It's obviously pumpkin patch season and everybody seems to have a favorite. We've had only one Halloween season in Portland, so we're eager to hear about your most fun Halloween hotspot. Which farms are good for younger and older kids? Which will have us tearing out our hair while stuck in traffic? What about train and boat rides, corn mazes, hayrides and pumpkin catapulting? Don't forget to mention the ones with yummy food, too!
I did find this pumpkin patch website, but really, we all know word of mouth is best.
We went to the Roloff's Farm last year out in Hillsboro(Helvetia Rd Exit) and it was SO much fun! They have a whole little town of houses that you can go in/play in, etc. It is really amazing! We also like BiZi farms up here in Vancouver--we go there every year! They have a huge pumpkin patch, hayride, petting zoo area, fresh apple cider, maze, pumpkin sling shots---all the good stuff!
Posted by: Merry | 10 October 2007 at 01:40 PM
We went to Plumper Pumpkin Patch last year for a farm field trip for our preschool. Really lovely place, not too hard to get to. Small, and not totally working the "agri-tainment" angle. They even let the kids plant a row of pumpkin seeds, so that they can come back and pick one they helped grow.
http://www.plumperpumpkins.com/
I've also heard Fir Point Farms is lovely, but haven't been there.
Posted by: Renee | 10 October 2007 at 02:08 PM
Thanks for this blog! Great info. We took our son to the farm on Sauvie Island last year. Even got a free hay ride (just by chance since it was the end of the season). This year we are determined to go to one early in the season and actually pick a pumpkin (once it stops raining...). Is there a farm that doesn't get as muddy as some others? Or is that an absurd question from someone who grew up in a city, who don't know much about pumpkin farms?
Posted by: Alex | 10 October 2007 at 03:13 PM
We love Plumper Pumpkins. Not for the kids but for us! They have the best slide in the world. At least that's how I felt after I went down it about 10 times. Last year they had a small slide on the side and then the Mother of all slides towards the back. My husband and I had a blast while our children watched in horror.
We went to Sauvie's Island for a few years but it just got to crowded and too expensive.
Posted by: lilah | 10 October 2007 at 04:10 PM
We went to Baggenstos Farm last year (in the SW) with our toddler and really enjoyed it. It seemed popular without being too crowded. We enjoyed the covered (? hay--can't remember if there was hay?) ride to the fields. They have a nice play structure for the kids to enjoy. If memory serves, I think they have a nice little store and some refreshments as well. I WISH we had gone back this year.
Today my husband thought we should try The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island. Apparently, so did the rest of Portland. Amazingly, we got right in, no traffic, although the parking lot was packed. Hayride line wasn't too long to get to the pumpkins but the lines for food were VERY long...and no pumpkin pie :-( There was a great store with all sorts of fall produce.
Unfortunately, when we left we got stuck in traffic. We could have hopped off the island faster (...on one foot...blindfolded). Thankfully, daughter was so exhausted from climbing up and down the haystacks that she didn't fuss too much at the hour-long, 2-mile drive (roll). But it WAS a beautiful day!
Posted by: Rasa | 13 October 2007 at 10:42 PM
I tried to take my family to Roloff Farms but the line to get in was just way too long. We ended up heading back to our side of the bridge in Vancouver and went to Bi-Zi Farms. We really enjoyed it. They have a hay pyramid, hay rides, farm animals, apple pressing, corn grinding, corn maze, and more. You get to take advantage of all the activites, plus get any size pumpkin you wish for the $8 dollar admission. I also liked that they did not charge for my two little ones who are under age 2 and under. Oh, and I almost forgot, they even throw in a free cup of cider or hot chocolate. We had a great time and plan to return next year.
Posted by: Tara | 15 October 2007 at 05:16 PM
Plumper pumpkin patch left their 5000 volt electric fence on right next to all the cars that were parked with toddlers and babies running around. These fences are also not installed properly according to a trusted sources who watched him unplug the fence after I called the number on my flyer to report that I had been zapped. Nothing was done, I was told there is no recourse, I just won't go there again where they run a business and allow for such a big "oops". It could have killed a child if it had grabbed the wire the wrong way.
Posted by: Bridget | 24 October 2007 at 09:16 PM
The annual pumpkin festival at Oregon Hill Farms in St. Helen (on Hwy 30, 15 min. past Sauvie Island bridge)is a great pumpkin patch with games, pony rides, hay rides, FREE admission and lots more. Plenty of fun, food, and entertainment. It isn't a muddy so you don't need the mud gear! A good down home festival. There's always a flyer and driving directions on www.oregonhill.com. Check it out!
Posted by: Carmen McMahon | 26 June 2009 at 06:40 PM