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Come late September, visitors from points west hit the road to harvest u-pick pumpkins on the North Fork.
We get it. The North Fork is a magical place come the fall with prime pumpkin picking at several local farms.
But for those looking to skip the traffic and stay a little closer to home, there are a handful of Long Island pumpkin patches bursting with charm and the seasonal bounty.
Here are more than a dozen places to pick your own pumpkins on Long Island, besides the North Fork. (Check out our North Fork u-pick pumpkin guide in the October issue of northforker magazine).
Albert H. Schmitt Family Farm, Dix Hills
Not to be confused with Schmitt’s Family Farm in Riverhead — which also has u-pick pumpkins — Albert H. Schmitt Family Farm in Dix Hills is a family operated farm located off of exit 50 on the Long Island Expressway. Known for its wide selection of annuals and perennials, fall fun is a tradition here. On weekends from mid-September through Halloween, the pumpkin patch is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. After finding your perfect pumpkins, enjoy food, family friendly games, hay rides, an animal train, duck races and more. There are also mums, cornstalks and decorative kale available for fall décor.
Albert H. Schmitt Family Farm is located at 6 Bagatelle Road, Dix Hills (if using GPS, use Huntington Station)
Benner’s Farm, East Setauket
Nestled off the beaten path in East Setauket, this working family farm dates back to the 1700s. It hosts a wide variety of festivals and classes throughout the year, but in the fall it is all about pumpkin picking. The Harvest Fair, held annually on the second weekend in October, is a great time to visit. The event features hay rides, cider making, live music, and of course, pumpkin picking.
Benner’s Farm is located at 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket
Borellas Farm Stand, Saint James
The family owned and operated farm stand hosts Fall Harvest Festival weekends beginning Saturday, Sept. 29 and every weekend through the month of October. U-pick pumpkins are a staple, but there’s plenty of family fun to be had — you could make a day of it Highlights include hay rides, face painting, apple cider, candied apples, inflatable bounce houses, live music, a duck race and more. Borellas specializes in plants, so it’s also a good spot to pick up fall décor, such as hardy mums and cornstalks.
Borellas Farm Stand is located at 485 Edgewood Ave, Saint James
Brightwaters Farms, Bay Shore
Brightwaters Farms in Bay Shore is the oldest operating farm located on the South Shore of Long Island and is open to the public every fall for its annual Fall Harvest Festival, which includes pumpkin picking, hay rides, face painting and feeding farm animals. There’s also plenty of harvest bounty from their country store, such as fresh apple cider, homemade baked pies, cookies and other treats. Fall Harvest Festival runs from the last weekend in September through the last weekend in October.
Brightwaters Farms is located at 1624 Manatuck Blvd, Bay Shore
Crossroads Farm at Grossman’s, Malverne
Managed by the non-profit Nassau Land Trust, Crossroads is the closest organic farm to New York City. Its grounds feature a farm stand and market opened May to December, which sells its own organic produce as well as produce from other local farms, craft items and organic groceries. In the fall, there is a u-pick pumpkin patch along with fall treats such as apple pie and cider. On Saturday, Oct. 19 Crossroads is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration with craft beer, live music and family friendly activities.
Crossroads Farm at Grossman’s is located at 480 Hempstead Ave, Malverne
Dees’ Nursery, Oceanside
This Oceanside nursery and florist hosts its Fall Festival beginning the last weekend in September and every weekend through October. In addition to pumpkins, there’s a petting zoo, spooky walk, gem mining and a corn maze.
Dees’ Nursery is located at 69 Atlantic Avenue, Oceanside
Elwood Pumpkin and Christmas Tree Farm, Huntington
Long Island’s western most cut-your-own Christmas tree farm, is also a destination for u-pick pumpkins. During the fall, visitors pick pumpkins straight from the vine, take a hay ride around the farm to learn about its history and explore a small corn maze ideal for young children.
Elwood Pumpkin and Christmas Tree Farm is located at 1500 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington
Fairview Farm at Mecox, Bridgehampton
The family-owned Fairview Farm at Mecox sells a variety of seasonal produce and flowers during the summer season. In the fall, from September through early November, the big draw is the farm’s u-pick pumpkins and “The Maize.” The corn maze is comprised of two miles of paths with two bridges overlooking the surrounding farmland, Mecox Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. While you’re there, pick up some Mecox Bay Dairy Cheese made with raw milk cheese from the farm’s cows.
Fairview Farm is located at 69 Horsemill Lane, Bridgehampton
Hank’s Pumpkintown, Water Mill
Hank’s pumpkin farm has officially opened for the season with acres of u-pick pumpkins, interactive corn mazes, duck races, hay rides, face painting and more. Hank’s also offers fall décor and apple picking on weekends. The pumpkin fields are open seven days a week.
Hank’s Pumpkintown is located at 240 Montauk Hwy, Watermill
Organics Today Farm, East Islip
This small farm sells organic, non-GMO produce from spring through Thanksgiving in East Islip. In addition to the fresh baked goods, raw local honey and cooking classes offered throughout the growing season, come fall Organics Today welcomes families into the pumpkin patch. The farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the third week in September through Halloween for u-pick pumpkins. It also offers moonlight pumpkin picking every Friday night from the end of September to the end of October. Recommended for kids 12 and under, visitors follow an illuminated path to the pumpkin patch. The farm stand is also open late those nights, serving warm cider, hot cocoa and pumpkin muffins, among other goodies.
Organics Today Farm is located 169 Washington Street, East Islip
White Post Farms, Melville
A fifth-generation family farm known for its petting zoo, White Post Farms hosts a Fall Farm Festival on weekends from Sept. 21 through October. The event features a large u-pick pumpkin patch, plus family-friendly shows with performing animals. There’s also a bounce house park and hay rides in addition to festival food.
White Post Farms is located at 250 Old Country Road, Melville
Woodside Nursery & Garden Center, Patchogue
This Patchogue nursery is open year-round selling everything from spring flowers to Christmas trees. In the fall, Woodside not only offers pumpkin picking, but a ton of other family friendly activities on weekends. Highlights include face painting, the haunted tunnel and scarecrow making.
Woodside Nursery & Garden Center is located at 134 East Woodside Avenue, Patchogue
Waterdrinker Family Farm & Garden, Manorville
Waterdrinker Family Farm celebrates its bounty throughout the growing season with fun festivals highlighting its flowers, such as the spring tulip festival and the late summer u-pick sunflowers. In the fall, the farm opens its pumpkin patch to those looking to pick the perfect one. The family farm also has a haunted corn maze, hay rides, farm animals and a market with fresh baked goods.
Waterdrinker is located at 663 Wading River Road, Manorville
