Ahh, it’s that time of year! Pull out the comfy blankets, light the scented candles, pour the pumpkin spice, and let’s start planning the next trip to the pumpkin patch! If you are looking for the best pumpkin patches and corn maze exploration in the greater Lafayette, Indiana area, keep reading for a few of the best places to discover that perfect pumpkin.
WEA Creek Orchard
WEA Creek Orchard is a seventh-generation family farm with fresh produce, including apples, pumpkins and peaches. If you are lucky enough to visit during the apple orchard season, you will discover between 15 to 20 varieties of apples. (My favorites are always the Honeycrisps!)
You can also purchase a variety of pumpkins at the orchard. The whole family will love discovering pumpkins of all sizes. WEA is located at 5618 S 200 East in Lafayette. You can catch their seasonal hours from Thursday to Sunday, from July to October. Only 15 minutes from Purdue University, it is a great place for some fall fun.
Give them a call if you want to host a special event in the greater Lafayette area! This venue provides a unique opportunity to host family activities, special events, or even a wedding on the farm. You can also find a wide variety of food jelly items on their country store website, like pumpkin butter, apple cider jelly, and my favorite – jalapeno pepper jelly! One of my favorite fall appetizers is putting some pepper jelly on a block of cream cheese on top of a crispy cracker. Yes, please!
Hogan Farms Pumpkin Patch
If you want to get out of the greater Lafayette area, take a trip to Hogan Farms Pumpkin Patch in Brownsburg. This is one of the best pumpkin patches in the area, with loads of pumpkins for sale from $2-$20 each. You can snag mini pumpkins, mini gourds, decorative squash, pie pumpkins, white pumpkins, Indian corn, loads of different varieties of pumpkins…you get it! All of the things for the ultimate pumpkin picking. You may even be inspired to make these yummy pumpkin muffins!
The giant corn maze features a different theme every year. Last year, the theme was the Indianapolis Colts! Be sure to wear long sleeves, pants and some boots or old shoes you don’t mind getting muddy. Children 36″ and under are free in the maze and a maze map is provided so you don’t get lost in the multi-acre corn maze.
Open weekends, your little ones will also love the Kid Zone, complete with a petting zoo and straw pyramid. Tickets to this area are currently $5 each and kids under 36″ are free. This is such a great place for you and your little ones to spend the day.
Of course, what fall adventure is complete without hay rides on the hay wagon? Wagon rides cost $5 and are offered on weekends in October. The rides last about 15-20 minutes, and there are plenty of wagons available.
One of my favorite things about Hogan’s is that they offer a farmer’s market every weekend in October. Vendors from all over Indiana come to the farm and sell local honey, baked goods, soaps, candles and handmade signs. There is live music and even a variety of food trucks. It is such a great experience for a fall Saturday when you need a break from the football fields.
Another fun idea is exploring Hogan’s as a company fall outing. You can explore the pumpkin patch, take a hayride, go through the maze, and then enjoy an evening around the fire pits sitting on the straw bales. What a fun time! You can even bring in hot dogs or marshmallows for roasting. I think it sounds like a fantastic bonding experience for any group and such a relaxing way to spend a weekend.
Also, remember to look into Hogan’s for school field trips. it’s a great place to talk about the life cycle of the pumpkin and then allow the kids to pick their own in the u-pick pumpkin patch.
Exploration Acres Pumpkin Patch
Exploration Acres Pumpkin Patch is a fantastic place bringing back the simple joys of yesteryear. Open September 16th-October 30th, you can enjoy northwest Indiana’s largest corn maze. The 23-acre maze covers ten miles of paths with four different mazes, definitely the best corn maze in the area! This year’s maze is a Zombie theme.
Of course, you can also explore the eleven acres of the pumpkin patch with loads of pumpkins. There are plenty of wagons around so you don’t have to tote them around the farm. What else can you do? Take a hayride, climb into the straw mound, dig in the sand pile, push the pedal carts, ride the tube slide, “pony rides” on the pony swings, and put your rubber duck in the duck races.
Be sure to add Exploration Acres Pumpkin Patch to your list this Halloween season!
Stuckey Farm
Stuckey Farm is another great option if you want to get out of Lafayette. Located in Sheridan, Indiana just north of Indianapolis, Stuckey is a great option for both their apple orchard and their own pumpkin patch. Be sure to check their Facebook page or their website for the latest news on what is currently available.
The Sunflower Festival occurs over Labor Day weekend and features a load of vendors amidst the sunflowers. The Harvest Festivals take place for multiple weekends afterward with more fun options. The Farm to Table Dinners offers a fantastic, fun option for adults wanting to spend time on the farm. Be sure to also check out the field trip options…Stuckey is one of our kids’ favorites!
Kent’s Cucurbits
Kent’s Cucurbits opens their fall season on September 10-October 31. Located in Brookston, Indiana, this family farm has been in business for over 100 years! Their pumpkin season offers tons of pumpkin choices and decorative squash, along with a corn maze. This corn maze is only around 3-4 acres, so it is the perfect size to explore with your whole family.
The Apple Popcorn festival, held in mid-September, is another great opportunity for the whole family to have some fall fun together. Kent’s is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM-6 PM and on weekends from 9 AM-7 PM.
Dull’s Pumpkin
Another fantastic pumpkin patch option outside of Lafayette is Dull’s Tree Farm and Pumpkin Patch. Though well known for its Christmas tree farm, Dull’s has a fantastic pumpkin festival in the Indianapolis area. The festival kicks off in late September, and attendees can purchase discounted tickets in advance online.
We appreciate that the admission cost covers most of the activities on the farm. There is no hassling with paying for each activity which I love as a parent of four kids. Activities include huge slides, hayrides, a corn maze, barrel train rides, and visiting farm animals. Little ones under 2 are free and prices range from $10-18, depending on your age and the time of your visit. You can also purchase a season pass, which will be worth it if you visit more than once. A visit to Dull’s is always on our family’s fall bucket list!
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