Clark County pumpkin patches offer festive fall gourds, seasonal treats, loads of fun

If you’ve been to any grocery store, you’ve seen them: piles of pumpkins in candy-corn hues. It’s nice to hear the “thunk” of the weighty gourd hitting the bottom of your shopping cart, a reminder that it’s not really fall until you’ve got a big ol’ pumpkin by your front door. Even better is to pick that perfect pumpkin on the farm where it was grown and lug your treasure through the fields.

Veteran pumpkin-hunters know that an exceptional pumpkin patch isn’t just about the pumpkins. It’s about the whole experience. To begin with, there’s a cornucopia of harvest bounty in farm stores: apples by the pound, pumpkin pies, hot spiced cider and roasted corn on the cob. Then there are hayrides, corn mazes and tractor-pulled barrel trains. There are hay-bale pyramids, pumpkin slingshots, corn cannons, pumpkin bowling and pony rides. There are farm animals, bluegrass bands and face painting. Finally, don’t forget the pumpkin’s front-porch partners: dried cornstalks, mini hay bales and nubbly decorative gourds in Day-Glo colors.

Here’s our annual roundup of local pumpkin patches where you can find all these things and more, plus the best home-grown thing of all — great memories.

Bella Organic Pumpkin Patch and Winery, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The pumpkin patch features hayrides, a cow train, a grain train, farm animals, a hay maze and duck races. The Haunted Corn Maze is open Friday and Saturday nights after dark. The farm store is open daily, selling organic produce, wines, canning supplies, farm products and autumn decorations. Concessions include elephant ears, quick fare, beer and hard cider. 16205 N.W. Gillihan Road, Sauvie Island, Portland; free admission, some activities are $2 to $3; the corn maze is $8, $6 for children and seniors, ages 5 and under free. 503-621-9545 or bellaorganic.com

Bi-Zi Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, 2 to 5:30 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 27; admission includes the 6-acre corn maze, hay-bale pyramid and hay-bale maze, petting zoo, calf-roping station, pumpkin launchers and tractor rides. There is face painting for a fee, a concession stand selling seasonal fare and live music on weekends. The farm store offers produce, bread, eggs, raw honey and Hood River, Ore., cider as well as autumn decorations, decorative gourds and dried cornstalks. Bi-Zi Farms, 9504 N.E. 119th St., Vancouver; $12, $10 for seniors 62 or older, free for ages 2 or younger. One pumpkin, any size, is included with paid admission. 360-574-9119 or bizifarms.com

Nighttime Corn Maze at Bi-Zi Farms, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 26. Bi-Zi Farms, 9504 N.E. 119th St., Vancouver; $7 for just the nighttime maze; daytime admission also includes entry to the nighttime maze. 360-574-9119 or bizifarms.com

Fazio Farms Corn Maze, 4 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Activities include tractor hayrides, pumpkin ring toss, hay maze and pyramid, a bouncy slide, revolving bean bag toss and corn maze. 9028 N.E. 13th Ave., Portland; activities are $1 to $4, hayrides are $4, corn maze is $8. 503-289-2020 or faziofarms.com

Joe’s Place Farms Pumpkin Patch, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 31. Highlights include the wooden Fort Maze, tractor-pulled hayrides (all day on weekends, 4 to 5:30 p.m. weekdays), a 3-acre corn maze, cornstalk teepee and hay bale play-stack. Face painting and balloons are available for a fee on weekends. The farm store (open daily) sells pumpkins, gourds, apples, seasonal produce, jam, honey, cider, baked goods, frozen fruit and autumn decorations; the farm kitchen (open weekends) sells quick hot and cold fare. Joe’s Place Farms, 701 N.E. 112th Ave., Vancouver; free admission, Fort Maze and hayrides are $3, 360-892-3974 or www.joesplacefarms.com

The Original Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island, open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, through Nov. 3. Weekday highlights include the produce market and gift shop, animal barn, patio cafe and coffee cart, hay pyramid, pre-picked pumpkins and a pumpkin patch, free hayrides and the MAiZE (see below). On weekends, ride the barrel train and browse specialty food booths. 16511 N.W. Gillihan Road, Sauvie Island, Portland. No admission fees. Free parking. 503-621-3874 or www.thepumpkinpatch.com

The MAiZE at The Pumpkin Patch, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 1, 2 and 3. The 8-acre corn maze has two 16-foot observation bridges, offering bird’s-eye views of the maze, mowed into different patterns every year (this year, it’s Bigfoot). The produce market is open during maze hours. 16511 N.W. Gillihan Road, Sauvie Island, Portland. 503-621-7110 or www.portlandmaize.com

Plumper Pumpkin Patch and Tree Farm, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, through Oct. 31. The farm offers a variety of pumpkins, decorative gourds and flowers. Highlights include mazes, slides, an obstacle course, play area and farm animals. On weekends, try the pumpkin, apple and corn cannons, pumpkin bowling, pony rides, barrel train and face painting. The farm kitchen (open weekends) sells caramel apples, pumpkin spice doughnuts, kettle corn, fresh cider, and roasted corn on the cob. 11435 N.E. Old Cornelius Pass Road, Portland; $8 weekdays, $12 on weekends, babies under 12 months free; wristbands for $12. 503-645-9561 or plumperpumpkins.com

Pumpkin Lane at Pomeroy Farm, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 27. Admission is $6, $4 for children 3 to 11, free for kids 2 and younger. Take a hayride down Pumpkin Lane, populated with about a hundred pumpkin people, different every year. The ride stops at the pumpkin patch, with pumpkins from $1.50 to $12. See piglets, goats and chickens, test the pumpkin flume and try the hay bale maze. The historic log house will be open for tours. Purchase meals and snack from food vendors. Pomeroy Living History Farm, 20902 N.E. Lucia Falls Road, Yacolt. 360-686-3537 or www.pomeroyfarm.org

Pumpkin Patch at Velvet Acres, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 31. Highlights include a hayride to the pumpkin patch (all day on weekends and 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays), a covered petting zoo, hay pyramid, antique tractors and corn maze. The farm store is open daily, selling vegetables, gourds, honey, beverages and seasonal decor, plus U-pick produce. Velvet Acres Gardens, 18905 N.E. 83rd St., Vancouver; $7, includes one pumpkin, any size, all activities and hay rides during scheduled times; free parking in gravel lot. 360-892-0434 or www.velvetacresgardens.com

Walton Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, 3 to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 31. Highlights include barrel train rides, a 5-acre corn maze, goats and horses. Hay wagon rides are available on weekends. Food will be available to purchase; proceeds benefit Shriner’s Hospital. Walton Farms, 1617 N.E. 267th Ave., Camas; $12, $10 for seniors ages 55 and over, free for ages 2 and under, free parking; admission includes all activities and a pumpkin. 360-834-2810 or www.waltonsfarms.com