Fall has officially arrived, Birmingham, and we are so ready to take advantage of all the festive excitement coming our way! We’ve compiled a list of all of the best local pumpkin patches, fall festivals and family-friendly events, in case you’re looking for an extra dose of autumnal fun. Bookmark this article and come back throughout the month whenever you need a weekend activity. Happy October!
PUMPKIN PATCHES
Old Baker Farm is the perfect destination for this season’s family-friendly fun! Image: Old Baker Farm
The Great Pumpkin Patch
288 County Hwy 45, Hayden, AL, 35079 • (205) 616-6431
Hours: September 28 through November 3; Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission prices vary based on activities. You can check out more information here.
The Great Pumpkin Patch is probably the most popular pumpkin patch destination for Birminghamians. Come out this season for hayrides, pumpkins, pony rides, train rides and a petting zoo. Guests can enjoy a covered wagon ride or, with a group of 20 or more, a night ride that includes hot dogs, chips, drinks and as many marshmallows as you can eat! Not only that, it includes a 30-minute wagon ride to the campfire. Extreme bungee jumping is also available for purchase, as is the inflatable park, which features a jumping pumpkin, giant slide and bungee run.
Old Baker Farm
184 Furrow Ln, Harpersville, AL 35078 • (205) 672-7209
Open September 28 through October 31; Weekdays, 3 p.m. to dark, Saturday 9 a.m. to dark, Sunday 1 p.m. to dark
Admission: $10 (includes pumpkin and all events except food, arts and crafts, and horseback rides)
Bring the family out to Old Baker Farm for a day of fall fun on the farm! Your family will enjoy a petting zoo and corn maze before jumping on the hayride to pick out a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch. Don’t miss their festival weekend and Cotton Pickin’ Celebration on October 26 and 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Western Cowboy Day on October 12 and 13. It’s a great opportunity for the kiddos to dress up in western attire!
Penton Farms Pumpkin Patch
3595 County Rd 59, Verbena, AL 36091 • (205) 351-1480
Open September 28 through November 2; Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $10 per person, which includes one pumpkin and all activities except corn cannon, cow train and concessions
The Penton Farms Pumpkin Patch features fabulous fall activities including wagon rides, a corn maze, an animal park, a large corn pit, a cotton picker play area, super slides, a human hamster wheel and pumpkin bowling. Grab the fam and bring them out for a full day of fun!
Griffin Farms
826 Griffin Rd, West Blocton, AL 35184 • (205) 535-0552
Open every weekend starting on October 5; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
Admission: $10 per person
Spend your Saturday or Sunday at Griffin Farms this October! Your admission ticket includes one pumpkin per person, the animal farm, bouncy houses, a corn maze, a hayride, slides, hay mountain, a small rock wall, a parent-powered zipline, a human hamster wheel and a firetruck for the kiddos to explore. Pony rides, face painting and food vendors are available for additional purchase.
4D Family Farm
7182 County Rd 703, Cullman, AL • (256) 775-2924
Open September 28 through November 2, with varying hours. Here is a link to the calendar.
Weekend admission is $14.95 per person or $12.95 per person if tickets are purchased online, plus the cost of each pumpkin. Season passes are also available for purchase.
The 4D Farm is a tad more pricey than the other pumpkin patches, but features a TON of fun activities for the whole family! Your admission ticket will get you access to a cow train, hayride, zipline, sports activities, corn bins, a play barn, live pig races and so much more. Mechanical bull rides, pony rides and gemstone mining are available for an additional cost. Also, keep on eye on their calendar to see all the special events throughout the season — including reptile and exotic animal shows.
Helena Hollow
6027 Highway 17, Helena, AL 35080 • (205) 541-8150
Open every weekend from October 5 through November 3; Saturday and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: $10, plus $2 per pumpkin
For a $10 ticket, guests will enjoy a hayride, tire mountain, rope obstacles, a 100-foot landslide, bounce houses, swings, a petting zoo, a huge corn barn and hay run, live music, wheel races, the snack shack and more at Helena Hollow. This farm is a short drive from the Birmingham metro and is sure to be fun for the whole family.
Pumpkin Patch Express at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
1919 9th St, Calera, AL 35040 • (205) 757-8383
Open every weekend in October, with train rides at 10 am., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Trains are at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission: $17 for ages 12 and up, $12 for children ages 2-11
Board the vintage trains at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum this fall, for an autumn ride through Shelby County. At the pumpkin patch, you can enjoy a hayride, corn maze, bounce house and other family-friendly activities. Upgrade your ticket to the caboose or locomotive for an unforgettable experience. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase with cash only.
RELATED: 25 Birmingham Events & Happenings: October 2019
FALL FESTIVALS
Grace House Pumpkin Festival is fun for all ages! Image: Grace House
October 12, 2019: Mt Laurel Fall Festival
5 Mt Laurel Ave, Birmingham, AL 34242 • (205) 408-8696
Hours: 10 a.m to 3 p.m.
Save the date for the 19th annual Mt Laurel Fall Festival, happening on Saturday, October 12th, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.! Celebrate the best of fall in beautiful town of Mt Laurel. The festival offers you the opportunity to shop their vibrant street fair, savor dishes from the best local food trucks and enjoy a day strolling the idyllic streets of one of Birmingham’s most beautiful neighborhoods. For more information, visit mtlaurel.com.
October 12, 2019: Oak Mountain State Park Fall Harvest Festival
200 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124 • (205) 620-2520
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $2 for ages 4-11, $5 for ages 12-61, $2 for ages 62+. Free admission for military, veterans, and children under 3.
Bring the family out to Oak Mountain State Park this October 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for their annual Harvest Festival! Attendees will enjoy live music, tons of food vendors, yard games like corn hole and giant checkers, fun family-friendly activities like mining for gems, painting pumpkins, pony rides, bounce houses and a meet and greet with Alabama Wildlife Center’s Education Ambassadors. Complimentary (unlimited) hayrides, shopping with local vendors and an early morning yoga class on the beach will complete the event. For more information, visit their facebook page.
October 19, 2019: Grace House Pumpkin Festival
Homewood Central Park • (205) 332-6700
Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Admission: $10 for ages 2-12, free for adults
Enjoy the season of pumpkins while supporting a great cause. Load up the fam and head over to Homewood Central Park for the 6th annual Grace House Pumpkin Festival. Children will receive a pumpkin and enjoy face painting, a gaming truck, bounce houses, carnival games and a pumpkin-decorating station. Be sure to take a photo of the whole family in the photo booth and grab some delicious grub at one of several local food vendors. Proceeds benefit Grace House, an organization that supports girls in Alabama foster homes. For more information, visit grace-house.org.
October 24, 2019: Hoover Hayride & Family Night
Veterans Park on Valleydale • (205) 444-7500
Hours: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission: free
Come out to Veterans Park this October 24 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a night of festive fun. Attendees will enjoy hayrides around the park, candy and giveaways, food vendors, balloon artists, face painting and tons of other family-friendly activities. For more information, visit hooveral.org.
October 26, 2019: Halloween Fairyland at Tannehill
12632 Confederate Pkwy, McCalla, AL 35111 • (205) 477-5711
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission: $5.00 for adults (12 years and older), $4.00 for seniors (ages 62 and older), $3.00 for children (ages 6-11), ages 5 and under free
Bring the kiddos out to Tannehill State Park this October 26, for the 28th Annual Halloween Fairyland. This family-friendly festival brings over 6,000 annual visitors and features fun events like trick or treat stops, face painting, balloon animals, a bungee jump and train rides for an additional charge. Make sure to snag a festival t-shirt, the festival’s annual tradition. For more information, visit tannehill.org.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN
The Neverland Carnival is always a favorite for the kids! Image: Birmingham Children’s Theatre
October 6, 2019: Neverland Carnival at the Birmingham Children’s Theatre at the BJCC
2130 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203 • (205) 458-8181
Hours: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children
Join the Birmingham Children’s Theatre as they put on their first annual Neverland Carnival this October 6. You’re in for an afternoon of games, crafts, rides, carnival food and tons of prizes. Roaming characters and entertainers, a silent auction and a night-on-the-own door prize will complete the event. For more information, visit bct123.org.
October 25, 2019: Ghostbusters in Concert
Samford University Wright Center • (205) 726-2853
Hours: starting at 7 p.m.
Admission: starts at $15
Celebrate the scariest month of the year with Ghostbusters and live tunes from the Alabama Symphony Orchestra! Starting at 7 p.m., guests can get in the Halloween spirit with spooky tunes while they watch the original, award-winning movie, Ghostbusters. This is a great way to introduce the little ones to the symphony. Sit back and enjoy this iconic original movie and live music! Tickets start at $15. For more information, visit alabamasymphony.org.
So, get out and enjoy the crisp fall weather and the festive events in Birmingham!
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