It’s finally fall, and your fall bucket list is probably longer than there are days to complete it. First rule of
The best pumpkin patches in NYC
Governors Island
Feel like you’re in New England just an eight-minute ferry ride from Manhattan on Governors Island. The seasonal getaway just across New York Harbor extended its season through Oct. 31 as of 2017 with plenty of Halloween fun including Pumpkin Point, a pumpkin patch opening for the last two weekends of October in Nolan Park. It’s free to visit, with live music, pumpkin painting for kids, a beer garden and fall treats like mini pies. Proceeds from pumpkin sales benefit the Friends of Governors Island. Families can also come for free Trick-or-Treating at the island’s historic houses on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 20-21, Oct. 27-28, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., govisland.com
New York Botanical Garden
Most jack-o-lanterns don’t come out to play until closer to Halloween, but not in the Bronx. The New York Botanical Garden’s annual Spooky Pumpkin Garden is up and running all through Halloween, turning the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden into a sprawling kid-friendly patch of nearly 1,000 carved pumpkins, more than 100 not-so-scary scarecrows, puppet shows and a bat house. On weekends, catch carving demos and meet real-life creepy-crawlies like snakes and lizards. Oct. 20-21 is Giant Pumpkin Weekend featuring monstrous gourds from around the country, and Oct. 26-27 is all about Halloween activities when everyone is encouraged to come in costume for trick-or-treating by flashlight and gourd decorating. Through Oct. 31, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, nybg.org
Queens County Farm Museum
For a true country feeling without leaving the city limits, head to the state’s oldest farm: the Queens County Farm Museum in Little Neck. Opened in 1697, the 47-acre farm offers free admission to see its fields and livestock year-round, except during special ticketed events. On fall weekends, you’ll also find a pumpkin patch (free) and a three-acre corn maze ($10). Stop by the “gift shop” to pick up fresh vegetables, eggs and honey made right on site, plus cider, Hudson Valley apples and baked goods. Oct. 6-27, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, queensfarm.org
Queens Botanical Garden
The Queens Botanical Garden promises its largest-ever pumpkin patch yet — with a new mascot by Cirque-tacular. From noon to 4 p.m. each day, she’ll roam the patch in her autumnal finery, taking pictures with guests. Also new for 2018 is a kid-size Mini-Maze, and select days will have live music. Hungry hordes can grab a seasonal bite like roast corn and drinks including cider. The patch is open every weekend starting Oct. 6, with special events on two days: Harvest Fest with live music, entertainment, garden demonstrations, crafts and a beer tent (Oct. 14) and Halloween at the Garden with trick-or-treating, seasonal crafts, a magic show and a DJ’ed costume party (Oct. 28). Garden admission is $6, and the patch is an additional $4; buy your tickets and reserve a pumpkin in advance to save. Weekends Oct. 6-28,11 a.m.-2 p.m., 2-5 p.m., 43-50 Main St., Flushing, queensbotanical.org
Luna Park
Luna Park gets transformed into Treasure Island for its fifth annual pirate-themed Halloween Harvest Festival. Find your “treasure” in Blackbeard’s Pumpkin Patch and don’t leave before decorating it, plus creepy crafts, costumed actors, face painting and live entertainment. New this year is Tillie’s Tractor where kids race through a hay track on mini tractors. Special events include the Dig Parade and Costume Contest (Oct. 14), pumpkin-carving by Marc and the Maniac Carvers (Oct. 27) and a Halloween Parade (Oct. 28). Admission is included in your All-Day Luna Pass ($42-$69 depending on height). Weekends, Sept. 29-Oct. 28 and Oct. 31, lunaparknyc.com
Decker Farm
Staten Island’s Decker Farm estate takes you back to the early 1800s, with 11 structures to explore and craftspeople in period costume to chat about their handiwork. In October, the farm adds a pumpkin patch and activities like hayrides, face painting, crafts and a corn maze, plus treats like s’mores and apple cider. Note that after taking the ferry, you’ll also be in for a 45-minute bus ride. Weekends, Oct. 6-28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 435 Richmond Hill Rd., $6 per person, $20 for a family of four, historicrichmondtown.org
