Where To Pick A Pumpkin Near Moorestown This October

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Now that it's officially autumn, you've probably seen Halloween decorations and pumpkin spice-flavored foods all over the place.

And there's still plenty of time to head out and enjoy local fall festivals, pick pumpkins, and go on hay rides. Local farms and markets have options to choose your own pumpkin, whether you’re planning to bake a pie, carve a jack-o’-lantern, or just add some festive flair to your stoop.

Here are a few suggestions to pick up a pumpkin near Moorestown:

• Indian Acres Tree Farm (111 Tuckerton Road, Medford). Weekday and weekend wagon rides to pick pumpkins. Weekends have a hay bale maze, music, and more.
• Johnson's Corner Farm (133 Church Road, Medford). Wagon rides to fields and orchards 10 a.m. -5 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekends. Harvest festival every weekend through October.
• Springdale Farm Market (1638 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill). Pumpkin picking, hay rides, and more weekends in October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tips and tricks for the perfect jack-o-lantern

And if your pumpkin is destined for a starring role on Halloween night, here's our guide to carving a perfect jack-o’-lantern. Warren Nash on YouTube also shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.

Materials

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:

• Pumpkin. Unless you have a pumpkin-growing operation in the backyard, you'll need to pick out one you like from your local pumpkin patch or a store. Make sure it looks sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season.
• Curved boning knife, or serrated knife from the kitchen.
• Ice cream scooper or scraper
• Paper
• Pencil or pen
• Candle or battery-operated light
• Lighter

Steps

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin then admire your work.