Pumpkin Fest at Darts Farm

Tens of thousands of pumpkins are grown here in every shape, size and colour the farm can manage, and they are used as much for display as for picking, so the site fills with pumpkin arrangements and photo set-ups through the festival.

There is a programme running alongside the field rather than simply a patch to walk round. Mystical magic shows and game shows run through the day, with roaming entertainers and live music between them. Marshmallow toasting, s'mores and face painting are on offer as well, though some activities carry an additional charge once you are on site.

Food is a genuine part of the visit at a farm better known for its shop. Darts Farm cheese toasties, local street food and sweet treats sit alongside Cow & Cacao soft serve, luxury hot chocolates, pumpkin lattes and mulled wine. The festival runs on the same site as the food hall and shops at Topsham, on the edge of Exeter, which makes it easy to fold into a bigger trip.

Book a time slot, but treat it as your arrival time; you can stay until the field closes in the late afternoon. Parking is free and this is a card only event, so leave the cash at home. Dogs on leads are welcome, and the farm makes a point of the photo opportunities working for the dog as well as the family. Your ticket does not cover a pumpkin, which you choose and pay for separately.