When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Here’s how it works.
Table of Contents
To make the scariest or funniest carved jack-o-lantern for Halloween, you have to start with the perfect pumpkin! It must be the ideal size and shape for the design you have in mind. Some faces require wide, round pumpkins, while others require thin, tall ones. I usually prefer the wide pumpkins myself, as you can see by the picture below.
Photo by Kathy Solarino for MyWinston-Salem.com, © Cover Story Media, Inc. 2024
You know precisely what you are looking for, and you will want to have lots of fresh pumpkins to choose from. See our list of Pumpkin Patches in Winston-Salem and discover what each farm has to offer. All have a large selection of excellent pumpkins that would make the Great Pumpkin smile!
Apple Family Farm
- 1765 NC Hwy 66S, Kernersville, NC
- 336-993-2279
- Open Soon for Pumpkins. Fall Festival October 18 & 19
- Apple Family Farm Facebook Page
Apple Family Farm offers pumpkin picking, a play area, and new attractions for this fall. They feature a tractor playground, a 24-foot slide, cornhole and tic-tac-toe games, a sand pit, a barrel train, and more. The Apple Family Farm Fall Festival will be held on October 18 & 19, where you can also enjoy vendors, music, and food. Call for more information.
Armstrong Artisan Farm
- 1499 Brook Cove Road, Walnut Cove, NC
- 336-529-4084
- Open September 6 through October 25, Friday & Saturday,
- Armstrong Artisan Farm Website
Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Pumpkin Patches, and Memories are what Fall is all about at Armstrong Artisan Farm. The Farm features multiple U-pick pumpkin patches, two corn mazes, apple cannons, gem mining adventures, horse-drawn and tractor-drawn hayrides, giant racing slides and jumping pillow, petting zoo, U-pick sunflowers, and so much more. There are special events on select weekends, including a live Native American Display, Helicopter Rides, and a Night Maze. See Upcoming Events for more information. The Farm is open from 10am to 7pm, with extended hours on night maze nights until 11 pm. General admission charged, plus additional fees for some activities. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended, especially for special event weekends. However, cash and credit payments are also accepted at the entrance.
Fryes Creek Family Farm
- 9970 N NC Hwy 150, Clemmons, NC
- 336-971-6381
- Opens September 19 through October 31, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
- Fryes Creek Family Farm Facebook Page
Rows of Pumpkins are waiting for you in September and October at Fryes Creek Family Farm. Opening day is September 19, and you will find the pumpkin patch, hay rides, corn maze, apple cannon, and kids’ activities whenever you visit. Fresh-squeezed lemonade and ice cream are also available for purchase.
Pumpkin Carving Tips
Once you have found the perfect pumpkin to carve, you will want to make sure it lasts until Halloween. Here are some tips to keep it fresh and glowing all night long!
- Do not carve your pumpkin too early. Wait until a couple of days before Halloween
- Wash and dry the outside of your pumpkin to remove the dirt
- Remove all the “guts” from the inside of the pumpkin. Clean it out well
- Cover the inside and outside of your pumpkin with a light coat of petroleum jelly or vegetable oil. Be sure to coat all cut edges as well
- Use fairly lights, a battery-powered light, or a battery-powered candle to light your pumpkin. Real candles cook the inside of it
- Place your pumpkin in the shade when outside
- Bring your pumpkin in on hot days and put it in the refrigerator if possible
Photo by Kathy Solarino for MyWinston-Salem.com, © Cover Story Media, Inc. 2025
Hawks Pumpkin Patch
- 2558 W Clemmonsville Road, Winston-Salem, NC
- 336-200-3133
- Opens for pumpkins daily, September 19 through October 31
- Hawks Pumpkin Patch Facebook Page
If you are looking for a pumpkin patch and great photo ops for Fall family photos, you will want to head to Hawks Pumpkin Patch. They have pumpkins of every size, shape, and color. You are sure to find the perfect one. They do not charge admission, and dogs on a leash are welcome (owner must pick up after them). Dress them in their cutest Halloween costumes! The farm is open daily from 9am – 7pm. There are wagons for climbing on, plenty of room to run around, food trucks, apples, and sweet treats available.
Zane’s Clodbuster Farm
- 5500 Leonard Farm Road, Kernersville, NC
- 336-409-0796
- Opens daily, September 19 through November 9
- Zane’s Clodbuster Farm Facebook Page
You will find eating pumpkins and carving pumpkins, as well as beautiful mums, at Zane’s Clodbuster Farm. They also feature hayrides and an impressive 6-acre corn maze. Get a sneak peek of the maze on their Facebook page. A bonfire will occasionally be held at night, and after dark corn maze adventures with a flashlight or in total darkness! The farm is open Monday through Thursday, 3pm-7pm, Friday, 3pm-10pm, Saturday, 10am-10pm, and Sunday, 1pm-6pm.
Jones Strawberry Farm
- 5480 Seward Road, Pfafftown, NC
- 336-462-8779
- Open September 13 through October 26, Sat & Sun, & Fri beginning Oct 3
- Jones Strawberry Farm Website
Get lost in the challenging 5-acre corn maze at Jones Strawberry Farm and find your perfect pumpkin, too! The corn maze takes about 30-45 minutes to complete. Then, enjoy the other activities on the farm, including a hay ride, football toss, slingshot, tug-of-war, sack races, pumpkin Tic Tac Toe, giant 4-in-a-row, and more. There are also food trucks and a market. There is no fee to look for a pumpkin or enter the market, but admission is charged for other farm activities. Flashlights are required after dusk for the corn maze, and an additional charge applies to certain activities, such as the slingshot. Open Saturdays 10am-9pm, Sundays, 1pm-6pm, and beginning October 3, Fridays, 3pm-9pm.
Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils
If you need some ideas about how to carve your jack o’ lantern, these sites offer free printable stencils you can pin to and trace onto your pumpkin to help with carving. Check them out!
- Pumpkin Carving Stencils – 40 Free Printable Templates
- Monday Mandala – Pumpkin Carving Stencils, Free PDF Printables
- Muse Printables – Free Printable Scary Pumpkin Stencils
Kernersville Pumpkins And Christmas Trees
- 843 Old Winston Road, Kernersville, NC
- Open Daily, September 27 through October 31
- Kernersville Pumpkins and Christmas Trees Facebook Page
You will find a sea of pumpkins of all kinds, sizes, colors, and shapes at Kernersville Pumpkins and Christmas Trees. These are fresh, just cut from the vine pumpkins with new shipments arriving all the time, so you will undoubtedly find the pumpkin you are looking for here. They also have heirloom corn, vibrant mums, gourds, wreaths, and a corn pit for the kids to play in. This is an excellent spot for fall family photos as well. Open daily, 10am-7pm, with no admission fee.
Red Hound Farms
- 3239 Frye Bridge Road, Clemmons, NC
- 336-462-3954
- Open September 27 through October 31, Saturdays & Sundays
- Red Hound Farms Facebook Page
Enjoy the Fall Farm Experience at Red Hound Farms. Find your perfect pumpkin and enjoy a day of seeing and petting the goats, cows, horses, and other farm animals, wagon rides, cow train, corn maze, gem mine, shop the country store, and more fun activities. Have a great family fun day on the farm. The farm is open 10am-5pm.
Smith Hollow Farm
- 5920 Smith Hollow Road, Kernersville, NC
- 336-813-2409
- Open September 20 through November 8, Saturdays in Sept & Nov, Sats & Suns in October
- Smith Hollow Farm Website
Celebrate Fall On The Farm at Smith Hollow Farm. Find a pumpkin you love and have a day full of fun with all the activities included with admission, such as unlimited 3-acre corn maze, unlimited hay ride, animal viewing, corn pit, hay runner, trike track, farm basketball, diggers, bouncy animal corral, life-size checkers, kid-friendly ax-throwing, and so much more. There is an additional cost for some activities, including purchasing your pumpkin, horse rides, the fire engine train, extra launching apples, concessions, the bakery, and you-pick flowers. The farm is open 11am-6pm, on September 20 & 27, all Saturdays and Sundays in October, and November 1 & 8.
Fall Is The Perfect Time For Outdoor Fun
The crisp, fresh air is invigorating and signals the beginning of the fall season, along with all the activities it brings. Visiting pumpkin patches is only one way to enjoy the day. See our Fall Activities article for other family fun ideas.
Do you carve your pumpkin or paint it? Tell us about it in the comments.
