After a long summer, the pumpkins are bright orange and perfectly plump and the corn stalks are taller than some professional basketball players.
All around the country, pumpkin farms and corn mazes are ready for families to spend a day making memories.
The fall festival at Harvest Tyme Pumpkin Patch in Lowell begins Sept. 24 and runs weekends through October, said Cathie Antczak, media coordinator at the farm. Festivities include 10 vintage carnival rides, dueling 50-foot slides, a jumping pillow and the four-acre corn maze. This year, the maze sports a dinosaur theme.
“We have a kiddie corn maze that’s incorporated into the family corn maze so if you have little ones, you could just do the kiddie corn maze,” she said.
The dueling slides have been quite the hit, she said, with entire families, from little kids sailing down on a parent’s lap all the way up to grandparents, racing against each other across six lanes.
“This year, we’ve added a cider garden featuring ciders made in Crown Point,” she said. “We got patio furniture where you can sit and sip cider and relax. And of course, our doughnuts are always popular.”
Also new this year is the KidsBucks Game Show with four shows daily the first four weekends in October. They take volunteers from the audience to compete in games and contests with prizes up for grabs.
“We also have a pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkins,” she said. “Everybody loves going to the pumpkin patch and picking their perfect pumpkin, because everybody’s perfect pumpkin is something different.”
Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings beginning Sept. 30, the Pumpkin Glow Trail returns, she said.
“It is a walking path of about half a mile of different artisan-carved pumpkins in themes of Halloween, fall, Day of the Dead and some characters I think people will recognize,” she said. “Pumpkin Glow Trail is one of my favorite events of the year.”
Here are some other area pumpkin farms, apple orchards and corn mazes in Northwest Indiana. As always, it’s a good idea to check the website or call if you’ve got questions.
GOSHEN
Kercher’s Sunrise Orchards: Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 12-6 p.m. Sundasy to Oct. 31. 19498 County Road 38. Admission: You-pick apples are 1.49 per pound and pumpkins will cost 50 cents per pound. 574-533-6311; Kerchersorchard.com.
Varieties for you-pick apples include Cortland, Jonagold, Red and Golden Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and Gold Rush. See the website for ripening dates of apples.
Pumpkins are available for you-pick with free hayrides to the pumpkin patch on the weekends. Saturdays the hayrides start at 10 a.m. with the last ride going out at 5:30 p.m. Sundays the hayrides start at noon with the last ride going out at 5:30 p.m. The Cider Shack is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends.
HOBART
County Line Orchard: Hours for you-pick are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily to Oct. 31 (last tractor at 5 p.m.). 200 S. County Line Road. Admission: $2; pay for what you pick $2 per pound for apples. You-pick pumpkins are 40 cents a pound up to $15. Passes for corn maze and activities are $6-$12. 219-947-4477; Countylineorchard.com.
This popular Northwest Indiana autumn destination offers several varieties of apples available for you-pick as well as pre-pick. Check the website for ripening dates.
The theme for this year’s corn maze is Fun to the Core and shaped like a large apple tree. A less challenging sister maze is in the shape of the Albanese Gummi Bear. Youngsters will have fun at the Kid’s Farm with farm animals and Peter the Pumpkin Eating Dino entertaining on weekends, the fan-favorite Moo Choo ride and a bee yurt. There is also a gift shop. Barnyard jams can be heard on the weekends. Families or groups can book campfire sites on Fridays and Saturdays.
LA PORTE
Garwood Orchards: Hours for you-pick are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through October. Last tractor goes out at 5:15 p.m. 5911 W 50 South. Admission: apples cost $32 for a half-bushel, $20 per peck, $12 for a half-peck. $20 minimum for you-pick per family or $10 per person for groups of 10 or more. Six pumpkins for $40; two for $15. 219-362-4385; Garwoodapplefarm.com or Facebook.com/garwoodappleorchard
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.Varieties available for you-pick include Gala, Fuji, Crimson Crisp, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Pink Lady and more.
LOWELL
Harvest Tyme Pumpkin Patch: Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends Sept. 24-Oct. 30. 17904 Grant St. Admission: $19.95 online or $22.95 at the gate. Gem mining and corn cannons cost extra. 219-440-2386; Harvesttymefun.com.
Attractions include amusement rides, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze and kiddie corn maze, petting zoo, pig and duck races, giant slides, a Harvest Tyme Express Train, gem mining, giant swing, jumping pillow, carousel and concessions.
Kidsbucks Game Show will be doing four shows daily the first four weekends in October.
A pumpkin glow trail will be from 6:30-9 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 1-30. Tickets are $11.95 in advance and $15.95 at the door, 2 and under free. Tickets include the pumpkin trail and petting zoo.
Kregel’s Pumpkin Patch: Hours are 10:30-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 12-5 p.m. Sundays Sept. 24-Oct. 30. 7705 W. 159th Ave. Admission: barnyard activities pass is $9 adults, $11 children Friday-Sunday and $7 adults, $9 children Monday-Thursday. $1 discount for seniors 62 and older with ID. 219-690-1503; facebook.com and search for Kregel’s Pumpkin Patch.
Barnyard activities include a corn maze, petting zoo, slide, hand car railroad and barrel train ride. Hayrides to the pumpkin patch depart every 15 minutes on weekends and every 30 minutes on weekdays. There’s also a farm market with pumpkins, apples, mums, doughnuts and seasonal décor for sale.
MICHIGAN CITY
Radke Orchard: Hours 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through October. 8999 W. 200 N., Michigan City. Admission: free, no minimum picking. $1.50 per pound you-pick; $1.75 per pound pre-picked. 219-872-3140; facebook.com/radkeorchards/.
Bring your own containers to carry apples or purchase bags on-site. Several varieties of apples are available; see the website for ripening schedule. Free tractor rides available on the weekends. Leashed dogs welcome. Popcorn, candy, apple cider doughnuts and more for sale.
WESTVILLE
Coulter’s Pumpkin Farm: Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends for fall activities Sept. 24-Oct. 30. Business hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 5433 S. U.S. 421. Admission is free. Corn maze extra. Cash and check only. 219-785-2406; Coultersproduce.com.
On weekends, guests can enjoy a four-acre corn maze, a kid’s corn maze, pony rides, face painting and concessions. Farm market includes produce and seasonal décor.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
