Pumpkin patches near Columbus: 7 spots to check out this fall

Felicia and Charles Azbell of Lancaster pull their sons Walker, left, and Bentley and their pumpkins during a 2017 visit to Pigeon Roost Farm near Hebron. The farm doesn't offer U-pick but has pre-picked pumpkins to choose from. [ERIC ALBRECHT/DISPATCH]
Felicia and Charles Azbell of Lancaster pull their sons Walker, left, and Bentley and their pumpkins during a 2017 visit to Pigeon Roost Farm near Hebron. The farm doesn't offer U-pick but has pre-picked pumpkins to choose from. [ERIC ALBRECHT/DISPATCH]

Whether for pies, jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween or fall decorations, visiting pumpkin patches is a quintessential fall activity.

And soon, Columbus area and nearby farms and orchards will begin offering opportunities to pick your own pumpkin to take home.

The list includes spots offering U-pick opportunities, while some other great farms that offer pre-picked pumpkins include Pigeon Roost Farm in Hebron, open Sept. 16 through Oct. 29; Leeds Farm in Ostrander, open Sept. 16 to Oct. 28; Dupler's Pumpkin Land in Newark, open Sept. 15 to Oct. 31; and Freeman's Farm in Galena, open Sept. 16 through Oct. 31.

Check out these farms to find a pumpkin patch near you.

Lehner's Pumpkin Farm

Valentina Esquivel, 3, and Alan Esquivel, 11, look for the perfect pumpkin to pick at Lehner's Pumpkin Farm in Radnor on Sunday, October 8, 2017.  The farm featured ten acres of a variety of pumpkins to choose from.
Valentina Esquivel, 3, and Alan Esquivel, 11, look for the perfect pumpkin to pick at Lehner's Pumpkin Farm in Radnor on Sunday, October 8, 2017. The farm featured ten acres of a variety of pumpkins to choose from.

Where: 2920 Route 203, Radnor

When: Open Sept. 23 through Oct. 29. Hours vary; see website.

Highlights: Lehner's pumpkin patch has approximately 40 acres of pre-picked pumpkins, gourds and large squash for visitors to choose from, as well as a 15-acre U-pick pumpkin patch. Other activities include barrel rides, pumpkin bowling, corn and other mazes, pedal go-karts, barnyard golf and a chance to meet farm animals.

Price: $2.50 for pie pumpkins through $10 or more for large carving pumpkins. There is no admission to pick pumpkins, only for doing activities.

Informationlehnerpumpkins.com

Lohstroh Family Farm

Where: 15632 Route 56 SE, Mount Sterling

When: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 30 through Oct. 29.

Highlights: Take a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch to select your pumpkin in many varieties. Also available in-store. The farm also includes a corn maze, haystacks, "caterpillar crawl," pumpkin doughnuts and cider slushies.

Price: $10 per person, including the pumpkin.

Informationlohstrohfamilyfarms.com

Maize at Little Darby Creek

Where: 8657 Axe Handle Road, Milford Center

When: 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 24 to Oct. 29

Highlights: Take a hayride to The Maize at Little Darby Creek's U-pick pumpkin patch. Other activities include a kiddie maze, fun barn, petting zoo, pedal carts, unlimited rides on the cow train and much more.

Price: Hayrides to the U-pick pumpkin patch are $2 a la carte or can be purchased with admission. Pumpkin prices vary by size.

Informationmazeandberries.com

More fall activities: Places near Columbus, other options in Ohio for apple picking

Van Buren Acres

Where: 5066 Keller Road, Hebron

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays through Oct. 31

Highlights: Pick pumpkins from Van Buren Acres' field or purchase a pumpkin. There are also activities such as a large corn maze, a smaller soybean maze, a kiddie maze, pig races, wagon rides, miniature golf, barrel train rides, pedal cars and more.

Price: $7 per pumpkin, admission not required unless doing activities

Informationvanburenacres.com

Circle S Farms

Where: 9015 London Groveport Road, Grove City

When: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 28 to Oct. 31

Highlights: Admission includes pumpkin picking, a hayride, a fun barn, corn and sunflower mazes and a bale maze. Recharge with doughnuts and other goodies from the bakery as well as hot chocolate, coffee or apple cider.

Price: $11 admission and $5 per pumpkin. Admission is free for children younger than 2.

Information: circlesfarm.com

Hidden Creek Farms

Imani Plummer pouts because she can't have all of the pumpkins while she is comforted by friend Mackenzie Lewis during a field trip to the Hidden Creek Farms pumpkin patch in Sunbury, Ohio on October 7, 2016. Plummer was on a trip with the Central College Preschool class in Westerville, Ohio.
Imani Plummer pouts because she can't have all of the pumpkins while she is comforted by friend Mackenzie Lewis during a field trip to the Hidden Creek Farms pumpkin patch in Sunbury, Ohio on October 7, 2016. Plummer was on a trip with the Central College Preschool class in Westerville, Ohio.

Where: 581 S. Galena Road, Sunbury

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 23 to Oct. 31

Highlights: U-pick TBD. But other activities available include hayrides, the great pumpkin slide, the pumpkin tunnel, a straw maze, corndig, games and more.

Price: $9 admission, $5 for adults 55 and older, free for children younger than 2. Pumpkin prices vary.

Information: hiddencreekfarms.com.

Lynd Fruit Farm

Customers leave Lynd Fruit Farm on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.
Customers leave Lynd Fruit Farm on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

Where: 9851 Morse Road SW, Pataskala

When: Now through mid-October

Highlights: Also explore the nearby Lynd Corn Maze, shoot apple cannons and more.

Price: $10 per pumpkin. One pumpkin purchase minimum to enter the patch.

Informationlyndfruitfarm.com

More pumpkin: Craving Pumpkin Spice? 12 spots for best pumpkin-flavored items in Columbus

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Pumpkin patches and U-pick farms near Columbus, Ohio