Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest: The BEST Pumpkin Patch for Spooky Season??

Hold up. Celebrate Halloween… at a Christmas tree farm??

You bet! It might sound a little strange, but believe it or not, Santa has a part-time gig running a pumpkin patch in Eustis, Florida, and he’s really good at it!

Best known for being a quaint and cozy Christmas tree farm, Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest transforms into an autumn extravaganza in late September. With piles of pumpkins, jostling hayrides, and haunted mazes, this is a holly, jolly Halloween celebration you won’t want to miss!

Pumpkin Patch Palooza

Pumpkin carving is an autumn art form. Whether you choose to carve a sinister snarl or a beaming smile, there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about those glowing, orange faces. I love seeing them flicker in friendly greetings from my neighbor’s front porch. As the evenings arrive earlier and earlier in autumn, little jack-o’lanterns help light the way.

Creating jack-o’lanterns is a longstanding tradition, originating with an Irish folktale many centuries ago. Long story short, a conniving man named Jack eventually got his comeuppance, and he was forced to roam the earth with only burning coal to light his way. Naturally, he stuck the coal into a carved-out turnip and became known as “Jack of the Lantern.”

Fans of the legend began carving their own versions of Jack’s lantern, and eventually, Irish and Scottish immigrants brought the tradition to the United States, where turnips were swapped out for pumpkins.

If you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin to carve your own jack o’lantern, Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest has you covered! They’ve been hosting A Lot of Pumpkins pumpkin patch activities for 15 years!

Because pumpkins are notoriously difficult to grow in Florida, the ones you’ll see here have been brought down from northern states. Each one is fresh-picked and kept in the shade and off of the ground to preserve it until it’s ready to go home with you! Big or small, for carving or simply decorating, Santa’s Farm can fulfill your pumpkin needs.

Pumpkins are priced by size and usually range from $3 to $13, making them fun and pretty budget-friendly! Those tiny pumpkins are a steal AND ridiculously adorable. I’ll take the whole stock, please!

Frights on the Farm

When night falls on Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest, things start to get…spooky.

While we haven’t received confirmation on this year’s hauntings, we suspect it will be similar in nature to prior ones. Last year, the after-dark events were based on Animal Farm by George Orwell. The farm’s horror-filled hayride and haunted woods were brimming with creepy, bipedal animals and evil spirits. What atrocities lurk in the shadows this year? Will the communist creatures return, or do brand-new monsters await? The suspense is killing me!

No matter the theme, we know the woodland walk and late-night hayride will provide the perfect spooky adrenaline rush!

Because Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest’s After Dark event is pretty scary, those under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a parent. During the event, the bar and grill will be open so you can grab a bite to fuel yourself through the frights!

Other Autumntime Attractions

All of Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest’s classic activities will be taking place during the fall season!

The Magical Maze will be open for exploration, complete with a monster scavenger hunt! Rather than a corn maze, this perilous puzzle is a wood panel maze. Can you find all of the monster photos hidden throughout the maze?

Jack’s Barnyard buddies will also be out and about for lots of love and cuddles. Goats, donkeys, and chickens are just some of the petting zoo residents you can look forward to meeting! Sometimes, there are even horse and pony rides for a giddy-up good time!

There will also be a play area which traditionally includes a bounce pillow, giant slide, and barrel train, as well as rubber duck races and the opportunity to dig for real shark teeth! There will also be hayrides throughout the day (non-spooky ones), and all of this fun takes place to the beat of live music.

Oh, and here’s some very important information: concessions will be open, too! Kettle corn, smash burgers, hot dogs, and sodas will all be available for a tasty afternoon treat. Wow, I’m really hungry all of a sudden…

The farm makes a fantastic backdrop for a fall family portrait, and you can even bring your furry friend for the photo—provided they are well-behaved and on a leash! (Note that dogs aren’t allowed in the petting zoo or horse riding area.)

While on the farm, you’ll be in a natural outdoor environment, so closed-toe shoes are definitely recommended, as well as bug spray and a water bottle. Most of all, remember to have fun!!

Admission Info

The opening day for Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest’s fall season is September 23rd, 2023! Starting that day, the farm will be open on weekends, and beginning on October 13th, they will also be open on Fridays and Mondays! The last day of the pumpkin patch will be October 30th, giving the farm just over a month to go through a Christmas makeover and reopen on December 18th. (Note: last year, the after-dark event didn’t start until mid-October, so be sure to check Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest’s website for updates on that!)

It is highly recommended you purchase your tickets in advance as the farm quickly reaches capacity! Having advanced tickets is your only guaranteed entry, as tickets are likely to be sold out at the gate. Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm prices for admission vary by date, usually ranging from $9 to $15. Tickets can be purchased on Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest website.

I can’t wait to scare…I mean, see…you there!

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Although it’s a Christmas Tree Forest, Santa definitely knows how to celebrate the spooky season here in Florida! You’ll love spending the day at this fantastic (and frightful) farm!

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Featured photo: FamVeld from Getty Images via Canva