Pumpkin Patch: Jeter Farm

It's tradition to go to a "pumpkin patch" at least once a year for us.  While this might only hold while the kids are relatively young, perhaps it shouldn't.  It's good to be outside; it's good to be local; it's good to support local businesses; it's good to hang out.  The proliferation of fall farm site agritourism in Virginia is evidence. 

As soon as the weather became a bit crisp (late this year), we visited Jeter Farm, approximately at the intersection of 460 and 220 in Bonsack, Virginia.  Their fall festival is economical ($10 entry/person includes almost all activities) and is close to home.  There's a hayride, a corn maze that is just big enough to get lost in without being overwhelming, a corn crib to play in, and fun slides.  Don't forget the free pie pumpkins (one a person), too. 

I wish more of the sites endured into November; I wish there were season passes for locals; I wish a lot of things.  But nonetheless, a trip to the pumpkin patch is worth it.

Things to Know

• Jeter Farm is one of the most economical options in the Roanoke area and is wonderful for small kids because it is not overwhelming in size.  Your other options include Layman's Family Farm in Montvale, Virginia, where you should check their social media and special events page for deals.  You can see a now-older trip to Layman's from us -- including a pretty tiny E -- and a more contemporary one on this blog as well.  Your options expand with Sinkland Farms (they have live music) and White Fall Farm (we are intrigued by their hay castle concept).
• There are some concessions available and a sheltered picnic area.
• We've made two trips in one day before, visiting with a church group in the morning, leaving our wrist bands on, and returning same day for a little more.  This year, we tagged a Michael's Make Break on for G, where she was delighted to paint a craft pumpkin.  The Make Breaks are great deals -- for about $4, G painted a pumpkin with their supplies and cleanup.  

For Further Exploration

• Virginia is really exploring the agritourism space.  There's plenty to explore.  
• So, this year's trip hit a Hokie Bug Fest trip for E.  Therefore, he missed this one, but he commends Bug Fest to you.

The Bedford Area's Best Pumpkin Patch: Layman Family Farms

Our area of Virginia includes many fun "pumpkin patch" ongoing fall festivals for kids.  Two of the best are Jeter Farm, winning the Roanoke area, and Layman Family Farms, winning the Bedford area. Region-travelling families could actually take a nice weekend and drive 460, spending time at both. This year, we took in opening weekend and teacher appreciation day at Layman Family Farms first. It was a great blast from the past:  K and J went on a date to their original corn maze at their previous site, and we have great memories over the years of our tiny kids visiting this type of attraction, like these of young E at Layman's just a few years ago.

Vast and full of little amusements, Layman Family Farms includes a variety of fun attractions for elementary-aged kids in particular, including a corn crib "sandbox," a train of "cows" pulled by a tractor, hayrides, a corn maze, a treehouse-type playground, an "underground" slide, a farm animal "zoo," a set of short zip lines, and more.  General admission gets you in--and gets you a few chances on some of the attractions that are sort of "ticketed."  These attractions include one of our kids' favorites, the jumping pillow.  Other attractions do not require any form of tickets and include E's pick, the Bee Line zip lines, and G's pick, the corn crib--but don't worry: you can purchase more tickets as needed if you like other areas more.  We smiled with pride, though, as our kids enjoyed some of the simpler things to do, including also a ball toss game that caught E's attention (no prizes, but lots of fun).

Layman Family Farms is likely the area's largest such pumpkin patch site.  Active kids can spend a long time here, especially when the site is not terribly crowded and their adults are willing to indulge them with lots of time on the jumping pillow, on the zip lines, and/or in the corn crib.  We've found less crowding early in the season (September) and later in the season (November), making it easier to spend a little more time on these attractions.  Take time to admire the views, especially from the hayride and "pumpkin patch" area.

If you go, dress to play and be comfortable--and be set to get dusty.  If you are doing photos on site as lots of families do, consider doing them first before you start serious exploring and get a little messy. Take some money for fair food available at the farm; we very much appreciated the lemonade and twisty fries.  Deal hunters should follow the Layman Family Farm Facebook page seasonally for advance purchase and season pass savings; many others can save on special admission days for educators, first responders, and others as advertised on their website.  Early season admission tends to be less expensive as well.  Layman's is home to a small gift shop-type store, and you can, of course, buy Pumpkins.  And definitely review them on TripAdvisor--they just got added!