Most families will buy a pumpkin for Halloween and have fun carving it before putting their Jack O’Lantern in the window to illuminate the dark night.
Instead of heading to the supermarket to buy your pumpkin, why not make it a countryside day out—learning about farming, playing games and picking your own pumpkin to take home from one of the many patches around the country. As well as great country pumpkin fun and memories, there will be plenty of Insta-friendly pics and squashing times for the whole family.
Clonfert Pet Farm, Maynooth, Co Kildare
Get ready for a spook-tacular Halloween in the picturesque surrounds of the Maynooth countryside, which is already home to 60 different types of animals, from donkeys to meerkats, Arctic foxes, alpacas, and Sika deers, to name just a few.
From Saturday, 19 October to Thursday, 31 October, enjoy a family-friendly event featuring a pumpkin patch, funfair, haunted house, and much more. It’s the perfect place to pick your own pumpkin and get into the Halloween spirit.
Entry fee – child all-inclusive €19.95, covers admission, unlimited rides at the funfair, a pumpkin and all other Halloween activities (excludes golf and face painting), General admission for adult or a child is €10. This does not include a pumpkin or fun fair rides. Parents can accompany small children on rides with this ticket.
Guy’s Farm Pumpkin Patch, Boardsmill, Co Meath
Having successfully grown carrots for over three generations, the idea to grow pumpkins on the Guy family farm was the brainchild of children Sean (14), Eimear (13) and Conor (10), who bought some pumpkins from an honesty box, carved them out around the kitchen table and saved the seeds. They were surprised how well they grew and decided to open up their farm.
This year, the family have planted approximately 20,000 seedlings of multiple variety pumpkins and gourds across their farm as well as a large eight-foot high maize maze. in addition, there is Halloween-themed silage, hay art, and pumpkin-inspired games.
Tickets cost €7/person and kids under 3 go free. Pumpkins are priced from €3. Multiples dates from 12-28 October.
Pete’s Pumpkin Patch, Reynoldstown Farm, Naul, Dublin
At Pete’s Pumpkin Patch, you can have fun picking your own special pumpkin, enjoy games and jump on their very special bouncy hay area. Parking on-site.
Entry fee – €10 per person (plus booking fee) includes one pumpkin each. Dates: 19-20 October, 26, 27 and 28 October, at 10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm each day.
Clissmann Horse Caravans, Cronybyrne, Co Wicklow
Set off on an adventure with your friendly donkey companion in the Wicklow Hills or your trusty wheelbarrow to pick your perfect pumpkin. Your donkey even has a rucksack to carry your pumpkin back to the yard.
Follow the spooky farm trail with witches’ wagons, skeleton cowboys ghostly graveyard, fairy forest and more. Then adjourn to the Hocus Pocus Hay Barn where there are plenty of ghostly games and goodies afterwards.
Entry fee – adults and children €14.50; children under one go free. Dates: 5-6 October; 12-13 October, 19-20 October, 26-31 October.
Murtagh’s Organic Farm, Castlegaddery, Co Westmeath
Chris and Gráinne Murtagh are welcoming visitors to their working organic farm, close to Ballinacarrigy village, for some spooky fun this Halloween.
There’s loads to amuse young and old, from the pumpkin patch to getting lost in Jack’s mini maze or fun in the kids barn. Join in with creepy arts and crafts, and meet the goats, donkeys, pigs, and more on the pet farm.
Entry fee – €12 per child and €10 per adult. Pumpkin included. Children under two go free, and carers are also free with a valid card. Dates: Saturday/Sunday 19 and 20 October, Saturday, 26 October to Thursday, 31 October.
For every family booking, the farm will donate €1 to their chosen charity is the Irish Cancer Society Night Nurses Service.
Streamvale Open Farm, 38 Ballyhanwood Road, Belfast
Pick your perfect pumpkin at Streamvale Open Farm and then take it to their army of carvers in the marquee to make sure your Jack O’Lantern is suitably scary.
Afterwards, put on your dancing shoes for the Broomtastic disco or get a scare at the haunted house immersive experience. There’s also tractor and barrel rides, snakes and reptiles and marshmallow tasting along with indoor and outdoor play areas.
Individual and family tickets available for the events on 5/6 October or from 10-31 October. Adult-only date night events take place on 10/11 October and 17/18 October.
Leahy’s Open Farm, Dungourney, Midleton, Co Cork
Take a trip on the haunted hay ride through the woods or find your way to the witch’s lair and help out the little old witch make a magic spell at Leahy’s Open Farm, near Midleton, Then pick your own pumpkin and carve silly faces for €5 per pumpkin.
Everyone (including adults) is encouraged to dress up for the Boo outdoor experience, and be sure to wear warm clothes as this is an outdoor event.
The ticket includes entry to the farm, where all the family can enjoy crazy golf, a maze, adventure playgrounds, and barrel train rides.Entry fee – Boo Experience tickets are €22.50. Dates: 22-31 October from 10.20am to 4.20pm each day.
Michael’s Pumpkin Patch, Bunatober, Co Galway
Michael’s Pumpkin Patch is back for a special fifth year anniversary extravaganza this autumn, and he is promising a day of fun, pumpkins, and the cutest farm animals.
A labour of love for young Michael Gilmore, the patch has gone from strength to strength since the first edition with over 300 plants in 2018, to over 6,000 last year. Tickets are €25 per car.
michaelspumpkinpat.wixsite.com
Tonagh Pumpkin Hollow, Mountnugent, Co Cavan
Cavan’s first pumpkin picking experience is set to open its gates in Mountnugent over the two weekends of 19/20 October, and 26/27 October from 10am-4pm.
Entry is free to the family-run pumpkin patch and pumpkins are €10 each. Please bring along your wellies.
BallyBeg Pumpkin Patch, Co Roscommon
Nestled at the foothills of the beautiful Sliabh Bawn, Ballybeg Pumpkin Patch is promising ghouls and ghostly goings on to mark Samhain. Take part in Halloween games, follow the scare trail and mingle with ghouls. Visitors can pick their own pumpkin.
Entry fee – child ticket €12+ booking fee. Adult €8+ booking fee. Dates: 19-20 October.