Spilmans celebrates ten years of pumpkin picking in North Yorkshire

Autumn in Yorkshire can only mean one thing - pumpkin season is officially back.

And this year, one of North Yorkshire’s best-loved pumpkin patches has an extra reason to celebrate. Spilmans Farm, near Thirsk, is marking ten years of its annual Pumpkin Festival, with more than 175,000 pumpkins ready for picking across its sprawling 35-acre patch.

The festival returns from Saturday 26th September, running on selected dates through to Friday 30th October, with everything from classic pumpkin picking to live entertainment, autumn evenings and fireworks planned throughout the season.

More than 50 varieties have been grown for this year’s harvest, including Kratos, Early Prince and Casperita, with around 800 tonnes of pumpkins expected across the farm. Alongside the classic orange varieties, visitors can pick up miniature pumpkins, decorative gourds and edible squashes - ideal if your autumn decorating ambitions go a little further than one pumpkin on the doorstep.

Ten years of the Pumpkin Festival

Spilmans held its first Pumpkin Festival back in 2016, transforming part of the family farm, which was originally established in 1941 by owner Tom Spilman’s grandfather.

Ten years later, it has grown into a full autumn day out.

This year’s family-friendly programme includes the new Wizfords Academy: The Great Fortune Flop show, a Skelebones fancy dress disco, tractor rides, barrel train, spooky walk, hay bale mountain and giant slide.

There’s also a pumpkin cannon, corn cannon, giant pipe rolling and plenty more dotted around the farm.

For younger visitors, the indoor play barn offers a weather-proof option with pedal tractors, a ball pit and sand area, while outside you’ll find adventure play areas and bouncing pillows.

Pumpkin picking after dark

If you’d rather make an evening of it, Pumpkin Nights are also returning from Saturday 10th October.

Visitors can grab a wheelbarrow and head out into the patch to choose their pumpkins after dark, before settling in for street food, drinks from the licensed bar, fire performers and live music from YorkMix radio DJ Laura Castle.

Pumpkin Nights will take place on 10th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 25th and 30th October from 5pm.

For anyone who wants to skip the additional entertainment and simply enjoy a quieter wander around the patch, Spilmans is also introducing dedicated Back-to-Basics sessions from 13th to 16th October and 20th to 22nd October.

Fireworks to finish the season

The celebrations culminate with Spilmans’ annual autumn fireworks on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th October, with displays orchestrated to live music.

And, because this is Yorkshire in autumn and the weather doesn't always play along, there’s plenty to do undercover too. The Stone Barn Café will be serving brunch, lunch, wood-fired pizzas and hot drinks throughout the season - exactly what you’ll want after an afternoon spent roaming the pumpkin patch.

Spilmans Pumpkin Festival runs on selected dates from Saturday 26th September to Friday 30th October. Pre-booking is essential, with tickets starting from £7.95 including a £5 pumpkin voucher.

Find Spilmans at Church Farm, Sessay, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire. For dates, opening times and tickets, visit spilmans.co.uk or follow @SpilmanFarming on Instagram.