Best Pumpkin Picking In Kent 2024
Visiting pumpkin patches in Kent is a beloved Autumn tradition, especially for Halloween displays. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin to carve, or just want to enjoy the season’s fun events over the October half-term, Kent’s pumpkin patches are the perfect destination. Plus we’ve rounded up pumpkin carving events, arts and crafts, pumpkin parades and spooktacular squashy fun!
TOP TIPS
See also plus top tips on how to select the best one, and carving-creating help and events – so pick up a pumpkin near you in the Garden of England.
Happy Picking!
KENT EVENTS
Looking for more things to do in Kent for Halloween and the October half-term? Check out our other blog posts for great ideas! If you’re searching for activities and events during the school holidays, don’t miss our October Half Term Events In Kent 2024 roundup. For Halloween fun, explore our Halloween Events In Kent 2024 guide – there’s so much going on we’ve broken it down into four regions. Kent is packed with spooky happenings like children’s discos, and creepy crafts, and we’ve even rounded up frightful fun for adults. Plus, featuring spooky trails, ghostly treasure hunts, and beastly surprises and plenty of ghoulish excitement for all ages, see our Halloween Events In Kent 2024 – Trails guide.
Bonfire Fun
Our Bonfire & Fireworks Night In Kent guide is your go-to resource for Bonfire Night and Fireworks events in the county. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Don’t Miss
In addition to our Best Pumpkin Picking In Kent 2024, check out our What’s On section, and either filter by date or by category for lots more brilliant events and activities for all ages in Kent. Or check out our Things To Do category and explore the wonderful Garden of England.
See Kent, Know Kent
Updated 25th October 2024
BEST PUMPKIN PICKING IN KENT 2024
SITTINGBOURNE PUMPKIN PATCH
Meet the quirky scarecrow characters which reside on the farm for great photo ops and Halloween family Pumpkin Patch in Sittingbourne. Erriot Wood Pumpkin Patch in Sittingbourne. Time: 12th, 13th, 19th,20th, 26th to 31st October 2024
Bookable slots: 10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm – 2 hour sessions. Price and more details – Read More
PYO PUMPKINS IN ROMNEY MARSH
Pick your own pumpkins at Pumpkin Fun at Marsh Maze & Fun Yard in Romney Marsh and enjoy the usual funyard activities, excluding the water fight arena. Choose from thousands of pumpkins as you walk through the pumpkin patch. Time: 12th to 31st October 2024, 10am-4pm. Price: Entry £1, £1
Pumpkins: price depending on size. Read More
KENT MOON TRIO
At Pumpkin Moon in Maidstone, Rainham, and Faversham have a variety of pumpkins, squash and gourd, plus a mini maze with fancy dress encouraged. Price: £3.25, Child – Under 2 years: Free, Carer: Free, Pumpkins: £1 to £20. Must pre-book. Time: Maidstone: and Faversham from the 19th to 31st October 2024, and Rainham on the 19th, 20th, 23rd 26th and 27th October 2024. Sessions from 10am to 3.30pm. Closes at 5pm.
TONBRIDGE PUMPKIN PATCH
A great variety of pumpkins and squashes is available at this pumpkin patch event at the Spadework charity PYO pumpkin events. On selected dates, you can also PYO pumpkins by torchlight. Price: Free entry for PYO Pumpkins, prices of pumpkins vary. PYO Pumpkins by Torchlight, Adult: £4, Child: £3.50, Child – under 2 years: Free. Time: PYO Pumpkins from the 7th to the 31st of October, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10 am to 4pm. PYO Pumpkins by Torchlight on 25th, 26th, 28th and 29th October 2024, 6pm to 10pm. Read More
TUNBRIDGE WELLS PUMPKINS
Festival of Pumpkins
At the Pumpkin Festival at Lower Ladysden Farm in Cranbrook, Tunbridge Wells you can pick your own at this family-run farm. You can enjoy the atmospheric lights around the field and take in the spooky atmosphere of using only torch light at their Pumpkin Nights. There are loads of varieties of pumpkins, squashes and gourds in all different shapes, sizes and colours. Price: Pick Your Own: Entry: £3 Under 3 years: Free, Pumpkins: From 50 pence. Pumpkin Night: £5. Time: Time: October Weekends and half term, bookable session 9am to 4pm. Pumpkin Nights: 18th and 19th October October, 6pm-9pm. Read More
Pumpkin Fun
At the Four Winds Farm, you can find a wide variety of colours and types of pumpkins. At the farm in Tunbridge Wells, you will find plenty of fun for the whole family – there’s also a scarecrow hunt and face painting. Pumpkin Picking: Price: £2 per vehicle
Booking fees apply. Pumpkins: From £2.50-£15. Must pre-book. Time: 19th, 20th, and 26th to 31st October 2024 – one-hour sessions on the hour: 10am-3pm. Read More
PUMPKIN PATCH ON ISLE OF SHEPPEY
At the Isle of Sheppey Pumpkin Patch, there will be pumpkins, rides including a teacup ride, bungee trampolines, street food, and face painting with free parking at the Ashcroft Coast Holiday Park. Price: Free entry, activities incur fees. Time: 19th to 27th October 2024 – Weekdays, 10am to 5pm and Weekend, 10.30am to 5pm. Read More
PUMPKIN PATCH IN DARTFORD
At Stanhill Farm they offer a wide range and various sizes of pumpkins to choose from, with lots of photo opportunities amidst this sea of autumnal, orange colours. Perfect for those social media shots. Price: Car: £5, On foot – up to seven people: £5. 1 Wheelbarrow full: £37, Pumpkins: Mini to large: From £1 to £5.75, giant pumpkin: Individually priced. Must pre-book. Time: 12th , 13th, 16th to 29th October 2024: Monday to Saturday: 9:30am-3.30pm, Sunday: 9.30am-2.30pm. Read More
FAVERSHAM PUMPKINS
In Faversham, at Saffery Farm this October half term has plenty of pumpkins, and it is where Farmer Fridd has been growing pumpkins for over 35 years. Price: Car: £4, Pumpkins: From £1. Time: 19th to 27th October 2024: 10am to 4pm. Read More
MAIDSTONE PYO PUMPKIN
Throughout the month you can head to Maidstone to Milebush Farm for PYO fun with a variety of sizes.Farm animals to see on site too! Price: Free entry, Pumpkin: Varies. Time: October 2024: 10am to 4pm. Read More
ROCHESTER PYO PUMPKINS
In Rochester, you must book for PYO Pumpkins at Beluncle Farm, Time: 12th, 13th, 19th to 22nd, and 24th to 28th October 2024
10am to 3.30pm. Price: £9.50 to £12.50. Read More
CANTERBURY PUMPKIN PYO
This Autumn and October half-term head to the PYO Pumpkins Canterbury event at Hoath Fruit Farm. Time: 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, and 24th to 31st October 2024, 10am to 4pm. Price: Pumpkins from £1. Read More
BIRCHINGTON BEWITCHED PATCH
If you dare head down to the Spooky Woods and the Bewitched Pumpkin Picking Patch and The Slime Blaster Express at Quex Adventure Farm Park with The Trick or Treat Trail! A ticket includes a whole lot of spooktacular fun with the trail, a Halloween treat, a pumpkin for each child, a ride on the Slime Blaster Express as well as all Quex Adventure Farm Park Facilities (weather dependent). Time: 19th, 20th and 26th to 30th October 2024, 10am to 7.30pm and 31st October 2024, 10am to 8pm. Price: Flexi/Saver* – Adult: £8.50/£6.50, Child: £21.95/£19.95, Carer: £5.90/£5.90. Read More
CARVING CAPERS
October Half-term and Halloween events include the Pumpkin Festival at Riverhill Himalayan Gardens in Sevenoaks in Kent. The gardens are extending their season this year, so win sweet treats on their Pumpkin Hunt, enjoy carving activities (you can take your pumpkin or buy one there), and even a spot Yeti! Time: 12th October to 3rd November 2024. Price: Free with admission, for
admission prices – Read More
There’s pumpkin carving at Reuthe’s Lost Gardens of Sevenoaks where little ones can enjoy the Halloween vibes and carve a pumpkin on site. Price: 1 x Pumpkin: £6, booking fees apply. Time: 21st to 25th and 27th to to 30th October 2024
10am to 3pm. For prices – Read More
Enjoy pumpkin carving, spooky garden tours, and lots more family capers at Halloween Magic at Lullingstone Castle in Sevenoaks. Time: 27th of October 2024, 11am-6pm. Read More
TONBRIDGE PARADE
Little ones have made their way through the twists and turns of the parade, they encounter six friendly Halloween doors at the Pumpkin Patch Parade at Tonbridge Old Fire Station. What happens when they ring the doorbell? Is anyone home at this trick-or-treating event? Just pick up one of the activity sheets and have fun. Time: 24th October to 2nd November 2024, 9am to 4pm. Price: FREE. Read More
MAIDSTONE SPOOKTACULAR
Enjoy a week of spooky activities with pumpkin carving, a creepy corner, farm rides, and spooky pot painting, at the annual Halloween Spooktacular at Kent Life Heritage Farm Park in Maidstone. Plus trick or treating, live theatre shows and lots more. Time: 25th October to 1st November 2024, 10am to 5pm. Read More
FAVERSHAM FUN
Spine-tingling sessions of creepy pumpkin carving, fiendish face painting, kooky crafts, and more spooky fun. Take your little ghouls and goblins for a hauntingly good time to Halloween Spooktacular at The Alex in Faverhsam. Age Guidance: 5 years +.Time: 28th October 2024, three 1 hour and 30-minute sessions at 10am, 12Noon and 2pm. Read More
At the drop-in Pumpkin Workshop at Macknade Faversham. All materials supplied to help little ones create their spookiest decorations this October half-term. Time: 29th October 2024, 11am to 130pm. For prices and more details Read More
PUMPKIN TIPS
Lasting Power: According to Pumpkin Moon, you can store pumpkin and squash for months before eating them if they are dry, cool, frost-free and undamaged.
ANIMAL CARE
Research shows that around 8 million pumpkins could be part of this year’s Halloween fun. Forestry England is asking people to ignore online tips and tricks telling people to toss their pumpkins in the woods for wildlife. According to a spokesperson, social media posts encourage people to leave pumpkins in the woods for wildlife to eat. However, pumpkins are not natural to the woodland and while some wildlife may enjoy a tasty snack it can make others, such as hedgehogs, very poor. Feeding pumpkins, or any other food in the forest, to birds, foxes, badgers, deer, and boar can make them unwell and can spread disease. Be careful with animals and pumpkins, leaving them out in gardens too can be harmful. Check out the Forestry England tips on what to do with your pumpkins post-Halloween including face masks, and bird feeders!
PUMPKIN CHOICE
Weight Matters: Heavier pumpkins are best for carving
Fresh Is Best: A fresh pumpkin should be solid to the touch. Avoid ones that have soft spots or sunken areas, as decay has already set in
Go For Green: Go for a green stem – this indicates the freshness of the fruit – look for a firm, dark green stem, and avoid those that look brownish, mushy, or dried out
Looks Count: There are a variety of shapes, sizes and types – think about the effect you want for your display there are ones with deep ribs, bumpy skin, and all sorts of colours. Unusual appearances can make perfect pumpkins for your Halloween-themed display if that is what you are going for. Remember to check with the pumpkin patch regarding cooking and which variety is best if you don’t want to waste what you scoop out while carving
Tap It: The best pumpkins to pick have a deep, hollow sound when you tap them
Keep It Cool: To get the best from your pumpkin, store it somewhere cool. As soon as the pumpkin is carved and hollowed out it will only last for a few days, after this time, it will start to wilt and smell rotten. The more air circulating your pumpkin the better, and try and hold out carving it as close to Halloween as possible to ensure your pumpkin still looks and smells good for the spooky season. Once carved, take it indoors or put it undercover, and rub petroleum jelly on the cut edges to last a bit longer before you start to creatively carve
Food For Thought
Don’t waste what you scoop out – there are plenty of great recipes for you to use all the parts including the seeds.
See Kent, Know Kent
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