The Top Pumpkin Patches In The Lansdale Area In 2020

LANSDALE, PA — Not even pumpkin patches are escaping the coronavirus in 2020.

The ongoing pandemic has forced some of the region’s most frequented pumpkin patches to adjust hours, regulations and offerings as they head into fall.

But, don't fear: There are still plenty of spots in and around the greater Lansdale area and Montgomery County where you can have some fall fun.

Below is a list of some of the area's top local pumpkin patches.

Merrymead Farm, 2222 S. Valley Forge Road, Worcester

Known for its dairy, Merrymead hosts a corn maze, moonlight maze, evening hayrides, apple shed, pumpkin corral, and local pressed cider. And those are just some of the highlights. Details here.

Freddy Hill Farms, 1440 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale

Freddy Hill is attached to a "Family Fun Center" that offers mini golf, batting cages, and a driving range. The farm has a hayride, pumpkin patch, corn maze, pig races, and more. Website here.

Varner Farms, 746 S Trappe Rd, Collegeville

Varner Farms is a local institution that offers everything from pumpkin picking to cutting your own Christmas tree. There are horse and tractor wagon rides out to the pumpkin patch ($4 per person), pumpkin painting, face painting, scarecrow making, a corn maze, and more. You can also pick corn, apples, and strawbales. Other specialties in the store include cider, caramels, and dried flowers. Website here.

Hellerick's Family Farm, 5500 N. Easton Road, Doylestown

The farm hosts a daily Fall Festival from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., which includes a hayride, farm animals, corn mazes, and slides, a playground, and some 40-plus activities for children. There are expansive pumpkin, gourd, and squash fields for picking. Reservations are required for all activities due to coronavirus, except for shopping in the market. The evening hayride has also been cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Maple Acres Farm and Market, 2656 Narcissa Road, Plymouth Meeting

While no pumpkin picking is happening here this year due to the pandemic, pre-picked pumpkins are available for purchase. There are also plenty of other fun family activities, like mazes, hayrides, and other autumn goods.

Colonial Gardens, 745 Schuylkill Road, Phoenixville

Pumpkins are 59 cents per pound at Colonial. For children, there's a Princess-themed Pumpkinland which includes a maze, play area, and other attractions. Hayrides run all day, every day through the woods. There's even an option for a private wagon.

When picking your perfect pumpkin, here are a few tips to keep in mind, according to the folks at Kitchn.

• Know the difference between pumpkins best used for pies and those best for carving. Workers will sometimes label their pumpkins to help you identify which is better for eating and which is better for carving. But if they don't, remember smaller, thicker and rounder pumpkins are generally better for eating. They have more guts on the inside and are more difficult to saw.
• Tap on your pumpkin. By tapping on your prospective pumpkins, you'll be able to compare which feel sturdy and sound hollow. The sturdier, the better, and it should sound hollow.
• Flip it upside down and apply pressure. It might sound odd, but trust us, this is key. Turn your pumpkin upside down and press on it with both thumbs. If it's not sturdy, chances are it'll rot.
• Always carry it from the bottom. Do not carry your pumpkin by its stem, that's the easiest way to test whether your pumpkin can defy gravity. So far, gravity remains undefeated.
• Wait to carve your pumpkin. Ask anyone what happens if you carve too early and you'll hear one of two answers, neither of them good. Either the pumpkin rots before Halloween or it simply becomes dinner for a family of hungry animals.