A pumpkin patch in Kentucky bourbon country with October-only operation and Thursday-Monday hours, best suited for weekend trips paired with distillery visits or autumn sightseeing.
Stepping Stone Farm operates October 1-31 only—a compressed one-month season that differs from regional farms running mid-September through November. That late start is worth noting: if your fall plans include early-October pumpkin selection for Thanksgiving or early Halloween decorating, this patch won’t have the inventory depth of farms that’ve been open for two or three weeks. If you’re planning an autumn weekend trip in mid-to-late October, the timing aligns perfectly.
The farm publishes Thursday-Monday hours (10am-6pm, with Sunday opening at noon)—a schedule that splits busy weekend traffic across an extended window. Thursday and Friday visits are genuinely viable for families with some schedule flexibility, avoiding the Saturday-afternoon crush that many rural patches experience.
Stepping Stone sits in Bourbon County, home to major distilleries including Woodford Reserve and Buffalo Trace. October is peak bourbon-country tourism season: the weather is pleasant, the landscape is photographically gorgeous, and many distilleries offer special tastings during their fall hours. A pumpkin patch visit fits naturally into a longer Bluegrass region weekend—distillery tours in the morning, pumpkin patch in the afternoon, dinner at a local restaurant, repeat the circuit Saturday.
That’s a genuine pairing value: you’re not adding a detour, you’re combining compatible activities in the same region.
The listing notes “Pumpkin Patch” and “Fall Activities” but doesn’t specify what fall activities entail. That’s frustratingly vague for planning purposes. Fall activities could mean hayrides, a corn maze, a petting zoo, a bounce house, or simply “we have pumpkins and some ambient fall décor.” Call (859) 658-6060 directly and ask: do you have a corn maze, hayrides, animal interactions, or any activities besides pumpkin selection? That one phone call changes whether this is a 45-minute pumpkin stop or a full-morning outing.
Starting October 1 is unusual. Most pumpkin patches open mid-September to capture early October demand and holiday-planning traffic. A one-month window means:
If you’re flexible, mid-October Thursday or Friday maximizes fresh selection with lower crowding than weekend peak.
Call (859) 658-6060 before committing to this farm. Confirm:
Then plan a Thursday-Friday afternoon or Saturday morning visit during mid-October as part of a longer bourbon-country outing. Don’t rely on this farm as your only pumpkin source if you need early September availability; do use it if you’re already planning an autumn Bluegrass region trip and want a natural add-on activity.
Mid-October Thursday through Monday, arriving by 11am; avoid opening week (October 1-3) when availability may be limited to larger pumpkins only.
1 to 1.5 hours
Thursday-Monday schedule spreads weekend demand; Thursday and Friday typically quieter than Saturday-Sunday.
On-site lot; typical rural farm parking.
Not specified; call ahead.
You're planning a September pumpkin outing—this farm opens October 1 only. Also skip if 'Fall Activities' must include specific amenities like a maze or hayrides, which are unspecified.
Stepping Stone is in Bourbon County's heart. Combine with bourbon distillery tours (many operate October weekends), scenic drives through horse-farm country, and locally-owned restaurants.
Pumpkin maturation and harvest timing vary by farm. A one-month season is tight but viable if the farm's pumpkin fields mature later than regional average.
Not specified in available information. Call (859) 658-6060 to learn whether that includes hayrides, maze, animals, or other attractions.
Thursday-Monday operation means weekday visits are possible (Thursday and Friday); closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Not published. Call to confirm pricing before driving.
October 1 – October 31, 2026. Thursday-Monday. Hours: Thursday-Monday 10am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm.
Admission pricing was not published when we last checked.
1674 Cynthiana Rd, Paris, KY 40361, in Bourbon County. It is one of 9 patches we track in Lexington/Bluegrass Region.
We track 9 patches in Lexington/Bluegrass Region. The farm has not published a gate price, so it cannot be compared on cost — call before you budget.
Its season runs about 31 days against a regional average of 51, so it is a shorter window than most of its neighbours — miss it and the nearest alternatives will still be open.
Checked August 2026.