Autumn: the season between summer and winter.
Or, so says the official definition from dictionary.com. Yet, this is rarely the thought that pops into one’s head when they begin to think of this season. Instead, depending on the girl, other thoughts bound into the mind: one collegiette’s synapses may get excited over the thought of layering sweaters and riding boots, while another’s may start firing at the thought of carving pumpkins and getting lost in corn mazes, while still another’s can’t get their mind off of the sweet smell of pumpkin pie and apple cider.
Hence, my reasoning behind the new series, Best Ways to Celebrate Fall, and behind the first edition, Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes. Each week, I’ll bring you a new edition of the Best Ways to Celebrate Fall, so that each collegiette has the opportunity and the ideas of how to celebrate this season in their favorite way.
Because, let’s face it: although summer is often the most praised season, fall slides under the radar, rarely being appreciated for many of our favorite things that it brings. When else would it be alright to consume ridiculous amounts of candy? Bake incredibly unhealthy pies like it’s our job? Put off homework just because there’s a football game on tv (and let’s be honest… when isn’t there?)? And, as the wise movie Mean Girls once taught us, gives us the “one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it”?
Let’s take autumn as ours! And read on to figure out how pumpkin patches and corn mazes are only some of the infinite things that make fall the best season of the year.
Roloff Farms
Although Matt, Amy, Jeremy, Zachary, Molly and Jacob are best known for TLC’s family-oriented reality show, Little People Big World, Roloff Farms are known locally and nationally as a prime place to get one of the most iconic images of autumn: a pumpkin. Plus, these farms have a sort of exclusivity to them: they are only open to the public during their October Pumpkin Season! Not only do their farms boast one of the largest pumpkin patches in Oregon, but they also offer a petting zoo (complete with a baby tiger cub, pygmy porcupine, and other exotic animals!) and a food corner – how often do you find yourself with the munchies only to be surrounded by nothing but raw pumpkins? Roloff Farms don’t leave you hungry! And while parking is a lowly $2, admission to the actual Pumpkin Patch is free!
Price: Parking is $2 and Admission is FREE!
Features: Pumpkin patch, petting zoo, exotic animals, wagon tours
Hours: Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays October 5th – 28th, 10 am – 6 pm
Address: 23985 Northwest Grossen Drive, Hillsboro OR 97124
Website: therolofffamily.com
Plumper Pumpkins
So, you’re not into carving pumpkins, or just picking one up to have it sit on your front porch until it rots. Well, Plumper Pumpkins Farm is for you! Sitting on 65 acres of what used to be a dairy mill, Plumper Pumpkins offers not only pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, but haymazes, pony rides, a barrel train, and pumpkin bowling / flinging / cannon / slingshot! Plumper Pumpkins allows you to get creative with how you want to celebrate the season. Of course, fall isn’t complete without kettle corn, apple cider, or many of the other foods this farm offers (such as: bratwurst, chili, hot dogs, and corn on the cob!). If you’re wanting to ride a pony or do something special with your pumpkin, make sure you go on the weekends after 11 am – these are the only times that the farm offers these cool benefits.
Price: Monday to Friday is $6, while the Saturday & Sunday are $10
Features: Pumpkin patch, haymazes, various pumpkin activities, pony rides, barrel train, fresh produce, baked goods, apple cider
Hours: September 22nd – October 31st, 9 am – 5:30 pm
Address: 11435 NW Old Cornelius Pass Road, Portland OR, 97231
Website: plumperpumkins.com
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Portland Pumpkin Farm on Sauvies
Always popular with the college students, Sauvies Island doesn’t just have the beaches that we long for. Along with a great place to relax during the summer months, Sauvies offers the Portland Pumpkin Farm, a 100+ acre organic farm with tons of hidden gems (ahem, I mean pumpkins) throughout those acres. Along with the classic pumpkin patch, the farm includes a corn maze (Oregon Ducks themed this year!), cow train, hay ride, bouncy castle, food pavilion, and pumpkin weigh offs. Check out all the farm has to offer while munching on a delicious elephant ear, and warming your soul with fresh apple cider. Want to get your organic food fix? The farm is partnered with Bella Organic to offer Sauvie Island Corn (3 for $1!), acorn and squash cabbage ($1.50 each) and fresh fruit (such as strawberries, plums, apples, pears, cherries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and peaches). For those who like to get in the Halloween spirit, they also offer costume contests and a special haunted corn maze that is only offered evenings of Friday and Saturday until October 31st. Watch out for secret villains lurking within the corn…
Price: FREE!
Features: pumpkin patch, corn maze (both normal and haunted), cow train, hay rides, hay maze, organic food, elephant ears, apple cider, barnyard animals, U Pick fruit
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 9 am – 7 pm, Friday & Saturday 9 am – 9 pm; until October 31st
Address: 16205 NW Gillihan Road, Portland OR, 97231
Website: portlandpumpkinfarmandtwilightmaze.com
The Original MAiZE
You thought that Sauvies Island wasn’t big enough for one, let alone two corn mazes and farms? Think again! The Original MAiZE Farm is just what it sounds like – the original maze on Sauvies Island. Opening for its fourteenth season, the MAiZE has attracted over 500,000 visitors because its annual event and incredible corn maze designs (this year: Portlandia themed!). The designers literally “put a bird on it” when they inserted a bird into the maze’s design, and tried as much as they could to incorporate the show into their maze. This farm also boasts the original haunted cornfield in the Portland region – scary sights are sure to be seen during this spook-tacular maze! Don’t feel like buying a ticket into either corn maze? Visit their website and download a coupon to get in free! Also included at this farm is the “Big Red Animal Barn,” hayrides, cow train rides, a hay climbing pyramid (can you say “photo shoot”?), a fresh farm market, and of course, a pumpkin patch.
Price: $10 for the mazes, or visit the website to download a coupon!
Features: the original haunted and regular corn maze (Portlandia themed, nonetheless), farm animals, hayrides, cow train rides, a hay climbing pyramid, market, pumpkin patch
Hours: Portlandia maze: Sunday to Thursday 10 am – 6 pm, Friday & Saturday (and the 31st!) 10 am – 10 pm; Haunted maze: Friday & Saturday (and the 31st!) 7 pm – 10 pm
Address: 16511 NW Gillihan Road, Portland, OR 97231
Website: portlandmaze.com
Olson Farms
Looking for a simple farm where you can get great customer service, and a great pumpkin? Olson Farms is open for business! Although the farm doesn’t boast much, it does include a large pumpkin patch, which you get to by free horse-drawn hayrides!
Price: a small fee for whichever pumpkin you choose
Features: pumpkin patch, horse-drawn hayrides, U Pick fruit and corn
Hours: Weekends 9 am – 6 pm
Address: 22255 SE Borges Road, Damascus OR, 97089
Website: olson-farms.com
Photo sources:
Things to Do in Portland
Invidudal websites for each pumpkin patch