EDITOR’S NOTE: While this article has timely information on restrictions and hours due to COVID-19, protocols can change quickly. Before you start planning a visit, please keep in mind the hours and operations of these destinations may be abbreviated or amended, so confirm the information presented here and that they are open before you go.
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 26 through November 15; 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
1041 Farmingdale Road, Harpersville, AL 35078 • (205) 672-7209
Hours: September 26 through October 31; Weekdays, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Weekends, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $10 (includes pumpkin and all events except food, arts and crafts, and horseback rides), kids under 2 are free
Bring the family out to Old Baker Farm for a day of fall fun on the farm! Your family can 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 on October 24 and 25, the Halloween Barn Party on October 17 or Western Cowboy Day on October 10 and 11. It’s a great opportunity for the kiddos to dress up in western attire!
Penton Farms Pumpkin Patch
3595 County Road 59, Verbena, AL 36091 • (205) 351-1480
Hours: Open September 26 through October 31; Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Closed Sunday
Admission: $10 per person (ages 2 and up), 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
Hours: Open every weekend starting on October 3; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
Admission: $10 per person, kids under 2 are free
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, a 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 Road 703, Cullman, AL 35055 • (256) 708-5353
Hours: Open September 26 through November 7, with varying hours. Here is a link to the calendar.
Admission: Weekdays, $9.95 online or $11.95 at the gate; Weekends, $12.95 online or $14.95 at the gate
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 gets 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
Hours: Open every weekend through October (beginning October 3); Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: $10 (plus $2 per pumpkin), kids under 2 are free
For a $10 ticket, guests can 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.
RELATED: 12 Birmingham Events & Happenings: October 2020
FALL FESTIVALS
Grace House Pumpkin Festival is fun for all ages! Image: Grace House
October 24, 2020: Grace House Drive-Thru Pumpkin Festival
Mountain Brook Community Church, 3001 US-280, Birmingham, AL 35243 • (205) 786-4663
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Admission: $25 per vehicle
Enjoy the season of pumpkins while supporting a great cause and staying safe. Load up the fam and head over to Mountain Brook Community Church for the drive-thru edition of the Grace House Pumpkin Festival. Each car receives two pumpkins, a pumpkin decorating kit and a fun yard sign. Additionally, participants are welcomed to join in on fun drive-thru activities to win special prizes. Proceeds benefit Grace House, an organization that supports girls in Alabama foster homes. For more information, visit grace-house.org.
October 29, 2020: Hoover Hayride & Family Night
Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Rd., Meadowbrook, AL 35242 • (205) 444-7777
Hours: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission: Free
Come out to Veterans Park this October 29 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a night of festive fun. Attendees can 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.
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October 31, 2020: 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 on October 31 for the 29th annual Halloween Fairyland. This family-friendly festival brings thousands of 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.
So, get out and enjoy the crisp fall weather and the festive events in Birmingham!
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