If you haven't gotten your pumpkin yet, it's time to go picking. If you want to have the biggest, baddest pumpkin on the block, you've got to shop early for the best selection. Plus, going to the pumpkin patch is a great fall activity the whole family will enjoy.



If you're lucky enough to live near one of the following pumpkin patches, get there and get there fast because these are among the best in the country. Not only do these patches have the greatest pumpkins, but there are plenty of other activities to take part in, too.

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch - Petaluma, Calif.
The main draw at this Sonoma County pumpkin patch is the Amazing Corn Maze, but the pumpkins are awesome too. They've got over 50 different varieties of pumpkins and gourds ranging in size from 1/4 lb. to 125 lbs. You can find the perfect pumpkin for any use including cooking, carving, painting and decorating.

PaPa's Pumpkin Patch - Bismarck, North Dakota
Welcome the harvest and celebrate fall at this premier pumpkin patch. There are 14 different varieties and about 20,000 pumpkins to choose from this year. This season, PaPa's Pumpkin Patch is debuting a new variety, called the knucklehead, which looks like a pumpkin covered in warts.

Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm - Homer Glen, Ill.
Voted "Best Pumpkin Farm in Chicago" last year by the audience of Fox News Chicago, Bengtson's hosts a pumpkin festival you don't want to miss. There are tens of thousands of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes. There's also an extensive Halloween shop filled with candy, spooky decorations, pumpkin decorating tools and patters and all kinds of wonderful gifts.

The Great Pumpkin Farm - Clarence, N.Y.
The region's largest fall family event, The Great Pumpkin Farm offers a haymaze, petting zoo and a handcrafted General Store where you'll find hundreds of Halloween decorations and handmade crafts. There are loads and loads of pumpkins in the patch, so there's sure to be something for everyone.

Kathy's Pumpkin Patch - Donnellson, Iowa
You're sure to find exactly what you're looking for at Kathy's Pumpkin Patch. The farm has over 175 different varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds. You can even take a ride on the wagon to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch. And if you want something really, really big, just ask. Kathy's sells three different varieties of pumpkins that frequently weigh 100-200 lbs.

Walters' Pumpkin Patch - Burns, Kan.
There's so much fun to be had at Walters' Pumpkin Patch, you'll want to spend the whole day there. Pick your own pumpkin, get lost in the corn maze, ride the Barrel Train and enjoy delicious foods such as pumpkin salsa, pumpkin chili and pumpkin juice.

The Great Pumpkin Patch - Arthur, Ill.
Known as the Midwest's grandest u-pick pumpkin patch, this farm has a huge selection of the healthiest and most diverse pumpkins. Local radio and TV stations often visit The Great Pumpkin Patch because it is far more than just a pumpkin patch. The Broomcorn Maze is new for 2009, plus you can enjoy squash tastings, the Two-Mile Sweet Shop, The Creamery ice cream stand, The Pumpkin Eatery and lots of great live entertainment.