Fall is in full swing in Salem, Oregon, and the city and surrounding areas are bustling with seasonal delights. Whether you’re looking to find the perfect pumpkin, navigate a twisting corn maze, spend time with cute farm animals, or simply savor the flavors of autumn, this guide to the area’s best pumpkin patches and harvest festivals has got you covered. Dive in and discover where your next autumn adventure awaits!
E.Z. Orchards
E.Z. Orchards’ HarvestFest is a hub of family-friendly fall festivities in Salem. Through October 30th, E.Z. Orchards transforms into an autumnal playground, offering scenic hayrides around the orchard, a challenging corn maze, games and activities, a petting zoo and, of course, a U-Pick pumpkin patch. On select weekends, they’ll also feature live music and horse rides! The farm’s Market store is also open for their renowned pumpkin and apple cider donuts, fresh produce, and other goods.
Fordyce Farm
Fordyce Farm‘s Fall Fest offers a plethora of fall activities for the whole family! With free admission, guests can dive into festive activities like hay fort, indoor hay maze, playground, and hayrides on the weekends. Pick out the perfect pumpkin in their pumpkin patch, or indulge in some U-Pick apples in the orchard. The weekend promises added excitement with features like the Apple Cannon and a range of food trucks, and the Haunted Corn Maze opened on October 13th. To top off the experience, Fordyce Farms offers a selection of fall decor, fresh bakery items, milkshakes, ice cream, apple cider, fresh produce, cider donuts, and a myriad of other items in their gift shop.
Bauman’s Farm and Garden
Located just outside of Gervais, Bauman’s Harvest Festival is a must-visit for those seeking an exciting autumn experience for all ages. From zooming down giant slides to navigating their intricately designed corn maze or dark hay maze, the activities seem endless. Take a scenic tour of the farm via hayride, feed the farm animals at the petting zoo, or look through the pumpkin patch for the perfect jack-o-lantern-to-be. Kids can also enjoy jumping into a giant pile of hazelnuts or taking a turn on the giant swings in the Kids Zone! Don’t forget to try their iconic apple cider and apple cider donuts before you leave. With over 25 activities, you won’t know where to start first.
Vince Woods’ Farm
Visit Vince Woods’ Farm in Salem to celebrate Woods’ 60th year of growing and selling pumpkins! Having raised pumpkins, gourds, and ornamental corn for fall decorating since 1963, this local U-Pick farm offers an unadulterated pumpkin patch experience. They also sell cornstalk bunches for $4, straw bales for $5, and wheat bunches for $4, and admission to their annual corn maze is $1.
Please note that they only take cash or local check and have an ATM on-site.
French Prairie Gardens
French Prairie Gardens in St. Paul, Oregon welcomes families to their vibrant fall festival, which runs through October 29th. Explore a sprawling 12-acre pumpkin patch with 20 different pumpkin varieties, 6-acre corn maze (with hidden games inside), a 175-foot Double Super Mega Ride and Slide, and more! While each of these main attractions holds its own charm, the talk of the town is undoubtedly their Pigtucky Derby Pig Races. With so much to offer, French Prairie Gardens promises a fall day filled with fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
These local farms and harvest festivals are not just destinationsโthey are experiences that perfectly capture the essence of fall. Whether you’re a Salem local or a visitor, make sure to carve out some time this season to make cherished autumn memories with your friends and family!
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