Maple Leaf Farms Fall Fun Fest

Maple Leaf Farms in Manalapan, a Central New Jersey garden center and country store, turns the grounds into Fall Fun Fest with pumpkin picking, a corn maze, a bull riding show, pig races, and live country music. The fest has more than 30 activities, from hayrides and a zip line to pedal karts, a pillow jump, goat mountain, and a monster truck slide. Pumpkin-patch entry comes with admission, and pumpkins are sold separately. Train rides are part of the draw, and school trips or company outings can be arranged. Every ticket is sold at the door, with no online sales, and last entry is earlier than the posted closing time.

Our take: Arrive before last entry and plan to pay at the door, since tickets are not sold online and the maze, patch, and bull riding fill the day.