Pumpkin fun doesn’t have to be limited to the days just before Halloween. Nor is it solely about finding the best orange mass for carving.
In recent years, farms have begun featuring activities like story times and petting farms, for those who want to do more than search for that must-have pumpkin. The following is a sample of such events, starting this weekend, at nearby farms. See the pumpkin listings below for the farms’ addresses, hours and contact information.
Biringer Farm: This year’s activities include Pumpkin Country, with many fall-related attractions and a Thanks to Our Troops corn maze, tractor rides and a boo barn; open Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 28. Another option is the Scary Nights Maze, open various dates through October.
Bob’s Corn: The corn maze here is open daily through Oct. 31, evenings by appointment. Its attractions include a barn-themed corn maze and weekend hay rides. This farm is part of the Festival of Pumpkins, which began in 2001 as a way of promoting the Snohomish area’s farms and rural attributes. Festival of Pumpkins events take place closer to Oct. 31, and will include activities like costume contests, wreath-making workshops, face painting and more, at several locations in Snohomish.
Carleton Farm: This farm is open Saturday through Oct. 31. It boasts a Corn-Fusion farm trivia corn maze and has farm animals available for daily viewing, along with hay rides and a pumpkin cannon on weekends. It also is part of the Festival of Pumpkins.
Craven Farm pumpkin patch: Open daily, now through Oct. 31, this patch offers free tractor-drawn hay rides, an Alice in Pumpkinland corn maze, chances to see baby farm animals, and on the weekends, children’s story times, by appointment, and a carnival. Craven’s also is part of the Festival of Pumpkins.
Stocker Farms: Stocker’s is open now through Oct. 31, and offers a Maze of History corn maze, on the relationship between the city of Snohomish and Bickford Ford, including a quiz along the way. Also, its Haunted Field of Screams has live actors performing haunting scenes that are meant to induce guests’ fear to just the right Halloween level — still, this attraction is best for ages 12 and older. Also, the Pumpkin Festival Field, across Highway 9 from Stocker’s, is open weekends, starting Saturday, through Oct. 28. The Pumpkin Festival Field also has a Maze of History corn maze, open Sunday through Oct. 31. Both farms are part of the Festival of Pumpkins.
The Farm at Swan’s Trail Farms: Open daily, from Saturday through Oct. 31, The Farm, as it’s called, is known for its educational Washington State Corn Maze, which highlights state landmarks, has educational rest stations and offers a scavenger hunt. Other entertainment includes a petting farm, a barn maze, wagon rides and a children’s play area.
Foster’s Produce and corn maze: This venue, open now through Oct. 31, features a Pumpkin Castle corn maze, an animal barn, antique row, a fall nursery, Kidz Corral and a Spooktacular Hay Maze.
Pumpkins for Literacy: The Marysville Rotary sponsors this program, in which proceeds go to Marysville schools. This patch also offers free hay rides, a petting zoo, weekend train rides and a bouncy house.
Remlinger Farms: This venue offers pony, train and tractor rides, inflatable toys, a carousel and a hay maze. Friday nights, Oct. 12 through 26, celebrity story times for children and flashlight hay mazes will keep guests busy, and the $5 admission fee goes to a good cause, Camp Korey, which benefits seriously ill children.
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