‘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.