Places In Minnesota To See Stunning Pumpkin And Cornstalk Displays
Fall in Minnesota transforms ordinary farms and gardens into magical wonderlands of orange, gold, and amber.
Pumpkin and cornstalk displays pop up across the state, showcasing the creativity and agricultural pride of Minnesotans.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect family photo backdrop or simply want to immerse yourself in autumn’s beauty, these spectacular seasonal displays offer something for everyone.
1. Sever’s Fall Festival in Shakopee
Families flock to this iconic festival where towering cornstalk mazes meet artfully arranged pumpkin displays. The centerpiece is their famous corn pit where kids can literally swim in kernels while parents admire the intricate cornstalk archways decorated with heirloom pumpkins.
What makes Sever’s special is their annual themed pumpkin sculpture garden. Each year brings a new surprise from dinosaurs to storybook characters, all crafted from hundreds of pumpkins. Their master carvers demonstrate their skills every weekend.
Don’t miss their twilight hours when thousands of tiny lights illuminate the pumpkin paths, creating a magical atmosphere that captures the essence of Minnesota autumn.
2. Emma Krumbee’s Orchard and Farm in Belle Plaine
Hidden among apple orchards lies one of Minnesota’s most charming pumpkin displays. Emma Krumbee’s transforms their farm each autumn with scarecrows wearing vintage clothing standing guard over pyramids of orange, white, and green pumpkins.
The cornstalk village deserves special mention – miniature buildings with cornstalk walls and pumpkin residents create a whimsical community that delights visitors of all ages. I always spend extra time photographing these creative vignettes.
Their famous pumpkin barn showcases dozens of heritage varieties arranged by color and size. You’ll discover warty gourds, tiny decorative pumpkins, and massive 100-pound giants all displayed with educational signs about each variety’s history.
3. Barten Pumpkins in New Prague
When you’re looking for authentic farm charm without commercial frills, Barten Pumpkins delivers with its stunning hillside display. The family arranges thousands of pumpkins across their sloping field, creating a cascading orange river visible from miles away.
Rustic wooden wagons overflow with uniquely shaped gourds while cornstalk tepees dot the landscape. My favorite spot is their sunflower-pumpkin garden where giant sunflower heads nod alongside perfectly round orange pumpkins.
This working farm lets you witness real harvest activities while enjoying their artistic displays. Friendly farmers often share stories about growing techniques and family traditions that have shaped their distinctive approach to fall decorating.
4. Pine Tree Apple Orchard in White Bear Lake
If you’ve never seen pumpkins floating on water, Pine Tree Apple Orchard will surprise you with their pond display. Dozens of carved, illuminated pumpkins appear to dance on the water’s surface each evening, reflecting their golden glow.
The orchard’s entrance features a 20-foot cornstalk castle with pumpkin turrets that changes slightly each year. Children love running through the cornstalk maze while parents appreciate the artistic details in each carefully crafted display.
Their barn houses an impressive collection of Minnesota-grown prize pumpkins, including past state fair winners. The bakery offers pumpkin treats made from their own harvest the perfect complement to your visual feast as you explore this magical autumn wonderland.
5. Waldoch Farm Garden Center in Lino Lakes
Artistic expression meets agricultural tradition at Waldoch Farm, where professional designers create elaborate themed displays each season. Their signature cornstalk cathedral features 15-foot arches adorned with hundreds of mini pumpkins and twinkling lights.
What sets Waldoch apart is their storybook pumpkin trail a winding path where classic tales come alive through pumpkin characters and cornstalk scenery. Last year’s Wizard of Oz theme featured a yellow brick road lined with pumpkins painted as characters.
The greenhouse transforms into a pumpkin gallery with stunning arrangements incorporating mums, ornamental kale, and unusual gourd varieties. Their master gardeners offer daily demonstrations on creating your own fall displays using techniques that work perfectly in Minnesota’s climate.
6. Afton Apple Orchard in Hastings
Nestled in the St. Croix River Valley, Afton Apple Orchard creates pumpkin displays that blend seamlessly with the natural landscape. Their signature installation features pumpkins stacked in spiral patterns across the hillside, creating a mesmerizing visual effect against the autumn foliage.
The cornstalk tunnel of lights has become an Instagram favorite a 100-foot passage where cornstalks form a complete canopy overhead, illuminated by thousands of fairy lights. I recommend visiting at dusk when the lighting is most magical.
Their artisan market showcases local crafters who create pumpkin-themed art pieces. The demonstration area teaches visitors how to preserve their own pumpkins and cornstalks for longer-lasting home displays using simple techniques passed down through generations.
7. Pinehaven Farm in Wyoming, MN
Ghost stories come alive at Pinehaven Farm through their atmospheric pumpkin and cornstalk displays. Unlike more cheerful arrangements, their gothic-inspired creations feature white ghost pumpkins arranged in eerie formations among twisted cornstalk structures.
The haunted pumpkin trail winds through a forest where faces carved into pumpkins seem to watch visitors from hollowed tree trunks and cornstalk hideaways. During October weekends, these displays become part of their famous haunted experiences.
Despite the spooky theme, they maintain family-friendly areas with traditional harvest displays of colorful gourds and friendly scarecrows. Their pumpkin artists demonstrate extreme carving techniques daily, showing how they transform ordinary pumpkins into extraordinary works of art that capture both beauty and mystery.
8. Lendt’s Pumpkin Patch in Wyoming, MN
History comes alive at Lendt’s, where century-old farm implements become the foundation for elaborate pumpkin and cornstalk displays. Antique tractors cradle cascades of pumpkins while historic barn doors frame cornstalk arrangements that tell the story of Minnesota farming.
Their signature display recreates the Minneapolis skyline entirely from pumpkins and cornstalks. This intricate creation uses different colored gourds to represent specific buildings, with the IDS tower standing tallest in the center.
Kids especially love the pumpkin playground where climbing structures are decorated with cornstalks and small pumpkins create safe, bouncy obstacles. The farm’s dedication to authenticity means all display elements come directly from their fields, showcasing the genuine connection between Minnesota’s land and its harvest celebrations.
9. The Peter Pumpkin Patch in Shafer
Artist-designed displays make this smaller farm stand out from larger commercial venues. Local sculptors partner with farmers to create pumpkin installations that change throughout the season as the gourds naturally age and transform.
Their living cornstalk wall stretches nearly 200 feet, with sections woven into intricate patterns resembling traditional Scandinavian designs a nod to the area’s heritage. Between these patterns, niches showcase rare pumpkin varieties arranged like museum exhibits.
My favorite feature is their pumpkin river a meandering blue tarp covered with hundreds of small blue-green pumpkins creating the illusion of flowing water. Orange pumpkins form the “banks” while cornstalk bridges cross at various points. This installation cleverly references the St. Croix River that defines this region’s geography.
10. Nelson’s Apple Farm in Webster
Storytelling through pumpkins reaches its peak at Nelson’s, where each weekend brings a new pumpkin diorama depicting famous Minnesota tales. From Paul Bunyan to local legends, these elaborate scenes use painted pumpkins as characters and cornstalks as scenery.
Their famous pumpkin tower rises over 15 feet high, with hundreds of pumpkins stacked in a perfect cone. The engineering behind this marvel involves a hidden wooden structure that allows for proper ventilation, preventing rot while maintaining the impressive visual impact.
Children delight in the interactive cornstalk maze where pumpkin characters offer clues to navigate the twisting paths. The farm’s commitment to education means each display includes information about Minnesota’s agricultural heritage, making this both a visual treat and a learning experience.
11. Thomsen’s Garden Center in Minnetonka
Urban elegance defines the displays at Thomsen’s, where landscape designers create sophisticated pumpkin and cornstalk arrangements that inspire home decorators. Their signature look features monochromatic groupings all white pumpkins with silver-painted cornstalks or all orange with copper accents.
The garden center’s greenhouse transforms into a gallery of table arrangements showing how to incorporate pumpkins and dried cornstalks into everyday decor. These miniature displays demonstrate scale and proportion techniques that visitors can recreate at home.
Weekend workshops teach creative carving methods beyond traditional jack-o’-lanterns. I learned how to create a pumpkin luminary using a drill to make patterned light displays. Their professional designers share preservation tips that help displays last through the entire fall season particularly valuable in Minnesota’s fluctuating autumn temperatures.
12. Dehn’s Pumpkins in Dayton
Agricultural education meets artistic display at Dehn’s, where the focus is on the astounding diversity of pumpkin varieties. Their signature “pumpkin wall” features over 50 different cultivars arranged by size, color, and texture, creating a living encyclopedia of gourd genetics.
The cornstalk construction zone lets children build their own structures using dried stalks and small pumpkins, fostering creativity while teaching about natural building materials. Parents appreciate the hands-on learning opportunities that connect kids to farming traditions.
What makes this place truly special is their collection of historic Minnesota pumpkin varieties, some dating back to early pioneer days. Each weekend, farmers share stories about seed saving and traditional growing methods that have preserved these unique heirlooms. Their displays highlight how these varieties adapted to Minnesota’s challenging climate.
13. Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm in Waverly
Culinary inspiration drives the displays at Untiedt’s, where pumpkins and cornstalks are arranged according to their cooking potential. Their famous “pumpkin taste test” station features different varieties sliced and labeled, helping visitors select perfect pumpkins for pies, soups, or roasting.
The cornstalk kitchen showcases traditional corn varieties used in Minnesota cooking, from grinding corn to popping. Demonstrations throughout the day show how to process these plants for maximum flavor and nutrition knowledge that was once common in every household.
My favorite area is the international pumpkin garden where varieties from around the world grow alongside information about their cultural significance. The Japanese Kabocha and French Cinderella pumpkins are particularly beautiful in their distinctive displays that incorporate traditional growing methods from their countries of origin.
