Everyone loves a good pumpkin for Halloween and it's even more exciting if you can pick your own.
Pumpkin festivals and events are running at various sites in and around Greater Manchester where kiddies can pick their own to take home - and enjoy a host of other activities too.
Most of them have events running across October half term. Here's where you can take the family for some fun.
Read more: Manchester to get its biggest ever outdoor ice rink for Halloween and Christmas
Dunham Pumpkin Patch, Dunham Massey
The Dunham Pumpkin Patch is back open this year.
Run by the Hewitt family, they have been growing pumpkins for more than 30 years and this is the third year of families being welcomed on site to enjoy the 'ultimate pumpkin picking experience'.
Different varieties have been planted including traditional orange pumpkins, gourds and knobbly pumpkins, as well as last year's very popular Ghost Rider Pumpkins.
There are various photo opportunities to get those all-important snaps and this year there's the addition of a new giant chair, as well as vintage tractors and a new wagon train for families to enjoy rides around the orchards.
As in previous years there'll also be wood fired pizzas served on site and a van for refreshments. You can also call at The Apple Barn to try out its award-winning Dunham Massey apple juice and cider, or grab a brew and some homemade cake.
The pumpkin patch is open from 10am to 4pm each weekend starting October 1 and then daily from October 22 to 30. Book on the website here.
Cockfields Farm, Ashton
The Pumpkin Festival is back at Cockfields Farm this year with a whole host of activities.
Families can grab a wheelbarrow and head out to the Pumpkin Patch before taking it to the Carving Cave to create the spookiest or funniest face they can.
Your pumpkin is included in the ticket price and there's lots more Halloween fun to enjoy too, from a Scarecrow Scareshow to the chance to get hands on with snakes, lizards and rats in the Animal Barn.
If that's not enough there'll be tractor rides, animal feeding, marshmallow firepits and lots of the usual play equipment from the giant jumping pillow and indoor sandpit, to the swings, slides, climbing frames and lots more.
The event's running from October 8 to 30 and tickets, costing £20 each (pumpkin included), can be booked online.
Smithills Open Farm, Bolton
A Pumpkin Picking event is running at Smithills over the weekend of October 15/16 and then daily from October 22 to 30.
It's suitable for children of all ages and farm staff will be in fancy dress helping to keep them entertained.
Tickets cost £6 each and you buy tickets for the number of pumpkins you want to pick, not the amount of people attending.
You need to buy separate tickets for the other Halloween events at the farm, including the Halloween Special, with a spooky sweet hunt, and Halloween Fright Night, a one-night only running on October 29 with 'ghoulish guided tours'.
To book, visit the website here.
Halloween On The Farm, Lancaster Park and Animal Farm, Oldham
Pumpkin picking is including in the attraction's Halloween On The Farm event, which is back for 2022.
Families can pick their own from the pumpkin patch and there's space to carve your special creation.
There's loads more fun to enjoy there too, including a haunted house and spooky tales with the wicked witch.
Youngsters can pet and feed the animals, ride the caterpillar barrel ride, drive the mini quads, dig in the sand pit at digger corner and lots more.
The event is running over the weekends of October 8/9 and 15/16 and then daily from October 21 to 30.
For tickets - £9.50 adults, £12.50 children - book online. Under 12 months are £6.50, or free if no pumpkin required.
Pumpkin Festival, Grange Farm, Lowton
The farm has become a popular haunt for pumpkin picking over recent years and its Pumpkin Festival is back for 2022.
The patch opens from October 8, with ticket prices including entry, as well as children's entertainment, Halloween crafts and games.
It costs £10 per family for a maximum of five people, any extras £2.50 each.
There's loads more on site too, from a spooky maze and sunflower maze, to face painting, a haunted bus, characters to meet and greet and a children's entertainer.
A carving barn for little ones to carve their creations will also be open throughout the event, which runs until October 31.
Pumpkins and all other activities are a extra cost on the day. On selected dates - October 14, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 - there is none of the added entertainment, so family tickets are half price. Pumpkin picking and the maze will still be available. Visit the website here to book.
Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan
There'll be hundreds of pumpkins ready for the picking at Haigh Woodland Park this year.
Its event is running from October 27 to 30 and tickets are already selling fast.
Every ticket holder will have 30 minutes to pick their pumpkin and have photographs with their pumpkin and the special live Halloween characters (child friendly) who will be roaming the woodland pumpkin arena. The session will be then be followed by a 15 minute song and dance show with the Halloween characters.
This event forms part of Haigh's Halloween Fest 2022, with more details to be released on the Facebook page here over the coming weeks.
Tickets cost £5.50 each and one ticket is required for every attendee, including adults. Every ticket holder gets access to the show and will be able to take a pumpkin home. Book online.
Roby Mill Pumpkin Patch, Wigan
Tickets have already been selling fast for Roby Mill Pumpkin Patch, which is opens on October 8 and will open daily until Halloween, except for October 10 and 17.
There's a huge range of pumpkins and minikins ready for the picking and photo opportunities and activities to get involved with.
In a spooky tent on site there'll also be a range of Halloween merchandise, including knitted pumpkins, candles and more.
For the first time, Roby Mill has also teamed up with local pub The Fox Roby Mill, who will be on site selling hot food and drinks from a pop-up food truck.
At quieter times you can just turn up without booking, but you need to book free tickets for busier weekend periods and during half term, October 24 to 28. Free tickets can be booked online. A ticket is required for each person attending the Pumpkin Patch, except any children under the age of 2.
Parking and entry are free. Pumpkins are priced differently according to size.
Farmer Bertie's Pumpkin Patch, Warrington
This one's a bit of a hidden gem and our Manchester Family visited the site - on the border of Wigan and Warrington - last year.
Open from October 14 to 31, visitors don't need to book and there's no entry fee - you simply pay for the pumpkins you pick.
After two years of trying to grow pink pumpkins, this year it's been a success and for every one sold Farmer Bertie has decided to give the proceeds to Cancer Research UK for breast cancer research.
There are some more new additions this year too - with a Coffee Stop serving brews, cold drinks and tray bakes and The Mobberley Ice Cream Company serving up its homemade ice cream.
There's also a seated picnic area and an indoor pedal tractor area for children of all ages.
Pumpkins cost £12 for any three sizes. Pink ones are £8, with proceeds to charity. See the Facebook page here for more details.
Reddish Vale Farm, Stockport
There's pumpkin picking at Reddish Vale this year as part of its Halloween Festival.
Families can grab a wheelbarrow and head out to pick their own pumpkin off the pumpkin patch before taking it to carving cavern to create their masterpiece.
There's a Halloween Village offering plenty of photo opportunities, a Spooky Express through the haunted woods (for £2 a ride), a haunted straw maze and more.
The event's running from October 8 to 30 and tickets - £16.50 for children and £12 for adults - can be booked online. One pumpkin included per paying child.
Kenyon Hall Farm, Warrington
Pumpkin picking is back at Kenyon Hall Farm, also in Warrington, this Halloween and there's a bumper crop of more than 15,000 to pick from this year.
The event will run every day throughout October and while there's no carving this year, there are lots of cute photo opportunities to take advantage of, including the giant 'pumpkins' sign that's been installed on the patch (main image).
Tickets are £2.50 per person for adults and children - infants under 18 months go free - and can be booked online.
The entry ticket does not include a pumpkin. These are available to buy and are priced according to size.
This year the attraction has also teamed up with two professional photographers for those wanting to get some unique family portraits. Sessions are on selected dates. For more information and to find out how to book, see here.
The Pumpkin Patch at Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm
Around 30,000 pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are ready for the picking at Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm at Ash Farm.
You don't need to book a slot, just turn up on the day and head out onto the fields.
There's no entry fee, so you only pay for the pumpkins you take home - as well as any Halloween flavoured ice creams you may well be tempted to buy whilst there, or hot food or pumpkin spiced lattes from the giant tee-pee.
Picking is available from October 1. Visit the website here for more details.
Libby's Pumpkin Patch, Macclesfield
There are four pumpkin patches to pick from at Libby's in Macclesfield, with thousands upon thousands of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.
The patch launched just two years ago, but has quickly become a favourite with families, and Dan and Bethan Thornicroft are hoping for similar success with 2022's crop.
It costs £5 per car to visit and then pumpkin prices depend on the size. The site's open throughout October and there's hot and cold refreshments, including fresh baked pizza and homemade cakes, being served. Book online.
Malpas Pick Your Own Pumpkins, Cheshire
At Malpas, visitors are invited to make their way through one of the spooky maize mazes to find the hidden pumpkin patch and photo prop village, where some new props have been added for 2022.
There are 'acres and acres of pumpkins to choose from' and lots more fun to enjoy, including a new tractor ride for £3 each.
No booking is required and the maze entry fee is £2 per person. Pumpkins are £2 (small), £3.50 (regular) and larger ones also available.
Fancy dress is encouraged and children can also enjoy the bouncy castle and mini diggers, £1.50 each, and visit the farm's new miniature baby goats Flossie and Mabel.
The site is open on the weekends of October 1/2, 8/9 and 14 to 16 and then daily from October 21 to Halloween.
Follow the Facebook page here for more details.
Windmill Animal Farm, Burscough
The Pumpkin Picking Adventure is back at Windmill Animal Farm for another year and there's a full day of farmyard fun in store for families.
Each ticket includes admission to Windmill Animal Farm and access to the Pumpkin Picking Adventure, where all visitors get to pick their own pumpkin from the fields that they are grown in.
It includes a day's admission to the farm, all animal interactions and activities, with The Runaway Farm Train now included and the addition of a new family of Maize Monsters.
One pumpkin per ticket is included, and guests are welcome to purchase more pumpkins on the day.
Farmer Chris has planted more than 20,000 plants in the pumpkin fields, so there'll be loads to choose from this Halloween harvest.
The event's running from October 8 to 31 and tickets - £16.95 for adults and £18.95 for children - can be booked online.
Woore Fruit Farm, Crewe
The farm always has a wide range of pumpkins available its pumpkin picking event starts at the beginning of October.
here is no entry fee, you just pay for the pumpkins that you pick and families can also enjoy a monster hunt around the farm.
The place opens daily from 9.30am to 5pm. See the Facebook page here for more details.
Claremont Farm, Wirral
There's a bumper crop to pick from at Claremont Farm this year where the patch will open earlier than expected, from October 1.
You pay £1 per kg for the pumpkins, with a cap of £6 even for the enormous ones, which we're told weigh in at over 12kg and are 'easily big enough to fit over a human head'.
The site opens 9am to 4pm daily from October 1. See the Facebook page for updates.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
