A Saturday at Tate Farms in Meridianville, Alabama

Today was a beautiful fall day for Cotton Pickin’ Pumpkins at Tate Farms! A little warm when the clouds moved away from the sun, but otherwise perfect. When I saw the sea of cars in the parking lot out front I was a little dismayed, but we paid the $10 per person admission anyway and went inside. It was a little crowded inside but we were able to do everything we wanted to do before we were tired enough to go home! And pumpkins were only $5.00 each today!

If you are looking for a great place for photo-ops for family pictures, the farm offers several staged photo areas as well as my preferred spots – piles of pumpkins!

The staff and fellow visitors were friendly, and there was plenty to do! We hadn’t visited in three years, and they have added several play areas since then. Our favorites were the jumping “pillow,” corn crib, and play tractors. They also feature climbing play areas like the one pictured below, farm animals to pet, a hay maze (my preschooler loved it), and much more. The longest lines were for food and for the tractor train ride. The lines for the hay ride (to pick your own pumpkin) also looked a little long, but we didn’t go on that this time.

If you would like to avoid the crowds, you may try going on a weekday. Tate Farms offers a coupon for $2.00 off per person, which is good Monday – Friday from 2:00 – 6:00 pm. There are a few more activities offered on Saturdays – see their web site for more information on special Saturday events.

This year (2013), Tate Farms Cotton Pickin’ Pumpkins is open September 23 – October 31. The hours are Mondays – Fridays 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am – 6:00 pm for general admission. Visit their web site for the current year’s schedule and for more information about school tours, private parties, weddings and more. The farm is located approximately 12 miles from downtown Huntsville (25 – 30 minutes). Click here for a map.

Personally, I believe the admission price and food prices are well-worth the activities and fun at the farm! I love how I can introduce my preschooler to a bit of farm life, if only for an afternoon.