It’s always hard to bid goodbye to the Northwest summer, but luckily the fall season in Pierce County provides plenty of opportunities for fun. There’s no better way to celebrate the changing seasons and gear up for fall than to head out to a pumpkin patch or corn maze.
A celebrated Northwest tradition, farms throughout Pierce County offer a variety of pumpkin patch and corn maze experiences that are sure to delight the whole family. As fall weather approaches and temperatures drop, throw on a scarf and a pair of boots and get ready to get your dose of old-fashioned family fun.
Spooner Farms
Spooner Farms may be best known for their sweet berries, but come October they get all decked out for fall. This year, the sixth generation farmers will hold their 24th Annual Harvest Festival from September 29 – October 31. The festival will feature 50 varieties of squash and gourds, along with activities from face painting to pumpkin slingshots to pony rides. You can also get your fill of fall snacks in the form of caramel apples, caramel popcorn, and roasted corn (weekends only). In addition to their annual pumpkin patch and Harvest Festival, Spooner Farms features a five-acre corn maze with over three miles of trails to wind through. This years’ theme is Destination Earth: An Interstellar Space Odyssey. For more information on the festivities, check out their website, Facebook, or visit them at 9710 State Route 162 E in Puyallup.
Double R Farms
Boasting a five-acre corn maze and the “largest pumpkin patch in the valley,” Double R Farms in Puyallup is chock full of family fun. After picking out your perfect carving pumpkin, be sure to jump on a free tractor pulled hay rides, available on the weekends. You can also launch two pumpkins for a dollar with their pumpkin slingshot. Sip on a beverage in the Pumpkin Barn and enjoy concessions starting the second week of October. Cornstalks are also available for purchase at three for one dollar. More details are available on their website and Facebook page. The farm is located at 5820 44th Street E in Puyallup.
Scholz Farm and Garden
Located off Highway 410, Scholz Farm and Garden is a great location for fall family fun. This year marks the 40th anniversary of their Pumpkin Palace, featuring a u-pick pumpkin patch and a variety of squashes and gourds. The third generation farm, which is committed to natural, low-impact farming techniques, also offers the chance to check out antique equipment and sells jams, jellies, and other pickled products made straight from farm to table. For information on pumpkin season and the latest updates on their fall crops, follow them on Facebook. The farm is located at 14310 128th Street E in Puyallup.
Picha Farms
Picha Farms’ pumpkin patch season runs from September 30 to October 31. This River Road farm serves up fall fun in the form of hay rides, a pumpkin slingshot with a 15-pounds pumpkin prize, and a five-acre corn maze with eight trivia questions along the way. Past years have also featured live music acts on the weekends. Bonus – dogs can join in the fun as long as they are on a leash. For more updates, find them on Facebook or visit the farm at 6502 52nd Street E in Puyallup.
Old McDebbie’s Farm & Jim’s U-Fish
Old McDebbie’s Farm & Jim’s U-Fish in Spanaway bring together animals, fishing, nature and education, which translates to a variety of activities beyond the traditional pumpkin patch experience. Nature trails for kids, free-roaming critters, and the opportunity to catch rainbow trout at Jim’s U Fish are all available alongside a selection of pumpkins. Fall festivities run Friday-Sunday from 10:00 to 6:00 p.m. For more details on all things fall, check out their Facebook page or visit at 4924 268th Street E in Spanaway.
Maris Farms
With over 30 attractions offered each fall season, Maris Farms offers endless opportunities for entertainment. In addition to the traditional pumpkin patch, the corn maze can take up to 45 minutes to solve and offers a different experience from day to night. By day, visitors can grab a set of clues at the entrance and stroll through the maze, taking in stunning views of the farm as they cross two bridges. And on Friday and Saturday night they can weave your way through the Flashlight Maze. Each year the corn maze takes on a new theme, with past years including the 12th Man, Huskies vs. Cougars and Mount Rainier. And while the trails are covered with bark, but be sure to strap on boots for the best possible experience.
The farm also offers more fall fun ranging from monster truck rides to paintball. Pony rides, animal races, and hayrides around the pumpkin patches are a hit with the little ones, while those looking for a spookier experience can join them for nighttime activities, including their Haunted Woods and Zombie Paintball. The 2018 season runs from September 29 to October 31. Find a full list of attractions at their website or Facebook page or visit them at 25001 Sumner Buckley Highway in Buckley.
Thomasson Family Farm
Come October, this Enumclaw dairy operation runs a fall festival that is suitable for the whole family. Kids of all ages can enjoy activities ranging from a u-pick pumpkin patch to laser tag in the Hay Stack Maniac Arena. John Deere tractor displays round out the farm experience, while kids can enjoy the Corn Box (like a barn-style ball house, filled with nine acres of corn), apple slingshot and Kids Korral. And don’t miss the sweet shop, full of fall treats.
The corn maze is a yet another highlight of October festivities at the Thomasson Family Farm, and it takes on a new theme each year. Designed by the Thomasson family’s youngest daughter Tia, the corn maze features a mystery game and a large bridge that gives way to panoramic views of the farm. A 45-minute adventure that the whole family can enjoy, the maze is just one of many activities available at the farm.
More information is available on Facebook and you can find them at 38223 236th Avenue SE in Enumclaw.
Northwest Glass Pumpkin Patches
For a twist on the traditional pumpkin patch trip, the Tacoma Glassblowing Studio has you covered. Each year they produce over 6,000 pumpkins to arrange into their Northwest Glass Pumpkin Patches displays, which are held in a variety of locations throughout the South Sound. These unique collections feature pumpkin patches of one to two thousand glass pumpkins, each individually crafted by glassblowers in Tacoma. From September through October, you can hunt for the perfect pumpkin to take home at locations in Sumner, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Puyallup, and more. For a full list of dates and locations, check out their website.
