Fall Activities in Montana: Your 2026 Guide to Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes & More
- Montana Edit
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, Montana comes alive with the colors and flavors of fall. From pumpkin patches to harvest festivals, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate the season with family and friends. Whether you're a local or visiting, here's your go-to guide for the best fall activities in the region.
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Pumpkin Patches
There's nothing quite like picking out the perfect pumpkin to kick off fall. Whether you're carving jack-o'-lanterns or decorating your porch, these local farms have you covered:
Turner Farms - Missoula, Montana: A family favorite with U-pick pumpkins, farm animals, and a cozy farm store.
Meadowlark Farm - Hamilton, Montana: Known for stunning mountain views and a charming pumpkin patch experience.
Sweet Pickin's - Kalispell, Montana: Open September 20 through October 30, 2026, with more than just pumpkins: giant jumping pillows, a petting zoo, a giant sandbox, and more.
T&C Farms Farm Festival and Pumpkin Patch - Laurel, Montana: Opening day is September 18, 2026, with U-pick pumpkins, hayrides, a corn maze, and family fun.
Johnson's Nursery and Gardens Pumpkin Patch - Helena, Montana: Pumpkin picking, a corn maze, Halloween photo ops, a giant pumpkin bounce house, a haunted greenhouse, games, and baked treats. Cash and checks only.
Tilleraas Landscape Nursery Pumpkin Patch - Great Falls, Montana: Open October 10-31, 2026, with a pumpkin patch, hayrides on select days, scarecrow stuffing, and fall-themed photo backdrops.
Corn Mazes & Hayrides
Get lost in a sea of stalks or enjoy a scenic hayride at these fun-filled fall farms:
Field of Screams - Victor, Montana: Wagon rides, PlaHAY Ground slides, pumpkin picking, and photo ops in the western town, plus Zombie Free Family Nights on October 12, 19, and 26 for the less scare-inclined. For 2026, Field of Screams opens September 25 and runs through October 31.
Applestem Cornmaze and Pumpkin Patch - Craig, Montana: A 10-acre maze, pumpkin patch, farm animals, and family-friendly activities like slides, trains, and games. Applestem is celebrating its 20th season, open weekends from September 19 through November 1, 2026.
Montana Corn Maze - Manhattan, Montana: Opening day is Saturday, September 19, 2026, with a 5 to 6-acre maze featuring three challenge levels, plus trikes, disc golf, wagon rides, mini golf, and weekend food vendors.
Bozeman Maze - Bozeman, Montana: Open September 23 through November 1, 2026, with a straw bale maze in a new design each year, plus corn sensory bins, a tractor ride to a pumpkin patch, the PowerJump trampoline, a petting zoo, and yard games.
Edgewater Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch - Townsend, Montana: Open September 25 through October 31, 2026, with a 12-acre corn maze, plus slides, a corn box, the Jumbo Jumper bounce structure, Apple Blasters, and a hayride.
Fritz Corn Maze - Kalispell, Montana: Now in its 20th year, this family farm offers a corn maze, a scavenger hunt, a smaller bale maze, a gel blaster course, and bounce houses.
Beaverhead Maze & Pumpkin Patch - Dillon, Montana: Opens mid-September, with a bale maze, pumpkin patch, games, slides, and family fun.
Apple Picking & Cider Tastings
Nothing says fall like fresh apples and warm cider. These orchards and cideries offer seasonal picking and tastings:
Swanson's Mountain View Orchard - Corvallis, Montana: U-Pick weekends are September 12-13 and 19-20, 2026, with fresh-pressed apple cider, apple cider donuts, and slushies also on offer at this three-generation orchard.
Green Bench Orchard - Missoula, Montana: Missoula's only certified organic U-Pick apple and raspberry orchard. Check their website or Facebook for harvest days and hours.
Gallatin Valley Botanical at Rocky Creek Farm - Bozeman, Montana: From late August through November, custom cider is pressed to order: bring your own apples or pick them from the orchard, and watch the process happen right in front of you. Pre-pressed cider is also sold by the half gallon at the farm stand.
Fall Festivals & Harvest Events
Celebrate the season with local food, crafts, music, and more at these community events:
Missoula Fall Fest - Missoula, Montana: Returns for seven weekends, September 18 through November 1, 2026, with a 10-acre custom corn maze, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn cannons, and food at Grass Valley Farms.
2026 Ronan Harvest Festival - Ronan, Montana: Hosted by the Ronan Area Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, September 19, 2026, with a hay bale contest and a vendor market.
The Fall Gathering at Moon-Randolph Homestead - Missoula, Montana: The homestead's biggest annual fundraiser returns Saturday, September 26, 2026, with an outdoor harvest feast, live music, bonfires, and apple pressing at this historic site.
Townsend Rotary Fall Fest - Townsend, Montana: This free three-day festival returns October 2-4, 2026, with live music, food and craft vendors, and the Rotary Club's own brats. Sunday brings one of Montana's largest car shows.
Troy Apple Festival - Troy, Montana: The Troy Farmers Market's 11th Annual Apple Festival takes place Friday, October 2, 2026, with fresh-pressed cider, an apple pie bake-off, live music, and a Bear Fair on bear safety.
Stevensville Scarecrow Festival - Stevensville, Montana: This community favorite runs Friday and Saturday, October 2-3, 2026, with scarecrow displays lining Main Street, a carved pumpkin contest, wagon rides, and a Monster Mash dance party. The scarecrows themselves stay up for two weeks, through October 17.
Yellowstone Alliance Adventures Harvest Market - Bozeman, Montana: This nonprofit camp's annual fall market returns October 3, 2026, with local vendors, food trucks, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, a climbing wall, and family games.
22nd Annual Billings HarvestFest - Billings, Montana: Downtown Billings' signature fall street festival returns Saturday, October 10, 2026, under Skypoint, with arts and crafts, pumpkins, local produce, food trucks, live entertainment, a children's area, and Montana Brewing Company's Oktoberfest Beer Garden with a stein-hoisting contest.
Garden City Harvest Pumpkin Party at PEAS Farm - Missoula, Montana: On Saturday, October 17, 2026, pick a pumpkin, carve it on site, and stock up on storage veggies like onions and carrots. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
13th Annual Holiday Kickoff at Garden Ave Greenhouse - Billings, Montana: This two-day shopping event returns October 17-18, 2026, with over 100 local vendors, food trucks, pumpkins, mums, and holiday decorations filling the greenhouse.
Oktoberfests
Raise a stein and celebrate fall the Montana way at these Bavarian-inspired celebrations:
Red Lodge Oktoberfest - Red Lodge, Montana: Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Red Lodge Ales. German food, beer, and games for all ages, with proceeds supporting Beartooth Trails as one of its biggest annual fundraisers.
Big Sky Oktoberfest - Big Sky, Montana: Montana's spirit meets German tradition at this mountain-town celebration, set for September 18-20, 2026. Expect beer, food, and live music with a Big Sky backdrop.
The Great Northwest Oktoberfest - Whitefish, Montana: Spread across two weekends, October 1-3 and October 8-10, 2026, at Depot Park, with German beer, food, dancing, and nightly contests like stein-holding and keg hurling.
Germanfest - Missoula, Montana: Missoula's longest-running Oktoberfest returns to Caras Park on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with live music, beer, brats, pretzels, and games for the whole family.
Tips for Enjoying Fall Events in Montana
Dress in layers. Mornings can be chilly, but afternoons warm up quickly.
Bring cash. Some farms and vendors may not accept cards.
Check event websites or social pages for up-to-date hours and any weather changes.
Come hungry. Most spots offer seasonal treats like cider, donuts, or kettle corn.
