Our Fun Visit to Craven Farm
Last Updated on April 18, 2024 by Kelly
Craven Farm is one of the best pumpkin patches to visit in the Seattle area. It was even featured in Martha Stewart Living and Travel and Leisure. We knew we had good pumpkin patches in Washington State, but we had no idea we had one of the best pumpkin patches in the country! I’ve been going to Craven Farm since I was in preschool, so I’m excited to write about one of my favorite fall traditions. This post will cover 20 fun things to do at Craven Farm’s Fall Festival.
| Be sure to check out our post on the 18 best pumpkin patches near Seattle as well! |
About Craven Farm
Craven Farm has been a multigenerational, family-owned farm since 1949. The Fall Festival began after a local teacher asked the farmers about a safe space to take students to pick pumpkins. That initial suggestion in the 1980s grew into the extremely popular Fall Festival. In 2021, Farmers Mark and Judy Craven retired and sold their beloved farm to the Chadwick family. You can view their retirement letter.
Craven Farm’s Fall Festival draws crowds each year, and the farm is also a popular place for weddings, school field trips, and parties.
Address: 13817 Short School Rd, Snohomish, WA 98290
About the Fall Festival
The Fall Festival has been celebrated at Craven Farm for over 40 years. The festival typically begins in September and ends on October 31st. (For exact dates and times, please see their event website.)
Currently, no reservations are required and there is no entry fee. (Although clearly you will pay for any food or products you purchase at the farm.)
No pets are permitted on the property, except for during their Pooches in the Patch event. (There are two days in which they allow dogs to visit the farm.
There are no indoor public restrooms at Craven Farm. There are port-a-potties available for guests.
Craven Farm accepts most major forms of payment (cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and AMEX). There are some booths at the Fall Festival that are cash only.
Parking is free at Craven Farm. There are two large parking lots. The primary lot consists of gravel and grass, and the overflow lot is mowed field grass. If it has rained recently, expect that the parking lot could be very muddy. (When we went last year, we were parked in the overflow lot and our car and all our shoes were covered in mud. Suffice it to say, we had to go through a carwash shortly after our visit!)
There is no smoking at Craven Farm. (Even in the parking lot.) There is also no alcohol permitted on the property during the festival.
Although there is no entrance fee, you do pay for some of the activities, such as for the corn maze. You can potentially save money if you purchase one of their wristbands. I recommend that you take a look at the activities you want to do and see if it makes sense to purchase a wristband. We didn’t get a wristband this time because we were just planning to pick a pumpkin and eat dinner, but if you want to do the corn maze, apple slinging, and hay ride, then it might be worth it!
20 Things to Do at Craven Farm
1. Stop for a Photo at the Entrance
The pumpkins that are stacked in a grid at the entrance make for the perfect photo opportunity. Don’t forget to pause on your way in to take a family photo!
2. Choose the Perfect Pumpkin
This activity is probably the most obvious. If you’re visiting the pumpkin patch, you should get a pumpkin! There are tons of pumpkins to choose from… over 50 varieties pumpkins, squashes, and gourds! The primary pumpkin patch is located straight past the entrance near the back of the farm.
You can grab a wheelbarrow and head to the patch, or you can choose a pumpkin from their Harvest Market. (Which might be more enticing on an especially muddy day.)
There’s also a small kids’ patch. The patch is filled with smaller-sized pumpkins for little hands to carry.
All of the pumpkins in the patch have already been cut from the vine. You just have to choose the one you like and pick it up. You’ll pay for the pumpkin prior to exiting the farm. (Prices vary by size.)
3. Devour the Apple Cider Donuts
Very high up on our list of favorite things at Craven Farm are the apple cider donuts. These are baked fresh and are served warm. They are sold while supplies last, so don’t wait until the end of your visit to get them.
4. Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Craven Farm has two corn mazes. The first is a large, 15-acre corn maze. The theme of the maze is Alice in Pumpkinland. There are lots of photo opportunities within the corn maze. You can choose between the Bunny Trail (easy) or the Wild Hare Loop (difficult). It takes about 90 minutes to complete the maze, so give yourself time!
The second is a smaller Kids Adventure Maze. This maze is suitable for elementary-aged children. There are some obstacles located throughout the maze for children to climb on or hop through.
On Friday and Saturday nights, they also offer the Night Owl Maze. The evening maze hours are from 6pm to 10pm. The first ticket sales start at 5:30pm, and the last entry to the maze is at 9pm. This is a family-friendly maze that you complete in the dark. (It’s not a haunted maze or anything like that.) Just be sure to bring your own flashlight!
5. Visit the Animal Barn
During our visit, there was a tent filled with baby animals. It was our daughter’s favorite part of visiting the farm! We got to see baby kittens, a baby bull, and baby goats.
6. Build a Scarecrow
For around $30, you can build your own scarecrow. They have the supplies and will show you how to make one to take home with you.
7. Run Around the Play Yard
Craven Farm is a great place for kids to visit. They have a large area covered in wood chips with lots of fun activities. They have boats, tractors, and a teepee to explore. They also have lots of photo opportunities.
8. Sling Apples
Ever try to sling an apple? It’s pretty fun to try to aim the fruit and hit targets in the field. It costs $5 to sling 10 apples.
9. Play Mini Golf
They have a 9-hole miniature golf course that is covered. This is a great activity to do if it starts to drizzle outside.
10. Behold Human Foosball
We have never seen this before, but they have a Human Foosball activity set up. Grab onto one of the poles and try to kick the ball around to your teammates. (Costs $5 per person.)
11. Hop on a Hayride
The farm offers hayrides on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It costs $6 per person. This is a nice relaxing activity if you’re ready for a break and you’d like to see the farm.
12. Race Rubber Ducks
Purchase a rubber duck from the cashier stand and head over to the rubber duck racing area. You’ll use water pumps to race your ducks down pipes. (And you get to keep the rubber duck at the end of the race.)
13. Find a Wagon for Some Cute Photos
If you have young children, find one of the red wagons located throughout the farm. Take some photos with your kiddo, or just use the wagon to carry your pumpkins while you explore the farm.
14. Admire the Storybook Scenes
Throughout the farm, there are storybook scenes with pumpkin heads. Each year we look forward to the different scenes they will create! For example, we have seen Wizard of Oz, Incredibles, and Harry Potter.
15. Find the I-Spy Activity
Younger kids might enjoy the I-Spy Mini Barn. (Located by the corn maze.) There’s a list of things to find in the barn.
16. Ride the Cow Train
Open during the weekends, young children will surely love the cow train. Each child gets to sit in the cow and ride around the tracks. Cost is $4 per person.
17. Buy Produce from the Harvest Market
The Harvest Market is filled with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, squash, and gourds. Purchase some for your fall decor before leaving the farm. We even noticed that they were selling corn stalks three for $1!
18. Visit the Gift Shop
Craven Farm truly has an awesome gift shop. It’s filled with Halloween and fall decor, as well as some of their canned goods.
19. Rent a Fire Pit
If you’re planning to visit the farm on a colder day and you have a larger group, you might want to look into their fire pit rentals. The staff will set up a fire and some rustic seating, as well as a large 10×20 tent and picnic table.
20. Grab a Pumpkin Cookie On Your Way Out
Before you leave, we highly recommend that you purchase one of the pumpkin cookies from the cashier stand. The pumpkin cookies are large and covered in frosting. They are really delicious, so we definitely recommend that you get one for the road!
Food Options
The food choices available at Craven Farm will depend if you are attending on a weekday or weekend. (More food options are sold on the weekend.)
There are some picnic tables that you can use on a first-come, first-serve basis. On a busy weekend day, you might need to stand and eat.
Last year, we really enjoyed their cheese curds. We were looking forward to getting them again this time, but then realized they were only sold on the weekends. So if there’s a certain food you want, be sure to look at their website to see what’s available. (Another idea is you can eat in Snohomish after visiting the farm.)
And like we already mentioned, be sure to get their apple cider donuts and pumpkin cookies. We also really liked the hand-dipped corn dogs!
Nearby Activities
There are a number of places to visit while you are in Snohomish.
Shopping at Downtown Snohomish
In the Historic Downtown Snohomish, you will find a number of specialty shops on First Street. Adjacent to the street is a river and small park. We recommend that you visit Snohomish Pie Company and pick up a slice or two of pie. It’s one of our favorites!
Haywire Brewing Co.
Just a mile away from Craven Farm is Haywire Brewing Co. After a day at the pumpkin patch, grab a pint and relax.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
One unique way to view the fields is from the air! You can book a hot air balloon ride to see the Snohomish Valley.
Lord Hill Park
Drive for about 5 minutes past Craven Farm and you’ll reach Lord Hill Park. There are tons of different trails to explore.
Other Farms
There are numerous other farms in Snohomish. We also recommend Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm, Stocker Farms, and Swans Trail Farm.
Summary
We’ve visited Craven Farm more times than we can count, and it’s one of our favorite places to get a pumpkin in the fall. We hope you enjoyed this post about things to do during Craven Farm’s Fall Festival!
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Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
