Halloween 2026: Best Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes Near NYC — Family Fall Fun

Nothing says October like a muddy-booted morning at a real pumpkin patch. If you're in Bergen County, you don't need to drive hours for the full fall-farm experience — these three North Jersey farms each have a giant corn maze, a sprawling pumpkin patch, and enough cider donuts to keep the whole family happy. Two weekends left before Halloween 2026, so grab your jackets and go.

📍 Alstede Farms — Chester, NJ

1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester, NJ 07930
One of New Jersey's classic fall destinations on 600 acres of preserved farmland. The 2026 giant corn maze is open now, and the family-friendly Harvest Moon Nights (nighttime maze + wagon rides + bonfire) run on Fridays and Saturdays — Oct 16–17, Oct 23–24, and Oct 30–31. Daytime brings pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, a cider mill, and farm animals. Weekend admission starts around $21.99 for ages 2 and up, with timed tickets booked online.

📍 Ort Farms — Long Valley, NJ

25 Bartley Rd, Long Valley, NJ 07853
A six-generation family farm whose 2026 corn maze celebrates America's 250th birthday — winding paths shaped into the Liberty Bell and rockets. Take the hayride (pulled by a big John Deere tractor) down to the roomy pumpkin patch, then tackle the 5-acre maze. The pumpkin patch is open daily 9:30 AM–4:30 PM through November 8 (or until picked out). Admission is about $5.95 on weekdays and $15.95 on weekends.

📍 Heaven Hill Farm — Vernon, NJ

451 State Route 94, Vernon, NJ 07642
Worth the longer drive for scale alone: Heaven Hill's 2026 corn maze spans 10 acres with a "Celebrating America: 250 Years" design (stars, stripes, and "Amber Waves of Grain"), plus a lookout bridge at its center. The Great Pumpkin Festival runs weekends in October (10 AM–6 PM Sat, 11 AM–5 PM Wed–Fri) through November 8, with a pumpkin patch, rides, and games.

🚗 Drive Time

From Tenafly / Fort Lee / Palisades Park: Chester (Alstede) about 45–55 minutes; Long Valley (Ort) about 45 minutes; Vernon (Heaven Hill) about 1 hour. All three are easy same-day trips.

👶 What Kids Can Do

• Pick their own pumpkin right off the vine and haul it home in a wagon
• Get "lost" together in the corn maze — kiddie-sized mazes exist at most farms
• Ride a tractor-pulled hayride to the patch
• Meet farm animals at the petting zoo / barnyard viewing areas
• Burn energy on play areas, pedal rides, and festival games
• Sample warm cider donuts fresh from the farm market

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What Adults Can Do

• Pick-your-own apples, raspberries, and fall produce for the week's cooking
• Tackle the giant evening maze at Alstede's Harvest Moon Nights (flashlight maze + live music + bonfire)
• Browse the farm stores for fresh produce, baked goods, and seasonal décor
• Enjoy hard cider or a wine tasting (Alstede offers tastings for parents)
• Take fall foliage photos — these farm fields peak right around mid-October
• Make it a two-stop day: pair a morning patch visit with an afternoon at a nearby town

🧭 Things to Do Nearby

• Chester's historic downtown — browse the shops and grab lunch before or after Alstede Farms
• Warm pumpkin treats — cider donuts, pumpkin bread, and caramel apples are the seasonal foods to try at every one of these farm markets
• Go early on weekends — timed tickets for popular farms sell out on October Saturdays; book online ahead

🍂 Seasonal highlight: Mid-October is peak season — foliage, crisp air, and the fullest pumpkin patches. After Oct 31 the mazes wind down fast, so this weekend and next are your sweet spots for Halloween 2026.