9 Nebraska Pumpkin Patches This October

One Nebraska pumpkin patch has a 700-foot zipline and a boat ride across its own pumpkin pond. I had to read that twice.

Another farm has been in the same family since 1944. Its cafe sits inside historic buildings, and you can shop there without paying admission.

I love that fall in Nebraska comes in so many flavors. Some patches lean wild, with corn cannons and haunted nights.

Others keep it simple, with a wagon ride out to the vines and a pumpkin you picked yourself.

The nine farms on this list stretch from the Omaha edge to the Sandhills side of the state. Each one gives you a different reason to load up the car before the vines go quiet.

So which kind of pumpkin person are you: the zipline type, or the boots-in-the-field type? October only gives you a few weekends to decide.

1. Bloom Farm and Pumpkin Patch

Few pumpkin patches can say the family has owned the land since 1944. Bloom Farm can, and it shows in the old-fashioned feel of the place.

Out here near Avoca, the focus stays on the farm side of autumn. A tractor carries you out to the U-pick patch, so your arms can save their strength for the walk back.

Kids get plenty to burn energy on, starting with a 40-foot tube slide. There’s also a corn box, an obstacle course, duck races, and a family-sized tire swing.

Want something a little silly? You can dress a scarecrow, try pop-a-shot basketball, or visit horses, goats, and chickens.

Nature trails and agricultural exhibits round out the day nicely.

Hungry folks should head for the Schoolhouse Cafe, set inside historic buildings. The menu includes pulled barbecue chicken, desserts, and fresh kettle corn.

Then comes the shopping, which might be the sneakiest part. A large gift and antique shop carries heirloom pumpkins, produce, and fall decor.

Here’s a nice bonus for grandparents and decor hunters. You can visit the Pumpkin Barn, gift shop, or cafe without paying admission.

Address: 911 108th St, Avoca, Nebraska 68307

2. Poppy’s Pumpkin Patch

A boat ride across a pumpkin pond is not something you see every fall. Poppy’s Pumpkin Patch in Norfolk offers exactly that, plus a whole lot more.

The family business grows its own pumpkins and squash. You can pick one yourself, then wander off to see what else the farm has hiding.

And the list keeps going. A 700-foot zipline and a 100-foot super slide handle the thrill department nicely.

Smaller kids have their own kingdom too. There’s a spaceship play area, a dress-up house, a jail house, a tree house, pony rides, and a kiddie train.

Animal fans can check out the duck and chicken barn, the petting zoo, Zachary’s Zoo, and even a deer farm. Pig races add a dose of comedy to the afternoon.

For quieter moments, try the half-mile nature walk. A look-out tower gives you a view of the whole operation, which helps when you’ve lost track of a kid.

Mazes come in several styles here, including corn, hay bale, and timber wood versions. When you need a snack break, the on-site cafe has treats waiting.

Address: 55275 837th Rd, Norfolk, Nebraska 68701

3. Harvest Moon Farm

Twenty years in, Harvest Moon decided to build itself a tiny Old West town. The facade is called Deadwood, and you can spot it from the weekend train ride.

That’s a pretty good clue about the personality of this Oakland farm. It likes big ideas and plenty of motion.

Start with the 3-acre corn maze, then head for the extra-large corn pit. Jumping pillows, ziplines, rail rollers, and pedal go-karts fill out the action.

Grown-ups aren’t stuck on the sidelines either. Adult monster trikes and ghost creek trikes let you join in rather than hold the coats.

There’s also a Sports Barn, barn slides, carnival strikers, and a tractor trails playground. A new mega-slide runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The petting zoo includes a llama, which tends to steal the show. The Mini Grain Train makes a fun ride for little ones, too.

When the sun drops, you can reserve a fire pit for a four-hour stretch, with wood included. Snacks come from food vendors and the Rusty Bucket treat stop.

The pumpkin patch itself waits once the kids finally run out of steam.

Address: 1098 County Rd N, Oakland, Nebraska 68045

4. Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch

With 138 acres to cover, you’ll want comfortable shoes at Skinny Bones. The Blair farm packs more than 35 attractions across that land.

The headliner is a 10-acre corn maze. That’s big enough to make you question your sense of direction more than once.

Fridays turn the maze into Flashlight Night, so bring your own beam and a brave attitude. Saturday nights get spookier, with scarers lurking among the stalks during Haunted Night.

Daylight hours stay friendlier. Kids can ride the Daisy Train, splash around in the corn pool, and bounce on the jumping pillows.

Pedal karts and fun slides keep the energy high. Pumpkin shooters let you launch a gourd with gusto, which sounds like a fine way to spend a Saturday.

Newer additions include pig racers and a pizza patch. Emmy’s Food Barn handles meals and offers gluten-free and dairy-free choices.

Caramel apples and turkey legs are part of the snack lineup here too. Fire pits can be reserved for an extra cost, which makes a nice wrap-up after the maze.

Plan your arrival around the longer weekend evenings if night fun is the goal.

Address: 3935 Nebraska Highway 133, Blair, Nebraska 68008

5. Helgoths Pumpkin Patch

Central Nebraska knows how to keep a pumpkin patch honest. Helgoths, near the small town of St. Libory, sticks with the classic recipe.

You hop on a wagon and ride out to the real field. Then you pick your own pumpkin right where it grew.

That old-school approach is the whole appeal. It feels a lot like the patches many grown-ups remember from their own childhood falls.

Still, the farm doesn’t skip the fun extras. Ziplines give kids a reason to shriek with joy between pumpkin picks.

Hayrides round out the outing nicely. They’re a simple way to see the fields without carrying anything heavy yet.

Families coming from Grand Island have an easy drive up to St. Libory. It’s the kind of afternoon trip that fits between lunch and supper.

Because the patch is a working field, dress for it. Sturdy shoes make the hunt for the right pumpkin a lot more pleasant.

If your crew likes spotting the lumpiest or tallest pumpkin, this is the place for a friendly contest. The best part is that the winner gets to ride home with it.

Address: 121 Eagle Rd, St. Libory, Nebraska 68872

6. Martin’s Hillside Orchard

Apples, flowers, and pumpkins all on one farm? Martin’s Hillside Orchard in Ceresco gives you a three-for-one fall haul.

The family-owned farm opens each fall for U-pick fun. You can fill a bag with apples, gather flowers, and then choose your pumpkin.

A hay rack ride carries you around the orchard. Along the way, you’ll hear about the different kinds of apples, the flowers, and the pumpkins.

That little lesson adds something extra to the trip. Your kids might come home able to name an apple variety or two.

Speaking of kids, they get their own playground of farm fun. There’s a corn box, a kid-sized corn maze, and a tire mountain to climb.

The smaller maze is a smart touch for younger explorers. Nobody gets lost for too long, and parents can relax a bit.

One fair warning about the apple picking here. It’s easy to get carried away, and you may end up with more apples than your fridge can hold.

Tours are available too, which makes this a solid pick for school or group outings. Ceresco sits a short drive north of Lincoln.

Address: 2024 Ashland Rd, Ceresco, Nebraska 68017

7. Pearson’s Pumpkin Place

Golden pumpkins are hiding somewhere on this farm, and finding one earns you a free slushie. That’s the kind of treasure hunt kids take very seriously.

Pearson’s Pumpkin Place near Eagle spreads across more than 150 acres. All that room keeps the place from feeling packed.

You cut your own pumpkin right off the vine here. When you’re done, a tractor picks your family up and hauls you to checkout.

The activity list leans wonderfully farmy. Think hay fort with a long slide, sand mountain, hamster wheels, a tire playground, and a hay run.

Kids can also climb on a fire truck or tackle an obstacle course with a ninja wall. Older thrill seekers can try the paintball range and the target launching site.

Weekends bring a stocked fishing pond with bass, bluegill, and catfish. Magic shows also pop up on Saturdays and Sundays.

Rockin’ Ruby’s serves fall snacks, meals, and hot drinks, and the kettle corn has fans. Fire pits are ready for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs.

One handy tip: search the farm’s name instead of the address. The entrance sits on County Road C.

Address: 1357 N 6th Rd, Eagle, Nebraska 68347

8. Pumpkin Hollow

Some families grow up and still drive home every fall just to visit the same patch. Pumpkin Hollow near Nickerson has earned that kind of loyalty.

The appeal is wonderfully simple. You head out into the patch and pick your pumpkin straight from the vines.

No giant rides or flashy extras are needed here. The pumpkins are the main event, and the hunt is the fun.

So dress like you mean business. Boots, long pants, and gloves make tangling with prickly vines a lot more comfortable.

Gloves matter more than you’d think. Pumpkin stems and vines can be scratchy, especially when you’re reaching for that perfect one in the middle of a row.

The hours work nicely for busy households too. Weekday afternoons give you a chance to swing by after school or work.

Weekends open up earlier, which suits a slower morning trip. Nickerson sits just north of Fremont, so the drive stays short for plenty of eastern Nebraska families.

If your fall tradition needs a home base, this patch is worth a look. It might become the place your own kids ask about years from now.

Address: 2289 County Rd N Blvd, Nickerson, Nebraska 68044

9. Homestead Pumpkin Patch

Corn cannons are a thing out in North Platte, and yes, they’re as fun as they sound. Homestead Pumpkin Patch keeps the western side of the state well covered.

Families out west don’t always get many patch choices nearby. That makes this farm a welcome stop for a weekend outing.

A huge corn maze leads the lineup. Hay rides, slides, and swings help fill the rest of the afternoon.

When it’s time to pick, you’ll find a wide variety of pumpkins out in the field. Shapes, sizes, and colors give everyone something to argue about.

Fire pits add a nice touch as the evening cools down. Bundling up around one feels like the perfect end to a Plains fall day.

Here’s a helpful detail for budget planners. Admission covers the activities, but you can also come just for pumpkins or certain things separately.

That flexibility is handy for quick trips. Grab a pumpkin on a Friday, then return Saturday for the maze if the kids beg.

The patch runs on weekends, so plan around Friday through Sunday. Interstate 80 travelers might find it an easy fall detour, too.

Address: 6459 S Homestead Rd, North Platte, Nebraska 69101