Pumpkin Picking at Jones Family Farm in Shelton, CT

posted by yazmin

2018 Update: Pumpkin season starts September 29, 2018 from 10 am – 5:30 pm. Check out my list of 50 family-friendly fall events around Connecticut.

120 Beardsley Road, Shelton, CT 203-929-8425

One of my favorite places to visit each fall is Jones Family Farm in Shelton, CT. It’s become our family’s yearly tradition to go to the farm for pictures with the pumpkins. Jones Family Farm is one of the larger farms that we have visited in Connecticut. They have hayrides, a corn maze, farm animals, an abundant pumpkin collection and breathtaking views of the fall foliage.

A few years ago we visited Jones Farm on a weekend in October. It felt like half of Connecticut was there. They had people directing traffic, a long line for the hayride, and not enough wagons to carry our pumpkins. To be honest, I was a little turned off. I like my farm experiences to be quaint. I like taking my time and enjoying the scenery, not fighting for parking spaces and wagons. Since I do have fond memories of visiting the farm as a child, I decided to give it another shot. We now try visiting during the week. The experience is completely different. You get all of the positives of a beautiful New England farm without the excessive numbers of people.

TIP: If you’re only able to visit the farm on the weekends, try to get there early to avoid crowds (they open at 10). Also, make sure to bring along your own wagon to cart around your pumpkins. They are on a first-come, first-served basis and you don’t want to be carrying a large pumpkin all the way to the car.

The pumpkin patch is located at Pumpkinseed Hill Farm. My first time to the farm (since being a kid) I had accidentally put in the address for the winery and ended up having to turn around. If I was paying closer attention I would have seen the marked signs for Pumpkinseed Hill along the road to the farm.

Each year the farm showcases a different unique theme. They go all out decorating the farm, painting the playhouses, and creating sets. I love visiting to see this year’s theme comes to life.

The views in mid/late October are magnificent and worth the drive from where ever you live in Connecticut.

A great way to get a view of the foliage and the whole farm is by taking a hay ride. On the weekend the hay ride is very popular and can have a long wait. During the week the wait is minimal. Depending on when you go there are different pickup spots but they are clearly marked. Tickets for the hay ride need to be purchased inside the barn. Credit Cards are accepted.

Jones Farm has an extensive pumpkin selection. They come in all different price points, shapes, colors and sizes. You can even get them directly from the field still on the vine. They also have a great selection of gourds, squash, decorative corn, mums and hale bales.