house for kids and a pumpkin cannon for the larger “kids” to shoot. Best part? No admission fee. Just pay for the pumpkins, gourds or fall decorations you buy! (This is a real, working farm. No website; just call 515-967-3065 if you have questions. It’s open 10 a.m. – dark each day.)
Where to get pumpkins AND apples:
Center Grove – $6 on weekdays or $8 on weekends gets you into a corn maze or pool, pedal tractors, hayrack rides on weekends, apple sling shot & more. (You can get your apples here too!) They are hosting “Pumpkin Fest” Oct. 16 & 17. They also have a shop & cafe.
Wills Family Orchard – You-pick organic apples and pumpkins! They also have a store (with homemade pies!) and barnyard. Games & maze for the kids, hay wagon rides and more!
