‘Tis the season of the Pumpkin King and autumnal decor galore. Which begs the question: Why do we display jack-o'-lanterns and gourds during fall?
Well, it all started with the Irish legend of Stingy Jack. In the 1800s, people in Ireland would carve creepy faces out of turnips to scare away Jack’s wandering soul. When Irish immigrants moved to the US, they adapted and carved jack-o'-lanterns from fruit native to the region. Enter: Pumpkins.
Keep Jack away this season with pumpkins from these eight patches + farm stands.
Pumpkin patch experience
DJ’s Berry Patch, 1223 Salem Church Rd., Apex | Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Fill your cart with gourds, corn stalks, NC apples, and mums.
Grasshopper Farms, 8004 Poole Rd., Knightdale | Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | After finding your way through the four acre corn maze, browse fall produce.
Naylor Family Farm, 6016 US 401 N., Fuquay-Varina | Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 9 p.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Grab tickets in advance for hay rides, gem mining, and apple cannons to pair with your pumpkin patching.
Page Farms, 6100 Mt. Herman Rd. | Wednesday-Sunday, times vary | Visit this family-owned farm to pick the perfect pumpkin, relax in the corn crib, and enjoy hayrides + farm animals.
Phillips Farms, 6701 Good Hope Church Rd., Cary | Thursday-Sunday, times vary | After you grab a few pumpkins, play human foosball, gaga ball, roller racers, and ride down the quad slide.
Grab-and-go decor
The Family Farm on Avent Ferry, 1719 Avent Ferry Road, Holly Springs | Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. | This sixth-generation farm has decorative hay bales, flint corn, cornstalks, and, of course, pumpkins to make your home the most gourd-gous on the block.
Shepherd’s Way Farms, 1010 St. Albans Dr. and 13044 Norwood Rd. | Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. | Pick up a pre-made pumpkin stack to display on your front porch.
State Farmers Market, 1201 Agriculture St. | Monday-Saturday, 5 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Shop from several different local farmers to complete your fall arrangements.
