I think many of you will agree – visiting a pumpkin patch is part of a necessary pre-Halloween tradition. It’s always a fun outing for our family to visit a farm and choose the best carving pumpkins around. We try not to get our pumpkins too early, because we have some seriously aggressive squirrels around our house who always seem to decimate our pumpkins if they sit on the porch too long.

If visiting a pumpkin patch is part of your October plans, then you may want to check out this list of some of the best pumpkin patches the Ottawa area

Saunders Farm

7893 Bleeks Road, Munster

If you are looking for a full day of Halloween family fun then head to Saunders Farm. There is so much to do at Saunders Farm, it is so much more than a pumpkin patch (hence the admission price). There are mazes, play structures, puppet shows, a haunted hay ride, haunted house, restaurants, a cemetery stroll and yes…even a pumpkin patch. It is a lot of fun, especially if your kids are old enough to enjoy everything there is to offer.

Cannamore Orchard

1480 CR-32, Crysler

Cannamore Orchard offers pre-picked pumpkins at the front outside the orchard store in the pumpkin house and in the wagons. They also sell many gourds as well as coloured corn and corn stalks

You can go into the “pick your own pumpkin field” and pick your own pumpkins beginning mid-September. There are carts and wagon available to bring back what you find. Pick-your-own pumpkins are priced the same as the pre-picked pumpkins. Bring your own large bag or box. Pick your own pumpkins are usually available everyday all through September and in October till Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, because of Acres of Terror (a scary Halloween adventure), they are only available on weekdays.

Miller’s Farm

6158 Rideau Valley Drive

Miller’s Farm has 8 acres of pick your own fall produce, so there are plenty of pre picked and pick your own pumpkins to choose from! There is a wagon ride running on the weekends and you can also explore the corn maze and jump in the straw bale pile. Tractor rides run from mid September until October 31st and run from 10am to 4pm on weekends and holidays only. There is no cost to visit the farm but there is a cost to ride the wagon and visit the corn maze.

Proulx Farm

1865 O’Toole Rd. Cumberland

Proulx Farm is another great place to visit if you’re looking for a day’s worth of fun. The farm is transformed into a giant Halloween playground. There is an admission price to the farm, and you pay for your own pumpkins on top of that price. You can find face painting, play structures, mazes, children’s show, and pick your own pumpkins from the patch.

Log Cabin

6121 Cabin Rd, Osgoode

The Log Cabin Orchard is a wonderful place to go for both apple picking and pumpkin picking! This friendly, family run farm is just 20 minutes south of Ottawa. There’s no admission price to the farm. It offers both pick your own or pre-picked pumpkins. You will also find free wagon rides, a small petting zoo, apple cider, baked goods and yummy tacos and churros!

The Log Farm

670 Cedarview Rd, Nepean

The Log Farm is located in Nepean and charges an admission of $6 a person to visit the farm. The farm is open Saturdays and Sundays 9-4 until the end of October. Admission includes weekly demonstrations, visits with the farm animals, wagon rides and a scarecrow walks. There is no pumpkin patch but they have pre picked pumpkins for sale and also mini straw bales for decoration.

Potager Eardley

398 Chemin Eardley, Gatineau

Potager Eardley is a lovely farm just across in Aylmer. I have visited them for berry picking, but they offer a pumpkin patch as well. Starting on the weekend of September 29 and 30th and all weekends of October, they will be offering wagon rides on the farm to go pumpkin picking. The rides will take place Saturdays and Sundays from 10AM to 3PM weather permitting.

Abby Hill Farm

1490 Backfield Rd

Abby Hill Farms has lots of pumpkins you can see them from the road. This is a good place to get a lovely pumpkin without any frills, and it is open 7 days a week, from 9:00 A.M. until 6:30 P.M.