Farmer Copleys Pumpkin Festival celebrates 20 years of family traditions

Yorkshire’s much-loved autumn attraction returns for its 20th anniversary with more than 300,000 homegrown pumpkins.

Farmer Copleys is celebrating 20 years of its much-loved Pumpkin Festival this autumn, marking two decades of pumpkin picking, family traditions and autumn memories at the Yorkshire farm.

What started with an inspirational trip to America has grown into a major autumn attraction, with thousands of families visiting Farmer Copleys each year to choose their perfect pumpkin and enjoy a day out in the fields.

Twenty years ago, Rob and Heather Copley returned from America with an idea: what if they brought the experience of pumpkin picking home to Yorkshire?

And so, the Farmer Copleys Pumpkin Festival was born.

Two decades later, the festival has grown considerably, but its heart remains the same: bringing families together to enjoy the outdoors, make memories and celebrate the arrival of autumn.

The anniversary has already prompted a wave of nostalgia from visitors, with old Pumpkin Festival photographs shared online sparking comments from families who have been visiting for years. Some of the children pictured in the photographs are now at high school, a reminder of just how long the festival has been part of family traditions.

Heather Copley said:

“Twenty years ago, we came home from America with an idea and we really had no idea just how much it would grow.

“When we look back at photographs from the early Pumpkin Festivals, what really stands out is the people and the memories. We’ve had comments from people saying that children in some of those old photographs are now in high school, and that really brings home just how many generations have grown up visiting us.

“Of course, we love growing the pumpkins and creating something exciting for people to enjoy, but ultimately, it’s about giving families somewhere to make memories together. That is what has always mattered to us.”

For 2026, the Pumpkin Festival is returning bigger than ever, with more than 300,000 homegrown pumpkins across more than 40 varieties growing across the farm. Visitors can expect a patchwork of orange, white, green and striped pumpkins filling the fields, with plenty of opportunity to pick their own and find something a little different.

Alongside pumpkin picking, this year’s festival will feature tractor rides through the pumpkin fields, live shows and entertainment, archery, vintage fairground rides, Witches’ Storytime, magical performances, family characters including Velcro the Scarecrow and daily fancy dress competitions.

The farm has also created a host of photo opportunities for visitors, including the much-loved Pumpkin House, How Tall This Fall height board, vintage Chevy Truck, ghoulish graveyard and Boat on the Waves, alongside brand-new photo opportunities for 2026.

Food is also a big part of the autumn experience, with pumpkin-inspired treats available across the farm, including at the farm shop, Moo Café and food stalls in the festival fields. Visitors can also take their pumpkins home and make the most of them in the kitchen, with seasonal favourites such as pumpkin soup, pies and pumpkin bread.

This year will also see Twilight Pumpkin Picking and live music nights, giving visitors the chance to experience the fields after dark. With golden-hour pumpkin picking, marshmallow toasting, drinks at the Pumpkin Bar and live entertainment, the evening sessions offer a different way to enjoy the festival.

The 2026 music line-up includes Bootleggers Nashville Night, Gary Quinn, Maxed Out, Jake O’Neill, Morgan Wallen UK, Ryan Evans with Gasoline & Matches, Matt Hodges and One Night in Nashville featuring Maria Jordan.

The Farmer Copleys Pumpkin Festival runs on selected dates from 26 September to 1 November 2026, with additional highlights including live country music nights and extended evening sessions.

After 20 years, the festival has become about much more than picking a pumpkin. It is about the traditions families return to every autumn, the children who grow up visiting the fields and the memories created along the way.

From the very first pumpkin picked 20 years ago to the hundreds of thousands growing across the fields today, Farmer Copleys is looking forward to another season of bringing families together for the ultimate celebration of autumn.