Howdy, Daytrippers!
Fall is in the air and with it, shorter days, colder air and the smell of an occasional pumpkin spice latte. All around Texas the leaves are changing, animals migrating and festivals are beginning to pop up. Here at the Daytripper, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to gather a collection of some of the best family friendly festivals and pumpkin patches in the area, beginning with those closest to home.
Austin Area
1. A fan favorite located near Austin is the Barton Hill Farms pumpkin patch and corn maze, located at 1115 Farm to Market 969, Bastrop, Texas 78602. It’s about 25 minutes from Austin but just 10 from Bastrop. The festival includes rides, games, local vendors, a pumpkin patch and a famous corn maze which this year is themed to cheer on the Texas Longhorns. BartonHillFarms.com
Barton Hill Farms is open on weekends only from September 27th to November 9th. Tickets are available online to purchase.
2. Heading in the opposite direction of Bastrop is Sweetberry Farmsnear Marble Falls. This location advertises scarecrow stuffing, horse rides, a corn maze (separate ones for different ages), a pumpkin patch and various other activities showcased on their website: Sweetberryfarm.com . Sweetberry Farms is open every day from September 27th to November 2nd except Wednesdays. They do however offer additional activities on weekends. There is no entrance fee, but a small fee for different activities.
3. In Hays County, the city of Wimberly offers a variety of events on different days located throughout the Halloween season. These include pet parades, pumpkin patches, pumpkin decorating and a safe location for children to go trick or treating among peers. These are available throughout October only and on specific days pre-chosen. Included on the site are a variety of safety tips for parents to help their children get the most out of the Halloween season: VisitWimberley.com/halloween/.
San Antonio Area
1. Pumpkin Hollows Fall Festival, located at 9100 W SI-1604 N, San Antonio, TX 78250. Attractions include a pumpkin patch, fun runs, scavenger hunts, wagon rides and a corn maze depending on what day of attendance. A full calendar is available on their website Home.PumpkinHollow.ca/ . The pinnacle event at the Pumpkin Hollow Festival is a Halloween Extravaganza on October 18th with multiple contests and events for children to partake in and trick or treating available around the location.
2. Located between San Antonio and Austin is the Gruene Pumpkin Patch at 2629 E. Common St, New Braunfels. Though the actual opening date for 2014 is unclear, their Facebook page maintains that the pumpkins have arrived to their intended location. Each Saturday the festival is open will include different activities to be scheduled, not limited to hay rides and pumpkin painting (weather permitting). www.gruenepumpkinpatch.org/.
Dallas Area
1. Storybook Ranch. 3701 Custer Rd., Mckinney, TX 75070. Offers a full fall festival and pumpkin patch. The festival involves a petting zoo, hayrides, and riding lessons. In addition to these activities, there are face painting, bouncy houses, and pony rides available for children. They accommodate for special events as well. This is a charity fundraiser that opens September 19th and closes November 3rd. www.Storybookranch.org
2. Big Orange Pumpkin Farm at 5518 County Road #126, Celina, TX, 75009. Big Orange is open from September 19th to November 2nd, every day, though hours vary throughout the week. It is a highly recommended destination with safe, clean animal pens, food, snacks, picnic areas, a maze, a pumpkin patch and tractor / train rides. The site also advertises a new catch and release pond. www.bigorangepumpkinfarm.com/
Houston Area
1. 7 Acre Wood, located in Montgomery County, near the Woodlands at 4401 N. Frazier, Conroe TX. 7 Acre Wood is a family fun park that is open year round every day except Monday. They have a petting zoo, mini golf course, large sandbox, rope slide and play fort. From September 30th to October 31st they have an event called the Annual Thrill at the Mill Fall Festival. www.7acrewood.org/
2. Blessington Farms is located at 510 Chisolm Trail in Simonton, TX (Fort Bend County). They have berry picking (seasonally) where visitors can pick their own strawberries, blueberries, and thornless blackberries. Alongside this they have a “Farm funland” with a hay maze, petting zoo, barrel ride and other farm activities. Blessington farms has a pumpkin patch including special varieties and a fishing pond for young kids to enjoy. Their hours and days of availability differ seasonally and are available for viewing on their website. www.blessingtonfarms.com
3. Berryland Farms of Texas open on weekends September 27th to November 9th. Berryland Farms has a corn maze, hay rides, a hill slide, giant swings, a bounce house and other fun activities for children to enjoy. As they are a smaller patch, they request that visitors call before coming to ensure they still have pumpkins available for picking. Berryland farms can be found at 2877 FM 1941 in Winnie, TX . www.berrylandfarmsoftexas.com
