The Queens County Farm Museum is showing families a “gourd” time in celebration of autumn and the Halloween season. October is pumpkin month at the farm, meaning visitors can wander its 47-acre grounds in search of the perfect pumpkin.
Visitors from around the five boroughs this weekend shared their experiences, noting that not only was it a fun opportunity to bring pumpkins and treats home but an educational opportunity for kids to learn about agriculture and farm animals.
Queens Farm visitor Emmanuel and his family at the pumpkin patch.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
One visitor, Emmanuel, visited the farm with his two-year-old son because he wants him to learn how food is grown.
“It’s important for him to learn agriculture, farming and all that,” Emmanuel said. “The weather’s getting nicer, so it’s just good for him to learn, see the change of leaves, enjoy the autumn weather and learn about all the farmland and homesteading that he can.”
Evan and his family, who travelled from Manhattan to the Queens Farm.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Evan travelled with his family from Manhattan to Queens Farm to pick out pumpkins, explaining that there aren’t many places to get them back in his borough.
“It’s fun for the kids,” Evan said. “We came a few years ago I think just to see some of the animals, but this is our first time at the pumpkin patch. It’s great that the pumpkins are just right there when you enter. You don’t have to go 20 minutes like you do outside the city, which is nice.”
A family checks out some pumpkins and gourds available for purchase.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Aside from the expansive pumpkin patch, visitors can hop on a tractor for a tour of the farm’s pastures, woody areas and growing fields for $6 per person. They can also visit hens, steer, alpacas, sheep, goats and pigs and give them animal feed from the farmstore.
A selection of gifts, crafts, toys, fresh raw honey and eggs, refreshments, plants and yarn — made from the farm’s alpacas and sheep — are also available at the store.
An assortment of scarecrows for sale at the farm.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Queens Farm, located at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy. in Glen Oaks, is open daily with operating hours on weekdays from 1-5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The farm will also host a “Halloween on the Farm” ticketed event on Oct. 31 where visitors can wear costumes and go trick-or-treating at nine candy stations. Tickets are $25 for children ages 3-11, $15 for adults and free for children ages 2 and under. Tickets are available here.
For more information about the Queens County Farm Museum and upcoming events, visit QueensFarm.org.
George and his family enjoying the pumpkin patch and trying some treats at the farm.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
A young visitor wanders around the pumpkin patch with his family.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
A father takes photos of his daughter picking out her own pumpkins.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Parents visit the pumpkin patch with their child dressed as a chicken.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud