Families Still Count Down To Mississippi’s Pumpkin Festivals, And These 6 Run Every October Weekend
We only stopped for a bag of boiled peanuts and a place to stretch our legs, and somehow left with a wagon full of pumpkins and a new family tradition. That is how fall tends to work in Mississippi, where a gravel lot and a hand-painted sign can lead to a whole afternoon of hayrides, corn mazes, and farm animals.
These festivals are simple, affordable, and built for kids and grandparents alike. Here are six October weekend spots that keep families coming back year after year.
1. Bull Bottom Farms
Thousands of pumpkins. That is the first thing to know about this family-owned farm in Duck Hill, a Montgomery County town of fewer than 1,000 residents about 25 minutes from Grenada and not far from Winona.
From Jackson, plan on roughly an hour and 45 minutes of highway driving.
Picture a Saturday where the kids never stand still. The grounds hold a corn maze, hayrides, a cow train ride, a jumping pillow, slides, swings, go carts, and corn cannons.
A corn box works like a sandbox filled with dried kernels, and little ones can dig in it for ages.
What sets the place apart is Wild West Tiny Town, a pint-sized frontier village made for pretend play. Farm animals round out the visit, giving toddlers and grandparents something calm to enjoy together between the busier attractions.
How about the cost? Pumpkin prices are known for staying reasonable, and admission often feels fair for a full day outdoors.
Check current rates before you go, since they can change each season.
The 2026 season begins September 26, with gates open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. A free on-site lot handles parking, though grass and gravel paths may be bumpy for strollers.
2. Mitchell Farms Peanut Farm open Aug- Oct and Pumpkin Patch open Sept 27-Nov 2; Sat 9-6 and Sun 1-5
Boiled peanuts and pumpkins make a very Mississippi pairing, and this Covington County farm has served both for more than 20 years. Collins sits about 40 minutes from Hattiesburg and close to an hour and 45 minutes from Jackson, an easy trip for most of South Mississippi.
Admission runs around $20 and includes a pumpkin, which helps families plan a budget. Rather than walking to the patch, guests ride a hay wagon out to the field.
Kids tend to count that ride as the best part.
Once back at the main grounds, the list keeps going. Expect a corn maze, train rides, giant slides, and friendly farm animals.
Snacks here lean sweet and salty in the best way. Kettle corn, caramel apples, blueberry lemonade, and those famous boiled peanuts keep energy up.
Did you know the farm also grows peanuts, with its peanut season stretching from August into October?
For 2026, the pumpkin patch is scheduled from September 27 through November 2. Hours are Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 5 p.m.
Parking is free on-site, and wearing sturdy shoes can make the fields easier to handle with a stroller.
3. Cedar Hill Farm, The Barn.
Pig races. Say those two words to a carload of kids from DeSoto County and watch what happens.
Cedar Hill Farm, set on 120 acres in the Love community near Hernando, has welcomed families since 1996 and sits roughly 30 minutes from the Memphis area line and about three hours from Jackson.
Beyond the racing pigs, the farm packs in tractor and hay rides, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, pony rides, and a petting zoo where animals can be fed. A pirate ship playground gives climbers a favorite target.
Older kids and teens may prefer the paintball field.
Hungry? The Barn Restaurant and snack bar handle meals, while the general store stocks fresh eggs, honey, and root beer floats.
Honeybees are part of the farm story too.
Unlike most patches on this list, Cedar Hill stays open late on weekends, with Friday hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. That evening window can suit families with busy daytime schedules.
Free parking is available on-site and along the street. Dogs are allowed, so the family pup can often tag along.
4. Wise Family Farm
Rolling North Mississippi hills surround this family-run farm in Pontotoc, about 20 to 25 minutes west of Tupelo and around two and a half hours from Jackson. Open April through December, it saves its biggest energy for fall.
Admission has been about $14.95 per person, with children two and under free. Pumpkins from the patch are sold separately, often around $3 each, so tucking a few extra dollars away is smart.
So what fills the afternoon? Wagon rides roll across the property, and a pumpkin patch and corn maze wait at the end.
Barnyard Alley brings animals to feed, while the farm playground offers tire swings and slides.
Families who enjoy friendly competition will find Hill Billy Golf, mini golf, trike racing, a corn box, yard games, and a flower maze. Live music sometimes plays on October Saturdays.
Photo spots appear around nearly every corner.
Hot food comes from the Lone Star Grill, and a country store and farmers market round things out. Weekend hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 7 p.m.
Grounds are known for being clean and roomy, and the free lot makes parking simple.
5. Williams Family Farms
Tall pines line the roads into Wiggins, a small Stone County community about 35 minutes north of Gulfport and roughly 50 minutes south of Hattiesburg. Tucked among those trees, this family-owned farm grows a large u-pick pumpkin patch every fall.
Here is the twist. The patch sits apart from the main farm, so visitors climb aboard a tractor-pulled hayride for about ten minutes to reach it.
That ride through the countryside turns an ordinary pumpkin run into a small adventure.
Back near the entrance, play structures give younger kids plenty to climb, and a maze adds a little challenge. Grandparents often find the setting pleasant for a slower stroll.
An apple cider slushie has become a favorite treat on warm October days.
Costs are straightforward. Entry has run around $10, with pumpkins priced separately at about $5 each, though amounts may shift from year to year.
The farm keeps busy through other seasons too, with u-pick flowers in summer and u-pick Christmas trees in winter. Fall hours generally cover weekends in October, but schedules can change, so check the farm’s current calendar before loading up the car.
6. Middleton Dairy Farm
Ever watched a cow get milked? At this working dairy farm in Moss Point, it is part of the show.
The farm sits in Jackson County pastureland, about 15 minutes from Pascagoula and around 40 minutes from Biloxi, making it a handy Gulf Coast outing.
Learning comes first here, in a hands-on way. Kids can bottle-feed a calf, help make salted butter, and plant a seed of their own to take home.
A demonstration shows how a dairy cow’s milk becomes food on the table.
Of course, there is plenty of play mixed in. An oversize playground, pony rides, zip and barrel rides, a slide, and a hayride keep kids moving.
Games include a duck race plus basketball and football tosses.
Petting zoo animals add gentle moments for toddlers, and the pumpkin patch offers the classic October pick. Photo props sit throughout the grounds.
Food trucks roll in during the festival, and the roasted corn draws plenty of attention.
October weekend hours have been Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. Confirm the current season schedule and admission before driving over, since details may change.