This Tennessee Pumpkin Patch Makes A Perfect September Weekend Escape
September has a special kind of energy. Summer is starting to loosen its grip, pumpkins are showing up again, and weekend plans suddenly sound better with a little fresh air involved.
A popular pumpkin patch in Tennessee offers an easy excuse to get out of town and enjoy the start of fall. Visitors can pick pumpkins, take family photos, spend time outdoors, and enjoy seasonal activities without needing a complicated plan.
It is the sort of outing that works well for couples, families, or anyone ready for a break after a busy week.
The timing also makes September especially appealing. Days are often still comfortable, crowds may be lighter than later in October, and the first hints of fall are beginning to appear.
For a simple weekend escape with pumpkins and plenty of seasonal charm, Tennessee has a spot that fits the mood perfectly.
A Family Farm Story That Started With Eight Acres
Back in 2001, Buddy Patterson and his son Luke decided to plant eight acres of pumpkins just for fun. The crop did so well that it ended up starting something much bigger.
Buddy’s wife, Jana, was a schoolteacher, and she suggested turning the extra pumpkins into an agritourism attraction where children and adults could learn more about agriculture. The first season was simple, with a hay maze, hayride, petting zoo, and pumpkin patch.
The family’s farming roots stretch back even further. Buddy started Cedarwood Nursery in 1982, and the family still operates the nursery alongside the pumpkin patch today.
Twenty-six seasons after those first pumpkins were planted, the fall operation has grown considerably. Cedarwood says new activities are added each season, while more than 40 acres of pumpkins are planted every year.
The property is still a working family farm, too. Along with pumpkins and nursery plants, the Pattersons raise cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry.
Knowing that history adds something extra to a September visit. What began with eight acres of pumpkins has grown into a longtime Tennessee fall tradition built around agriculture, family, and plenty of outdoor fun.
Where To Point The Car On Old Nashville Highway
Getting there adds a little country scenery to the day. Roads around McMinnville pass farmland, nursery properties, and the rural landscapes Warren County is known for.
The address to plug in is 2900 Old Nashville Hwy, McMinnville, TN 37110. McMinnville sits in Warren County and is within driving distance of Murfreesboro, Manchester, and Nashville.
The calendar matters here, especially if you are planning a September trip. Cedarwood’s 2026 pumpkin patch season runs September 26 through October 31, so the final weekend of September is your first chance to enjoy the full lineup of fall activities.
Regular hours are Thursday from 8:30 AM to 2 PM, Friday from 8:30 AM to 8 PM, Saturday from 9:30 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday from noon to 5 PM.
That makes September 26 and 27 the only full September weekend of the 2026 season. Plan around those dates if pumpkins, mazes, slides, and the farm attractions are the main reason for your visit.
One Ticket, A Whole Farm, And A Pumpkin To Take Home
Here is the part that surprises people. General admission is $15 for anyone age 3 and up, and babies 2 and under get in free.
That price is not a gate fee with a menu of add-ons behind it. It covers every activity on the property, top to bottom.
It also includes a pumpkin for each paid guest. Walk out with a jack-o-lantern candidate and you have already trimmed the grocery list.
Cash and checks are the preferred way to pay. Cards work too, though standard service fees apply, so bringing bills keeps things simple.
Families who want the full evening can upgrade to bonfire admission on Friday and Saturday nights. That pass runs $21 for ages 3 and up, or $7 added onto general admission.
The bonfire package includes everything from general admission plus two hotdogs, two buns, marshmallows, a chip, and a drink per person. Fires are typically lit at 5:00 PM.
Group rates exist for schools, churches, and large gatherings. Pavilion rentals are available too, which makes birthdays and reunions easy to plan.
For a full afternoon of running, sliding, and climbing, the math lands firmly in your favor. Few Tennessee outings stretch a budget quite this far.
Slides Built For People Who Never Outgrew Slides
A 100-foot super slide will humble even confident grown-ups. It stretches down the slope like a runway and moves faster than it looks.
That is only the headliner. Cedarwood Pumpkin Patch also runs 20-foot tube slides, a spiral slide, and a combine slide built into old farm equipment.
The combine slide is the crowd favorite for a reason. Climbing through a piece of harvest machinery feels like getting away with something.
Jump pads add another layer of energy, and they empty out kid batteries in record time. Parents tend to appreciate that more than the children do.
Tire City brings tire crawls and swings for those who prefer climbing to sliding. It is scrappy, hands-on, and endlessly rearranged by whoever gets there first.
Then there is the corn crib, where you flop backward into loose kernels and make corn angels. Expect corn in shoes, pockets, and hair for the rest of the day.
Practical tip: wear closed shoes with real grip. Sandals and slides do not mix well, and the ground is honest farm terrain.
Plan on several hours here, not one. Families routinely arrive after lunch and still have unexplored corners when the sun starts dropping.
Mazes, Hayrides, And The Slow Pleasures Of A Farm Afternoon
Not every good hour needs a slide. Some of the best moments here happen at a walking pace.
The corn maze winds through tall stalks and rewards anyone willing to guess wrong a few times. Kids love the feeling of being genuinely turned around.
A separate hay maze offers something completely different. Stacked bales create narrow passages, and the interior gets dim enough that small flashlights are a smart pack-along item.
Hayrides roll through the orchard and farmland, giving you a look at the working side of the property. The pace is gentle, the views are wide, and nobody rushes.
Pumpkin trains give the youngest guests a ride of their own. There is also a pedal track where kids race karts under their own steam.
The Old Timers House deserves a slow stroll. Built in the late 1800s and filled with antiques, it shows how Warren County families once lived.
Then comes the field itself, rows of pumpkins waiting to be judged on shape, stem, and general personality. Everyone has a system, and no two systems agree.
Bring a wagon rather than a stroller. The ground is uneven in spots, and a wagon hauls both children and pumpkins without complaint.
Two Petting Zoos And A Cast Of Friendly Farm Animals
Goats have opinions, and they are not shy about sharing them. That energy is exactly what makes the animal areas so popular.
There are two petting zoos on the property, not one. Splitting them keeps crowds thin and gives animals room to rest between rounds of attention.
Feeding is often the moment that turns a shy child into a chatterbox. Small hands, big grins, and a lot of nervous giggling.
Younger guests tend to linger here longest, but older kids come around too. Something about a curious animal at fence level pulls everyone in.
One firm rule worth knowing before you load the car: no dogs are permitted on the property. Service animals are the only exception.
That policy protects the farm animals and keeps things calm for everybody. Plan pet care ahead so nobody gets turned around at the gate.
Elsewhere on the grounds you will find fire engines to climb on, hay bales stacked for scrambling, and a fun boat with jet skis for pretend adventures. Imagination does the heavy lifting.
Shaded rest areas sit throughout the property, which matters on warm September afternoons. Tennessee autumn can still throw a hot day at you without warning.
Southern Plates At The Country Kitchen
Fresh air does something ruthless to appetites. After a couple of hours around the farm, lunch can start sounding like the most important activity of the day.
The Country Kitchen keeps things familiar with Southern favorites. Chicken strips and BBQ sandwiches are among the choices Cedarwood advertises, along with homemade desserts that give visitors another reason to save a little room.
Friday and Saturday evenings come with a different option for guests who purchase bonfire admission. The package includes two hot dogs, two buns, marshmallows, chips, and a drink for each paid guest, along with the regular farm activities and pumpkin.
The Country Store covers the decorating side of the season. Mums, pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows, and other fall items are available for visitors who want to bring a little of the farm atmosphere home.
That makes it easy to pair a day of pumpkin patch activities with lunch, something sweet, and a few seasonal decorations before heading home.
Bonfire Nights With Live Music By The Pond
Something shifts when the sun drops behind the tree line. The farm takes on a calmer mood, and Friday and Saturday nights bring a different kind of fun.
That is when Cedarwood Pumpkin Patch leans into bonfire season. Fires are typically lit around 5 PM, and live music by the pond adds to the atmosphere.
Families can settle in, enjoy the cooler evening air, and stretch the visit a little longer.
Bonfire admission costs $22 for ages 3 and up, or $7 added to general admission. That includes everything covered by regular admission, plus two hot dogs, two buns, marshmallows, chips, and a drink for each paid guest.
The 2026 season runs September 26 through October 31, so the final weekend of September is the first chance to catch the full evening experience. For visitors who want more than a quick pumpkin stop, this is the time to go.