Halloween is fast approaching, and with it comes the excitement of pumpkin picking! If you're on the hunt for the best pumpkins in Lancashire, look no further than the county's charming pumpkin farms. Bring your little trick-or-treaters for a fun-filled day at one of the many pumpkin patches in Lancashire, where you can find everything from vibrant purple pumpkins to unique multi-coloured squashes.
Mrs. Dowsons Farm Park
Dates: October 5th - 31st
Opening times: 10 am - 5pm at weekends and school holidays
Nothing will get the kids more excited for Halloween than a pumpkin patch at an ice cream farm! Mrs Dowsons’ usual ventures include dairy farming and bottle-feeding lambs, but when Autumn arrives, pumpkins fill the fields, ready to be picked! The pumpkin patch at Mrs Dowsons is one of the most popular in Lancashire, and it’s almost guaranteed to have the perfect pumpkin for your carving plans. If the kids start to get restless while you search for the perfect shape for Jack Skellington’s head, the farm hides several carnival games and characters about the place to keep them entertained.
Paul’s Farm Pumpkin Patch
Dates: October 12th - 27th
Opening times: 10 am - 4pm on weekends only
Ever wondered whether you could mix pumpkin picking with fresh pizza? At Paul’s Farm, your dreams will come true! The Flying Pig Pizza Company supplies pumpkin pickers with pizza from an on-site wood-fired oven, combining your foraging activities with a hearty lunch. Even better, the farm offers a free tractor ride to the pumpkin patch! If your little one loves tractors, they’ll be talking about the trip for days to come. Paul’s farm is also a supplier of refreshing beer, cider and wine for the adults in the group, and professional face painting for the kids.
Farmer Ted’s Pumpkin Festival
Dates: 12th - 31st October
Opening times: 10 am - 5:30 pm
In the rolling hills of Ormskirk, Farmer Ted’s Pumpkin Festival is ready to give your little ones the October of their dreams. From a dinosaur animatronic display to a themed maize maze, this Autumn extravaganza is the perfect chance to get the kids excited for Halloween. Farmer Ted’s offers everything from photo ops with pumpkin piles to a fully equipped pumpkin carving station, so you can avoid the messy clean-up of gutting winter squashes at home.
Roby Mill
Dates: 12th - 25th October
Opening times: 10 am – 5 pm
If you need to combine your pumpkin trip with a bit of shopping, head out to Skelmersdale in West Lancashire to find the Roby Mill Farm Shop. Roby Mill’s pumpkin patch is a display of everything a pumpkin can be, from various shapes and sizes to yellow, white and even blue pumpkins. If you’re into putting a unique flair on your Halloween decor, Roby Mill is one of the best pumpkin patches in Lancashire to make your jack-o-lanterns. Display a multicoloured pumpkin on your doorstep this year and make all the neighbours turn heads at your style.
Pumpkin Alley
Dates: 12th - 31st October
Opening times: 10 am – 5 pm
If you have a furry friend in the family, a day out just isn’t complete without bringing them along. That’s why Pumpkin Alley allows dogs to come along with you to the pumpkin patch (keep them on a lead, though). The site has a toddler play centre to help keep the kids entertained too. Pick everything from pumpkins to your very own flowers at this sprawling farm in Ormskirk, a scenic town in the hills of West Lancashire.
Windmill Animal Farm
Dates: 12th - 31st October
Opening times: 10am - 5pm
With an impressive 20,000 pumpkins planted in their extensive fields, Windmill Animal Farm is one of the top spots for Lancashire pumpkin picking. Let the whole family choose their favourite pumpkins from the crop and cart the heavier ones away with the help of an on-site wheelbarrow. If you simply can’t choose, the farm will allow you to buy more than one pumpkin, so don’t worry if you’ve run into two perfect jack-o-lanterns-to-be!
Bradshaws Farm Shop
Dates: 11th - 30th October
Opening times: 8 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday, 9 am – 4 pm Sunday
If can’t take a full day out but still want the kids to be able to pick their own pumpkins, you can buy a ticket for 45 minutes at Bradshaws Farm Shop and enjoy a quick round of pumpkin picking in Lancashire. You can also buy the local birds some winter feed at the attached garden centre or browse for groceries in the shop itself. There’s even a pet shop section, making Bradshaws great for sneaking in some chores around the kids’ pumpkin foraging.
Holmeswood Pumpkin Place
Dates: 1st - 31st October
Opening times: 10 am – 5 pm on weekends, 10 am – 2 pm Tuesday to Thursday
We know what you’re thinking: how many pumpkin patches can Ormskirk fit in? The truth is, quite a few! If you’re ever passing through, the town is the perfect place to browse for your dream pumpkin on Halloween. Holmeswood Pumpkin Place is the patch to go if you want to carve an extra-large pumpkin this year or if the kids need to carve two sides of the same squash!
Smithills Open Farm
Dates: 19th - 31st October
Opening times: 10 am – 5 pm
Spook up the pumpkin picking experience at Smithills, where the staff wear fancy dress and Halloween costumes to boost the creepy vibe. If the kids are inspired by the surrounding displays, they can even take part in their own fancy dress competition, so make sure they bring their trick-or-treating outfits! They’ll also be able to hunt for sweets around the farm, visit a zombie barn or take a haunted hayride over the fields.
Birchalls Pumpkin Patch
Dates: 5th - 31st October
Opening times: 9 am – 6 pm
If you’re a busy parent, booking and setting aside a time to go out can feel impossible. Luckily, Birchalls Pumpkin Patch allows you to nip by for pumpkins without booking in advance, making it easy to squeeze an outing into your crammed schedule. Birchalls also boasts an impressive 8-acre pumpkin field, making it one of the best farms to find the perfect pumpkin to carve this year.
After a day of festive fun, why not consider making Lancashire your permanent home? Explore our collection of stunning new build houses in the area to find the perfect place for your family to enjoy all the seasonal festivities year-round!
