At Abma's Farm, fall in Hillsborough is not being treated as a single hayride-and-pumpkin stop. The farm has built an October calendar that moves from traditional daytime family outings to goat-assisted pumpkin decorating, adults-only carving nights, a flashlight corn maze with a roaming Headless Horseman and a one-night Oktoberfest layered on top of it all.
The result is a compact fall destination with different reasons to visit depending on the age of the group and the kind of outing people want. Families can do the full farm-day experience, younger children can take the gentler route through the corn, adults can turn pumpkin carving into a Friday date night, and thrill-seekers can come back after dark.
The Full Fall Farm Day
The farm's Fall Fun Package is the backbone of the season, running from mid-September through October on holidays, Saturdays and weekdays. It combines a round-trip hayride with access to the corn maze, a shorter Popcorn Trail for younger visitors, the pumpkin patch and admission to the Petting Zoo.
Guests ride through the farm to the pumpkin patch and maze area, choose between the full maze or the shorter trail, and can pick a pumpkin before returning to the animal area. Pumpkins are sold separately by weight in the field, and the farm notes that field pumpkin purchases are cash only. Advance booking is required for the Fall Fun Package.
Fridays Belong to the Goats
Two of Hillsborough's most distinctive October programs put the goats directly into the pumpkin plans.
Kids' Pumpkin Decorating with Goats
Every Friday in October, children can decorate a small pumpkin with stickers and markers while the farm's goats provide the company — and, predictably, the photo opportunities. Sessions are scheduled at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The decorating portion lasts about 30 minutes, and Petting Zoo admission is included afterward with no timed limit beyond normal operating hours. The program runs rain or shine and requires advance booking.
BYOB Pumpkin Carving with Goats, Ages 21+
Friday evenings shift the same basic idea toward grown-ups. The 21-and-older BYOB Pumpkin Carving with Goats sessions turn a fall craft into a farm date night: guests bring their preferred beverage, select and purchase a pumpkin at the Farm Market, then spend an hour carving while the goats circulate nearby.
Carving utensils are provided, and Petting Zoo admission is included before the session. Abma's recommends arriving 30 to 60 minutes early to visit the animals and choose a pumpkin. The pumpkin itself is not included in the carving-session admission. Advance booking is required, with select evening sessions offered on Fridays in October.
The Corn Maze Goes Dark — and the Headless Horseman Arrives
On Oct. 16 and 17, the daytime maze gets a nighttime turn during the Flashlight Corn Maze Featuring the Headless Horseman. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m., with the final time slot at 8 p.m.
Visitors begin with a nighttime hayride, then enter the corn maze using a flashlight to find their way through. Younger guests and anyone who wants a shorter route can use the Popcorn Trail instead. A Petting Zoo visit rounds out the experience, while the Headless Horseman roams the farm throughout the evening. This is a separately ticketed event and advance booking is required.
One Saturday, Two Reasons to Stay Late
Saturday, Oct. 17 adds another layer: Abma's Hillsborough will host Oktoberfest from 5 to 9 p.m. with free general admission. The evening includes Flounder Brewing Co., German food, live music and a stein-holding contest, with guests encouraged to lean into German-style attire.
Food and beverages are available for purchase. The Petting Zoo requires a separate ticket, and the Flashlight Corn Maze is also separately ticketed. That overlap makes Oct. 17 the biggest single fall night on the Hillsborough calendar: visitors can come for Oktoberfest, add the nighttime maze, or make an evening of both.
The Farm Around the Events
The seasonal calendar sits around Abma's regular Hillsborough attractions, including the roadside Farm Market and Petting Zoo & Education Barn. The zoo is ticketed for guests age 2 and older; online admission is listed at $5.50 per person, while door admission is $7 per person and cash only. Children under 2 are free.
Flower picking is also continuing while the fields cooperate, giving visitors another seasonal add-on. The self-guided experience is priced at $16 for a bouquet or $21 with a keepsake mason jar, with field payments handled in cash. Because flower availability is naturally seasonal, visitors should check the farm's current event page before making it the centerpiece of a trip.
Planning the Visit
Abma's Farm Hillsborough is at 282 Amwell Road in Hillsborough. The farm is closed Sundays, and its current fall-season retail and Petting Zoo hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most special events require tickets or reservations, so the easiest approach is to decide which kind of fall day you want — classic hayride, goats, after-dark maze or Oktoberfest — and book the ticketed pieces before heading out.
That variety is what makes the Hillsborough schedule work: it is not one oversized festival repeated every weekend. It is a collection of smaller fall experiences sharing the same farm, which means families, couples and groups can build a visit around exactly the kind of October outing they are after.
Official information and tickets: Abma's Farm Hillsborough Events
Event details are based on Abma's Farm's 2026 Hillsborough event listings and are subject to availability.
Event details attributed to the Abma's Farm Hillsborough event listings linked in the article. Event details are subject to change; check organizers before travel.