Farms and theme parks across Leicestershire have opened their gates for pumpkin picking again this year. Available in all different shapes and sizes, the Halloween tradition is a great day out for the whole family.
Some farms are also providing extra activities in addition to pumpkin-picking, such as trailer and tractor rides and fun activities for children. Here is a list of places around the county where you could pick your own pumpkin in the run-up to Halloween 2024.
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Wymeswold Fruit Farm
With “thousands of pumpkins to choose from” and a free goodie bag with each pumpkin you pick, the farm close to Wymeswold near Loughborough will be back open on Saturday, October 12, from 10am until 5pm, and then “everyday until Halloween”. The farm will also be offering trailer and tractor rides up to the pumpkin patch.
Entry is free, with pumpkin prices ranging from £3 to £15 depending on its size.
Kirkby Pumpkin Patch
The Kirkby Pumpkin Patch and Maize Maze near Kirkby Mallory is open from 10am until 4pm every weekend until Halloween. It will also open for pumpkin picking every weekday from Monday, October 21.
The farm has a treasure hunt inside its maze, where children can win sweets. There are also food and drink stalls, hook-a-duck and a “big slide”. Entry is free.
Oscar’s Pumpkin Patch
Oscar’s Pumpkin Patch in Costock near Loughborough is open every weekend from 10am to 4pm and then from October half term “all the way” to Halloween. The farm is said to have more than 25 different varieties of “pumpkins, squashes and gourds”. Entry is free.
Broom Leys Farm
Broom Leys Farm in Coalville is open for pumpkin picking every weekend from 10am and 5pm and then daily from October half-term. The farm has “expanded” its offering this year with a new “playground area” and new children rides alongside a “cornfield trek”, stall holders and “loads of picture opportunities”.
Entry is free if you would like to pick pumpkins. For extra activities on the farm, adult tickets cost £3 and for children between 2-14 years tickets cost £2. Children under two can take part for free.
Cattows Farm
Cattows Farm at Heather plays host to ‘Halloween Farm’ each year. With 300 acres of countryside, the farm claims to have one million pumpkins of “various shapes, sizes and colours”.
Tickets, which begin at £5.60, are available for this weekend and then the farm is continuously open each day until Halloween on Thursday, October 31. Tickets include car parking and access to attractions such as ‘Pumpkin Wonderland’, ‘Itsy Bitsy Magical Animals' and the ‘Children’s Play Area’.
Farndon fields
The family run Farndon Fields Farm Shop in Market Harborough has been growing and selling pumpkins since the early 90s. This year marks the fifth annual Pumpkin Festival event held on the farm.
The farm claims it has grown more than 40,000 pumpkins and squashes in all shapes sizes and colours and provides a “fleet of wheelbarrows” for pumpkin pickers to explore the patch with. The event also features a food and drink area with picnic benches and straw bales where visitors can relax and enjoy a freshly made thin crust pizza, breakfast baps, hot chocolates, or pumpkin spiced lattes.
The event opens from Saturday, October 12, and runs until Thursday, October 31. Single tickets are £3.50 each and under 3’s go free. Group tickets (four people) are available for a discounted rate of £3 per person.
Snarestone Pumpkin Farm
Snarestone Pumpkin Farm just off Measham Road near Twycross Zoo is back open again this weekend for pumpkin picking. It will be open from 9-5 on Saturday, October 12, and 10-4 on Sunday, October 13.
It will also be open everyday for picking between Thursday, October 17 and Halloween. Entry to the pumpkin patch is £2 per person. Free entry is available into the indoor ‘Pumpkin Barn’ on site.
Cheese toasties are available from the ‘Toastie box’ every Saturday alongside hot chocolate and ‘pupichino’s’ for dogs.
Grange Farm Pumpkins
Located in Soar Mill Lane, Broughton Astley, the farm will open to pumpkin pickers this weekend from 10am to 4pm. Entry is £7 per “family, group or couple”, which includes access to a maize maze, a ‘mud pit’, picnic area and will entitle you to a £5 token off pumpkins.
The farm will be open throughout the half term week from 10am to 4pm on Monday, October 21 to Friday, October 25. Further dates and information can be found on their Facebook page.
The Grange
The Grange in Asfordby Hill near Melton Mowbray is open for pumpkin pickers from 9am to 5pm every day until Thursday, October 31. Entry is free.
Twinlakes
Twinlakes, near Melton, has introduced a new pumpkin patch at the theme park for the first time this year. The free pick your own pumpkin attraction includes free pumpkin carving as well.
Windmill Farm Park
The farm park located on the outskirts of Kibworth Harcourt has grown more pumpkins than “ever before” for this year’s Halloween. From £12.95 tickets include “pumpkin picking in our homegrown patch, getting creative with crooked crafts, and sweet and spooky prizes for completing our trails”, the farm said.
A medium pumpkin is included per child’s tickets. Additional pumpkins can be purchased.
Halloween is brought to life on the farm during weekends in October and daily from Saturday, October 19, to Sunday, November 3.
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