We marked the first official week of fall with a day of family fun, pumpkin picking, and the most spectacular mums at Johnson Farms Plants & Pumpkins.
Between the new Patrick Mahomes themed corn maze, extensive play area that seems to never end, abundant U-Pick fields filled with farm-fresh vegetables and flowers, farm animals, apple orchards, and of course, a pumpkin patch teeming with multiple varieties of pumpkins, a trip to Johnson Farms offers tremendous value and fall fun for the entire family.
We’re always impressed with the cleanliness of the grounds and friendliness of the staff. My kids, ranging in age from eight years to eighteen months, love navigating the corn maze, picking pumpkins, playing on the jumping pillows, cutting vibrant zinnias, visiting the baby pigs, exploring the barn games and play area, and more. Visitors are also welcome to enjoy lunch at the farm’s Barnyard Grill, which offers hot dogs, nachos, and other snacks, along with the farm’s apple cider slushes and delicious pumpkin and apple cider donuts! And we love bringing the fall spirit home by picking up some of their massive, healthy mums.
What to Know Before You Go (2024):
- Visit the farm’s online ticket page to buy season tickets or daily tickets.
- This is a U-Pick Farm! Load up a wheelbarrow with pumpkins, apples, sunflowers, zinnias, and veggies and pay by the pound or stem, or based on the size of the apple-picking bag you choose.
- Plan plenty of time for your visit—you could easily spend half a day in the fields alone, and your family will want to explore every part of the play area!
- The play areas are stroller-friendly, but you’ll need to park your stroller near the front cash register to catch the hayride to the pumpkin patch, corn maze, apple orchard, and sunflower field.
- All of the activities discussed here are included in the price of admission! Pay separately for any concessions, or any produce or flowers you wish to purchase.
Our Pumpkin Patch Tips:
- Wear layers. It can be chilly early and late in the day, but temperatures rise quite a bit around noon. And don’t forget sunscreen!
- Wear shoes suitable for playing hard and visiting the working fields—tennis shoes, rubber boots, or other outdoor boots.
- Come well rested—you’ll want to spend as much time as you can on the farm, so plan around naptime!
Some of Our Favorite Activities at Johnson Farms:
Pumpkin Picking: Head to the fields, grab a wheelbarrow, and harvest whatever pumpkins you’d like right off of the vine. There are many varieties and sizes to choose from—the only challenge is deciding when you’ve picked enough!
The “GOAT” Corn Maze: This is no simple corn maze, and you’ll have to break out your best map skills to master it! Don’t miss the great photo-ops along the way. Completing the maze takes about 30 minutes.
Apple Picking: When you arrive and scan your pre-purchased or purchase tickets, let them know that you’d like to pick apples, and they’ll provide bags for a Quarter Peck, Half Peck, or Bulk 10 lb. bag. The orchard contains many popular varieties (Gala, Fiji, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Braeburn), and the trees were heavily laden during our visit.
Flower and Veggie Picking: You can harvest your own veggies, sunflowers, and zinnias during your visit! The sunflower field was teeming with towering stems, and the zinnia field is showing off spectacular early-fall color. Check social media for the latest updates on what’s ready for picking.
Pumpkin-Chomping Dinosaur: Catch a demo if you visit on the weekend!
Jumping Pillows: The concept is so simple, but it was hard for us to stop jumping! Kids must be at least three years old to jump.
Outdoor Play Structures: There are multiple play structures suitable for all ages. There’s even a toddler play area with swings for the youngest farm-goer. We love the tunnels play area!
Trucks and Tractors: Hop aboard a variety of old trucks and tractors, and drive till your heart’s content!
Adventure Barn: Follow ramps up into the Adventure Barn and enjoy ping pong, giant connect four, corn hole, darts, and challenging mazes. Ride roller slides down when you’re ready for the next attraction!
Farm Games: We could’ve raced ducks forever in the pump and river course, and skeeball is always a hit.
Corn Pits: There are two corn pits for your family to enjoy. One sits under the helicopter from True Lies in a shaded area meant for mothers and children five years and under. There are plenty of cushioned benches to sit on while caring for the littlest members of your family while others play in the corn! Then there’s the giant, three-feet deep corn pit for kids of all ages.
Indoor Blow-Up Play Area: Take some time to play indoors on the giant obstacle course, soccer targets, and “axe” throwing blow-up attractions.
Farm Animals: Don’t miss the goats climbing over an old school bus and the new piglets in their barn!
Fall Gift Shop and Mums: I’m picky about flowers, and I have never before seen the sort of lush, massive mums—of early, mid-season, and late-blooming varieties—that Johnson Farms offers!
We can’t recommend Johnson Farms enough for a family friendly, hospitable, and authentic U-Pick experience. Don’t miss this wonderful fall memory for your family!
Katie Montoya is a recent transplant to Kansas City after years of moving around practicing law. She’s eager to put her roots down in KC with her husband and kids.