Halloween without a jack o'lantern is like Christmas without a tree; it's still a festival but it doesn't feel right.
Kids and adults enjoy carving out their pumpkins but picking them is also part of the joy. Revel in the satisfaction that the hollowed-out gourd on your windowsill is significantly bigger than the one in next door's window.
Next door got theirs from a supermarket. You picked yours whence it grew in the middle of a field. You win.
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It's not just about oneupmanship; picking your own on a farm supports the farming community on whom we depend. Besides, places where you can pick a pumpkin like visitors to make an afternoon of it with Halloween-themed food and family fun.
Here's a selection of fine farms offering all that from nearer to farther.
Horsforth Pick Your Own
Kemps Farm, near Leeds, will be hosting pick-your-own pumpkin days with 18 pumpkin varieties as well as face painting and refreshments. Tickets (£1.50 early bird, £2.50 peak) should be bought in advance from here.
Where: Kemps Farm, West End Lane, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5ES
When: October 1, 2, 8, 9 and 13 to 27
Stockeld Park
Explore an enchanted forest and a magical maze as well as picking your pumpkin at this park, near Wetherby. Entry is £16 but it includes a pumpkin and access to all the park's regular attractions.
Tickets should be booked in advance here.
Where: Stockeld Park, Wetherby Road, Wetherby, LS22 4AN
When: October 22 to 30
Swithens Farm
Explore haunted woods, meet the resident witch and take a spooky tractor ride. Tickets (£15 including a pumpkin) should be bought in advance here.
Where: Swithens Lane, Rothwell, LS26 0BT
When: October 15, 16 and 22 to 30
Bert's Barrow
Pick from 30,000 pumpkins at this farm off the A63, near Hillam. There's also a carving and activity barn, a mini fairground and refreshments. Entry is free and there's no need to book.
Where: Austfield Lane, Hillam, North Yorkshire, LS25 5NQ
When: October 2, then every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October
Farmer Copleys
More than 200,000 pumpkins from 30 varieties. The figures at Farmer Copleys Pumpkin Festival speak for themselves.
As well as gourds there's heaps of entertainment including a live Abba tribute (October 1), tractor rides, birds of prey shows, fairground rides and more. You're best off booking your ticket (£5 excluding pumpkins) in advance here.
Where: Ravensknowle Farm, Pontefract Road, Pontefract, WF7 5AF
When: Now until October 31
Yorkshire Pumpkins
This SEO-friendly pumpkin patch off the A1, near Thirsk, has thousands of pumpkins to choose from. There are also homemade refreshments and a kids' play area.
Entry is by ticket only (£1) which should be booked in advance here.
Where: Lodge Farm, Cundall, YO61 2RN
When: October 8, 9, 15, 16 and every day from October 22 to 30.
Cannon Hall Farm
The famous farm near Barnsley adds a bit of magic to its pumpkin festival with Harry Potter-themed thrills. Pick your own pumpkin, which farm staff will carve for you, then watch witches perform and take the wizardry school spell book challenge.
Tickets (£13.95 including a pumpkin and entry to the main farm) need to be booked online. Fancy dress is encouraged.
Where: Cannon Hall Farm, Cawthorne, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 4AT
When: October 15, 16 and 22 to 30
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