Where to pick pumpkins in Gatineau and the Outaouais region? 2026 Guide
- L'Éco des champs
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
The days are getting shorter, the leaves are slowly starting to change color, and one question comes up every autumn in families in the region:
Where to pick pumpkins in Gatineau and the Outaouais region?
Good news: no need to drive for hours to find a beautiful pumpkin field.
From Gatineau to Aylmer and as far as Thurso , several farms allow you to transform the traditional search for THE perfect pumpkin into a true autumn outing.
Carving pumpkins, small pumpkins for children, gourds of all shapes, farm animals, apples, local produce and even ceramic painting: each place offers a different experience.
We have therefore prepared our 2026 guide to pumpkin picking in Gatineau and the Outaouais region .
Important: U-pick is always dependent on the weather and the ripeness of the crops. Therefore, check the condition of the fields and the opening hours before heading out.
Where to go pumpkin picking in Gatineau in 2026?
At a glance
For a pumpkin + animal + creative activity outing: Ferme Éco des Champs, Aylmer
To combine pumpkins, apples (September only) and treats: Eardley Vegetable Garden, Aylmer
To discover an impressive variety of squash: Courges & Cie, Gatineau
To combine orchard, apples and pumpkins: Croque-Pomme Orchard, Thurso area
Let's now move on to the details.
1. Éco des Champs Farm – Aylmer, Gatineau
📍 482, chemin Eardley, Gatineau
If you are looking for an autumn activity with children in Gatineau that is not limited to choosing a pumpkin, Ferme Éco des Champs offers a particularly family-friendly experience in Aylmer.
In the autumn, families can come and choose their pumpkin directly from the field.
And it's not just the traditional orange pumpkin.
Depending on the harvest, the farm cultivates, among other things:
🎃 Jack O'Lantern
🥧 Sugar Pie
🤍 Blanche Casper
🍝 spaghetti squash
🥣 Butternut squash
🌈 Various decorative gourds
The Jack O'Lantern is perfect for carving, while the Sugar Pie is particularly well-suited for making pies, muffins, or purées. The farm also features several varieties of squash intended for cooking and decoration.
Why choose Éco des Champs?
Because once you find your pumpkin, the outing can continue .
The farm also has an animal park where families can meet and feed alpacas, goats, sheep, horses, cows, pigs, rabbits and chickens.
For children, this easily transforms fruit picking into a half-day outing.
What if the weather gets worse?
We also have our ceramic painting workshop bus .
So you can imagine a pretty perfect autumn day:
pick a pumpkin → meet the animals
→ get on the bus → paint a ceramic.
It's also a good option when an autumn day starts in the sun and ends in the rain.
Ideal for:
families with young children;
children who love animals;
those who want to do more than just pick their own;
combine outdoor activities and creative activity;
an outing near Aylmer and Ottawa.
Tip 2026: The opening date of the pumpkin field will depend on the ripeness of the crop. Check the farm information before your visit.
2. Eardley Vegetable Garden – Aylmer, Gatineau
📍 398, chemin Eardley, Gatineau
A little further along the same road is Potager Eardley, another address well known to Aylmer families.
Eardley Vegetable Garden produces apples, pumpkins, squash, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, among other things, and offers different pick-your-own periods throughout the season.
In the fall, this is particularly interesting if your family wants to combine several harvests.
Why choose Potager Eardley?
For a truly "Quebec autumn" outing:
🍎 Apples 🎃 Pumpkins and squash 🛝 Family activities according to the schedule 🍨 Gelato, sorbets and frozen yogurt 🥤 Kombucha made on site
Tourisme Outaouais confirms that Potager Eardley is one of the regional pick-your-own destinations and recommends checking their publications for the exact dates and times of fall picking.
Ideal for:
combine apples and pumpkins;
stock up on some fruits and vegetables;
end the outing with a sweet treat;
families who want to stay in the Aylmer area.
3. Courges & Cie – Gatineau
📍 59 Myre Road, Gatineau
For squash lovers, the name pretty much says it all.
Courges & Cie is probably the address on this list that will most impress those who want to discover something other than the traditional orange pumpkin.
The farm states that it cultivates more than 200 varieties of squash and pumpkins , for an approximate annual production of 500 tonnes.
Yes, 200 varieties.
This is a far cry from the small selection found in a grocery store.
Pumpkin Pick-Your-Own 2026
Courges & Cie currently indicates that pick-your-own squash and pumpkins is available . The company specifies that this service is usually offered from the second weekend of September until the end of October.
Since squashes are more sensitive to cold, the farm generally recommends harvesting them more in September.
The general 2026 season for Courges & Cie runs from May 16 to December 31 , but self-picking obviously remains linked to crop availability.
And there's plenty to eat
Another element distinguishes the place: its gourmet side.
Tourisme Outaouais highlights in particular the presence of a farm bistro where you can find products such as wood-fired pizza, squash poutine and seasonal soups , in addition to a gourmet shop.
Courges & Cie also offers play areas and a mini-farm.
I
deal for:
pumpkin enthusiasts;
discover unusual varieties;
a gourmet outing;
combine pick-your-own and meals;
families who like to take their time on the farm.
4. Croque-Pomme Orchard – Lochaber-Ouest, near Thurso
📍 20, montée Berndt, Lochaber-Partie-Ouest
Do you want to pick apples and a pumpkin on the same outing?
Head towards the Croque-Pomme Orchard.
Located in the Thurso area, this diverse orchard cultivates about thirty varieties of apples as well as several other fruits and vegetables. Its pick-your-own schedule begins with berries, continues with apples, and then moves on to squash and pumpkins in the fall .
When can pumpkins be picked?
The orchard indicates that pumpkins normally begin to be available in the field around mid-September .
For regular pick-your-own:
No reservation is required;
There is no entrance fee;
the products are sold by weight;
It is recommended to bring your own bags or containers;
Payments are made by debit or cash.
The orchard also reminds visitors that its water is not potable: so remember to bring your own water bottles.
Why go there?
Because you can easily turn a pumpkin-picking outing into a real orchard day.
During the season, Croque-Pomme offers picnic tables, playgrounds, an educational beehive, a snack bar, and various seasonal activities. The orchard also produces its own ciders and sparkling apple juice.
Ideal for:
combine apples and pumpkins;
discover an orchard in the Outaouais region;
picnic;
take a short trip outside of Gatineau;
Apple and cider product lovers.
Bonus: Pumpkin Fest in Cumberland, near Ottawa
If you live in Gatineau and don't mind crossing to the Ontario side, another option is in Cumberland.
Proulx Farm and Sugar Bush will hold its 32nd Pumpkin Fest in 2026 .
The event is scheduled from September 19 to October 31, 2026 , on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as Thanksgiving Monday. For the occasion, the farm will be transformed into a major family destination for Halloween and pumpkins.
It's more of a big themed autumn outing than just a quick visit to the field.
So, which farm should you choose to pick pumpkins?
There isn't really one single "best" farm.
It all depends on the type of outing you want to do.
Are you mainly looking for animals and an activity to do with children?
Eco Farm of the Fields.
Pumpkins + animal park + possibility of painting on ceramics.
Do you want apples and pumpkins in Aylmer?
Eardley vegetable garden.
Particularly practical if you want to combine several harvests and finish with a treat.
Are you passionate about squash?
Pumpkins & Co.
With over 200 varieties advertised by the farm, it is a particularly interesting destination to discover the diversity of squashes and pumpkins.
Do you want to go for a walk in the orchard?
Croque-Pomme Orchard.
Apples + pumpkins + orchard products in a rural Outaouais environment.
When does pumpkin picking start in Gatineau?
In general, September and October are the peak pumpkin season in the region .
But a pumpkin doesn't know the calendar.
Spring weather, summer heat, rainfall and the ripening rate can all affect when fields are opened.
For 2026, some farms are already announcing an approximate period starting in mid-September, while others will publish their dates when the pumpkins are actually ready.
Our advice:
Always check the condition of the pick-your-own area on the morning of your visit.
Particularly in October, some varieties may be sold out after a very busy weekend.
How to choose a good pumpkin?
For a pumpkin intended for Halloween:
🎃 search for a firm pumpkin;
🎃 check that it does not have any very soft areas;
🎃 choose a shape that is stable enough so that it holds well once sculpted;
🎃 Don't carry your pumpkin by the stem alone.
And above all, don't necessarily look for the most perfect pumpkin in the field.
Twisted, dented, or slightly asymmetrical pumpkins sometimes make for the most successful Halloween characters.
Which pumpkin should I choose for cooking?
Not all pumpkins are purely decorative.
Some varieties are particularly interesting in cooking.
For example, Sugar Pie is very suitable for pies and purees, while Butternut and spaghetti squash obviously have their own culinary uses.
If you don't know the variety you have in front of you, simply ask the producer.
One of the advantages of buying directly from the farm is precisely being able to discover how to cook what grows in our fields .
Making pick-your-own fruit a real autumn outing with the children
With young children, the pumpkin itself doesn't need to be the whole activity.
Instead, turn the day into a small tradition.
Put on the boots.
Let the children roam the field.
Take some photos.
Each person should choose a pumpkin.
Go see the animals.
Have a snack.
Enjoy the colours.
And go home to decide together which face will be sculpted.
It is often the simplest activities that children remember.
An autumn day in Aylmer: pumpkins + animals + ceramics
If you are on the Aylmer side, here is another idea.
Start your outing at the Eco Farm of the Fields .
Choose your pumpkin from the field.
Go and see and feed the animals.
Then, if you want to extend the day or if the weather becomes less pleasant, settle into our ceramic painting workshop bus .
Children — and adults — choose a room and paint it directly on site.
Then we take care of the cooking.
This results in an autumn outing that combines:
🎃 pumpkins
🐐 animals
🍂 outdoors
🎨 creativity
🚌 A real bus transformed into a workshop
And sometimes, it's much more enjoyable than trying to do three different activities in three different places.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pumpkin Picking in Gatineau
Where to pick pumpkins in Gatineau?
Among the places where you can pick your own pumpkins in the region, you can check out Ferme Éco des Champs in Aylmer, Potager Eardley, and Courges & Cie. Verger Croque-Pomme is also an option in eastern Outaouais.
When does pumpkin picking season start in the Outaouais region?
The timing varies depending on the farm and the harvest. Several producers start around mid-September and continue into October, until the pumpkins are sold out or until the end of their season.
Where to pick pumpkins with children in Gatineau?
Several farms in the region offer experiences tailored to families. For example, Ferme Éco des Champs combines a pumpkin patch with a petting zoo and a ceramic painting workshop, while Potager Eardley and Courges & Cie also offer various seasonal family activities.
Can you pick apples and pumpkins in the same place in the Outaouais region?
Yes. The Eardley Vegetable Garden offers apples, squash and pumpkins depending on the season, while the Croque-Pomme Orchard shifts its apple picking to squash and pumpkins in the fall.
Do you need to book in advance to pick pumpkins?
It depends on the location. For example, Croque-Pomme states that no reservation is required for its regular pick-your-own, while the rules may be different for groups or special events. Always check the specific terms and conditions of your chosen farm before you go.
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