Sure, it might be a bit premature for the hot chocolate and mittens, but we’ve definitely got non-tropical weather in store for the weekend.  You could even say it’s perfect pumpkin patch weather.

With that in mind, here’s the Junior’s  annual Pumpkin Patch Superlist! It’ll make the hunt for the perfect patch and the perfect Jack-O’ Lantern a wee bit easier.

Arlington 

Gather up the tinies and head to the Pumpkin Patch at First Christian Church in Arlington this weekend. Beside a bounty of pumpkins and great photo ops, they also have games and an outdoor children’s reading nook. It’s the perfect outing for everyone.

Dallas 

If it’s the perfect photo op you’re looking for, there’s no better place to snap the itty bitties in their Halloween costumes than the Dallas Arboretum. During their annual Autumn at the Arboretum event, the garden brings in thousands of colorful florals and 50,000 pumpkins, gourds and squashes to create its famous Pumpkin Village. The fall decor makes a great backdrop for your little ghouls and goblins. If you’re wanting a less autumnal setting there are plenty of non-halloweeny water features and gardens to choose from, too. Here’s a hint, take your pixies or fairies to the Palmer Fern Dell. They’ll look like they’re in Tinkerbell’s garden among the mist and ferns.

The Pumpkin Patch at St. James Episcopal Church is one of the most popular, enduring traditions in Lake Highlands, in fact, the annual event is celebrating their 20th year.  During that time, thousands of pumpkins of every size, shape, and variety will be sold in the patch. Proceeds from pumpkin sales fund the church’s youth group. The patch is located at the intersection of Audelia and McCree, just north of Northwest Highway.

NorthPark Center is caught up in the spirit of autumn with their pumpkin patch. CenterPark Garden, the 1.4 acre green space located in the center of the mall, is all decked out with gourds, corn, and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. It’s the perfect size for toddler exploring and also a great place to snap a cute season picture. After you’re done, be sure to stop by the Dallas Public Library’s BookMarks to check out some Halloween books and movies. You’ll find the branch is just inside CenterPark’s north entrance by La Duni bakery.

Photo: BlueGrace/ The Woods United Methodist Church

Grand Prairie

The pumpkin patch at The Woods United Methodist Church in Grand Prairie has oodles of pumpkins to choose from and best of all, it’s open during the whole week. Their hours are Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m.-7 p.m. through October 31.

Grapevine

At Hall’s Pumpkin Farm they have big pumpkins, little pumpkins, sweet pie pumpkins, and gourds of all kinds. Since it’s a genuine pumpkin farm you can pick your perfect pumpkin off the vine or you can select one that’s been pre-picked at one of the many pumpkin vignettes scattered throughout the farm. Besides all the pumpkins there are also farm animals to pet, a vintage tractor for hay rides, and a huge 2-acre corn maze to get lost in with friends and family. They’re open daily through Oct. 31.

Fort Worth

Take your fall family photos on the grounds of beautiful Thistle Hill mansion in Fort Worth at their seasonal pumpkin patch. Admission is free to the patch and it’s open daily Oct. 17-31. Pumpkin sales support Historic Fort Worth.

Flower Mound

If you’re wanting a little bit of everything, check out the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch at the Double Oaks Ranch. The patch has hundreds of pumpkins ranging in size from the very small to the largest you’ll ever see. Besides a bumper crop of pumpkins, there are also plenty of activities like mazes, bounce houses and hayrides to keep the kiddos entertained, and best of all, they’re all free of charge. Open daily through Oct. 31.

Frisco

Pumpkins on the Prairie is celebrating its 14th year of pumpkiny fun. Pick the best pumpkin in the patch, play on a bounce house, run through a hay maze, take a hayride, or just play some games in the “Kid’s Patch” at this family-friendly event located at Grace United Methodist Church in Frisco. Open daily through Oct. 31

Photo: Storybook Ranch

McKinney

For a pumpkin patch with a twist, head to Storybook Ranch in McKinney for its 1800s Western Town and Pumpkin Patch. You and the kids can ride ponies, enjoy a hay maze, a petting zoo, bounce houses and a wagon ride through the 1800s town. You can feel good about going to this patch because all the proceeds go to support the River Ranch Educational Charities which include helping underprivileged and special needs children experience a bit of the ranch life. Open daily through Oct. 31

Plano

Come purchase your perfect pumpkin and support the youth group at Christ United Methodist Church in Plano. This year marks the 14th year of the annual Pumpkin Patch and is open daily through Oct. 31

Northern Counties

Enjoy some simple pleasures at the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm at Preston Trail Farms. Pick a pumpkin right off the vine at this working farm just a 40-minute drive from Plano. Experience the country life as you take a hayride, explore a 6-foot hay maze, ride the farm train, or pet some farm animals. Open daily through Nov. 22.

Eastern Counties

Gather up your little pumpkins and head to Blase Family Farm in Rockwall. Your family will enjoy a petting zoo featuring longhorns, goats and sheep, a hayride around the wooded grounds, and pumpkins galore.  Open daily through Oct. 31.

The Gentle Zoo in Forney doubles as a pumpkin patch AND a petting zoo. You can ride the Halloween tractor, run through the maze, play some games, and make some very cute four-legged friends to boot. It’s true–they really do love being petted. After you got your cuteness quota taken care of, head over to the giant tent to pick out your perfect pumpkin. Open daily through Nov. 5.

One of my favorite seasonal jaunts is to the Fall Festival at Yesterland Farm in Canton. Originally a Christmas tree farm, the owners expanded it to include a pumpkin patch. But hold on, the autumnal wonderland doesn’t end there. The place is packed to the gills with fall fun. There are rides for the kids, a candy cabin, a three-acre corn maze, pig races, and miles and miles of pumpkins. There’s also an after-hours Fright Farm where you can get into a paintball fight with zombies, or take a scary hayride. Both the Fright Farm and the tamer Fall Festival are open weekends through Nov. 5.

Photo: Country Critters Farm

Southwestern Counties

It’s pumpkin patch time at Country Critters Farm in Alvarado. The wee ones can enjoy pony rides, bounce houses, hay rides, duck races, and my favorite, story time. Kids can listen to a seasonal story while enjoying a cookie and apple juice. (Parents get to try out the homemade pumpkin bread).  The farm is open weekends through Nov. 19.

Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch and back at Lone Star Family Farm in Stephenville. Besides the Pumpkin Patch, the farm offers a bumper crop of attractions that are fun for the whole family. Highlights include, a giant 8-acre corn maze, and smaller mini maze, a cow train, and hay bale mountain that kids can climb up and then take a slide down. Lone Star Family Farm is open Friday through Sunday through Oct. 29 and then Saturdays through Nov. 18.

Catch up with the Great Pumpkin at Mainstay Farm, in Cleburne. Besides the obligatory pumpkin patch and a wooden corn maze, there is also a hayride that goes over hill and dale, a huge three-story tree house, a 100-foot long super chute slide, and get this… a jumping pillow! I don’t know about you, but a jumping pillow sounds waaaay more fun than a plain old bounce house. Family Pumpkin Days are weekends through Oct. 29.

For even more seasonal fun, check out our complete list of fall fun featuring area haunted houses and fall festivals.