The cooler temperatures of fall are finally starting to come around here in Texas and I thought it would be fun to take my daughter to a pumpkin patch this year. I think I was motivated by the idea of getting "fun photos" more than anything else. I found Dewberry Farms by doing a search for pumpkin patches in my area online. This was the one that was closest to us, and so we decided to check it out. It is located in Brookshire and directions are available on their website.
When I visited their website http://www.dewberryfarm.com/ to get directions and information about hours and pricing I was pleasantly surprised. It appeared that they had a lot more to offer than just a pumpkin patch. When we got to the farm, we were even more pleased. My mother-in-law, who is from the Northwest where they have plenty of pumpkin patches to go around was even surprised.
Dewberry Farms has a little something for kids of all ages. Toddlers and preschool-aged children will love Little Farmersville, which is a play area. The sign says that children under age six can go inside, but I really think that children ages 2-4 will enjoy it the most. They have swings, a sandbox, a slide, rocking horses, and tricycles that look like tractors for the kids to ride on a track that runs around the play area. My daughter had a blast here and it was hard for us to get her to leave so we could go and see some of the other things.
Another favorite area for her was the barnyard. They have "sky walking goats" that you can feed (it is .25 for a handful of food) as well as chickens, pigs, ducks, geese, and even a donkey. They have pig races in this area every few hours and they also have an area with singing chickens (my daughter really got a kick out of that!).
Rascal's Roundup includes activities for all ages. My daughter really enjoyed the ride on the corn train (it was a bit bumpy for mom, though!). She also enjoyed climbing on the giant haystacks and the giant roller slide (again once was enough of this for mom!). Other activities in this area included a giant jumping pillow, pedal carts (they have a section for "big" kids and younger kids), Rat Racers (like a gerbil wheel for humans), and a self-propelled merry-go-round.
We ended the day with a trip out to the pumpkin patch (there are plenty of pumpkins in all sizes) and a hayride back. There is a line to "check out" and purchase your pumpkin. Be prepared for very long lines in this area. They also have a cute country store at the exit with cute crafty items and homemade candles, jams, and jellies.
Other areas and activities at the farm that we did not get the chance to visit included: a corn maze, target shooting with corn cannons, rubber duck races, a flower patch (where you can pick a bouquet), and gemstone mining.
We really had a great time and spent several hours out there. I was really nervous when we first arrived because the line was so long and it looked like it was so crowded, but the farm is so big and spread out that we didn't have to wait for any of the activities and it didn't seem "crowded" at all once we were inside.
One downfall was the hours. They are open during the week from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for private parties (school groups, etc.) only. They are also open on Friday from 4-10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sundays from "noon to dusk." I wish that they were open on the evenings during the week also. The prices also seem somewhat high (especially when you have to pay separately for the pumpkins), but once you are inside and see all that they have to offer, it doesn't seem as bad. The pricing is as follows:
Children under age 3 - free! (my daughter still fits this "criteria" so it worked out nicely for us)
Kids and adults (age 3-64) $9.50 plus tax
Ages 65+ $8.50 plus tax
Military and Law Enforcement Personnel $8.50 plus tax
**For groups of 15 or more (paying guests), there is a $1.00 discount off admission price (not to be used with any other discount)
If you're looking for a fun way to celebrate the fall season, this is a great place to check out!
more