COS Pumpkin Patch Preview: Where to Take Your Kids This Fall
Pumpkin season in Colorado Springs officially starts this weekend. Long Neck Pumpkin Farm opens Saturday, September 20 — which means if you want to be among the first families out there this year, your window is two days away. Venetucci Farm and the Miners' Pumpkin Patch at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry follow in October with their own distinct experiences. Here's what each one is actually like and what to know before you go.
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Advertise hereLong Neck Pumpkin Farm — Opens September 20
Long Neck is the first of the season to open and runs the longest into October. It's open Fridays through Sundays from 10am to 5pm, starting September 20 and running through October 26. If you've got little ones who want to run around as much as pick pumpkins, this is the right fit — the activities lean toward kid-powered fun. There's a hay bale slide, corn boxes for digging and playing, tractor swings, and a Story Barn where kids can catch stories and do simple crafts.
There's also a Farmers Market and seasonal produce on-site, which makes it easy to turn the outing into a full afternoon rather than a quick stop. Long Neck is a solid choice for the September weekends before the October crowds build up, and opening on September 20 means the weather is typically still warm enough for everyone to enjoy it without layers.
Venetucci Farm Pumpkin Fest — Opens in Early October
Venetucci Farm is the name most Colorado Springs families have been going to for generations. The farm is run by Gather Mountain Blooms and opens in early October for weekend-only operations. Hours are Fridays from 9:30am to 2pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30am to 4pm, with the farm running through late October.
Admission is $5 per person for ages three and up. Pumpkins are $10 each. The activities include hayrides, farm animals, a craft fair, a maze, a makers market, and you-pick flowers — it's a fuller production than a standard patch, and the themed weekends (including the Great Pumpkin Weekend in mid-October and a Costume Party on the final weekend) give families reasons to come back more than once. Check gathermountainblooms.com for the full schedule, exact opening date, and any special event details before you go.
Miners' Pumpkin Patch at WMMI — Every Saturday in October
The Western Museum of Mining and Industry at 225 North Gate Blvd runs the Miners' Pumpkin Patch every Saturday in October, and it's the most Colorado Springs-specific option on the list. You're picking pumpkins on a 27-acre campus next to working mining equipment, vintage machines, and a gold panning setup. It's genuinely educational in a way that most pumpkin patches aren't.
Tickets are $11 purchased online in advance, $13 at the door. Pumpkins are $6 each ($7 at the door), and individual activities like hayrides cost an additional $5. Beyond the hay ride and pumpkins, there are animal encounters, lawn games, a pumpkin catapult (a definite kids' highlight), gold panning, and demonstrations of vintage mining machinery. Local 4-H groups bring animals for meet-and-greets on weekends. Find the schedule and buy tickets at wmmi.org.
Quick Reference
| Patch | Opens | Days/Hours | Admission | Pumpkins | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Neck Pumpkin Farm | Sep 20 | Fri–Sun, 10am–5pm (through Oct 26) | See website | Included | — |
| Venetucci Farm Pumpkin Fest | Early October | Fri 9:30am–2pm, Sat–Sun 9:30am–4pm | $5/person (ages 3+) | $10 each | gathermountainblooms.com |
| Miners' Pumpkin Patch (WMMI) | Every Saturday in Oct | Saturdays in October | $11 online / $13 door | $6 online / $7 door | wmmi.org |
What's Next
Long Neck Pumpkin Farm is your first opportunity this weekend — check their social channels for any opening day updates before you head out. For Venetucci Farm, the best way to stay on top of the exact opening date and themed weekend schedule is to follow Gather Mountain Blooms at gathermountainblooms.com. The Miners' Pumpkin Patch at WMMI (225 North Gate Blvd, Colorado Springs) is the most activity-dense option if you want a full two-to-three-hour outing — tickets at wmmi.org. The Cool Science Festival kicks off October 3 at UCCS with free family STEM events, so families looking for a non-pumpkin-patch fall outing have that option coming up as well.
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