The air is crisp and the leaves are even crisper. This means it’s just about time to throw on a flannel and get into to the exciting (and tasty) experience that is pumpkin carving and pumpkin pie. The following are the nearest to campus, as well as some of my favorite, pumpkin patches to visit.
Lindners Farm Pumpkin Patch in New Berlin has a wide variety of pumpkins, gourds and a corn maze that’s fun for everyone. You can enjoy yourself on the giant slide, an olde tyme playground and pumpkin bowling. They also have a petting zoo with a large assortment of fuzzy critters plus mini-pigs. Mini-pigs, guys! Need I say more? You can find out more things to do as well as hours and location on www.lindnerspumpkinfarm.com.
Basse’s Taste of Country Farm Market in Colgate welcomes everyone to get tickets for Pumpkin Fest. Basse’s Pumpkin Fest includes and 40ft pumpkin wagon rides, corn mazes, giant slides and tube slide, peddle carts, bunnyville and more. Admission also includes a hay wagon ride to the pumpkin patch where you can pick your own free pumpkin. Prices are $12 on weekends and $9 on weekdays. For more information on special events, prices, and directions, visit www.bassesfarms.com.
Basse’s also runs Basse Country Delight Farm Market in Muskego where their apple orchard is in full harvest with many varieties for eating and baking. Here you can hop on a hayride and pick your own pumpkin, go through the corn maze, and indulge in caramel apple, sweet corn, popcorn, homemade apple cider apples, fall crafts and decorations. They also encourage you to feed the goats and chickens. For more information on hours and location visit www.bassecountrydelight.com.
Swan’s Pumpkin Farm in Racine County is celebrating their 38th season with an entire yard that holds thousands of pumpkins. They have scary stuff like Wanda’s Spook House and the Witch Hollow Maze and not so spooky stuff like the petting zoo, corn city, tractor-drawn hayrides, and Swan’s Corn City Puppet Theater. They also have live music on the weekends. For more information on location and hours visit www.thepumpkinfarm.com
Jim’s Pumpkin Farm in Germantown provides a 4 ½ acre corn maze, corny lane, stuff-your-own scarecrow, face painting, pedal tractors, a straw jumping area and plenty of pre-picked pumpkins and gourds. It’s absolutely gorgeous and a perfect, cheap date idea considering it’s on Lovers Lane. It is described as Germantown’s best kept secret. For more information on prices, hours, and directions, visit www.jimspumpkinfarm.com.
Halloween is right around the corner, but it’s not too late to head on over! Buy a pumpkin and carve it, paint it, bake a pie, bake the seeds, through it outside and feed the deer with it, wear it on your head as an office prank, or scoop out the gut and put your cat in it for a fun Halloween photoshoot. Whatever you do, have fun with it and embrace autumn before it snows!