10 pumpkin patches in the Wichita area offer activities beyond just picking pumpkins

It’s pumpkin-picking time.

These 10 patches within an hour’s drive of Wichita offer a range of other activities besides picking pumpkins: from a more relaxed outing at an orchard where visitors can also pick apples and sample cider to more energetic activities like zipping along zip lines and shooting paintballs. A few also offer special events.

This year, some of the patches have streamlined or changed operating hours and some are now requiring signed liability waivers. Most of the patches are already open or are opening the last weekend of September, with three opening the first weekend of October. All patches sell pumpkins by the pound.

Open now or opening this weekend

Walters’ Farm, 10001 NW U.S. Highway 77, Burns, now through Nov. 1. Hours are 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays.

Admission: To avoid lines, online tickets are offered at the discounted price of $16.95 weekdays and $20.95 for the weekends. Gate prices are $20.95 weekdays and $25.95 weekends. It’s free for kids under 2. Season passes for unlimited visits are $50 per person or $175 for family of four, with an option to add people for $40 each.

With 70 acres of play areas and 30 acres of pumpkins, Walters’ Farm is consistently included in state, regional and even national rankings of best pumpkin patches. New activities are added each year, and this year the owners have added hay bale hoisting and paintball. For $9, a visitor receives 100 paintballs.

Most activities, such as the corn maze, jumping pillows, zip lining, hay bales to climb, horse tank boating, a 960-square-foot tree house, a climbable dragon sculpture and an obstacle course, are included in admission. There are a few add-on activities.

Walters’ has also added several entertainment options this year, including meet-and-greets with pythons, tortoises, lizards and other reptiles from the D’zz Spot Reptarium and Educational Center in Burns from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, and Saturdays in October, performances by the Butler Headliners show choir from Butler Community College on Oct. 18 and the gunfighters from Wichita’s Old Cowtown Museum and the Encore show choir from El Dorado High School on Oct. 25.

A pumpkin-painting event happens at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12. The activity costs $40, which includes a pumpkin, painting supplies and one free drink.

More info: 316-320-4150, thewaltersfarm.com, facebook.com/walterspumpkinpatch

Klausmeyer Dairy Farm & Pumpkin Patch, 8135 S. 119 St. W., Clearwater, now through Oct. 31. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily with extended hours for haunted activities 7-10 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25.

Admission: $11 weekends, $9 weekdays, ages 2 and under are free; tickets available online or at the gate. On Sept. 27, admission to the pumpkin patch will be half-price for grandparents who visit with a paying grandchild; on Sept. 28, the 50% discount will apply for veterans, service members, first responders, USPS and school district employees, and medical staff.

The combo pack for most patch activities and the 5-acre corn maze is $15 on weekends or $12 on weekdays. Maze-only admission is $7. Other add-on attractions on weekends include pony rides, farm safari rides and animal feeding. Zombie paintball, offered during the Saturday haunted evening activities, must be booked online.

This year, visitors must sign a liability waiver. While waivers will be available at the gate, visitors are encouraged to fill out the waiver on the website to save time. A QR code will be emailed once you’ve completed the waiver online and you’ll pull that up at the gate.

The theme for Klausmeyer’s corn maze this year is Bee Kind, with the design featuring bees and honeycombs along with the tagline. New activities include a 17-foot slide, soccer goals and tetherball. To reach the haunted barn on Saturday evenings in October, visitors will have to walk through the new haunted cemetery, said co-owner Debbie Klausmeyer.

Weekend visitors can partake of some live animal activities like pig racing, a milking cow demo, a petting zoo, and a safari ride aboard a golf cart to visit and feed the farm’s donkeys, horses and other animals.

More info: 316-706-5391, klausmeyerdairyfarms.com, facebook.com/Klausmeyerpumpkinpatch

Stems Pumpkin Patch, 9221 N. 143rd St. E., Benton, now through Oct. 25. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays, 1-6 p.m. Sundays.

Admission: suggested donation of $5 per person, $20 per family to benefit the Kid-n-Calf mentoring program that helps youth learn responsibilities through caring for calves.

A corn maze has been added, and the playground has been expanded this year. Other activities include hayrack rides, a petting zoo, photo op stations, games and live music.

More info: 316-789-5207, facebook.com/StemsPumpkinPatch

P and M Pumpkin Ranch, 311 16th Ave., Moundridge, now through Nov. 2, and Nov. 8 and 9. Hours: 4–7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Fridays and Sundays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays.

Admission: $16.99 per person for ages 3 and older; $42.99 per person for a season pass.

Two years in the making, the ranch’s new P&M Railroad is making its debut this year. It’s the largest project to date that owners Jamie and Tim Kaminkow have undertaken at the ranch, located about halfway between Wichita and Salina. Along with a 3,000-foot-track, other features of the railroad project include a train depot and tractor fountain in a nearby lake.

They’ve also added two Timber Town playgrounds, one for toddlers and one for older kids.

The ranch’s Western-themed activities include a 65-foot double-lane slide inside a huge barn called Big Red, daily Outlaw Oinker live pig races, a Barnstormer zip line, Outlaw pedal kart tracks, an 80-foot Double Barrel chute slide and more. Most activities are included with admission, with nominal fees for some add-on activities like the pumpkin cannon, gemstone mining, animal feedings and the new paintball gallery. Various-sized private campfire sites are available to rent, starting at $45, on select weeknights and on the weekends.

More info: 620-345-3103, pandmpumpkinranch.com, facebook.com/pandmpumpkinranchmoundridgeks

Pumpkin Pants Ranch, 27799 115th Road, Arkansas City, , now through Nov. 2. Hours are 1-7 p.m. Fridays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays.

Admission: $12, free for ages 2 and under; $25 season pass for ages 3 and older.

This patch includes a fire pit for making s’mores, corn hole games, a corn maze, a milking cow, barrel train and other fall fun. Most activities are included with admission.

More info: 620-741-6477, pumpkinpantsranch.com, facebook.com/pumpkinpantsranch

Applejack Pumpkin Patch, 10007 SW Indianola Rd, Augusta, Sept. 27 through Oct. 31. Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, with extended hours until 8:30 p.m. Fridays.

Admission: $14 for ages 3 and up, $10 for military with ID and those 65 and older. You can prepurchase tickets online. No checks accepted.

Applejack has new hours of operation this year, including being open on Tuesday and extended hours on Friday night, when the popular patch about 6 miles east of Wichita will have live music starting at 5:30 p.m.

Admission includes activities such as a petting zoo, hayride, corn maze, zip line, big slide, balance course, oversized yard games, hay fort, tire swings and more. Artillery activities, including pumpkin and corn cannons, and catfish and goat feedings are available on weekends only, for an added fee.

More info: 316-733-8909, applejackpumpkinpatch.com, facebook.com/applejackpumpkinpatchandvenue

Marietta Farm, 1600 E. US-54 Highway, Andover, Sept. 27 through Oct. 31. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays-Sundays.

Admission: $10 Mondays-Thursdays, $14 Fridays-Saturdays, with children 2 and younger free. Discounts available for military with ID. Visitors will need to complete a liability waiver, which can be done online through the attraction’s website.

All rides, games and concessions are open Friday through Sunday, and several activities are included in admission, such as its corn pit, bouncer, tire swings, zip line, a playground and games. Ticketed activities include a carousel, corn and corn cannons, paintball shooting, bungee bouncer and bumper cars. Weekday activities are limited to the playground and purchasing pumpkins.

More info: 316-227-1563, mariettafarm.com/pumpkin-patch, facebook.com/mariettafarms

Opening first weekend in October

Cedar Creek Farm and Pumpkin Patch, 6100 N. 119th St. W., Maize. Hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Sundays in October, starting Oct. 3.

Admission: $10 per person, free for kids 2 and younger.

Activities include a barrel train, photo op set-ups, a petting zoo, hay bale climbing and a kid’s zone. Fire pits are available to rent during the day, but are free after 7 p.m.

Helicopter rides are scheduled for 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 11, 12, 18, 19 and 26, weather permitting. Tickets are expected to remain the same as last year, costing $50 per rider with a two-rider minimum, three-rider maximum.

More info: 316-295-8718, cedarcreekict.com

Mr. Gourdman’s Pumpkin Patch, 3750 S. Dusty Road, Derby. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 4-26, weekdays by appointment only.

Admission: $10 for ages 4 and older, free for kids 3 and younger. Discounts are available for military. A $2.50 fee will be added for credit cards. Visitors are required to sign a waiver, which can be downloaded from the attraction’s website.

This patch offers some experiences not found at other area patches, including a clubhouse showing “Little Rascals” movies, and a lake where visitors can paddle canoes or bring their own tackle to do catch-and-release fishing. Owner Gary Bussart encourages visitors to bring coolers for picnic; some snacks, like home-baked treats, and beverages are available to buy. Other activities include a maze, cornhole games, a horseshoe pit and walking trails.

The patch has a stage, and Bussart welcomes musicians, comics and other entertainers, including karaoke singers, to provide entertainment.

More information: 316-733-1887, pumpkinpatchwichita.com

Meadowlark Farm, 11249 SW 160th St, Rose Hill. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, with pumpkins becoming available starting Oct. 4. On Fridays in October, the orchard and pumpkin patch will be open until 7 p.m.

Admission: $3.50 for ages 13 and older. Bring your own harvest knife or shears or rent one from the farm store to cut pumpkins from the vine.

If you’re looking for heirloom and old-school European varieties of pumpkins, along with traditional jack-o’-lantern pumpkins, head to Meadowlark Farm. This year, apple-picking is also available in the orchard; owner Tom Brown advises that the available varieties — Arkansas Black, Pink Lady and Gold Rush — might not last through the end of October.

The farm store always has locally pressed hard ciders, homemade root beer and sparkling nonalcoholic cider on tap, with seating available.

From 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, the traditional Celtic band Knocknasheega will perform in the Pumpkin Jam, which is the orchard’s fourth and final seasonal concert this year. Tickets are $5.

More info: 316-518-8907, facebook.com/MeadowlarkFarm, themeadowlarkfarm.com