The leaves are past peak, the mornings are frosty, and Halloween is nine days away. If you’ve been saying “we should really get to a pumpkin patch this year,” this is your sign. Most of New Brunswick’s farm attractions wrap up around the end of October or early November, so the window is closing. Here’s how to cram a whole fall’s worth of cozy into the next week or two.
1. Pick a pumpkin (and pick it fresh)
Skip the grocery store pile and go to a farm. Some, like Canada Green in Charlotte County, let you pick pumpkins right in the field where they grow. In the northwest, Hunter Brothers Farm is listed as offering a pumpkin patch, fall festival, cow train rides, a corn maze, pig races and more.
Last-minute tip: Late in the season, the best pumpkins can be picked over. Go early in the day, and bring a wagon or a sturdy bag if you’re carrying a big one.
2. Get lost in a corn maze
Few things say fall like losing your sense of direction on purpose. The Green Pig Country Market in Salisbury has been known for what was billed as the largest corn maze in Atlantic Canada, with a smaller option for little ones and a more complex route for anyone wanting a challenge.
Last-minute tip: Wear boots. Fields get muddy this time of year, and a flashlight or your phone light makes late-afternoon wandering a lot more fun.
3. Take in the pumpkin spectacle in Saint-Jacques
If you’re up for a road trip, the Grande Grouille Pumpkin Festival at the New Brunswick Botanical Garden is a bucket-list stop. It’s known for more than 3,000 illuminated pumpkins, and it’s most magical after dark.
4. Sip, snack, and warm up
Fall in NB means something warm in your hands. Look for farm stands, markets and orchards serving apple cider, cider donuts, pies and fresh-baked treats, since many of the farms above run a market alongside their attractions. A hot cider after a muddy maze is non-negotiable.
5. Add a dose of history
Round out your list with a visit to Kings Landing, the living history settlement near Fredericton that makes a great backdrop for an autumn walk. It’s an easy way to make a full day out of your fall outing.
Your 10-day game plan
- This weekend: Pumpkin patch plus corn maze. Combine them at one farm if you can.
- Midweek: Evening drive for cider and treats at a local market.
- Before Halloween: Carve those pumpkins, and snap the photos.
- Bonus: Make the Saint-Jacques pumpkin festival or Kings Landing your “big day out.”
Before you go
Farm hours and end dates change with weather, and many attractions tighten their schedules or close right after Halloween. Check each farm’s Facebook page or website before you head out, and bring cash just in case, since some stands are cash-friendly or cash-only.
Fall doesn’t last long here, so grab your mittens, your people, and a big thermos. You’ve got a bucket list to finish.
