Category: Farm Guides

A pumpkin patch day is more fun when nobody’s cold, nobody’s feet hurt and your photos come out the way you hoped. Here’s what to wear and what to bring for a fall farm day, from the family at Lone Jack Acres.

Start with the shoes

Farm ground is grass, dirt and uneven paths, and fields can still be soft a day or two after rain. Wear closed-toe shoes you don’t mind getting dirty: sneakers, hiking shoes or boots all work. Skip sandals and anything with a heel.

If your kids are headed for a corn pit, expect a few kernels to come home in their shoes. Shoes that slip on and off easily make the dump-out at the car a lot quicker.

Dress in layers

Fall weather in Missouri can change a lot in one day. A morning that starts cool can turn warm by mid-afternoon, and a sunny day can turn breezy and chilly toward evening. Layers handle all of it:

• A t-shirt or long-sleeve base layer
• A flannel, sweatshirt or light jacket you can tie around your waist
• A warmer coat in the car for late-season visits

On a warm day, think short sleeves with a light layer for later, plus a hat and sunscreen. There’s not always shade between activities.

Dress for playing, not just for pictures

Kids will slide, jump, climb and dig, so pick clothes that can handle it. Jeans or leggings hold up better than dresses for slides and climbers, and darker colors hide dirt and the occasional cider donut.

Pumpkin patch photo outfits

Pumpkin patch photos are half the fun. A few tips:

• Warm fall colors like rust, mustard, cream, olive and denim look great against pumpkins and farm backdrops.
• Coordinate, don’t match. A shared color family looks more natural than identical shirts.
• Solid colors and simple patterns photograph better than big logos or busy prints.
• Bring a backup shirt for the little ones in case of a spill before photo time.

At Lone Jack Acres you’ll find photo ops all over the farm, including our oversized red chair and custom painted backdrops. One note: professional photo sessions aren’t allowed during event hours, but family snapshots are always welcome.

What to bring

• Your tickets on your phone. Buying online ahead of time saves a wait at the gate.
• Cash or a card. Both work at our ticketing, concessions and farm store. Food trucks set their own policies, and some may be cashless.
• Sunscreen and a hat, even on cool days.
• Hand wipes or sanitizer, especially if you’ll be visiting the animals.
• Room in the car for your pumpkins.
• A bag for farm store treats like homemade jams and pies.

What to leave at home: outside food and drinks (we have plenty to eat at the farm) and your dog (service animals are welcome).

Ready for your pumpkin patch day?

Fall Fun Fest at Lone Jack Acres runs Saturdays and Sundays, 10am to 6pm, through November 1. Read our family guide to Fall Fun Fest for hours, what’s included and tips for your visit, or get your tickets and come see us at the farm.

Fall in the Kansas City area means pumpkins, corn mazes and a day outside with the people you love. At Lone Jack Acres, our family farm in Lone Jack, Missouri, that’s exactly what Fall Fun Fest is built for. This is our very first season on the former Pumpkin Pad property, and here’s everything you need to plan your visit.

When we’re open

Fall Fun Fest runs every Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm, through November 1. Fridays during the season are reserved for school field trips. Weekends are our busiest days, so buying tickets online ahead of time saves you time at the gate, and some weekends can sell out.

Little ones under 2 get in free. Everyone 2 and older needs a ticket. You’ll find ticket options and the full weekend-by-weekend lineup on our Fall Fun Fest page.

What’s included with admission

Your ticket covers the Fall Fun Fest attractions for the whole day, so you can go back for another turn as many times as you like. A few family favorites:

• The 3-acre corn maze, with a monster truck theme this year.
• Our 60-foot carnival slide, the biggest thrill on the farm. Race the family to the bottom.
• Two giant jumping pillows and our new 16-foot spider web climber.
• Corn pits and slide, plus a new mini pit just for the littles.
• The Kiddie Corral, made for kids 5 and under, with jumpers, bouncers and playhouses.
• The cow train, a must-ride for the youngest members of the family.
• Trikes, giant lawn games, the Imagination Station and the Bubble Zone.
• Photo ops all over the farm, including our oversized red chair.

See the whole list on our Things To Do page.

A few things cost extra: pumpkins, food and drinks, items from the farm store, and on select weekends, pony rides and animal feeding with our visiting petting zoo.

Picking your pumpkin

We carry locally sourced pumpkins in all sizes, from little ones for the kids to big carvers for the front porch. Pumpkins are sold separately from admission, so save room in the car.

Food, treats and the farm store

Come hungry. Our concession area serves kettle corn, cider donuts, hot apple cider and more, and rotating food trucks join us on many weekends. Grown-ups can grab a seasonal wine slushie while the kids play. Outside food and drinks aren’t allowed, so plan to eat at the farm.

Before you leave, stop by the farm store for homemade jams, jellies, pies, seasonal crafts and commemorative tees.

Good to know before you go

• Parking is free. It’s a mowed grass field, so expect uneven ground. Carpooling helps on busy days.
• Cash and cards are both welcome at our ticketing, concessions and farm store. Food trucks set their own policies and some may be cashless.
• Please leave pets at home. Service animals are welcome.
• We’re a smoke-free and tobacco-free farm, including vaping.
• Rain doesn’t always stop the fun. We plan to open rain or shine, but if heavy rain makes it unsafe, we may close for the day. When the weather looks questionable, check our website and social media before you head out.
• Photographers: professional photo sessions aren’t allowed during event hours. If you’d like to use the farm for sessions, contact us about times outside event hours.

Special weekends coming up

Each weekend brings its own lineup of special attractions and food trucks, so check the Fall Fun Fest page to see what’s happening when you visit. On Halloween weekend, come dressed in costume, and join us November 1 as we close out our first Fall Fun Fest season.

Come grow some good times with us

Lone Jack Acres is family owned and operated, and we built this farm to bring people together. We’d love for your family to be part of our first season. Get your tickets and we’ll see you at the farm.