THE coronavirus pandemic might have altered many of our Halloween plans this year- but many local pumpkin patches are still open for business.

Pumpkin picking is a fun and affordable day out with the kids especially with half term coming up.

Best of all, the fun continues even when the pumpkins are home as you can carve and decorate in the days leading up to Halloween.

If you want to go pumpkin picking as a family, here are three fantastic pumpkin farms in Greater Manchester:

Smithills Open Farm

Location: Smithills Dean Rd, Bolton

Cost: £5 per pumpkin

When: 24th- 31st October

(Facebook/Smithills Open Farm)

There are hundreds of pumpkins to choose from at Smithills Open Farm- and wheelbarrows will also be available for a bit of fun and to enhance your experience.

The farm will also be clad in Halloween decoration and staff will be dressed in costume so don’t forget to bring your camera.

A representative of Smithills Farm said: “When we run special, seasonal activities you know we do them to our absolute best - expect no different with this.”

That’s not the only spooky activity planned, as there is also a woodland walk, sweet hunt and fancy dress competition planned.

If you want to grab a pumpkin for yourself, pumpkin picking takes place between the 24th-31st October- make sure to buy your tickets online before heading to the farm.

The Dunham Pumpkin Patch
Location: Henshall Ln, Altrincham
Cost: £5 (price taken off cost of the pumpkin at the till)
When: 24th- 31st October

This pumpkin patch is a 35 minute drive from Bolton, but it’s well worth the journey if you want a fun day out.

Jonathon Hewitt, owner of the farm, conceptualised ‘Dunham Pumpkins’ during lockdown and planted over five acres of pumpkins back in May and June.

(Facebook/@DunhamPumpkinPatch)

They have a few varieties of pumpkins on the farm, including the standard orange pumpkins, Atlantic Giants and even somw white Ghost Rider pumpkins.

Best of all, you can bring your dog to the pumpkin patch with you as long as they are kept on a lead.

Once you have finished, you can enjoy a wood fired pizza and even sample Dunham Massey Apple Juice.

In order to keep everyone safe and prevent overcrowding,  you have to book slot before you turn up.

Cockfield Farm
Location: Lees Road, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne
Cost: £12.95 (including the price of the pumpkin)
When: 19th October-01 November

This Greater Manchester pumpkin farm is around a thirty minute drive from Bolton.

However, it has a lot of amenities and experiences that you might not find in other venues.

Once you have chosen your pumpkin, you can take it to the ‘Spooky Carving Cave’ and use the tools provided to turn it into a lantern.

(Facebook/@CockfieldsFarm)

Also included in the ticket price is access to the Pumpkin Village, where you can snap a photo with the family.

You can also head to the petting farm where you can see the bunnies and guinea pigs.

Ticket holders can also look forward to unlimited rides on the fairground carousel.

If you’re interested in attending then book your tickets online.

Are you going pumpkin picking this year?