While Pontefract’s Farmer Copleys holds the title as the UK’s largest pumpkin festival, the surrounding Wakefield district and Five Towns area is brimming with fantastic pumpkin patches and autumn activities catering to every kind of seasonal outing. Whether you are looking for an all out festival day, an indoor painting session to avoid the mess at home, a free community trail, or a traditional pay-as-you-pick farm trip, here is where to find the best pumpkin experiences across the region.
Farmer Copleys
As the true pioneer of pick your own pumpkin in the UK, Farmer Copleys remains the premier autumn destination in West Yorkshire. Growing more than 300,000 homegrown pumpkins spanning 40-plus varieties, visitors can hunt across vast fields for classic orange carvers, ghostly white pumpkins, blue squashes, and warty novelty gourds.
Beyond the sprawling fields, the farm transforms into a massive festival complete with tractor rides, vintage fairground carousels, live theatrical performances, roaming characters, themed photo backdrops, and street food stalls serving everything from hot pumpkin soup to wood-fired pizzas.
Blacker Hall Farm
For families who want to skip the messy pumpkin carving at the kitchen table, Blacker Hall Farm offers a hugely popular picking and painting experience. Located in Calder Grove, visitors can select their ideal pumpkin from the decorated patch before taking it directly to the covered painting stations equipped with child safe acrylic paints and crafting supplies.
The event includes entry to the Little Farmers Trail to meet the resident animals, plenty of seasonal photo setups, fancy dress competitions with spot prizes, and autumn treats from the award-winning farm shop.
Horncastle Farm
Horncastle Farm brings traditional rural charm to the spooky season with its dedicated autumn Pumpkin Festival. Tucked away on aptly named Cow Lane, this working farm offers a fantastic mix of hands on picking and seasonal entertainment.
Visitors can head into the fields to pick their crop, head to the undercover pumpkin carving barn, climb the giant straw bale pyramid, and enjoy tractor rides, fairground attractions, and live entertainment. Hot food and themed drinks are available on-site, and you can get some great farm to table food at the Tatie Shed.
Ossett Pumpkin Trail
For a fantastic, budget friendly option that costs nothing to attend, the Ossett Pumpkin Trail offers a charming autumn adventure for families. Organised by local community volunteers, this free event invites visitors to explore Ossett town centre while hunting for hidden pumpkins big and small.
Participants can pick up an official trail map from Eller Coffee, stroll through the town spotting festive pumpkin displays in local business windows, and return their completed map to Eller Coffee to be entered into a special prize draw. It is a wonderful community focused afternoon out for all ages.
Redwood Farm
Situated right near Ardsley Reservoir, Redwood Farm offers a traditional and low-key pumpkin picking day out. There are no entry fees or strict online ticket slots required; visitors simply grab a wheelbarrow, wander through the homegrown field at their own pace, and pay for whichever pumpkins they choose based on size.
It is a great choice for anyone seeking an authentic farm trip or a quick pumpkin stop paired with a cozy autumn stroll around the neighbouring reservoir.
