Fall is here, and it's time to find a great pumpkin patch! The temps are cooler, there’s a hint of spice in the air. We’re heading toward a fun season of holidays, cooking, and celebrating. With the change of the calendar, the color scheme changes to a palette of browns, reds, yellows, and oranges. And what’s a better autumnal orange symbol than the pumpkin? Pumpkins make ideal porch décor for the month of October and beyond. It can instantly transform a mantle or tabletop into a festive scene. It can also form the basis of terrific baked goods like pies, muffins, and pumpkin bread. And don’t forget those pumpkin spice lattes… although buying one at Starbucks seems much preferable to trying to make one from scratch. There are some terrific places to pick the perfect pumpkin around the Lowcountry. Some are farms, while others are churches whose parking lots area filled with them, with the proceeds going to very worthy causes. Whichever you choose, you can have your pick of the prettiest pumpkin around.
Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch
Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant is one of the most visited locations in the Charleston area. Its plantation and gardens are popular for daily tours, countless weddings, special events, and even the filming of movies. Boone Hall also is a working farm, producing many delicious crops it sells to the public at the Boone Hall Farms Roadside Produce Stand. They sponsor u-pick areas for strawberries in late spring, along with a festival to go with it. Well, October means pumpkin time at Boone Hall, and the opening of the Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch. The Pumpkin Patch experience comes with several parts. First, there’s the Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch Family Friendly Monster Hayride. For just $10 per carload, you and your group can drive through an extensive haunted and decorated hayride trail, with several themed displays along the way. After that, you’re invited to walk your way through the popular annual corn maze. This year’s design honors Willie McRae, Boone Hall’s beloved owner who passed away earlier this year. Then, pick out your favorite pumpkin from a huge display near the produce stand. There will be several great photo ops for your family, along with fun festival food for sale. Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch operates from 10:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October. It’s located at 2434 N. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant. Call (843) 884-4371 for more information.
Pumpkin Patch at Legare Farms
Legare Farms is likely the oldest working farm in continual existence in the Lowcountry, having been established way back in 1725. They produce, raise and sell a myriad of all-natural products on their 300-acre farm on the Stono River, west of Charleston. These include CSA boxes, fresh produce, jams and jellies, pickles, salsas and fresh locally raised and chemical-free beef, pork and lamb. Weekends during October, they run a “Pumpkin Patch & More.” Yes, they’ll have a myriad of pumpkins to choose from. They’ll also have a farm animal barnyard, playground, hayrides to feed the cows, horseback rides, a scarecrow factory (you get a scarecrow package that you can take home to build your very own), a gem mine where you can pan through buckets for treasures, and the popular corn cannon. Gate admission, playground and the farm animal barnyard are all free; there are fees for the other activities. They also have plenty of food and drinks for sale. Pumpkin Patch hours are Fridays from 1:00 – 6:00, Saturdays from 10:00 – 6:00, and Sundays from noon – 6:00. Legare Farms is located at 2620 Hanscombe Point Road on Johns Island. Call them at (843) 559-0788 for more information.
Hibben United Methodist Church’s Pumpkin Patch
Hibben Methodist is commonly known as one of the best places to get your pumpkin. It’s located east of the Ashley River, along Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant. You know fall is here when you see the sea of orange fill their parking lot each year. It’s been a Lowcountry tradition ever since they started it in 2001. Purchasing your pumpkin here has added benefits. Their pumpkins are raised on Navajo land in New Mexico, then harvested by Native Americans. Approximately 60% of proceeds are returned back to the farmers, who supply the pumpkins on a consignment basis. The remaining proceeds go to some of the very worthy causes which the church supports, including Water Mission and Windwood Farm. Hibben also operates a much-needed warming shelter for the homeless during cold nights in winter. Another bonus to buying at Hibben - it is open seven days a week. Hours are Monday through Friday from 11:00 – 7:00, Saturdays from 10:00 – 7:00, and Sundays from noon – 7:00, all through the month of October. Call (843) 884-9761 for more information. It’s located at 690 Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant.
John Wesley UMC
A couple other UMC churches are also involved in the pumpkin patch project. John Wesley United Methodist Church is hosting their pumpkin patch at 626 Savannah Highway in West Ashley. Their youth group is sponsoring the patch, and photo ops abound onsite. Proceeds go toward funding youth mission trips to help those in need. This pumpkin patch is also open all week long during October. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm, Saturdays from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm, and Sundays from noon – 8:00 pm. For more information, you can reach them at (843) 766-5596.
James UMC
St. James United Methodist is another church hosting a pumpkin patch. They’ve kept up the tradition for more than twenty years. Pumpkin purchases help support both local and global missions, including Helping Hands of Goose Creek, Water Mission, RISE Against Hunger, and Healing Guatemala. They, too, are open seven days a week, from 11:00 am till 7:00 p.m. through the end of October. St. James UMC is located at 512 St. James Avenue in Goose Creek. You can reach them at (843) 553-3117 with any questions or for more information. So pick a perfect pumpkin from a photogenic pumpkin patch. And when you’re ready to pick a great Charleston beach house, just give us a call at Exclusive Properties. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger