Best pumpkin patches to visit around Derbyshire ahead of Halloween

Most offer more than just the pumpkins, providing a great day out for all the family

As the leaves start to fall and big jumper weather finally arrives there are some nice things to look forward to. Halloween, for one, is right around the corner. While you may not have let go of summer yet, Derbyshire's hard-working farmers have been preparing their stocks since last year for the thousands who visit to pick their favourite spooky squash.

Pumpkin picking in Derbyshire has always been a massive success, and many Derbyshire farms have been eagerly anticipating the return of the season. If you are planning on picking your own pumpkin this year, our comprehensive list below is the perfect guide for you.

Mr Pumpkin 2024

• Where: Lime Farm, Mansfield Road, Morley, Derby, De7 6JU
• When: Check website for availability as dates are varied and subject to ticket availability.

An absolutely massive and varied choice of pumpkins are available at Lime Farm this year after the arable Morley Farm planted over 90,000 pumpkins with fifty different varieties to choose from all for the Halloween season. There is a massive selection including the standard orange pumpkin, white pumpkins, star shaped pumpkins, giant pumpkins, tiny pumpkins and many more. More information can be found here.

Pumpkin and Potato Patch

• Where: Goldhurst Farm, Trusley, Ashbourne DE6 5JF
• When: Saturday October 19 and Sunday October 20

Goldhurst Farm returns once again this October, however, due to tough conditions they have not been able to produce anywhere near as many pumpkins as in the previous two years of operation. Therefore the patch will only be open for one weekend. Parking and entry will be free. Further details can be found on their Facebook page here.

Bluebells Farm Park's Halloween Festival

• Where: Bluebells Farm Park, Locko Rd, Derby, DE21 7AR
• When: The weekends of October 18, 19, 25

The farm will be hosting two different events this year with the lantern-lit pumpkin picking kicking off at the start of October and the Bluebells school of Witchcraft and Wizardry starting at the latter part of the month.

There will be an array of spooky activities for the whole family to enjoy for the whole month of October, with the pumpkin picking trail kicking off the month with a “pumpkin village, monster mash bash, lantern lit ghost trail, play areas and warming food and drink available”. The school of witchcraft and wizardry will include Squiditch, care of enchanted insects, unicorn racing, the cat hat, a navigation game, pumpkin carving, herbology and animal activities.

For more information head to the Bluebells Website that can be found here.

Ashover Family Farm

• Where: Eastwood Hall Farm, Eastwood Ln, Chesterfield, S45 0BD
• When: Opening Saturday October 5 and lasting until October 31. From 10am to 5pm.

Ashover Farm has boasted of a massive stock for this year's pumpkin patch, with a massive variety of pumpkins in stock. No tickets are needed for the event and free parking will be available on site. For more details you can visit their Facebook page here.

Shirley Pumpkins

• Where: Shirley Hill Farm, Derby Lane, Shirley, DE6 3AT
• When: Every weekend from Saturday October 12 - Friday October 25, from which the patch will be open everyday until the end of October.

Organisers have confirmed that Shirley Pumpkins will return for another year of serving the public in 2024, with more details due to be announced on their Facebook page, here.