Summer has come and gone and fall is definitely in the air. Along with the changing leaves comes the whole autumn/ Halloween vibe, and that means pumpkins!

From orchards to traditional patches, the local area is filled with places for families to scout out that perfect jack-o'-lantern for Halloween. The tradition is years older than most may even realize, and the history is a little eerie.

Cars 108 logo
Get our free mobile app

The Māori started carving gourds for lanterns over 700 years ago, but you can thank the Irish for the custom of making jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween. The popular tradition, although without the candy and costumes, was a staple in 19th-century Ireland, and it all began with a myth.

"Their origin comes from an Irish myth about Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil for his own monetary gain. When Jack died, God didn’t allow him into heaven, and the Devil didn’t let him into hell, so Jack was sentenced to roam the earth for eternity. In Ireland, people started to carve demonic faces out of turnips to frighten away Jack’s wandering soul. When Irish immigrants moved to the U.S., they began carving jack-o’-lanterns from pumpkins, as these were native to the region".

So now that you know why, let's get to tell you where to go to get your "carve" on.

Pumpkin Patches Near Genesee County

Flushing Farms: 7096 Gillette Rd, Flushing, MI

Flushing Farms offers corn mazes, pick your own pumpkin, and more. The complete family outing destination for fall.  There's even a petting zoo to enjoy. Visit their website for more information or to purchase tickets.

The Little Pumpkin Patch: 8200 Fenton Rd., Grand Blanc, MI

It's a little bit of country heaven. The family business is 3.5 Acres of pumpkins, gourds, and corn sold roadside. The patch is run on the honor system and is a local favorite. Visit their website to get all the details.

Davison Corner Stand: 11029 E Lippincott Blvd, Davison, MI

One of the cutest places ever for all decorations. It's a seasonal farm stand specializing in locally grown pumpkins, decorative & edible squash, and straw bales. Everything you need to make your house Autumn-licious. To get a full list of all the fun visit their website.

Diehl's Orchard & Cider Mill: 1479 Ranch Rd., Holly, MI

Just a few minutes outside the Genesee County line in Holly, Diehl's screams fall fun! Corn Mazes, pumpkins, apples, and donuts 'to die for'. Families have been making fall memories at Diehl's for 60 years. Visit their website for special events and times.

Fick Farms: 3199 North Lapeer Rd, Lapeer, MI

Just a county away, Fick Farms features homegrown and locally grown fresh produce. In the fall we offer hay rides, a corn maze, and a U-pick pumpkin patch. This year you can challenge yourself with a journey through their Corn Maze Adventure. For all the details and hours click here. 

LOOK: How Halloween has changed in the past 100 years

Stacker compiled a list of ways that Halloween has changed over the last 100 years, from how we celebrate it on the day to the costumes we wear trick-or-treating. We’ve included events, inventions, and trends that changed the ways that Halloween was celebrated over time. Many of these traditions were phased out over time. But just like fake blood in a carpet, every bit of Halloween’s history left an impression we can see traces of today.

UP NEXT: Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING

KEEP READING: Check out these totally awesome '80s toys

Offbeat adventures: Travel to the coolest hidden wonders in every U.S. state

Fuel your offbeat travel dreams. Stacker found the coolest hidden wonders in all 50 U.S. states (plus D.C.) using data from Atlas Obscura.

[WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter private or abandoned property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing.]

 

 

 

More From Cars 108