In preparation for Halloween, most families nowadays buy a pumpkin and do some pumpkin carving. Instead of just adding it to your weekly grocery shop, why not go pumpkin picking? Most places that offer pumpkin picking also offer fun Halloween events for kids alongside.

Here are some Popular Places for Pumpkin Picking in Ireland:

Nore Valley Park, Kilkenny

Come to Nore Valley Park for Halloween and enjoy a family day of fun! This Halloween season you can pick your own pumpkin from their pumpkin patch as part of normal farm entry; they are offering one free pumpkin per family.

Get creative and carve your pumpkin on the farm, or you take it home with you! Just turn up to Reception during pumpkin picking season to enjoy all the fun of the farm, with the added bonus of picking lovely locally grown pumpkins!

On specific evenings they will also have their popular annual Halloween Torchlight Treasure Hunt, scare maze (TBC), and bonfire with toasted marshmallows! These activities must be booked online and take place on Monday 28 October – Thursday 31 October 2018, starting from 7pm each evening.

Alright Pumpkin, Meath

Alright Pumpkin in Fordstown, Co. Meath, have Pick Your Own pumpkin and sweet corn, you can have fun trying out their pumpkin maze and watch pumpkin carving demonstrations. You don’t have to book ahead.

Ballycross Apple Farm, Wexford

Ballycross Apple Farm in Bridgetown, Co. Wexford offer tractor rides to the pumpkin field to select your own pumpkin during their annual Halloween outdoor event. Kids can dress up in their Halloween outfits and they usually offer extra activities, check their website as some need to be booked in advance.

Ladyrath Lane, Meath

At Ladyrath Lane in Wilkinstown, Co. Meath, they have an annual Pumpkin event but it sells out very quickly! Choose from 1000’s of pumpkins, buy and then carve your pumpkins in their Halloween barn. Tickets include face painting, bouncy castles, halloween treats, halloween movies as well as indoor and outdoor games.

This year’s event runs on these dates 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 October, tickets costs €13.95 per child and adults are free.

Scalpwood, Dublin

The annual pumpkin festival at Scalpwood in Enniskerry Road, Kilternan, D18 takes place 19, 20, 26, 27 and 28 October 2019. Children can pick their own pumpkin for a small charge. They have a polytunnel complete with lots of activities to keep your little ones busy. Outside there is a Spookley maze which is a friendly Halloween experience and they also have something a little scarier available for older kids in their Haunted Witches room.

Admission tickets cost €3.50 for over 2s, pumpkins are priced separately. Children must be accompanied by a Parent or Guardian at all times, and they require 1 adult for every 3 children.

Keanes Garden Centre, Galway

Keanes Garden Centre in Kilcolgan, Co. Galway have an annual Pumpkin Festival with Pick your own Pumpkin, Pumpkin Carving, BBQ, and lots of other tricks and treats.

The Farm Grenagh, Cork

At The Farm Grenagh in Grenagh, Co. Cork you can visit the Pumpkin Patch in the Secret Garden and choose the Pumpkin that’s just right for you, then the witches will carve it while you enjoy some Face Painting. Help the Good Witch, Esmeralda, to practice her spells for Halloween and make some sweet treats to take home.

Tinahely Farm, Wicklow

Tinahely Farm in Tinahely, Wicklow offers kids the chance to pick their pumpkin on 25, 26, 27 and 28 October.

The cost is €15.00 per child which includes Tractor Run to the pumpkin patch, pumpkin, hot chocolate, face painting as well as unlimited time in their activity barn. Booking in advance is recommended.

Ashtree Garden Centre, Donegal

There’s an annual Pumpkin Festival at Ashtree Garden Centre, Donegal Town, with pumpkin picking, carving, themed games and halloween treats in the potting shed tearoom.

The Friendly Farmer, Galway

Visit The Friendly Farmer farm and select from the thousands of pumpkins on their pumpkin patch. A great experience for adults and children alike.

Say hello to their Famous Turkeys and all the other animals on our Friendly Farm. Every child picks & goes home with their pumpkin. Selected dates.

Galway Pumpkin Patch

Galway Pumpkin Patch is the West of Ireland’s first ever official Pumpkin Patch. It takes place on the Whelan family farm in Ardrahan in South Galway over the last two weekends in October, and is a hugely popular event.

Come along and check out the mega selection of pumpkins in every shape and size, lots of cool Halloween decor and child friendly games.

All details about Galway Pumpkin Patch can be found on Facebook and Instagram, while tickets can be purchased on www.galwaypumpkinpatch.ie.

Kilkenny Pumpkin Picking

There is pumpkin picking at The Folly, Guest House in Outrath, Kilkenny, open 7 days per week 11am – 6pm. Wellies advised. No bookings necessary.