Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes and Other Fall Events Near Boone, Wilkesboro, and Leatherwood Mountains (2026)
Fall is the best time to be in this part of the mountains, and not just because of the leaf color. From mid-September through the end of October, the towns around Wilkesboro, Ferguson, and Boone fill up with apple festivals, corn mazes, scarecrows, and other seasonal events.
Even better, most of it sits within a short drive of our cabin at Leatherwood Mountains, so you can spend a morning taking in the fall foliage (from the front porch) and an afternoon at a festival without much time in the car.
Here are some of the best corn mazes, pumpkin patches, Halloween, and fall events in the NC Mountains.
5 best corn mazes and pumpkin patches near Boone and Wilkesboro
A corn maze is a fun fall family activity, and there are several within a short drive of Lestherwood Mountains. Opening dates for 2026 vary by farm, so check hours before you head out:
1. C&J Corn Maze (and Haunted Maze)
Where: C & J Pumpkin Patch, 3490 NC Highway 194, Boone, NC 28607
What: a corn maze, hayrides, jump castles, and yard games, plus a haunted maze after dark on weekends.
When: opens on Sept. 19, 2026
Hours:
Friday 5 pm-10 pm (haunted maze will start at dark, starting Oct. 5)
Saturday 11 am-10 pm (haunted maze will start at dark, starting Oct. 5)
Sunday 1 pm-6 pm
The Haunted Maze Opens Oct. 5th.
What: Make your way through the 5-acre haunted corn maze. Stroll through the pumpkin patch and enjoy hayrides at the farm.
When: Opening October 5. Friday & Saturday nights after dark.
Hours:
Friday & Saturday, dark - 10 pm
More C& J Corn Maze info: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077418383190
2. Harvest Farm (Valle Crucis)
Where: Harvest Farm, 3287 NC 194, Valle Crucis, NC 28691
What: A seven-acre maze and a photo-ready pumpkin patch next to the Original Mast General Store. If you complete the corn maze map, you win a free pumpkin! (One pumpkin per group while supplies last) For pet lovers, yes, fur-babies are welcome.
Harvest Farm also offers hayrides, a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, and a large pre-picked pumpkin selection.
When: Opening Saturday, September 12, 2026
Hours:
Fridays & Saturdays, 10am-6pm
Sundays, 1-6pm
NOTE: Last maze tickets sold 1 hour prior to closing
More info and tickets: https://harvestfarmwnc.com/ticket-info
3. Lantern Farm (near West Jefferson)
Where: Lantern Farm, 221 Doe Meadows Drive, West Jefferson, North Carolina 28694
What: A 5-acre, professionally designed corn maze, tractor hayrides, pick-your-own pumpkin patch, and an assortment of pre-picked pumpkins. Mazes can take anywhere from 30-minutes or more to complete, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.
When: Opening Friday, September 18, 2026, and running through October 31.
Hours:
Friday - Sunday 11am - 6pm
Note: Online tickets are discounted compared to on-site ticket pricing
More info and tickets: https://lanternfarm.com/
4. Ashe County Corn Maze (West Jefferson)
Where: 1332 NC Highway 16 S, West Jefferson, NC
What: A 4-acre corn maze, plus other activities, including a pumpkin cannon, pumpkin bowling, a mini maze, tractor hayride, and more — all included with the price of admission. A concession stand sells hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, snacks, and drinks.
When: Opens September 19, 2026 - November 1.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday: 10 am to 6 pm
More info: ashecornmaze.com
5. New Castle Farm (Ronda)
Where: New Castle Farm, 2812 Clingman Road, Ronda, NC 28670
What: A picturesque pumpkin patch with pre-picked pumpkins, hay bales, and other fall decorations (no maze). Picking runs from late September through the end of October.
When: Opens September 19, 2026
Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 2 to 5:30 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 2 pm
Seasonal hours may vary. Please check their website for more information.
More info: https://newcastlenc.com/home
7 best fall and Halloween-themed events near Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro is the closest town to Leatherwood Mountains, about 20 minutes down the mountain, and it runs a full slate of Halloween-season events through October and into early November. These are the ones worth building an evening around.
1. Brushy Mountain Apple Festival (Saturday, October 3)
The Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is the biggest fall event near the cabin, and one of the largest single-day arts and crafts festivals in the Southeast. It takes over downtown North Wilkesboro on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free.
You will find hundreds of craft booths, food vendors, several stages of bluegrass and country music, and about every apple product there is: cider, pies, apple butter, dried apples. North Wilkesboro is roughly 20 minutes from the cabin, so it is an easy morning out. Go early, because parking and crowds both build after mid-morning. The Apple Festival guide has the schedule and parking details.
Key info:
What: Brushy Mountain Apple Festival
When: Saturday, October 3, 8am-5pm
Cost: Free
2. Hillside Horror
Where: 2122 Hoots Road, Roaring River, NC 28669
What: Hillside Horror is ranked as one of the best haunted attractions in the Carolinas, consisting of a full-on haunted attraction with a sinister corn maze, haunted houses, and a spooky hayride, plus a cast of live actors. The full run adds up to more than an hour of scares, so it leans toward older kids and adults.
When: Friday and Saturday nights, October 18 through November 7
Hours: 7:30 to 11 pm
Fright level: 👻👻👻👻👻
More info: http://hillsidehorror.com/index.html
3. Candlelight Ghost Tours
Where: Wilkes Heritage Museum, 100 E Main St, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
What: A guided, candlelit walk through the old Wilkes Jailhouse and other historic downtown spots. Reservations are required.
When: September 19, October 17, and October 24th
Hours: 7:30 pm
Fright level: 👻👻
More info: https://wilkesheritagemuseum.com/events
4. Downtown N. Wilkesboro Spooktacular Festival
Where: Downtown North Wilkesboro, NC
What: A family-friendly downtown Halloween festival made for families, featuring more than 60 candy stations, plus games, vendors, face painting, food, and music.
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Hours: 4 to 8 pm
Fright level: 👻
More info: https://nwmerchants.com/spooktacular/
5. Trunk or Track Speedway Bash
Where: North Wilkesboro Speedway, 381 Speedway Ln, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
What: A family Trunk or Treat night at the historic speedway, with food trucks, games, and more.
When: Friday, October 30, 2026
Fright level: 👻
More info: https://www.northwilkesborospeedway.com/events/trunk-or-track-speedway-bash/
6. Creepy Creek Trail Halloween Event
Where: Shelton Play Park at Cub Creek Park, 206 S Bridge St, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
What: A family Halloween night featuring costumes, candy, and trick-or-treating along the trail, hosted by the Wilkesboro Police Department and the Town of Wilkesboro Fire Department.
When: October 31, 2026
Hours: 6 to 8 pm
Fright level: 👻
More info: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19EA2vka2W/
7. Scarecrow Walking Tour
Where: Downtown West Jefferson
What: Local shops and businesses line the sidewalks with scarecrows. It is a free, self-guided walk that pairs well with the town's outdoor mural trail.
When: September 11 through October 31, 2026
Fright level: 👻👻
Hours: Self-guided, anytime during downtown business hours
Where to stay for it all
All of this is easier when you are not driving back to a hotel in town every night. Changes in Altitude sits on a private ridge in Ferguson, about 20 minutes from Wilkesboro and 35 minutes from Boone, with cascading mountain and sunset views off the front porch and a hot tub for the cool evenings. It is clean, quiet, and central to everything above. When your fall dates are set, contact us to book direct and save.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best corn mazes near Boone, NC?
The closest is C&J Corn Maze on NC Highway 194 in Boone, with hayrides, yard games, and a haunted maze after dark on weekends. Harvest Farm in Valle Crucis, about 15 minutes from Boone, has a seven-acre maze next to the Original Mast General Store, and Lantern Farm near West Jefferson runs a professionally designed maze with tractor hayrides. All three open in mid-September and run through October.
What are the best corn mazes near Wilkesboro, NC?
Most area corn mazes are a short drive up toward Boone and West Jefferson, roughly 40 minutes from Wilkesboro. The closest is the haunted corn maze at Hillside Horror in Roaring River, about 20 minutes away, open Friday and Saturday nights from October 18 through November 7. For a daytime maze, Ashe County Corn Maze in West Jefferson is the nearest, with a 4-acre maze and games included with admission.
What are some pumpkin patches near Boone, NC?
Harvest Farm in Valle Crucis, about 15 minutes from Boone, has a pick-your-own patch and a large pre-picked selection next to the Original Mast General Store. C&J in Boone and Lantern Farm near West Jefferson also sell pumpkins alongside their corn mazes. Most open in mid-September and run through the end of October.
What are some pumpkin patches near Wilkesboro, NC?
The closest is New Castle Farm in Ronda, about 20 minutes from Wilkesboro, with a pick-your-own patch, pre-picked pumpkins, and fall decorations (no maze). Picking runs from late September through the end of October. For a patch paired with a corn maze, Harvest Farm in Valle Crucis and C&J in Boone are the nearest, up toward the High Country.
What fall festivals are near Boone, NC?
The biggest nearby is the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival in North Wilkesboro on October 3, 2026. You will also find corn mazes and pumpkin patches around Boone, Valle Crucis, and West Jefferson, plus the downtown Scarecrow Walking Tour in West Jefferson through the end of October.
Where can I go apple picking near Wilkesboro, NC?
Wilkes County has more apple orchards than any other county in the region. Perry Lowe Orchards, Parkers Orchard, Tevepaugh Orchards, and Hareapple Farm all offer fresh apples and pick-your-own in the fall.
Are there haunted corn mazes near Boone or Wilkesboro, NC?
Yes. C&J in Boone runs a haunted maze after dark on weekends starting October 5. Near Wilkesboro, Hillside Horror in Roaring River is a full haunted attraction with a corn maze, haunted houses, and a hayride on Friday and Saturday nights, October 18 through November 7.