Pro Tips – Know Before You Go:
Bring bug spray. Especially in wet weather, the bugs can be quite pesky. In warm weather be warned that bees abound.
Skip the stroller. Bumpy, muddy fields are no place for a stroller. Opt for the wagon (available at select locations or bring your own) or use a baby-carrier when possible.
Carry a backpack. With apples to pick, pumpkins to carry, and little ones in your arms having a free hand is key for a successful trip. Toss all necessities into a backpack instead of your usual diaper bag.
Bring an extra bag. Packing a large reusable bag with sturdy handles is also a great idea. You can use it to haul apples and pumpkins that you picked, to stash the muddy shoes when you load up the car, or to hide the donuts you secretly bought at the market!
Pumpkin Patch/Apple Orchard/Fall Festival Combo Locations Near Indianapolis
Tuttle Orchard (East)
indianapolisorchard.com
Open from September 24th – October 31st, Tuttles 8-acres pumpkin patch is a great destination for choosing your family’s fall porch decor. Pull a wagon and choose the best pumpkin for your little pumpkin. Toddlers will enjoy sliding their pumpkin through holes in the pumpkin sizing board. Pumpkins are priced by diameter. Tuttle also has a u-pick apple orchard, so you can do a combo apple/pumpkin fall fun day! Free activities include a few farm animals to see as well has a bee hive. Hayrides, a corn maze, and Tractor Town Adventure Farm are available for a fee. Open Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, closed Sunday.
Stuckey Farm (North)
Stuckeyfarm.com
Another pumpkin/apple combo site is Stuckey Farm. Open Mon-Thurs from 9am-6pm, Fri-Sat 9am-8pm, and Sun 1pm-5pm. Take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkin, and grab a bag for u-pick apples. Parents and children alike will enjoy watching the apple cider making process, and young tractor lovers will especially enjoy the small forklifts that dump loads of apples onto the conveyer belt. $10 gets you admission to the fall festival (Sat and Sun from Sept. 17th-October 23rd, Under 2 are free) and includes free parking, wagon rides, a corn maze, and Adventure Acres (perfect for older siblings with a giant tube slide and pedal cars) where the always popular barrel train can be found. Pig Races and an Apple Cannon set Stuckey Farm apart, and don’t miss the apple slushie!
Pumpkin Patches
Watermans (Near East/Greenwood)
Watermansfamilyfarm.com
With two locations (Greenwood and East Raymond St. Indy) Waterman’s is an unlikely standout in the Pumpkin Patch department. Exotic animals, bounce houses, a corn maze, a straw mountain, a spinning pumpkin ride, and live music on the weekends make Waterman’s the perfect location for a full day of fun for baby, siblings, grandparents, and anyone who wants to come along for the pumpkin patch photo ops. The not-to-be-missed attraction here, though isn’t the llamas or even the combine slide, but the GIANT pumpkin-chomping dinosaur. He is huge, and noisy, and my kids can’t get enough! Prices start at $5 for kids 3-12 and $7 for adults. They also offer family packages. Check their calendar for special days and discounts. 9am-7pm Mon.-Sat., 9am-6pm Sunday (Raymond St.) 10am-7pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-7pm Sunday (Greenwood).
Kelsay Farms (North)
Kelsayfarms.com
Kelsay Farms offers some fall festival activities that can’t be found at other pumpkin patches. Little ones will love digging, pouring, and running their fingers through millions of kernels in the giant Corn Crib play area. There is a Milking Parlor where you can watch cows being milked (depending on milking schedule) and an area to get up close and personal with the claves. Tractor lovers will also appreciate the chance to see the modern farm equipment that Kelsay uses. Friday 6-10pm, Saturday 12-10pm, Sunday 12-6pm with extended fall break hours the weeks of Oct. 10 & 17 weekdays from noon-6pm. Admission for ages 2 and up is $8 and includes all activities on the farm. Snacks and pumpkins are available for an additional cost.
Piney Acres (North East)
Pineyacresfarm.com
A straw maze, a corn maze, mining for gems, hayrides, and of course the pumpkin patch. Piney Acres in Fortville has hours worth of fun. A Haunted Loft, Haunted Corn Maze, and Haunted Hayride are also housed at Piney Acres (www.indyhauntedloft.com). They have expanded their Kids’ Zone to include a rock wall, 4 tier sandbox, pedal carts, and more. Prices are based on activity and they even offer season passes for families who want to visit more than once. Sunday-Thursday noon-6pm, Friday noon-10pm, Saturday 10am-10pm. Haunted attractions open Friday and Saturday evenings.
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