Pumpkin Tour and Market

While we have many choices all across Charlotte this time of year, my family really enjoys October at Patterson Farm in Mount Ulla. It is a short 15 minute drive from Mooresville but far enough that you have the “country feel”.

We made the trip last weekend before the cold snap for our annual pumpkin picking outing on the north side of Charlotte. In the same vicinity, you can choose from Carrigan Farms, Patterson Farms and the Lazy Five Ranch. Each has its own unique flair and offers lots of fun and great photo ops for the little ones. Pumpkin patch pics are my favorite of the year. If only I could get all of mine to look in the same direction at the same time.

For $16 each, Patterson Farms includes the following activities:

• The maize
• Pumpkin painting with a SMALL pumpkin included
• Face painting and pony rides
• Hayrides and hay bale maize
• Barnyard, pumpkin bowling and corn hole
• Playground, pig races and cow barrel train rides
• Hop along bounders and make & take scarecrows
• Duck races, tomato slingshot and tractor tire mountain

As always we had lots of fun but a couple of tips are important to note. It can be muddy or very dusty depending on the recent weather. We always wear our play shoes and they come off before we get in the car. Bring a box for the painted pumpkins as they are never dry when we leave. Wipes are a necessity for oh so many reasons (animals, paint, dirt, ice cream, etc) Take your cute pictures first in the event that the outfit is important to you, afterwards just enjoy the experience. Everything washes out later! Lastly, there are some perfect fall purchases such as local apples, fudge and cider. Pass on the very expensive larger pumpkins and stop at the Walmart for the $4 ones.

www.pattersonfarminc.com

They have activities all year including strawberry picking in the spring.

Try these awesome locations as well.
http://www.carriganfarms.com/

http://www.lazy5ranch.com/
They have an amazing assortment of animals that will surprise you!