GLASTONBURY, CT — Heading out to a patch or field around Glstonbury to pick the best or biggest pumpkin isn't just about finding the perfect Halloween jack-o'-lantern.
It's one of those fall traditions that gets people outside, into the fields and together with family and friends — with a little fresh air, a little dirt and, ideally, a pumpkin worth hauling home.
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Many pumpkin patches and fields make a day of it, with hayrides, corn mazes, games for the kids and other seasonal activities. Picking your own pumpkin also supports the local farmers who planted, tended and harvested the crop.
Whether you plan to carve a jack-o'-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin near Glastonbury.
Here are some current 2026 options for getting pumpkins in Hartford County:
- Brown's Harvest — Windsor, 1911 Poquonock Ave. The fall festival includes a pumpkin patch, hayrides, a 5-acre corn maze and other activities. The festival runs weekends through Nov. 1, with additional dates.
- The Pickin' Patch — Avon, 219 Nod Road. The farm offers pumpkins and other fall decorations. It is open daily during the fall season.
- Rolling Hills Farm — Glastonbury, 513 Main St. The farm offers pick-your-own pumpkins and tractor-pulled hayrides to the pumpkin field.
- Belltown Hill Orchards — South Glastonbury, 483 Matson Hill Road. The orchard offers pick-your-own pumpkins from September through October.
- Fair Weather Growers — Rocky Hill, 1146 Cromwell Ave. Its 2026 Fall Festival includes a pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze and farm animals, with a pumpkin included with general admission.
- Foster Farm — South Windsor, 90 Foster St. Pumpkins are pre-picked and available for visitors to choose from, along with fall activities including corn mazes and hayrides.
- Hartford Orchards — Glastonbury. The farm offers U-pick pumpkins and apples from September through Nov. 1. U-pick hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Trusz Farms — East Granby, 129 S. Main St. The farm stand is known for seasonal pumpkins along with other farm products.
- Easy Pickin's Orchard — Enfield, 46 Bailey Road. The orchard offers pumpkins during the fall season along with other pick-your-own crops.
- Barden Farm — New Hartford, 45 Burgoyne Heights Road. The farm offers a pumpkin patch and hayrides, with pick-your-own pumpkins available in October.
How To Carve A Jack-o'-Lantern
Keep in mind that carving and baking pumpkins aren't the same. The former are grown in fields to be large, more vibrantly colored, and relatively hollow. The watery flesh doesn't have the same flavor as baking pumpkins, which tend to be smaller, have thicker, harder-to-carve walls and sweeter flesh. For those, you'll probably need to head to the grocery store.
Pumpkins for carving should appear sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season. Here are some tips for carving a perfect jack-o'-lantern from Warren Nash on YouTube, who shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.
Pumpkin carving kits will go a long way in getting what you need. They typically include saws, a scooper, a drill and multiple patterns. If you're looking for the items individually around the house, here's what you could use:
- Curved boning knife, or serrated knife from the kitchen
- Ice cream scoop or scraper
- Paper
- Pencil or pen
- Candle or battery-operated light
- Lighter
Steps
- Cut it: If cutting from the top of the pumpkin, make sure to do it on an inward angle, so the top won't drop inside the pumpkin when you put it back on. Michael Natiello, creative director for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze, said it's better to cut the pumpkin from the bottom, in a series of pumpkin carving tips from Good Housekeeping. That helps prevent the sides from caving in later.
- Gut it: Use the ice cream scoop, or your hands, to remove all the seeds and other debris from inside the pumpkin. Do a thorough cleaning and make sure nothing is left sticking to the sides.
- Trace it: Draw your design on a piece of paper before putting it on the pumpkin itself. That way, it is easier to trace the design onto the pumpkin.
- Make the cuts: Cut out the design. Natiello said to use a fork or pencil to poke holes around the lines. When cutting, get the big pieces of pumpkin out first and clean up the edges later.
- Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin, and step back and admire your work.