SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Heading to a patch or field to pick the best or biggest pumpkin isn't just about finding the perfect Halloween jack-o'-lantern. It's a chance to get outside with the family in a favorite fall tradition full of fun activities.
Many pumpkin patches and fields offer additional activities such as hayrides, corn mazes and games for children. Picking your own pumpkin is also a great way to support the local farmers who grow it.
Whether you're planning to carve a jack-o'-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to get a pumpkin near Southampton. Here are some of our favorites:
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Fairview Farm in Mecox
– 19 Horse Mill Lane in Bridgehampton.- Fairview Farm is open for pumpkin picking on weekends through November 3rd from 10am. until 6 p.m. on Columbus Day.
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For additional information, click here.
Fink's farm
– 6242 Middle Country Road in Wading River.- Fink's County Farm Festival runs Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day through Oct. 27 with hours from 9:30 A.M. until 5 p.m. Fall Festival admission includes unlimited hay rides and corn maze. Festival goers can also enjoy the courtyard and play areas. Additional charges for U-pick pumpkins, face painting, kiddie train, pony rides and more.
– Pumpkin picking is available on weekends, but only for Fall Festival attendees.- The barn is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10am. until 4 p.m. until December 23.
– For more information, click here.
Harbes Family Farm
Harbes Farm offers three locations, Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck, Harbes Farm in Jamesport and Harbes Farm and Orchard in Riverhead.
Pumpkin picking takes place:
Harbes Family Farm, 715 Sound Ave, Mattituck.
– Open seven days a week until October, 10am. to 6 p.m. pound.
Harbes Farms Jamesport, 1223 Main Road, Jamesport.
– Open on weekends and holidays from 9 am. until 6 p.m.
Harbes Orchard, 5698 Sound Ave, Riverhead
– The pumpkin patch is only open on weekends and holidays from 10am. until 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 10 A.M. until 5 p.m. .-Many different varieties available.- Pumpkins sold by the pound.- Purchase of an apple picking package is required to pick pumpkins.- Harbes offers a wide variety of corn mazes and fall hayrides.
For more information, click here and here.
For full details on all the fun at Harbes, click here.
Hank's PumpkinTown
– 240 Montauk Highway in Water Mill- Hanks PumpkinTown has pumpkin picking, apple picking, corn mazes, wagon rides, corn train rides, giant slides, games, playgrounds, duck races and more.
– Hank's is open for family activities and pumpkin picking every day from 9:30am. to 5:30 p.m. Apple picking is only available on weekends and school holidays. Wagon rides, corn train rides and jump pad are not available on non-holiday weekdays.
For additional information, click here.
Helen's Pumpkin Farm
– 1061 Union Ave., Aquebogue- Picking pumpkins, apple picking, corn maze seven days a week. the farm is open from 9am to 5pm. U-pick apple and pumpkins and corn maze are available daily from 9am. until 4 p.m.
– Hayrides and snack bar are available on weekends and holidays. The farm stand is open daily until November 27.
For more information, call 631-722-8449.
Krupski Farms
– 38030 Main Road, Peconic. Open daily from 10am to 6pm
– U-Pick pumpkins, vegetables. Haystacks and a haunted corn maze on October weekends.
– For more information, click here.
Lewin Farms
– 812 Sound Avenue, Calverton. Open daily except Tuesday.
– Call 631-929-4327 for U-pick, fields close at 4:30pm. when available.
– Lewin's offers pick-your-own pumpkins, a corn maze on weekends and holidays through the end of October, roasted corn and more.
For more information and to call, click here.
Stakey's Pumpkin Farm
– 270 West Lane in Aquebogue.
– Stakey's is open for pumpkin picking Mon-Fri from noon to 5pm, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9am to 5pm
– Pets are not allowed.
– The farm also has hayrides, corn maze, face painting, snack shack, country store and flower, roasted corn, apple cider donuts.
– No entrance or parking fees.
For additional information, click here.
Waterdrinker Family Farm & Garden
2 locations:
– 663 Wading River Road, Manorville
– Autumn festival. Admission includes hayrides, a jumbo pad, miniature golf, barn animals, wooden playhouse, tractor pedal cars, corn maze, photo opportunities, Lost Island turtle enclosure and more.
– U-pick pumpkins are also available.
– Open 10am to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
Waterdrinker North Fork, located at 4560 Sound Ave in Riverhead.
– Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
– Beer bar open Friday to Sunday from 11 am. until 6 p.m. – Live music Saturday and Sunday from 11 am. until 4 p.m.
For more information about the new location and its offerings, click here.
Wickham's Fruit Farm
– 28700 Main Road, Cutchogue- Picking pumpkins off the vine with a hand wagon Saturdays, 10am. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays.
– The farm, where pumpkins are also available, is open Monday to Saturday from 9am. until 4 p.m. Closed Sundays.
– Kid-sized bottles of apple cider are available for purchase for the kids, along with delicious donuts. Sundays closed.
– Wickham's Fruit Farm is a two-hundred-year-old historic farm on Peconic Bay and a family business for generations.
– For more information, click here.
FOR A FULL LONG ISLAND PUMPKIN COLLECTION GUIDE, CLICK HERE.
Keep in mind that carving and roasting a pumpkin are not the same. The former are grown in fields to be large, more vibrant in color and relatively hollow. Watery flesh does not have the same flavor as roasting pumpkins, which tend to be smaller, have thicker, harder-to-carve walls and sweeter flesh. For those, you'll probably need to head to the grocery store.
If your pumpkin is destined for a starring role on Halloween night, check out some tips for carving a perfect jack-o'-lantern. Warren Nash on YouTube also shows a step-by-step process for making the perfect carving.
Pumpkin carving kits will help you get what you need. They usually include saws, scoopers, drills and multiple designs.
If you're looking for individual items around the house, here's what you can use:
- Pumpkin. Unless you have a backyard pumpkin growing business, you'll need to pick one you like from your local pumpkin patch or store. Make sure it looks sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season.
- Curved boning knife or serrated knife from the kitchen.
- Ice cream scoop or scraper
- Paper
- Pencil or pen
- Candle or battery operated light
- Lighter
Steps
- Cut it: If you are cutting from the top of the pumpkin, be sure to do so at an inward angle so that the top doesn't fall into the pumpkin when you put it back in. Michael Natiello, creative director of The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze, said it's best to cut the pumpkin from the bottom, in a series of pumpkin carving tips from Good Housekeeping. This helps prevent the sides from sagging later.
- Cut it: Use the ice cream scoop, or your hands, to scoop out all the seeds and other debris from inside the pumpkin. Give it a thorough cleaning and make sure nothing is left sticking to the sides.
- Trace it: Draw your design on a piece of paper before putting it on the pumpkin itself. This way, it is easier to trace the pattern on the pumpkin.
- Make the cuts: Cut out the pattern. Natiello said to use a fork or pencil to poke holes around the lines. When cutting, take out the large pieces of pumpkin first and clean the edges later.
- Light it up: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it on the pumpkin, then admire your work.
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