Fall is officially here! What better way to celebrate than with the best autumn activities the Raleigh area has to offer. Whether it’s picking through a pumpkin patch, getting lost in a corn maze or taking a relaxing hayride, these events and experiences will have you safely enjoying fall fun all season long.
Get lost in a sea of corn as you take on Ken's Korny Corn Maze, the Tar Heel State's longest-running corn maze and a lasting fall tradition in the town of Garner. Put your brain to the test, navigating the nearly 2.5-miles of twists and turns through the 6-foot-tall corn stalks. One trip through typically takes between 60 and 75 minutes to complete. Other activities—mini-golf, rubber duck races, a wooden pirate ship, concessions and more—are also on-site, as well as a produce center for all your seasonal fresh food needs.
Season opens Fri., Sept. 24, then open weekly Fri.-Sun. through Nov. 6 (bring-your-pet weekend is Nov. 5 and 6!). Tickets are $8 for children ages 3-5, and $15 for ages 6 and up.
Phillips Farms in Cary has been serving the area for more than 100 years! Plan your trip out for a family-friendly afternoon navigating the farm’s corn maze and fun park. Or, if you need a little scare to get you into the Halloween spirit, experience a ghoulish night at Haunted Farm where you can visit the Field of Lost Souls, Rebellion Trail, Big Top Terror and The Gore House (not recommended for ages 12 and under).
Admission ($15 cash; $17 credit card) includes corn maze, wagon ride, cow train and family fun park. Haunted Farm admission is $25/$27.
Fun park and corn maze open Fri.-Sun., Sept. 17-Oct. 30. Haunted Farm open every Fri. and Sat. evening Sept. 23-Oct. 29.
Open to the public for more than a decade now, the Naylor Family Farm in Fuquay-Varina has all of your fall fun needs covered! Start out enjoying a hayride on a tractor-pulled wagon before moving on to pick out your own pumpkin in the pumpkin patch. From there, swing by the Pig Pavilion for a supersized dose of cuteness, take a spin on the pedal karts, mine for gems or enjoy various themed playground areas. Finally, it’s off to the races as you wander through the 10-acre corn maze. Families can even conquer the maze at night by flashlight and cap off an autumn evening with a group campfire.
The big new attraction this year is the Super Mega Ride-n-Slide (seen in the video below!).
The farm is open from Sept. 17 through Nov. 6 in 2022. Open Sat. and Sun. in September and November; Open seven days a week in October. Admission is $20; some experiences are an additional cost.
Bring the whole family to pick your own pumpkin at DJ’s Berry Patch in Apex! This small N.C. farm is committed to providing the freshest and finest produce for every season. Not only do they have pumpkins to pick, but also beautiful fall mums. If you’re running short on time and can’t pick your own pumpkin, stop by the stand at DJ’s to shop a variety of pre-picked decorative pumpkins and gourds as well as Indian corn, sweet potatoes, apples and much more.
Open Mon.-Sat., 9am-6pm; Sun., 11am-6pm. Admission is free.
The Family Farm on Avent Ferry in Holly Springs has been in the same family for six generations! In 2012, the farm opened to the public for the fall and Christmas seasons to share farm traditions with you and your family. This includes finding the perfect carving pumpkin. A variety of specialty pumpkins and gourds, corn stalks and hay bales are also available to help you decorate your home for the season. Best of all, the farm’s beautiful backdrop makes it a great place for family pictures. Getting a classic shot on their vintage John Deere is a memory that will last a lifetime.
Season opens Sat., Sept. 24. Open Sat., 10am-6pm, Sun., 1-6pm, and weekdays from 4-6pm. Admission is free.
Venture out to Page Farms, a fourth-generation family farm bringing you fresh fruits and vegetables all year long. With the 2022 pumpkin season in full swing, visitors can come pick pumpkins fresh off the vine, conquer the five-acre corn maze, spend time with farm animals and even go on a hayride around the farm!
Admission ranges from $12 to $15 per person depending on day and time (see details) and includes all of the above and more.
Fall season opens Sat., Sept. 24 through Sun., Oct. 30. Hours are Wed. and Thurs, 9am-1pm; Fri.-Sun., 9am-6pm.
Celebrate all the fall produce that come with cooler temps at Ragan & Holly’s Pumpkin Patch in Apex. Choose from a great selection of pumpkins picked fresh every morning while also shopping for tomatoes, grapes, peaches and more while they’re in season. You can also pick up hay bales, mums and cornstalks to add to your fall décor. Be sure to get a scoop (or two) of their famous homemade ice cream as well!
Open daily, 10am-6pm. Free admission.
Getting hopelessly lost in Crossroads’ 5-acre corn maze is part of what makes visiting so much fun! Race through the hay maze as well or take a relaxing hayride around the farm. There’s also pumpkin picking, giant Jenga, volleyball, S’mores making and more. Bold thrill seekers can even find out what happens when the stalks go dark (remember to bring a flashlight and tons of excitement to the Wendell farm if visiting on a Fri. or Sat. evening!).
Admission is $14 children, $17 adults (includes take-home pumpkin, corn maze and hayride).
Season runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 31. Open Fri., 1-9pm; Sat., 10am-9pm; and Sun., 1-7pm.
More major events upcoming in Raleigh, N.C.
- Downtown Cary Farmers' Market Fall Festival, Sept. 24
- IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC, Sept. 30-Oct. 1
- Triangle Oktoberfest, Sept. 30-Oct. 1
- 94th Annual Wendell Harvest Festival, Oct. 1
- Celebrate Fuquay-Varina, Oct. 1
- Hum Sub Diwali, Oct. 8
- Oak and Smoke Festival, Oct. 8
- N.C. State Fair, Oct. 13-23
- SAS Championship, Oct. 15-17
- Falling for Local at Dorothea Dix Park, Oct. 15
- Exhibit: James Cameron: Challenging the Deep, opens Oct. 15
- Exhibit: The Power of Women in Country Music, opens Oct. 28
- Day of the Dead 5k, Oct. 29
- BBQ, Blues and Brews Festival, Nov. 12
- 78th Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade, Nov. 19
- 27th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration, Nov. 19
