Pumpkin Patch Roundup

TheRealPSL is back on Instagram which can only mean one thing: it’s fall, y’all! Pumpkin spice cheerios, falling leaves, Kerry Washington’s new OPI color palette, cool breezes blowing through the air — okay — it may still be 90F degrees, but that doesn’t stop this autumn-lover from celebrating the coming of fall! Yes, I am the woman buying pumpkin-pecan-waffle-scented candles from Bath and Body Works before the end of July. It is I who stocks up on Halloween crafts and paper plates for Thanksgiving before August is half over.

I am a creature of autumn, and proud!

Pumpkin Pro Tip: Rumor has it, Starbucks is sending random invites to try the Pumpkin Spice Latte to people on their e-mail list. Check that spam folder!

Pumpkin love is a pure love and it is meant to be shared, so here is a list of my top three favorite Pumpkin Patches in and around the Chattanooga area. Dates, times, and pricing are current to the date of this post; you may want to check the individual websites when planning your trip in case of any changes.

Pumpkin Pro Tip: take the Pumpkin Patch challenge and visit every location on this list!

1. Old McDonald’s Farm

WHEN: September 10th-October 30th

Saturdays 10am-7pm and Sundays 12pm-7pm

WHERE: 16705 Coulterville Road, Sale Creek, TN 37373

PRICE: $12.50 per person, children two and under are free. Pumpkins, food, and more for purchase! Most activities are included, a few charge an additional fee.

RECOMMENDATION: Old McDonald’s Farm is the real deal. If you can only visit one pumpkin patch this season, Old McDonald’s is the one! Activities are sure to please both young and old alike (even moody teenagers!). Take a tractor ride through the farm, mine for gold, act out a day in the life of a farmer, jump in the corn bins, pet the cute animals, and if you don’t feel like getting lost in the corn maze, there is a mini hay maze for the kiddos. After those fun activities we get some grub at the Calf-A which serves up truly delicious barbecue and other fare. You have to try the hand pies! When you’re full, check out the additional activities the farm has to offer such as farmer’s golf, pumpkin slingshots, and the cow coaster. The final touch is a trip on a tractor over the train tracks and through the woods to the pumpkin patch! Pumpkins are pre-cut from the vines and vary from teeny-tiny to enormous. Wagons are provided to carry your precious pumpkins back to the car.

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2. Blowing Springs Farm

WHEN: September 30th-October 30th

Fridays-Sundays 10am-7pm

WHERE: 271 Chattanooga Valley Rd., Flinstone, GA 30725

PRICE: $10 per person, children three and under are free. Pumpkins, food, and more for purchase! Most activities cost one token, your admission includes four tokens and you can purchase more on location.

RECOMMENDATION: Blowing Springs Farm is located at the base of Lookout Mountain. It’s just minutes from downtown, making it a great choice for a dual-activity day. First stop? Face painting, so you can enjoy your new face art in all of your pictures. After that you can visit the critter coral, go on a hayride, and play in the corn crib. When I first visited Blowing Springs a few years ago, there weren’t many options for young children, but this season they will debut a new playground just for the five and under crowd. Also new are pedal carts, a cow train, and duck races. The highlight of Blowing Springs is definitely the corn maze. You won’t want to miss it!

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3. Guthrie Farms

WHEN: Opening date TBA; according to 2015 schedule it will open the last weekend in September through the end of October. Fridays and Saturdays 10am-7pm, Sundays 1pm-6pm. Shocktober Nights select Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm-11pm.

WHERE: 490 County Road 674, Riceville, TN 37370

PRICE: Ages 13+ are $10, ages 3-12 are $8, free under three. Food, pumpkins, and more for purchase! Shocktober Nights admission is $16.50 which includes paintball guns and paintballs.

RECOMMENDATION: Guthrie Farms is located about an hour north of downtown Chattanooga, past Cleveland. Go in mid-to-late October to make the most of your drive by taking in the beautiful fall foliage. In addition to the maze, hayride, and petting zoo, you will find an obstacle course, tractor dig, and tricycles for children and adults alike. For teens and adults Guthrie Farms has a “spooktacular” offering on select nights in October: Shocktober Nights includes redneck zombie paintball and a haunted trail. I am too much of a wimp to attend anything with haunted in the title, as it is sure to scare your pants off!

Pumpkin Pro Tip: if you take my pumpkin patch challenge and visit all three of these beautiful farms, save Old McDonald’s Farm for last. It simply takes the cake…I mean, pie!

I hope you will enjoy these pumpkin patches as much as I have. Whichever one you choose, you are sure to make some “fallmazing” memories! What is your favorite pumpkin patch in the Chattanooga area?