Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides, and Activities to Get Your Halloween On!

We grew this pumpkin.

UPDATE: This is a post from 2010, so although folks tend to have similar activities each year, information may or may not be outdated. Click the links to check directly with the folks involved to be sure.–Katie

Once again I start out with a post expecting that I’ll be able to find two or three things to do, and next thing I know there’s a huge list of activities.  Yay, Capital District!  The nice thing, too, is that there’s a variety:  stuff for your teenager or your preschooler and everybody in between.

Now, I haven’t done this stuff.  I’m sure that some of these places are absolutely much better than others.  So if you’ve gone someplace already, or if you end up going later this month, or you know of another great place, would you please share your priceless knowledge with the rest of us in the comments?  I promise that I won’t put your email address on Carl Paladino’s distribution list or anything!

Of course, it’s a little discouraging to gather up all of these great outdoor activities on an afternoon when it’s so unbelievably wet and dismal, but next weekend is supposed to be lovely, right?  So here’s what I found:

Double M in Malta does Haunted Hayrides.  You must reserve ahead, and the rides are $20/person, children 4 and under free.  But judging from the website, I don’t think that you want to take little kids. Frankly, you don’t even want to click on the link if you have children who are easily frightened.  Instead, click this nice little link instead, which tells you about their daytime, little-kid-friendly hay ride, corn maze, and petting zoo.  These activities are $9/person, kids 2 and under free.

Ellm’s Family Farm in Ballston Spa has Halloween Hayrides at 6:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays in October. A very helpful reader sent this report:

I took my two and three year old daughters there and it was substantially more fun than we anticipated.  $8.50 per person gets you a 40 minute hay ride that is perfect for little ones (not scary, less fun I guess for older kids), and the opportunity to jump on their huge  “jumping pillow” trampoline outside (tons of fun).  Mid way through the hay ride, they stop for cider and donuts that are included in the fee.

They ask you to reserve (you can do it online) and it’s $8.50/person, under 2 free.  They also have  pumpkin picking and other activities.  Along with a big corn maze, they also have smaller ones that are actually labyrinths (which means there’s only one way to go, so you can’t get lost) designed for families to enjoy with their little kids.  Now that’s a good idea.

Engelke Farm in Troy has a Corn Maze for $5/person, Haunted Hayrides on Friday and Saturday nights for $15/person (but there’s an online coupon to save you $2.50).  There’s a pumpkin patch, and you can either take a free hayride there or take a zipline to it for $10.

Goold Orchards is having a Pet Parade at 3 pm on Saturday, October 16th (yep, I didn’t catch it earlier), and they have a Haunted House on weekend afternoons.

Hasbrouck’s Indian House Farm in Princetown  has a Field of Screams corn maze at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday night.  $7/person includes the maze and cider & donuts, and proceeds go to Albany Med Children’s Hospital.

Liberty Ridge Farm has a Harvest Haunt on Friday and Saturday nights in October at 7 pm.  It’s recommended for ages 10 and up, and it’s $15/person. You can also reserve a cottage or campfire site if you want to turn the outing into a group party.  I know people who’ve visited the farm in early autumn who thought it was a wonderful destination.

The Pick a Pumpkin Pumpkin Patch in Schoharie County 35 miles southwest of Albany has pumpkins, free hayrides, farm animals to pet, and many more activities.  They’re closed on Sundays.

Samascott Orchards has pick your own pumpkins as well as a  Corn Maze for $7/person.

Schauber Stables in Ballston Lake is offering Haunted Hay Rides on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday nights in October.  It’s $8/person.  For the little kids, they do a child-friendly version of the hayrides on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.  $5/kids 12 and under, $8/adults.  Along with the hayrides, you can also pay for pony rides and do other activities.

Schuyler Farms near Schuylerville has a Corn Maze (haunted at night), and admission is $7/person, kids under 4 free.  There are also free hayrides to the pumpkin patch.

Sunnyside Gardens in Saratoga Springs has pumpkins to pick, hayrides, train rides, and a butterfly house among other activities.

Tammy’s Candy Kettle in Hoosick Falls has a corn maize, pick your own pumpkins, and other activities (it sounds like you might need to pay for these separately).  The maze is $9/12 and up, $7/ages 4-11, 3 and under free.  Update:  Tammy herself added more detailed information in the comments below.