Long Island / Harvest 2026
Pick apples. Find your pumpkin. Keep the day simple.
A good harvest outing starts with the right farm, the right entrance and a budget that includes the apples you bring home. Compare Nassau pumpkin-shopping options with Suffolk orchards, pumpkin fields and corn mazes, then choose one local route.
Official sources checked October 9, 2026 · Nassau + Suffolk · Suggested routes and food allowances are editorial.
Help me choose
I want apples from a tree
Compare the two Harbes orchards with Milk Pail. The fee may be per person or a required shared bag; a shop selling apples is a different experience.
Show announced apple pickingI only want a pumpkin
Avoid paying for a full festival if you only want one purchase. Read pumpkin-area admission and produce charges separately.
Compare pumpkin choicesI need a Nassau option
Hicks has pumpkin shopping and free seasonal displays. The checked apple orchards in this list are in Suffolk; we do not label a Nassau nursery as an orchard.
See Nassau choicesI want a maze or hayride too
Check whether it is included. Harbes’ combo, Schmitt’s admission and Stakey’s individual attraction prices work differently.
Compare corn / hay mazesI need indoor portions
Hicks publishes indoor displays and a market. A roofed farm shop does not make an orchard a rainy-day outing.
Find published indoor portionsI prefer a shorter, slower visit
Read the Water Mill or Westbury plan, ask about toilets and seating, and choose a smaller loop. These are editorial adaptations, not verified mobility ratings.
Read the local plansBrowse pumpkin patches, orchards and harvest stops
Eight choices have a published 2026 dated schedule. Two need a same-day call or final date confirmation and sit separately below. A dated schedule does not guarantee ripe apples, tickets or good weather. Dates filter by calendar day; today’s opening hours may already be over.
Entry-price filters use the principal adult ticket, required bag or expressly free core. They are not a group’s total. Harbes defaults to weekend pricing unless you choose an exact weekday; paid maze selections change the free-core filter where needed. Older-adult labels are editorial, not access certification.
Checked October 9, 2026. The published guide stays usable if a refresh fails. Refresh does not recheck live crop or ticket inventory.
8 dated choices and 2 call-ahead options. Dates use America/New_York.
Calendar dates show published schedules only. Call-ahead farms are excluded. Select a date to filter the accessible list below; crop and weather still need checking.
No choices match those filters
Try clearing the exact date, choosing all counties or selecting “All current choices + call-ahead options.” An ended season will not create new picking dates.
See fall walks, markets and indoor plansPublished 2026 date / opening schedules
Harbes Orchard: apples, pumpkins and a daytime maze
One address can cover apples and pumpkins. Check your group’s admission total before adding the maze.
- 2026 dates / hours
- Daily through November 1, 2026. Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat–Sun 9am–6pm. October 12 holiday: 9am–6pm. Last farm entry 5:40pm; maze entry 5pm.
- Exact address
- 5698 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901
- What you pick / buy
- Apples from trees; pumpkins from the vine. Pumpkin-field access requires an apple-picking package; pumpkins cost extra.
- Price basis
- Per person: apple admission $20 weekdays / $27 weekends and holidays, with a 3 lb bag. Maze combo $24 / $32. Extra apples, pumpkins and food extra.
- Ages / official rules
- Ages 2 and under enter free without an apple bag. Children under 12 need an adult in the maze. Audience suggestions are editorial.
- Parking / practical rules
- Confirm parking cost and the route from your parking space. Credit cards only; no outside food/drinks or pets; no refunds.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Field, orchard and wagon access not confirmed. Ask about step-free routes, seating, toilets and alternatives to the tractor wagon.
- Booking / crop status
- Admission at arrival; no reservations. The official page also links weekend/holiday online tickets. Check date, fees, crop and weather before paying.
Last source check: . Official supporting details 1
Harbes Farms Jamesport: Honeycrisp and pumpkins
A Honeycrisp-focused option with hayride access included in the basic apple package. This is separate from Harbes’ Riverhead and Mattituck locations.
- 2026 dates / hours
- Weekends and holidays through November 1, 2026, 9am–6pm. Includes October 12. Last apple entry 5:40pm; maze entry 5:20pm.
- Exact address
- 1223 NY-25 / Main Road, Jamesport, NY 11947
- What you pick / buy
- Honeycrisp apple orchard plus on-the-vine pumpkins. Crop availability can change; pumpkins are sold by the pound.
- Price basis
- Per person: $25 apple admission with a 3 lb bag, Apple Express and hayride; $30 combo adds corn maze and jump pads. Pumpkins, extra apples and food extra.
- Ages / official rules
- Ages 2 and under free without a bag. Under 12 requires adult supervision in the maze; confirm individual activity rules.
- Parking / practical rules
- Confirm parking and accessible arrival. Credit cards only; no outside food/drinks, pets or refunds.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Confirm field surfaces, wagon boarding, seating and accessible restrooms. No quiet session was verified.
- Booking / crop status
- No reservations; recheck open dates, crop and payment rules before departure. Sunflower admission is only useful while flowers remain in bloom.
Last source check: . Official supporting details 1
Milk Pail U-Pick: a shared apple bag in Water Mill
Compare a bag shared by your group with farms charging each person. A couple still pays the minimum bag price.
- 2026 dates / hours
- 2026 fall U-Pick: Fri–Sun 10am–5:30pm through the announced October season, weather permitting; October 12 also open. October 11 ONLY opens at 9am. Confirm any November 1 extension.
- Exact address
- 50 Horsemill Lane, Water Mill, NY 11976
- What you pick / buy
- Apples from trees and pumpkins from vines. Apple entry requires a picking bag. Pumpkins, squash and gourds are sold separately by the piece.
- Price basis
- One peck bag admits up to 4: $32 cash / $33.60 card. Half-bushel admits up to 6: $56 cash / $58.80 card. Pumpkin piece prices not published.
- Ages / official rules
- Bag allowance counts people, not just apple pickers. Confirm how infants count. Dwarf trees are described by the farm; that does not establish mobility access.
- Parking / practical rules
- Free parking inside the fenced area. No pets. Farm Market is a different address: 1346 Montauk Highway, Water Mill.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Confirm orchard surfaces, walking distance, seating and toilets. Choose a shorter picking route if needed.
- Booking / crop status
- Reservations not required. Check the live weather announcement, open rows and bag policy; older copy on the same page still refers only to half-bushels.
Last source check: . Official supporting details 1
Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm: pumpkins priced by weight
Weigh the pumpkin before committing to a spending limit, then choose only the attractions your group wants.
- 2026 dates / hours
- September 19–October 31, 2026. Weekdays noon–5pm; weekends 9am–5pm; October 12 9am–5pm. Rain may close the farm.
- Exact address
- 270 West Lane, Aquebogue, NY 11931. Farm’s GPS instruction: 270 West Lane, Riverhead, NY 11901.
- What you pick / buy
- Pumpkin-field outing with separate hayride and corn-maze choices. Ask about cutting, carrying and wagon rules.
- Price basis
- Pumpkins $0.79/lb: a 10 lb pumpkin is $7.90 before any unlisted tax. Hayride $8/person; maze $10/person. Any entry/parking charge and final tax basis need confirmation.
- Ages / official rules
- Editorial: families through adults. The attraction page describes a 3-acre maze; confirm supervision and ride rules.
- Parking / practical rules
- Ask where to park and whether a fee applies. Published payment methods include cash, major cards and mobile wallets.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Confirm uneven-field access, wagon boarding, toilets, seating and the distance from parking.
- Booking / crop status
- Recheck weather and hours by phone. Some food/painting offerings are weekend-only; no reservation deadline was verified.
Last source check: . Official supporting details 1
F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm: a Melville festival day
A western Suffolk choice with several attractions included. Stay with the daytime farm activities if your group wants gentle fun.
- 2026 dates / hours
- 2026 season September 19–October 31. Festival weekends/holidays 10am–5pm; weekday activities noon–5pm with a reduced lineup. Maze closes earlier: weekends 4:30pm, weekdays 4pm.
- Exact address
- 26 Pinelawn Road, Melville, NY 11747
- What you pick / buy
- Pumpkin picking, a daytime corn maze and hayride. Pumpkins and other pick-your-own purchases are separate from admission.
- Price basis
- Ages 2+: $24 festival admission / $18 weekday. Applicable tax included; credit cards add 3%. Hayride and maze included. Pumpkins, food and wagons extra.
- Ages / official rules
- Under 2 does not require a ticket. Confirm ride rules. Separate daytime haunted house is NOT recommended by the organizer for children under 12 who may be frightened.
- Parking / practical rules
- Free parking. Entry/pumpkins/farm stand accept cash, debit or credit; other areas cash only. No pets. This is NOT Albert H. Schmitt on Bagatelle Road.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Ask about step-free routes, field surfaces, restrooms, seating and wagon/ride boarding.
- Booking / crop status
- Tickets at the door only; no reservations. Daytime haunted house and nighttime haunt are separate paid experiences; excluded from our farm plan.
Last source check: .
Elwood Pumpkin Farm: a smaller western Suffolk outing
An option when an East End drive would swallow the day. Admission includes the child-friendly maze; keep extra spending deliberate.
- 2026 dates / hours
- Published 2026 pumpkin-season hours: October weekdays 3–5pm; weekends and October 12 10am–5pm. Final closing date not stated; we do not extend this October schedule into November.
- Exact address
- 1500 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743
- What you pick / buy
- Pick-your-own pumpkins priced by size; child-friendly corn maze included in admission. Wagon ride costs extra.
- Price basis
- $10/person. Children 3 and under with a parent free. Pumpkin size prices and wagon fee not published. No credit cards; confirm cash/payment details.
- Ages / official rules
- Organizer’s free-child rule is ages 3 and under. Other websites give a different cutoff; follow the farm’s own rule.
- Parking / practical rules
- Farm says inside parking is often available but peak times may require roadside parking and walking. Confirm a suitable space; do not assume roadside arrival is accessible.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Confirm entrance, field path, seating and toilets before choosing it for a stroller or mobility aid.
- Booking / crop status
- Call for crop, hours and parking. Weekday visits before 3pm require an appointment. Photography permit rules should be confirmed for organized shoots.
Last source check: .
Hicks Nurseries: Nassau pumpkins and free fall displays
Stay in Nassau for seasonal displays and a pumpkin purchase, with indoor portions if the weather turns.
- 2026 dates / hours
- Fall Festival September 12–November 1, 2026. Market and hay maze daily 10am–5pm; wristband activities weekends/holidays 10am–5pm. Nursery hours are broader; not every activity follows them.
- Exact address
- 100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury, NY 11590
- What you pick / buy
- A nursery/market pumpkin-shopping outing, not a confirmed orchard or on-the-vine U-Pick field. Free indoor story/display areas and outdoor portions are published.
- Price basis
- Free admission and parking. Hay maze $8/person; ages 2 and under free. Children’s wristband $30 nonmember in-store / $25 Advantage member. Pumpkins, food and crafts outside free core are extra.
- Ages / official rules
- Wristband described as best for ages 3+. Accompanying adults pay for their own hay-maze entry if entering. Check Otto appearance times separately.
- Parking / practical rules
- Free parking. For online maze/wristband purchases, organizer recommends ordering 1–2 days ahead and collecting at customer service.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Indoor activities are published; individual step-free paths, seating and accessible toilets need confirmation. No sensory session was verified.
- Booking / crop status
- Free core visit does not require a paid wristband. Online wristband purchase enrolls you in the Advantage program; review that choice before buying.
Last source check: .
Waterdrinker Manorville: pumpkins or a fuller farm day
Choose the pumpkin-only visit or the paid maze/farm activities before arrival; the budget difference is substantial for four people.
- 2026 dates / hours
- Manorville 2026 fall festival: September 21–November 1 in the official NY tourism listing. Farm publishes Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat–Sun 9am–6pm. Weather/crop updates still apply.
- Exact address
- 663 Wading River Road, Manorville, NY 11949
- What you pick / buy
- Pumpkin picking area is free to enter; pumpkins cost extra. Confirm whether the day’s pumpkins are selected in a field or cut from vines.
- Price basis
- Pumpkin-area entry $0, produce extra. Manorville full Fall Fest $20/person; children 2 and under free. Confirm taxes/fees. Riverhead is a separate address with different weekend admission.
- Ages / official rules
- Editorial: families through adults. Follow activity rules and supervision requirements; free pumpkin-area entry does not include the paid farm attractions.
- Parking / practical rules
- Confirm parking fee, accessible spaces and the pumpkin-only entrance. Farm lists leashed pets permitted; check current restrictions and child/animal interactions.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Confirm outdoor surfaces, seating, restrooms and which activities can accommodate your group.
- Booking / crop status
- Tickets at the gate. Check the Manorville listing and current updates; do not apply its price to the North Fork/Riverhead farm.
Last source check: . Official supporting details 1
Call ahead — excluded from dated results
These official 2026 crop/festival announcements remain useful, but an exact future picking date or season ending is not established. Call before choosing them as your main stop.
Lewin Farms: call for pumpkins; apples are finished
A useful pumpkin option if the daily crop is confirmed; choose Harbes or Milk Pail for a currently announced apple-picking alternative.
- 2026 dates / hours
- 2026 pumpkin/gourd/squash crop listed in season through late October, but daily picking requires a call. Corn maze weekends/holidays weather permitting. No exact future picking dates are confirmed here.
- Exact address
- Farm stand: 812 Sound Avenue, Calverton, NY 11933. Pumpkin field: Sound Avenue, about ½ mile east of the stand, across from Gregory Way; follow the farm’s current instructions.
- What you pick / buy
- Pumpkins in season, call the day of travel. APPLE PICKING IS DONE FOR 2026 due to the farm’s reported April freeze/storm damage.
- Price basis
- Current pumpkin and maze prices, payment rules, entry charges and parking fees need confirmation. Missing prices are not a free-admission claim.
- Ages / official rules
- Editorial: supervised family or adult picking outing. Children require adult supervision in the maze.
- Parking / practical rules
- Farm stand and fields are different stops. Obtain the correct field entrance and parking instructions before driving in. No pets in fields/store.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Farm publishes portable toilets and hand-wash stations at fields. Step-free access, seating and accessible toilet provision still need confirmation.
- Booking / crop status
- Call the same day for location, hours and crop. No picking slot, price or availability was reserved or promised.
Last source check: . Official supporting details 1 · Official supporting details 2
Fink’s Country Farm: on-the-vine pumpkins and picnic option
A paid farm day with a practical picnic option: outside food/beverages are expressly allowed for festival patrons.
- 2026 dates / hours
- 2026 Fall Festival weekends and October 12; gates open 9:30am, last hayride 4:30pm. A final season date and closing time are not stated in the announcement; confirm your chosen day.
- Exact address
- 6242 Middle Country Road, Manorville, NY 11949 — the farm also describes its location as Wading River. Use the exact street address.
- What you pick / buy
- On-the-vine pumpkins are an additional purchase. Admission includes unlimited hayrides, corn maze and listed play activities.
- Price basis
- $25/person ages 3+, applicable tax included in listed cash price. Credit/debit add 3.15%. Pumpkins, food, animal feed and some attractions extra; confirm the under-3 admission rule.
- Ages / official rules
- Check official age/height rules for the separately priced Mega Slide and other attractions. This listing is the daytime fall festival, not the frightening night maze.
- Parking / practical rules
- Confirm parking cost and accessible arrival. Picnic areas/restrooms are for festival patrons; most vendors/extras cash only. Service dogs only.
- Access — confirm with venue
- Working-farm terrain is uneven. Confirm step-free routes, seating, accessible toilets and hayride boarding.
- Booking / crop status
- No online sales, advance sales or reservations; first come, first served. Confirm date and weather before travel. No current inventory claim is made.
Last source check: .
Apples / compare the real entry cost
One shared bag or one ticket for everyone?
The difference matters. Milk Pail’s one-peck bag currently covers up to four people. Harbes’ basic apple package charges each paying visitor, with a bag per admission. A couple is not automatically entitled to a smaller or cheaper Milk Pail bag.
For two adults and two children ages 6–11, the published basic admission/bag cost is $32 cash or $33.60 card at Milk Pail, $108 on a Harbes Orchard weekend, or $100 at Harbes Jamesport. Those figures include the stated apple bags; food, pumpkins, transport and unverified fees are outside the comparison.
At Harbes Orchard, the same four basic apple tickets are $80 on a normal weekday, with different hours; holiday pricing is separate. Compare what your group wants, not just a headline “from” price.
Browse the three announced orchard options
Sources: Milk Pail bag rules · Harbes Orchard admission · Jamesport admission. Varieties and open rows change; no crop quantity is promised.
Pumpkins / fields, shops and paid extras
A pumpkin purchase can be the whole outing.
Harbes and Milk Pail describe pumpkins grown on vines. Lewin lists pumpkins in season but requires a daily call. Hicks is a Nassau nursery-shopping alternative. A field full of pumpkins is not proof that every pumpkin was grown there or that visitors cut it from a vine; ask when that distinction matters.
At Stakey’s, the published rate is $0.79/lb: 10 lb is $7.90, 20 lb is $15.80, before any unlisted tax. Its hayride and maze are separately priced. Confirm admission and parking rather than treating an unlisted charge as zero.
Pick a size you can carry and store, ask staff about cutting rules, and set a purchase cap before adding paid rides. Children can enjoy a short selection stop without turning it into an all-day festival.
Free entry and useful ways to spend less
Show expressly free core / pumpkin-area entry
Hicks publishes free admission and parking for its core seasonal displays. Waterdrinker publishes free entry to the pumpkin area; its full farm festival is paid. Pumpkins, meals, fuel and optional activities still cost money. Milk Pail requires a paid bag, so its picking visit is not free.
Elwood lists $10 entry and an included child-friendly maze; pumpkin and wagon charges are extra. Fink’s allows outside food for paying festival patrons, giving you a picnic option if you confirm the chosen date. Harbes prohibits outside food and drinks.
Library passes may help with an indoor museum backup through your own library. We have not verified any pass covering these picking/festival admissions. Use the existing family savings and pass guide. No organizer-published sensory-friendly farm session was verified for this list; do not assume a weekday is quiet.
Picture the harvest day before you book
Compare the landscape, the required apple bag and the travel involved. Farm admission rules and crop availability come from the individual listing, not the photograph.
The North Fork landscape
Real farmland beside Sound Avenue in Riverhead, photographed in November 2022. This is a regional view, not a listed pumpkin patch or orchard.
Open the Riverhead harvest route
One shared bag or separate admission?
This illustrative harvest photo shows a basket of picked apples. Use the guide’s farm-by-farm bag and ticket rules before deciding how much to spend.
Compare apple-bag and admission rulesFour remaining harvest weekends, four local routes
Use one farm or local area as your anchor. These suggested plans cover the next four October weekends that overlap the checked picking/festival schedules. They are not additional events or promises of crop availability.
Water Mill apples, a treat break and one farm-market stop
Group: Two adults / a couple; adaptable for older adults at a shorter pace
Start: Water Mill, South Fork / Suffolk
Duration: About 3 hours locally, plus your journey
- 10am Saturday, suggested — Start at the U-Pick field, 50 Horsemill Lane. On Sunday October 11 ONLY, the farm’s weather notice moves opening to 9am; recheck whether afternoon weather shortens your visit.
- About 11–11:30am, suggested — Pause for a snack or simple meal. Keep the $20–$30 allowance for two under control; confirm where eating and sitting are permitted.
- Optional short drive, suggested — Browse the Milk Pail Farm Market at 1346 Montauk Highway for cider or baked goods. It is a separate address; skip extra purchases if you have already used your food allowance.
| Item | Amount | Basis / inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Required one-peck apple bag | $32 cash / $33.60 card | Verified bag admits up to four; a couple still buys the minimum bag |
| Food / treats for two | $20–$30 | Editorial estimate; includes the optional market treat stop, not a second meal |
| U-Pick parking | $0 | Verified free fenced-area parking; confirm market parking separately |
| Optional pumpkin allowance | $0–$20 | Editorial spending cap; actual piece price not verified |
| Base + optional allowance | $52–$83.60 | Bag + food + U-Pick parking + optional pumpkin; any market parking charge excluded |
Published admission/bag rates are verified where stated; food, pumpkin spending caps and parking contingencies are estimates. Travel fares, fuel, tolls, equipment, additional meals and unlisted purchases are excluded. Confirm any unknown charge before relying on the total.
Rainy-day choice: If U-Pick closes, make the Farm Market a shorter shopping outing only after checking its hours. Choose an indoor museum from the family guide for a different full day and price it separately; the apple bag is not a museum ticket. Compare indoor family backups.
Route, pace and access: Stay on the South Fork. Do not add a North Fork orchard or ferry crossing to this short plan. Confirm the shortest picking loop, an accessible restroom, seating and a convenient drop-off. The market’s step-free access and parking terms remain unverified.
Booking / deadline: No U-Pick reservation is required. Check current rows, the shared-bag allowance and the weather announcement before leaving; no live crop quantity is promised.
Bring: A familiar layer, comfortable shoes, a charged phone and a reused carry bag for purchases after checkout. Use the farm’s issued apple bag for picking. Leave pets at home.
Saveable outing checklist — stored only in this browser
Flexible times are editorial except where marked official. Sources checked October 9, 2026: Milk Pail U-Pick: a shared apple bag in Water Mill. Print on paper or save through your browser’s print dialog; no downloadable PDF is promised.
Melville pumpkins, a hayride and a maze at one farm
Group: Two adults + two children ages 6–11
Start: Melville, western Suffolk
Duration: About 3–4 hours locally, plus your journey
- 10am, suggested — Enter F&W Schmitt’s at 26 Pinelawn Road. Start with the included hayride, then choose one included play activity.
- About 11am, suggested — Try the included corn maze if it suits your group; take a break rather than trying every attraction. Confirm current ride and supervision rules.
- About noon–1pm, suggested — Eat at the cash-only concessions, then choose a pumpkin within a $15–$25 allowance. Pumpkin purchase is separate. Skip the separately ticketed haunted house for this gentle plan.
| Item | Amount | Basis / inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Festival admission for four | $96 | Verified $24 × 4; applicable tax included; hayride and maze included |
| Food for four | $20–$30 | Editorial estimate; concessions cash only |
| Pumpkin allowance | $15–$25 | Editorial cap; pumpkin unit price not published |
| Parking | $0 | Verified free parking |
| Cash planning total | $131–$151 | Admission + food + one pumpkin allowance + parking; wagons and haunts excluded |
| Credit-card entry surcharge | +$2.88 | Verified 3% × $96; card-paid pumpkin purchases also add 3%, about $0.45–$0.75 within this allowance |
Published admission/bag rates are verified where stated; food, pumpkin spending caps and parking contingencies are estimates. Travel fares, fuel, tolls, equipment, additional meals and unlisted purchases are excluded. Confirm any unknown charge before relying on the total.
Rainy-day choice: Ask the farm for its weather decision before traveling. Choose a Huntington-area indoor outing through the family guide and reprice it, or reschedule the farm. A daytime haunted house is a separate attraction, not a guaranteed rainy-day replacement. Compare indoor family backups.
Route, pace and access: Keep this day in Melville. F&W Schmitt’s on Pinelawn Road and Albert H. Schmitt on Bagatelle Road are different farms. Check seating, restrooms, surfaces and wagon boarding; shorten the maze if walking distance becomes too much.
Booking / deadline: Door tickets only; no reservations. No advance booking deadline or ticket inventory was verified. Check the official 2026 calendar and current weather notice.
Bring: Cash for concessions, a familiar layer, shoes that can get muddy, a charged phone and a way to secure the pumpkin in your vehicle. Check outside-food rules rather than assuming a picnic is permitted.
Saveable outing checklist — stored only in this browser
Flexible times are editorial except where marked official. Sources checked October 9, 2026: F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm: a Melville festival day. Print on paper or save through your browser’s print dialog; no downloadable PDF is promised.
One North Fork orchard, apples first and pumpkins optional
Group: Two adults + two children ages 6–11
Start: Harbes Orchard, Riverhead / North Fork, Suffolk
Duration: About 3 hours on the farm, plus your journey
- 9–10am, suggested — Use Harbes Orchard at 5698 Sound Avenue, not the Mattituck farm. Start with apple picking and the Apple Express included in basic admission.
- About 11am, suggested — Take an on-site food break. Outside food and drinks are prohibited by the farm; our $25–$35 allowance for four is an estimate.
- Optional, before leaving — Choose a pumpkin in the on-the-vine patch only if your group wants one. If choosing the maze, buy the correct combo ticket; do not assume the basic apple ticket includes it.
| Item | Amount | Basis / inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Basic weekend apple admission for four | $108 | Verified $27 × 4, including four 3 lb bags; extra apples charged separately |
| Food for four | $25–$35 | Editorial on-site allowance; actual menu prices unverified |
| Parking contingency | $0–$15 | Estimate, not a verified fee; confirm before committing to this total |
| Base planning allowance | $133–$158 | Admission + food + parking contingency, before any unverified checkout fee |
| Optional maze upgrade for four | +$20 | Verified weekend combo difference: $32 minus $27, × 4 |
| Optional pumpkin allowance | +$10–$20 | Editorial cap; actual pumpkin charge extra |
| With both optional additions | $163–$198 | Includes maze, pumpkin allowance and the stated parking contingency; extra apples excluded |
Published admission/bag rates are verified where stated; food, pumpkin spending caps and parking contingencies are estimates. Travel fares, fuel, tolls, equipment, additional meals and unlisted purchases are excluded. Confirm any unknown charge before relying on the total.
Rainy-day choice: Weather can close farm attractions, and the farm states no refunds. Check before purchase and departure. For an indoor replacement, use a Riverhead-area choice in the family guide and calculate that venue’s admission separately. Compare indoor family backups.
Route, pace and access: Sound Avenue is your base. Leave traffic time around your journey; no drive-time guarantee is made. A Mattituck or Greenport detour is optional and outside this plan. Confirm the field route, accessible toilets, seating and alternatives to wagon boarding.
Booking / deadline: No reservations; official weekend ticket link and arrival purchase are offered. Verify date, crop, fees and no-refund terms before paying. Nothing here promises a particular apple variety will remain.
Bring: The farm’s issued picking bags, credit card, an existing warm layer, shoes for uneven ground and charged phone. Do not pack outside food/drinks for entry; pets are prohibited.
Saveable outing checklist — stored only in this browser
Flexible times are editorial except where marked official. Sources checked October 9, 2026: Harbes Orchard: apples, pumpkins and a daytime maze. Print on paper or save through your browser’s print dialog; no downloadable PDF is promised.
A Nassau harvest morning with a firm spending cap
Group: Two adults + two children ages 6–11; can include an older adult among the two adults
Start: Westbury / Hicks Nurseries, Nassau
Duration: About 2–3 hours locally, plus your journey
- 10am, suggested — Start with the free animated story and indoor seasonal displays. Ask about that day’s Otto appearance rather than promising a meet-and-greet.
- About 11am, suggested — Choose a pumpkin from the nursery selection within a $10–$20 cap. This is a pumpkin-shopping visit, not apple picking or a verified on-the-vine field.
- Before noon–1pm, suggested — Browse the indoor Fall Market and use a $15–$25 food allowance for four, or choose a simple meal before/after the nursery. Skip paid crafts and rides unless you adjust the budget.
| Item | Amount | Basis / inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Free core admission + parking | $0 | Verified; paid hay maze, crafts and wristband excluded |
| Pumpkin allowance | $10–$20 | Editorial cap; actual pumpkin prices unverified |
| Food for four | $15–$25 | Editorial estimate; one simple food/treat allowance, not four full restaurant meals |
| Base total | $25–$45 | Free core visit + one pumpkin + food + parking; purchases require payment |
| Optional hay maze for all four | +$32 | Verified $8 × 4, including accompanying adults entering |
| Total with optional maze | $57–$77 | Moves the plan into the $50–$100 band; paid crafts/wristbands still excluded |
Published admission/bag rates are verified where stated; food, pumpkin spending caps and parking contingencies are estimates. Travel fares, fuel, tolls, equipment, additional meals and unlisted purchases are excluded. Confirm any unknown charge before relying on the total.
Rainy-day choice: Keep to the published indoor story, displays and Fall Market, and omit outdoor portions if weather closes them. Confirm which indoor activities operate and whether the route suits your group. Compare indoor family backups.
Route, pace and access: Stay in Nassau rather than adding an East End farm. Choose daylight and a shorter route for a multigenerational group; confirm seating, toilets and step-free access. The announced festival ends November 1, so do not move this exact plan to the following weekend.
Booking / deadline: Free core activities do not require a wristband. If purchasing maze tickets online, Hicks recommends 1–2 days ahead for collection. Online wristband purchase automatically enrolls you in its Advantage program; review before buying.
Bring: A familiar layer, reusable bag, charged phone and your usual stroller or mobility aid if needed after confirming the route. No new equipment is required.
Saveable outing checklist — stored only in this browser
Flexible times are editorial except where marked official. Sources checked October 9, 2026: Hicks Nurseries: Nassau pumpkins and free fall displays. Print on paper or save through your browser’s print dialog; no downloadable PDF is promised.
The next six weekends — with a real seasonal cutoff
October 10–11, 17–18, 24–25 and October 31–November 1 have the harvest routes above. Stakey’s closes October 31; Harbes and Hicks announce schedules through November 1. Milk Pail’s November 1 extension needs confirmation. Crop shortages or weather can finish a particular farm earlier.
November 7–8: switch the theme
Do not assume pumpkin fields or orchards continue. Use the fall calendar’s Centerport museum and planetarium plan, with checked admission and a slower indoor pace.
Open the November 7–8 planNovember 14–15: an indoor history day
Use the Stony Brook museum plan with a nearby food break. November farm purchases are different from confirmed U-Pick dates.
Open the November 14–15 planFor earlier September season details, read each farm’s full announcement. Ended 2026 dates remain available through the archive checkbox; this guide will need a new source check before it represents another season.
Pack for the ground, the weather and your group
Use what you already own. Every purchase here is optional and excluded from the outing budgets.
A bag for after checkout
Use the farm’s official bag while picking. A reused tote can carry paid purchases afterward; it does not replace a required apple bag or allow extra unweighed produce. Compare reusable totes if you need one.
Pick a budget firstMuddy shoes, a layer and dry socks
Wear familiar shoes you trust on uneven ground, and bring a dry pair of socks you already own. A hooded layer is useful if rain threatens. Compare packable rain layers only if your current gear is missing one.
Check the farm’s terrain notesA picnic only where it is allowed
Fink’s expressly allows outside food for festival patrons; Harbes does not. Use your existing food container, napkin, water and rubbish bag, and confirm any other farm’s policy. Compare reusable water bottles if replacing one.
Read Fink’s picnic and date rulesStroller or mobility needs
Do not buy a new stroller or aid for this article. Ask about ruts, slopes, step-free entry, wagon boarding, accessible toilets, seating and drop-off. Take your usual aid if the route suits it.
Choose a shorter routeConnect the farm day to your next Long Island plan
Family favorites and indoor backups
Keep the six established family itineraries, county favorites and pass tips as your planning base.
Open the Long Island family guideLocal parades and trick-or-treating
Make a separate short community Halloween visit rather than cramming an East End drive and an evening parade into one day.
Find local Halloween celebrationsFall beyond picking season
Use the full calendar for markets, seasonal walks and November indoor outings.
Browse dated fall outingsA city day instead
For a separate NYC outing, use the existing weekend guide.
See this weekend in NYCFor a custom route, send your date, starting town, group, budget and access needs. Scope and any fee are confirmed before payment.