Along with cooler temperatures, autumn brings thoughts of family outings. With pumpkin patches, corn mazes and more, many local farms transform into fun fall destinations. Here are a few:
Schilter Family Farm Fall Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 28-Oct. 31, 141 Nisqually Cutoff Rd. SE, Olympia, $9 weekdays, $14 weekends, military and senior discounts available, 360.459.4023, schilterfamilyfarm.com
Along with a corn maze that's anything but average and acres filled with 40 different varieties of pumpkins, the Schilter Family Farm Fall Festival offers a wide assortment of fun activities including: duck races, a jumping pillow, hay ride, hay mow, hay maze, kid-sized pedal tractors, pony rides, a scale model of Ft. Nisqually, and too much more to mention here.
Rutledge Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to midnight, Friday-Saturday, Sept. 22-Oct.31, 302 Ave. SE, Olympia, admission varies from $8 to $60 depending on the package, 360.357.3700, rutledgecornmaze.com
The pumpkin patch and corn maze are just the beginning of the fun at Rutledge Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. Visitors can also be treated to: a haunted maze, zombie paintball, story time, corn hole, swings, ladder ball, calf roping station, a cow train, and a corn cannon ... because who hasn't wanted to shoot a corn cob out of a cannon?
The Pumpkin Patch at Creek House Farm, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday; noon to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6-27, 5-7 p.m.; Monday through Friday, Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 6060 E. Collins Rd., Port Orchard, free admission, 360.602.1273, creekhousefarm.com
Creek House Farm says their 20 varieties of "pumpkins grow on rolling hills, amidst grassy walkways, surrounded by native shrubbery, and wooded areas bursting with fall color." And that's not all. The Pumpkin Patch at Creek House Farm also offers: farm animals, Lil Pumpkin Play Patch, a hay ride, a pumpkin barrel ride, a pumpkin sling shot, a pumpkin pallet maze and a giant slide.
Maris Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 28-Oct. 31; After Dark: Haunted Woods, 7-9 p.m., Sept. 28, Oct. 4-5, 13, 20, 27, 25001 Sumner-Buckley Hwy., Buckley, ages 3-12, $10 weekdays; ages 3-12, $19.80 weekends; ages 13+, $11 weekdays; ages 13+, $21.75 weekends, 253.862.2848, marisfarms.com
Pumpkins and mazes are barely the beginning at Maris Farms. This place is the Disneyland of pumpkin patches, offering a huge variety of fall activities for every age, including: pig and duck races, a nighttime hay ride, a goat walk, haunted woods, a candy cannon, a hot seat escape, and far more than we can begin to list here. Check out their website and prepare to be amazed!
Spooner Farms Harvest Festival, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 28-Oct. 31, 9710 SR 162 E., Puyallup, $8 or $9 depending on the adventure, 253.840.2059, spoonerberries.com
Owned by sixth generation Puyallup Valley farmers, the Spooner Farms Harvest Festival offers 50 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, squash and corn, as well as an iconic corn maze. And if that isn't enough, there's also Becky's Animal Barn, face painting, and a concession stand featuring caramel popcorn, caramel apples and roasted corn.
Picha Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, 3-6 p.m., weekdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends, Sept. 29-Oct. 31, 6502 52nd St. E., Puyallup, free admission, $1 to $6 for various activities, 253.841.4443, pichafarms.com
Named "one of the 10 Best Pumpkin Picking Spots in Washington" by Best of American Towns, Picha Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze offers live bluegrass music, a pumpkin slingshot, a hayride, a kiddie train, and more.
One piece of advice when visiting these local farms: avoid crowds, come during the weekdays as weekends can get very busy.
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