Our Picks for the Best Pumpkin Patches Near Wilmington NC

U-Pick activities, Fall Festivals, and winding corn mazes are a sign that autumn is here! Pumpkin picking is one of the unique fall activities vacationers can look forward to when visiting coastal North Carolina this season. From the beach to grassy farms, plump North Carolina-grown pumpkins fill the grounds and are ready to be picked! Indulge in the charm of the season where autumn turns coastal North Carolina into a pumpkin paradise.

8 Best Pumpkin Patches near Wilmington

1. Carolina Beach Pier Pumpkin Patch

• When: Runs during October
• Address: 1800 Carolina Beach Ave N, Carolina Beach, NC
• https://carolinabeachpier.com

An oceanfront pumpkin patch isn’t something you see every day—unless you’re visiting Carolina Beach. Carolina Beach brings fall directly to you with truckloads of pumpkins decorating the entire beach set against the backdrop of the Carolina Beach Pier. This family-friendly coastal destination brings the fun from its pier to the sandy shores, where kids can scour the patch for the plumpest, ripest, and orangest pumpkins to take home.

2. Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch

• When: Late September – Late October
• Address: 1401 College Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403
• https://www.welcometowesleyumc.org/pumpkin-patch

While traversing the River to the Sea Bikeway between Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, make a pitstop at the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, located right on the route! You’ll instantly spot pumpkins lining the church grounds, dotted with visitors of all ages enjoying the story time in the haystacks, U-Pick pumpkins, and the festive fall setting. The tradition started in 1990 and is now 30+ years strong, providing the best quality pumpkins on the coast thanks to the Pumpkins USA partnership. All proceeds benefit the church mission.

3. Amber Dale Pumpkin Patch

• When: Starts late September
• Address: 2307 N College Rd, Wilmington, NC
• https://amberdalespumpkinpatch.com

Carve out a piece of your vacation to experience what it’s like to be a part of the family at this family-owned pumpkin patch in Wilmington, NC. It’s a long-running pumpkin patch opening every September. However, it’s the annual Fall Festival that draws all the true pumpkin fanatics. Enjoy free entry to the festival featuring live music, pony rides, and vendors hawking everything pumpkin!

Visit the grounds during the winter and you’ll see them covered with Christmas trees instead of pumpkins.

4. Barr Evergreens of Wilmington

• When: Last weekend in September
• Address: 37 Covil Ave. Wilmington, NC 28403
• https://www.barrevergreens.com/wilmington.php

Small and plump? Tall and skinny? Pumpkins so fat that they look like the guts are ready to burst out? The Barr Evergreens of Wilmington lot has one of the largest selections of pumpkins in New Hanover County. It’s the perfect destination to craft your one-of-a-kind Jack-O-Lantern because no two pumpkins look the same. Don’t delay your search—it’s open daily until they sell out, so arrive early.

5. Northwest Land and Cattle

• When: Late September
• 5014 Northwest Road, Leland
• https://www.northwestlandandcattle.com/pumpkin-patch

Northwest Land and Cattle is the ultimate U-Pick experience in Leland, NC. It has thousands of North Carolina-grown pumpkins to choose from, and the social-media-famous pumpkin wall is a can’t-miss photo opp. Visit during the weekends when your pumpkin patch adventures are accompanied by live music, local music, and farm-style games that the little ones will love.

6. Biggers Market

• When: Open until the end of October
• Address: 6458 Carolina Beach Rd, Wilmington, NC
• https://biggers-market.myshopify.com

Put your fancy vacation rental kitchen to use and craft a delicious autumn-themed meal for your family. Pumpkin is the ingredient of the season, and Biggers Market delivers more than 25 varieties of pumpkins to find the perfect one for your recipe. Whip up a decadent pumpkin pie with the sweet-tasting Cinderella Pumpkin. Fantasize about a silky pumpkin puree crafted from the Fairytale pumpkin. Autumn Golds add an authentic taste of the season to your pumpkin soup. New pumpkin varieties arrive through the market season, so check back to see what’s new.

7. Trask Family Farms

• When: Opens mid-September
• 3650 Blue Clay Rd, Castle Hayne, NC
• https://traskfamilyfarms.com

You can make an entire day out of your visit to the Trask Family Farms, the largest pumpkin patch located only 10 minutes outside of Wilmington. Pluck your favorite pumpkin right off the vine in this authentic U-Pick experience—and pumpkins are just the beginning! The extensive grounds also feature a four-mile-long corn maze, a scene hayride, and more.

8. Hubb’s Farm

• When: Late September to early November
• Address: 10276 N, US-421, Clinton, NC
• https://www.hubbsfarmnc.com

The largest Fall Festival in eastern North Carolina is located only one hour away from Wilmington. Hosted at Hubb’s Farm, this annual fall festival delivers tons of pumpkin and fall fun. Forage the patch for pumpkins ripe for eating, decorating, and carving. Lose yourself in the 15-acre corn maze spanning approximately four miles of trails. Fall in love with charming, yet smelly, farm animals.

Best Time to visit pumpkin patches

Pumpkin patches in the coastal North Carolina area are mostly seasonal. Mid- to late-September is when you can expect local pumpkin patches to open for the season, and they will remain open until the end of October.

Many of the area’s pumpkin patches feature locally grown pumpkins. The quality and quantity vary depending on the harvest season and climate conditions. Contact the pumpkin patches if you’re visiting late in the season since they close after selling out of pumpkins.

Other Pumpkin Goodies Around Town

If pumpkin spiced lattes from Starbucks and pumpkin pies are your jam, then you’ll love exploring these other pumpkin-fueled treats found nearby.

Try the pumpkin spice latte from Java Dog Coffee House in Wilmington

Sip a Pumpkin Joy Roast from Coffee Joy in North Topsail Beach

Order seasonal pumpkin scones from Apple Annie’s Bake Shop in Wilmington

Bite into a toasted sourdough bread topped with pumpkin cream cheese from Malama Cafe in Carolina Beach

Carve out a piece of home on the NC coast

Make your Jack-O-Lantern feel at home in one of our charming coastal vacation rentals. Display your carved pumpkin masterpiece on the Oceanview deck of the Sweet Carolina vacation rental, located less than 30 minutes away from the Trask Family Farm pumpkin patch. The Coconut Cove oceanfront condo is a short walk from the Carolina Beach Pier pumpkin patch, so you won’t have to lug your pumpkin pick too far.

Looking for other fun fall activities in the area? Check out our Wilmington fall guide for spooky events happening this season.