Spooky season is upon us and there’s no better way to decorate your porch, dining room table, office or recipe book than the quintessential pumpkin. Native to North America, pumpkins are one of the oldest domesticated plants - they’ve been used for food, décor and for celebratory purposes as early as 7000 BC!

We’re partial to carving them into silly faces, roasting them for soup and baking them into pies (and Downey’s Farm donuts) - but the options are endless. Each of Caledon’s farms offer a unique experience, oodles of varieties (warts, knobs and all) and heavy doses of autumnal smells and memories.

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Albion Orchards

A field of bright orange and white pumpkins is a sure sign of fall in Caledon and Albion Orchards recommends using them to make your very own pumpkin puree! Follow their simple recipe below for healthy puree that you can use in a multitude of ways:

1) Start by cutting your pumpkin down the middle.

2) Scoop out the seeds and guts and set them aside for later (for roasted pumpkin seeds).

3) Place your pumpkin cut-side down in a glass casserole dish with about a cup of water.

4) Bake at 300 degrees for about ninety minutes or until the flesh is tender.

5) Scoop out the flesh and puree in a food processor.

6) Use the puree right away or freeze for later!

Location: 14800 Innis Lake Road, Caledon.

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Davis Family Farms

This family-run farm is well-known for its acres of sunflower fields - but the fun doesn’t stop there. Every year, the Davis’ also grow 7 acres of pumpkins for visitors to pick each fall! If you’re still craving a taste of summer, stop in at the farm shop - Davis Family Farms turns sunflower seeds into delicate cold-pressed sunflower oil and their on-farm bees create delicious sunflower honey.

Location: 15770 Mountainview Road, Caledon.

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Downey’s Farm

Perhaps the most photographed pumpkin-picking spot in Caledon, Downey’s PumpkinFest is like fall on steroids. Wagon rides, a boo barn, live entertainment, a corn maze and many more attractions are just some of the features of this on-farm experience. The icing on the cake? There’s a sea of orange pumpkins displayed in front of Downey’s farm shop! Use a wheelbarrow to cart your prized pumpkin to your car and don’t forget to visit the farm shop for Downey’s famous (and wildly addictive) pumpkin donuts.

Location: 13682 Heart Lake Road, Caledon.

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Dixie Orchards

You’ve heard of pumpkin picking, but did you know that you can pick gourds and other squash at Dixie Orchards? Colourful, knobbly and full of personality – Dixie’s fields of winter squash (including the beloved jack-o-lantern pumpkin) is the perfect place for a family photo op. Take a peek at the animals in the barnyard and grab some delicious, sweet cider and baked goods for the road.

Location: 14309 Dixie Road, Caledon.

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Rock Garden Farms

Though technically not a “pumpkin patch”, we’d be remiss if we didn’t include Rock Garden Farms as an excellent spot to shop for harvest-time décor like pumpkins, gourds and fall mums. This third-generation country market is a great one-stop-shop for all your fall essentials (and a healthy dose of family values).

Location: 16930 Airport Road, Caledon.

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