Houston may not have the leaf change you’ll see in other parts of Texas, but what it lacks in fall color, it more than makes up for with fall spirit.
No matter where you live in Houston, you’re not far from a pumpkin patch, fall festival, or a beaming family photo op as kids, couples, and multigenerational families come together to usher in autumn.
So as you head out for your own Great Pumpkin Quest or hit the road to spend a Saturday soaking up all the fall vibes, keep these patches, farms, and urban options in mind. Some are well-known and huge, some are under-the-radar and more intimate, and some are still being discovered among Houston’s many options.
The one thing they all have in common is their ability to delight young and old—maybe so much that you visit all eight!
Old Time Christmas Tree Farm Pumpkin Patch
Location: 7632 Spring Cypress Rd., Spring
Dates: Every Thu. through Sun. in October
Hours: Thu. and Fri. 4-7 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Cost: $10 per person, with nominal add-ons for attractions
The 75-acre spread at Old Time Christmas Tree Farm transforms into an elaborate pumpkin patch come October. It’s a standout pumpkin patch perfect for kids and adults alike.
Picture hayrides through a field of soon-to-be Christmas trees, festival foods like Frito pie and funnel cakes, and shaded picnic areas where you can enjoy all the Texan fixins. Then add an acre of wandering farm animals in the petting zoo, inflatables, and vendors with handmade crafts.
But you’re here for the pumpkins, and Old Time Christmas Tree Farm does not disappoint. You’ll find pumpkin carving kits for sale and every size and type of pumpkin you can imagine, including pre-carved, pie pumpkins, mini pumpkins, and perfectly shaped jack-o-lantern pumpkins.
Bonus: Pets are welcome, so you can get fall photos with everyone, including Fido.
Blessington Farms
Location: 510 Chisolm Trail, Simonton
Dates: Sat. and Sun. from Sept. 19 through Nov. 22
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Starting at $20 per ticket
There is so much fall fun to be had at Blessington Farms that you may want to buy a season ticket and return again and again.
From pumpkin painting to climbing a spider’s web to sinking into the corn kernel pit, activities abound for kids and kids at heart. While the pumpkin patch is great for photo ops, you’ll also catch live-action photos and videos of your little ones petting goats, hopping on the jump pad, and having their faces painted with all the fall images you can imagine.
Blessington Farms is about 40 miles west of Houston and for many, it’s considered an annual tradition, so this pumpkin patch-slash-epic playground is worth the drive.
Houston Pumpkin Festival
Location: Discovery Green, Downtown
Dates: Sep. 19-Nov. 8
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 3-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Cost: Mon.-Thu. $18 per person; Fri.-Sun. $28 per person
A massive grinning jack-o-lantern takes center stage at Houston Pumpkin Festival, a downtown celebration of pumpkins, treats, and urban fall fun. And no visit is complete without time spent jumping and running on the giant orange pumpkin as you celebrate the arrival of autumn.
Thanks to Houston’s weather, you can also enjoy fall in a bumper boat. The waterway is filled with them and is a perfect place to start, then take a spin on the carousel before peeking behind the Doors of Wonder. Be sure to snap a pic on Sunflower Walk or while swaying in a Butterfly Chair.
Old McDonald’s Farm
Location: 3203 FM 1960 E, Humble
Dates: Sep. 21-Aug. 31
Hours: Weekdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Weekends 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $18.65 per person, which includes all attractions
The only thing better than a pumpkin is a free pumpkin, and each kid who visits Old McDonald’s Farm in Humble will walk away with one.
Old McDonald’s Farm is kid heaven, with pony rides, a petting zoo, train rides, and of course, an awesome pumpkin patch. Concessions are available, or you can pack a picnic lunch or dinner and find a shady spot to take a breather.
Kids will leave with giant smiles on their faces, their very own pumpkin, and the sounds of “E-I-E-I-O,” reverberating through their hearts.
Oil Ranch Fall Festival
Location: 23501 Macedonia Rd, Hockley
Dates: Weekends from Oct. 2-Nov. 21
Hours: Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 12-5 p.m. (Oct. only)
Cost: Typically $29.95 at the gate; $18.95 during the flash sale
The Oil Ranch Fall Festival is described as Texas-sized fun, and it really is, with tractor hayrides, pony rides, a dairy barn, train rides, and photo ops you’ll treasure for years to come.
Each kid goes home with his or her very own pumpkin, free with the cost of admission. Houstonians love this festival because while it’s only 30 miles northwest of the city, it feels like a world away.
Still, it’s smaller than some of the more well-known fall festivals, making it a hidden gem where the kids have space to run around while you get photos that make it look like you have your own private pumpkin patch.
The Great Pumpkin Hunt
Location: Loftin Park, 7008 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire
Date: Thu. Oct. 29
Hours: Hunt starts at 4:45 p.m. on October 29
Cost: Free, sponsored by the City of Bellaire
For one night only, The Great Pumpkin Hunt entices kids from all over Houston. On October 29, at 4:45 sharp, the hunt commences, and while the kids are singularly focused on finding all the treats they can fit in their pumpkin, the adults sit back and enjoy the moment. It’s a win-win for everyone in attendance.
Participants are encouraged to wear their costumes, and the event is made even more festive with music, face painting, games, and prizes.
Note: Get there early, as the hunt really does kick off at exactly 4:45, and every second counts.
Dewberry Farm
Location: 7705 FM 362, Brookshire
Dates: Sep. 12- Nov. 8
Hours: Times vary by day, so check the website
Cost: $52.95 per ticket at box office; September Saver Flex Ticket now available for $33.95
Gather the kids and head to Dewberry Farm, where donkeys, pigs, and ponies await petting, and goats line up to be hand-fed. Start with a cup of the farm’s “magical butter brew,” and move on to funnel cakes, fried Oreos, and turkey legs.
The kids will love following the pumpkin trail through hundreds of jack-o’-lanterns and life-sized lanterns and getting lost in the 8-acre corn maze. Don’t forget to snap some pics by the pumpkin house, and if you’re feeling energetic, stay for the family-friendly and spooky BOOriffic Nights.
Dewberry Farm is one of the most popular fall attractions, so anticipate crowds and plan accordingly. And be sure to take advantage of the advanced purchase discount, which saves you $19 a ticket.
Froberg’s Farm Corn Maze and Fall Festival
Location: 3601 W. Hwy. 6, Alvin
Dates: Sep. 18-Nov. 8
Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. – check the website for special activity times
Cost: $15 per person
Froberg’s Farm’s newly designed corn maze is sure to challenge you, so you may opt to take it easy and wander the flower garden, where you can pick blooms to your heart’s content.
You’ll find many photo opportunities here, so charge up your phone and get in line for the jumping pillow, megaslide, and sandpit. And whatever you do, don’t miss digging for treasure under the water chute of a mining sluice.
But there’s more. Ever heard of an emoji cannon? Well, there’s a first time for everything, and Froberg’s Farm is pleased to be the first to introduce you to shooting tennis balls at emoji targets at this fun fall festival.
Then practice your aim with Friendly Fire, a Nerf ball form of dodgeball; take the little ones on the bee coaster; or climb aboard the unique bee barrel tractor ride (we’ll let you be surprised by this one).
Fall festivals abound in Houston and the surrounding area, so you’ll have no problem finding the perfect pumpkin patch, the most family-friendly fall festival, and enough autumn activities to keep you busy from September through November.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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