Where To Pick Pumpkins Near Parsippany This Fall — And How To Carve Them

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Heading out to a patch or field around Parsippany 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 Parsippany. Here are a few of our favorites:

- Conklin Farm U-Pick, 10 Vreeland Ave., Montville: Just a short drive from Parsippany, Conklin Farm offers pick-your-own pumpkins in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors through Oct. 31. Visitors can also shop for gourds, mums, cornstalks, and other fall decorations. Weekend attractions include hayrides, hot cider donuts, fresh pies, and a chance to win a 100-pound pumpkin. Hours are weather-dependent, so check the farm's website before visiting.

- Fairfield Farms & Greenhouses, 177 Big Piece Road, Fairfield: The farm's fall festivities run through Oct. 31, featuring pumpkin picking, hayrides, a child-friendly corn maze, a pumpkin slingshot, a rope maze and other activities. Weekday farm store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with festival activities from 1 to 6 p.m. On weekends, activities run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The farm also offers nighttime haunted hayrides.

- Hillview Farms, 223 Meyersville Road, Gillette: This family-owned farm offers pick-your-own pumpkins throughout October, along with apples and other seasonal produce. Weekend tractor rides take visitors to the orchards and pumpkin patches. The farm market also sells cider, pies, honey, and fresh produce. The market is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with fields closing at 5 p.m.

- Ort Farms, 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley: Families can take a tractor-pulled hayride to the pumpkin patch and explore a five-acre corn maze. Other seasonal attractions include pony rides, a cow train, farm animals, and play areas. The pumpkin patch is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last admission at 5:30 p.m. The farm market is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission fees apply for certain activities and fall festival weekends.

Visitors should check individual farm websites or social media pages before heading out, as hours, admission prices, and pumpkin availability may change depending on weather and field conditions.

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

1. Cut it: If cutting from the top of the pumpkin, make sure to do it at 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, and step back and admire your work.