2023 Nashville area pumpkin patches, fall activities for all ages

The cool chill in the air, the crisp sound of multi-color leaves crunching beneath your feet, the intoxicating aromas of apple, cinnamon, and pumpkin - spooky season is almost upon us. With the arrival of autumn comes football, cult-favorite beverages and our favorite fall activities like corn mazes and pumpkin patches.

Luckily in Tennessee, there's an abundance of fall festivals, perfect for singles, friends, couples or the whole family. Although it may too soon to dust off that knitted sweater or throw on your favorite beanie, you can still visit these six locations across Middle Tennessee and live out that perfect pumpkin-spice fantasy.

Where: 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville

Cheekwood Harvest returns to historic Cheekwood Estate and Gardens from Sept. 16, 2023 to Oct. 29. Here you can enjoy a relaxed evening strolling the scarecrow trail, gardens full of pumpkins and chrysanthemums plus the Pumpkin Village which offers an excellent backdrop for photos. After you've selected the perfect pumpkin to take home head, over to the Beer Garden and end the day by listening to live bands while sipping on seasonal beers or craft cocktails.

Interested in learning more about gardening? Take advantage of Cheekwood's hands-on workshops for adults. The workshops allow participants to engage in the learning process without a financial or long-term commitment. Some workshops offered during the upcoming harvest season include: Garden Tools 101, Gardening in Small Spaces, Extreme Pumpkin Sculpting and more.

To reserve tickets, visit cheekwood.org.

Where: 7526 Swift Road, Greenbrier

Shuckle's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch will be open from Sept 30 until Oct. 29, where visitors can enjoy a 40 foot superslide, animal corral, magic show, obstacle course, a giant tube swing and more. General admission includes access to the multiple events and activities happening throughout the day, however there are also specialty attractions which can be purchased such as face painting, kiddie zip lining and more.

In the evenings, enjoy a hay ride beneath the autumnal sky or roast your favorite snacks by the bonfire, nearby concession stands offer hot chocolate and gourmet apple cider.

To purchase tickets, visit shucklescornmaze.com. Children two and under enjoy free admission.

Where: 4374 Rocky Glade Road, Eagleville

Get lost in Lucky Ladd's "Into The Wild" corn maze, miles of winding paths await as the farm celebrates newly expanded animal encounters and wildlife habitats on their nature trail. Home to the largest petting zoo in Tennessee, guests can hang out and feed goats, alpacas, cows and dozens of other four-legged friends, little ones can also enhance their live encounter with pony rides, available for just six dollars.

Sept. 17, 23 and Oct. 28 will be chance to enjoy fall festivities with each member of the family thanks to “Pups in the Park Day”, a day where non-service dogs are allowed on the farm grounds. The cost of admission is $10 per dog with a portion of the proceeds donated to local animal shelters and rescues.

For a more detailed look at their hours of operation, or to purchase tickets, visit luckyladdfarms.com.

Where: 1974 Highway Ninety Six West, Franklin

For over a century, Gentry Farm has been family operated in beautiful Franklin. A working farm, it's doors are open only a select time a year. This year visitors may come from Sept. 30 to Oct. 30. Tickets to the activity area include access to wagon rides, corn field mazes, a farm arcade, a tractor playground, the labyrinth and more.

All tickets are $11 per person and available at the gate. Children 23 months and under and adults 65 and older are free.

Where: 1765 Martins Chapel Church Road, Springfield

The Fall Festival at Honeysuckle Hill Farm will take place this year from Sept. 23 to Oct. 29. Attractions include a zipline, a rock-climbing wall, gemstone mining, a nature trail, carousel rides, mechanical swings, and so much more. Outside the Farm Market, you can choose that perfect pumpkin to take home and carve for $.49 cents per pound.

The fun continues at night with a pumpkin express light show, hayrides, bonfires and firework shows.

For tickets, visit honeysucklehillfarm.com.

Where: 8653 Rocky Fork Road, Smyrna

Pumpkins, Gourds, Mums, Indian Corn, Corn Stalks, Straw Bales - Walden Farm in Smyrna has everything you may need for all your fall needs. Available in almost every size imaginable, the pumpkins are already harvested and displayed on pallets, all that's left to do is decide which one to take home for that pumpkin pie or creepy jack-o-lantern. Priced according to size, they range between $2-20.

The animal barn and maze are free to enjoy however other activities like hay rides, face painting, calf roping and others will cost 'Walden Bucks,' which are equivalent to one dollar and are sold in increments of 10. Each activity costs between 2-5 Walden Bucks, but they may also be used at the food depot, country store or for purchasing pumpkins.

Diana Leyva covers breaking and trending news for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on twitter at @_leyvadiana