Pumpkin season at Rainfords
Pumpkin Picking at Rainfords Farm
Homegrown pumpkins, no booking for general picking, and no need to trail through the crop field in the mud.
Homegrown Pumpkins, Ready for You to Choose
We grow tens of thousands of pumpkins here at Rainfords Farm each year, from the familiar orange carving pumpkins to white, green, blue-grey and wonderfully odd-shaped varieties.
When the crop is ready, we harvest the pumpkins and bring them into our enclosed picking area beside the barn. You still get the fun of finding the one you want — or filling a wheelbarrow with several — without having to walk through rows of wet, muddy crop field.
The area is fully enclosed, with hay bales, outdoor seating and large and children’s wheelbarrows available. Little legs can explore without disappearing halfway across the farm, although they’ll still need supervising.
Visiting Rainfords Farm
Our 2026 pumpkin season is planned to begin on 26 September and continue throughout October. General pumpkin picking does not need to be booked, there is no entry fee and parking is free.
Seasonal opening hours are normally 10am to 6pm weekdays, 10-5pm Saturdays, 10-4 Sundays, seven days a week during October. Farming, weather and events occasionally have other ideas, so please check the latest information on this page before making a special journey.
How Pumpkin Picking Works
1. Turn Up and Head to the Barn
Park on site and follow the signs towards the retail barn and pumpkin picking area. There is no ticket desk for general picking and no timed slot to worry about.
2. Grab a Wheelbarrow
We have full-sized wheelbarrows and smaller children’s ones. They’re useful for carrying pumpkins, and apparently even more exciting when you’re four.
3. Choose Your Pumpkins
Take your time looking through the different sizes, shapes and colours. A smooth, steady pumpkin is useful for carving; smaller pumpkins are easier for children to paint; and the unusual varieties make brilliant autumn displays.
4. Pay for What You Take
There is no general entry charge for families. Pumpkins are priced by size and variety, with price guides displayed at the farm. Small pumpkins and gourds start from £1.50 with everything from everyday carving pumpkins to proper show-off giants available as the crop allows.
Pumpkin Carving
If you’d rather leave the pumpkin insides here than take them home, carving is available in the marquee during the season. Choose your pumpkin, add the carving activity and use the tools provided. Children must be supervised by an adult throughout.
We are not offering painting this season, as we find in the cooler autumn temperatures, the paint doesn’t dry properly, it’s a great project to do at home though.
Carving is usually available without advance booking during general opening hours. Availability and prices can change, so check the current signs.
Carving closes 30mins before closing time, so please factor this in when visiting late.
More Than the Pumpkin Picking Area
The Retail Barn
Step into the barn for autumn decorations, Halloween lights, carving kits, signs, candles and seasonal pieces for the house and garden. The range changes quickly during October, particularly when somebody discovers something they saw on Instagram the night before.
Our In-House Florist
Sharon, our in-house florist, creates autumn wreaths, arrangements and seasonal displays using fresh, dried and artificial materials. Ready-made pieces are available when the season is in full swing, or speak to Sharon about something made for your door or home.
The Café
The seasonal café is open during pumpkin season for hot drinks, food and something sweet after you’ve finished choosing. Menus and opening arrangements can vary, so check the latest information if the café is the main reason for your journey.
Workshops & Other Events
We may add a small number of workshops or other events during pumpkin season. We will announce dates, details and any booking arrangements separately once they are confirmed. General pumpkin picking remains open as usual and does not need booking.
Schools, Supervised groups, Nurseries & Childminders.
You must email allison@rainford.com to discuss your requirements.
Plan Your Visit
Where to Find Us
Catchdale Moss Farm, Catchdale Moss Lane, Eccleston, St Helens, WA10 5QG. Parking is free on site.
What to Wear
The pumpkins are brought into an enclosed grassed picking area, so you won’t be walking through muddy rows in a field, It is still a farm in the North West in October, though. Dress for the weather and bring sensible footwear after rain.
Accessibility
The pumpkin area is grassed. It is generally accessible, but wheelchairs and prams may find the ground more difficult after prolonged wet weather. Contact us before travelling if you would like to talk through access or need a little help when you arrive.
Dogs
Dogs cannot enter the retail barn or pumpkin picking area. We now have a dedicated fenced doggy pumpkin patch beside the picking field so they can wait safely while the rest of the family chooses pumpkins.
Before You Set Off
Check this page for the latest opening information and any confirmed workshops or one-off events. If you are travelling for one particular activity, product or café item, contact us first — seasonal availability has a habit of changing quickly.
Pumpkin Floral Arrangement Workshop
Join Sharon for a relaxed, hands-on autumn floristry evening at Rainfords Farm on Wednesday 28 October, 6.30pm–9pm.
Create a bespoke floral arrangement in a fresh pumpkin picked from our farm. Your £45 ticket includes the pumpkin, seasonal flowers and foliage, all materials and equipment, plus Sharon’s step-by-step guidance.
Book the Pumpkin Floral Arrangement Workshop — places are limited.
Do I need to book?
No booking is needed for general pumpkin picking, carving or painting — just turn up during our pumpkin opening hours. Schools, nurseries, childminders and organised groups need to arrange their visit in advance. If we add any workshops or one-off events, we’ll publish their booking details separately once they are confirmed.
Is there an entry fee?
No. It’s free to visit the pumpkin picking area, and parking is free too. You simply pay for the pumpkins you choose and any optional activities.
Will we be walking through a muddy field?
Not the crop field. We grow the pumpkins here, then harvest them and bring them into our enclosed picking area beside the barn. The picking area is grassed, though, and October weather is October weather, so sensible shoes are still a good idea after rain.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs can’t enter the retail barn or pumpkin picking area. We do have a dedicated fenced dog area beside the picking field, so they don’t necessarily have to miss the whole trip.
Can I cook with the pumpkins?
Many of our pumpkins and squash are suitable for cooking as well as displaying. If you have a recipe in mind, ask the team and we’ll help you choose a suitable variety. Ornamental gourds are for decoration unless they’re specifically identified as edible.
What do schools, nurseries and childminders need to arrange?
Please contact us in advance with your preferred date, group size and the children’s ages. Your setting remains responsible for its safeguarding, supervision, permissions and visit risk assessment. We’ll provide the Rainfords site and activity information you need for your planning, then confirm the current visit package, price and availability.
Can Rainfords help with our visit risk assessment?
Yes. We can provide practical information about the farm, activities, ground conditions, access, parking and site rules. If you use your own visit form, send it to us and we can complete the sections relating to Rainfords. We can’t approve your setting’s risk assessment or confirm its Ofsted or EYFS compliance.