Where To Pick Pumpkins Across Metro Detroit This Fall — And How To Carve Them

Heading out to a patch or field around metro Detroit to pick the best or biggest pumpkin isn’t just about finding the perfect Halloween jack-o’-lantern.

It’s one of those fall traditions that gets people outside, into the fields and together with family and friends — with a little fresh air, a little dirt and, ideally, a pumpkin worth hauling home.

Many pumpkin patches and fields make a day of it, with hayrides, corn mazes, games for the kids and other seasonal activities. Picking your own pumpkin also supports the local farmers who planted, tended and harvested the crop.

Whether you plan to carve a jack-o’-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin across metro Detroit. Here are a few of our favorites:

Macomb County

• Big Red Orchard, 4900 32 Mile Road, Washington
• Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill, 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada
• Hy’s Cider Mill, 6350 37 Mile Road, Romeo
• Puma’s Pumpkin Patch, 53773 Foss Road, Macomb
• Westview Orchard and Adventure Farm, 65075 Van Dyke Road, Washington Township

Oakland County

• Bonadeo Farms, 1215 White Lake Road, Highland
• Blake's South Lyon , 61475 Silver Lake Road, South Lyon
• Diehl’s Orchard and Cider Mill, 1479 Ranch Road, Holly
• Long Family Orchard, Farm & Cider Mill, 1540 E. Commerce Road, Commerce Township
• Spicer Orchards, 10411 Clyde Road, Fenton

Wayne County

• Apple Charlie’s, 38035 S. Huron Road, New Boston
• Bird’s Big Pumpkins, 16750 Hannan Road, Romulus
• DeBuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, 50240 Martz Road, Belleville
• Denny’s U-Pick Pumpkins, 4260 Gotfredson Road, Plymouth
• The Pumpkin Factory, 48651 Harris Road, Belleville
• Three Cedars Farm, 7897 Six Mile Road, Northville

How To Carve A Jack-o’-Lantern

Keep in mind that carving and baking pumpkins aren’t the same. The former are grown in fields to be large, more vibrantly colored, and relatively hollow. The watery flesh doesn’t have the same flavor as baking pumpkins, which tend to be smaller, have thicker, harder-to-carve walls and sweeter flesh. For those, you’ll probably need to head to the grocery store.

Pumpkins for carving should appear sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season. Here are some tips for carving a perfect jack-o’-lantern from Warren Nash on YouTube, who shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.

Pumpkin carving kits will go a long way in getting what you need. They typically include saws, a scooper, a drill and multiple patterns. If you're looking for the items individually around the house, here's what you could use:

• Curved boning knife, or serrated knife from the kitchen
• Ice cream scoop or scraper
• Paper
• Pencil or pen
• Candle or battery-operated light
• Lighter

Steps

1. Cut it: If cutting from the top of the pumpkin, make sure to do it on an inward angle, so the top won't drop inside the pumpkin when you put it back on. Michael Natiello, creative director for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze, said it's better to cut the pumpkin from the bottom, in a series of pumpkin carving tips from Good Housekeeping. That helps prevent the sides from caving in later.
2. Gut it: Use the ice cream scoop, or your hands, to remove all the seeds and other debris from inside the pumpkin. Do a thorough cleaning and make sure nothing is left sticking to the sides.
3. Trace it: Draw your design on a piece of paper before putting it on the pumpkin itself. That way, it is easier to trace the design onto the pumpkin.
4. Make the cuts: Cut out the design. Natiello said to use a fork or pencil to poke holes around the lines. When cutting, get the big pieces of pumpkin out first and clean up the edges later.
5. Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin, and step back and admire your work.