Pumpkin Picking North of Boston

Fall in New England is the perfect time to visit a local farm and pick out the perfect pumpkin for your jack-o-lantern. Many of the farms have a variety of festivities during the pre-Halloween season. Some offer live music, corn mazes, hay rides, all kinds of contests, petting zoos and much more. Many of the farms even offer school tours and outings.

Most have stores featuring hot cider donuts, homemade pies and other pastries filled with fresh picked fruit. Don't forget to sample the cider, hot or cold it's delicious.

1. Ciderhill Farm in Amesbury, MA is one of our favorites places to visit in the Fall. We really enjoy picking out our pumpkins , eating hot cider donuts and going for a hay ride. They also have a hay maze, chickens and goats to feed, and tire swings.
While we're there we usually buy our corn stalks and bales of hay for decorating. Then visit the barn for some fresh baked goods and pick up some meat and veggies for supper.

This is the second year of the Cider Mask 5k Orchard Run. You can sign up to run a path throughout the farm. Then rest up and enjoy some music and refreshments. It's a good time.

2. Russel Orchards in Ipswich, MA is another local favorite. The pumpkins are great and so are the hay rides and cider pressing. Russel Orchards is unique in that they have their own on site winery. It features fruit wines and hard ciders made from their own fresh grown fruits.

Their bakery is filled with fresh made pies , scones, and fruit filled delights. The smell is heavenly.They do accommodate school tours. A great way for the kids to learn and have fun at the same time.

3. Smolak Farms is located in North Andover, MA. The Autumn weekends are filled with fun-filled activities. There have hay rides, face painting, bouncy houses , a maze, music and more. They have a great variety of animals to meet and greet like: llamas, Alpacas, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens and other farm animals. Smolak Farm is the perfect place to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Bring the family and have some fun.

4. Connors Farm in Danvers, MA is just the place to celebrate the Halloween season. They offer all of the traditional farm activities such as: pumpkin picking, hayrides, pony rides, farm animals and lots more.On top of all that, they have the biggest corn maze that I've ever seen. I hear it takes up about seven acres. While you're there make sure you try some of their homemade ice cream and fresh cider donuts. We love them.

5. Applecrest Farm is in Hampton Falls , NH. We enjoy going there to listen to live music and eat roasted corn and hot cider. In addition, to picking the right pumpkin, you may want to take a hay ride , visit the petting zoo, or enter a pie eating contest. If that's not for you, then there's a scarecrow decorating contest and face painting. Or perhaps you'd just like to sit and relax. Eat some clam chowder and let the kids run around and enjoy the farm. No matter what you decide, you're sure to have a fun day at the farm.