Visit McLean Area Pumpkin Patch Before It’s Too Late

Don’t miss out, this is the last full weekend in October to visit a McLean area pumpkin patch and buy your Halloween decorations.

If your family still wants to drop by a local pumpkin patch, we have a list of stands open in the area. And, we have tips on pumpkin carving and how to perfectly roast those seeds for snacks.

In many cases, coronavirus precautions have merely changed — not shut down — area pumpkin patches and their entertainment options. Below is a list of some of our favorite pumpkin patches near McLean, with an address, hours and website to check for more details.

Krop's Crops, 11110 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA

Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in shop; walk-in hayrides to pumpkin patch weekends in October from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Krop’s Outdoor Vintage Market will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Meadows Farms Nurseries, 10618 Leesburg Pike, Vienna VA

Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. No fall festival this year, but a pumpkin patch is offered during operating hours.

Reston Farm Garden Market Fall Fest, 10800 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston, VA

Hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 25 to Nov. 1, timed tickets at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

DePaul's Urban Farm, 2599 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, VA

Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Merrifield Garden Center, 8132 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA

Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Cox Farms, 15621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, VA 20120

Hours: Fall festival is canceled this year. A drive-thru market is open from Sept. 25 to Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 1 to 2 from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sales are online only.

If we missed your favorite pumpkin patch, be sure to share it with readers in the comments section. Note: St. Thomas Episcopal Church in McLean is not holding a pumpkin patch in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

After you gut the pumpkin for carving, keep the seeds in a bag until you are ready to roast them. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with potassium, packed with fiber and protein, and are the perfect snack to serve your little ghosts and goblins.

Here’s our favorite recipe for baking seeds:

Separate the seeds in a bowl as you clean each pumpkin. Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Rinse the seeds in cold water and strain. Pat seeds dry with a paper towel. In a bowl, toss the seeds in just enough olive oil to coat.

Spray an edged baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and spread seeds in a single layer. Season seeds with kosher salt to taste. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy. Seal leftovers in an airtight plastic container.

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Olive oil
• Sea salt

Make Your Jack-O’-Lanterns Last

When you carve that perfect pumpkin, you can plan on it lasting up to 10 days before it starts to show signs of aging. However, if you want to make it last longer, you can mix three teaspoons of bleach with 3 gallons of water and spray the solution throughout, according to Clorox.

SEE ALSO:

• 2020 Halloween Events For The Family Around McLean
• 2020 Fall Foliage Peak Map: When Leaves Are Best In Virginia