The Great Pumpkin Farm

RECYCLED POST FROM 2009: The Great Pumpkin Farm opens this weekend, September 23, 2011! Admission on the weekends is $5 and kids 3 and under free. If you visit during the week admission is FREE. As you read the post below, keep in mind it was written in 2009.

It's the last weekend to visit the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence, NY. My son has been asking to go there all month so we took a trip out this morning. Usually, there are hundreds of pumpkins positioned all around but because we waited until the last minute to visit, the pumpkin selection was slim. Also, there were MANY busloads of school kids wandering around the grounds.
Some things to consider before your visit to the Great Pumpkin Farm:

1. For the ultimate pumpkin "experience" visit on the weekend. If your kids love amusement rides this will be some great fun for them. Besides the rides, each weekend something different happens at the pumpkin farm. Go here and click on Special Festival Weekends to find out more.
2. Watch out! If you choose to go on the weekend there will be crowds, and I mean crowds of people there. Don't worry, though, parking is plentiful and free!
3. Weather warning! As you may have figured out by now, the weather in Buffalo can be unpredictable. Often October can be a rainy month - be prepared to have muddy feet and strollers as the farm can get quite muddy.
4. Frugal option: If you don't want to spend money on the amusement rides, hay rides, fried dough and blooming onions, visit the pumpkin farm during the week. Amusement rides are not open but the corn maze, playground area, and petting zoo are and they are FREE! Weekday visits can be tricky, though. Anytime we've visited on a weekday there are always anywhere from 3-4 buses from area schools taking a field trip to the farm.
6. Pumpkins of all different shapes and size are available for purchase. I believe at around 40 cents a pound. Also, if you visit the gift/Halloween shop on the last week/weekend you get 50% off your purchase of $20 or more.