Kent’s Cucurbits in Brookston - A Must Visit Pumpkin Patch!
A good pumpkin patch does more than sell pumpkins. It gives families a reason to slow down, enjoy the outdoors, take a few photos, and come home with dirt on your boots and a trunk full of pumpkins!
That is exactly the charm of Kent's Cucurbits in Brookston, Indiana. In 2026, the farm celebrates its 35th fall season, adding another chapter to a family farming story that stretches back more than 150 years in the area. What started with deep agricultural roots has grown into a cheerful fall stop with pumpkins, photo spots, wagon-style fun, a corn maze, and one especially memorable ride called the Pumpkin Vine Express Trail.
It feels like the kind of place that understands what families actually need on a fall outing: easy parking, plenty to look at, a few activities for the kids, and enough pumpkins to make choosing one a full event.
A family farm with more than a century of roots
Brookston sits in the heart of Indiana farm country, where harvest season has a rhythm all its own. Cornfields turn golden, soybean fields fade into warm browns, and roadside pumpkin displays seem to appear almost overnight.
Kent’s Cucurbits fits right into that setting, but it also stands out because of the history behind it. The Kent family has farmed in the area for more than 150 years. That kind of history matters. It gives the property a kind of feeling you can't simply build in one season.
The 35th fall season in 2026 is a fun milestone because it shows how the farm has grown beyond production agriculture into something people return to as a tradition. A visit can be as casual as stopping by to pick out a pumpkin, or it can turn into an afternoon of activities, pictures, and fall treats to take home.
The property has the relaxed feel of a real working farm, but the fall attraction side is easy to enjoy. There is plenty of parking, which makes the first few minutes much less stressful, especially during a busy weekend. From there, it is easy to wander toward the displays, pumpkins, activities, and ride areas.
One of the best parts is that general admission has been free. That makes it possible to visit, browse, take photos, and buy pumpkins or merchandise without needing a ticket just to step onto the property. Some featured activities have their own cost, which keeps the trip flexible.
The Pumpkin Vine Express Trail is the must-do ride
The express uses a line of two-seater pumpkin carts pulled by a gator. Each little cart feels like a miniature fall adventure, especially for kids who love getting their own seat on a farm ride. It is not a high-speed thrill ride. The fun comes from the scenery, the setup, and the goofy trail details.
Along the route, skeletons appear in all sorts of funny scenes. They are posed doing silly things, which gives the ride a playful Halloween feel without making it too scary for younger visitors. The skeletons are the kind of detail that makes people point, laugh, and say, “Did you see that one?”
The trail eventually passes by a field of pumpkins, which brings the ride back to the reason everyone is there in the first place. There is something classic about rolling past pumpkins in the fall, especially from a little pumpkin cart.
On a recent visit, the Pumpkin Vine Express Trail was $6 per person. Prices can change by season, so it is always smart to check current information before heading out. Still, for a memorable farm activity, it feels like an easy add-on to a fall visit.
The corn maze adds a little challenge to the day
A corn maze is one of those fall activities that sounds simple until you are inside one. Then every turn looks a little like the last turn, everyone has a different opinion, and somehow the youngest person in the group becomes the most confident navigator.
The corn maze at the farm is about 3 to 4 acres, which is a nice size. It is big enough to feel like an adventure, but not so large that it takes over the whole visit. That makes it a good fit for families who want a little challenge without committing to an all-day maze mission.
One fun detail is the paper hole-punch system. As visitors make their way through the maze, there are different spots where they can punch their paper. Those punches can be used for discounts at local businesses, which adds a small treasure-hunt feeling to the activity.
It also gives the maze a purpose beyond finding the exit. Instead of just walking through rows of corn, visitors have something to look for along the way. Kids can help spot the stations, while adults can enjoy the bonus of supporting nearby businesses after the visit.
The corn maze was believed to be $6 on a recent visit. As with the trail, checking current prices before going is a good idea, especially during the 2026 season.
Between the corn maze, apple cannon, pumpkins, Pumpkin Vine Express Trail, and fall photo spots, the farm has enough to fill a relaxed seasonal outing without making the day feel rushed.
Photo spots make the visit even more fun
Pumpkin patches are made for pictures, and this farm has a few cool spots that make it easy to capture the day.
The standout is a massive chair that visitors have to climb up to sit on. It is the kind of oversized prop that makes everyone look small, which is exactly why it's fun! Kids love the climb, adults usually end up laughing, and the final picture has a fun “we really went there” quality.
A good photo spot does not have to be complicated. It just needs to feel playful and give people a reason to pause. The big chair does that. It also makes a nice marker for the visit, especially if families return year after year and take the same picture as kids grow.
The farm setting provides plenty of natural photo backdrops too. Piles of pumpkins, open sky, rustic displays, and fall merchandise all help create those warm autumn scenes people want from a pumpkin patch visit.
For the best pictures, try these simple ideas:
Visit earlier or later in the day when the sun is softer.
Take a wide photo first, then move closer for a second shot.
Let kids sit, stand, climb, or point naturally instead of posing every picture.
Use pumpkins in the foreground to add color.
Take one silly photo on purpose, because those are often the favorites later.
The farm feels casual, so there is no need to make the photo part stressful. Snap a few, enjoy the moment, and keep moving.
Activities keep the energy going
The Pumpkin Vine Express Trail and corn maze may be the bigger-ticket attractions, but the smaller activities help round out the visit.
Farm-style basketball hoops they have at Kent's Cucurbits are pretty darn cool and something you don't usually see or get to shoot on. The hoops are placed near the shopping / checkout area. While part of the group is shopping, choosing pumpkins, or waiting for the next ride, the basketball goals give kids and adults a quick challenge without needing much explanation.
The extra-large corn hole boards bring the same kind of simple fun. Oversized games are always a hit because they make a familiar backyard activity feel new again.
Then there is the apple cannon. Few fall attractions get attention quite like launching apples at a target. It is loud, silly, and satisfying in the way only a farm cannon can be. For visitors who like hands-on activities, it is likely one of the stops they will remember best.
These extra activities matter because they give the farm a nice flow. A visit does not have to follow a strict schedule. People can drift from pumpkins to pictures, from the ride to the games, from the maze to the merchandise. That easy rhythm is part of the appeal and what makes Kent's Cucurbits a wonderful fall tradition.
Pumpkins and fall merchandise are still the heart of the visit
For all the activities, the pumpkins are still the star.
Some people arrive knowing exactly what they want: one perfect carving pumpkin, a few small decorative pumpkins, or a stack of gourds for the porch. Others wander through the options and let the pumpkins make the decision for them.
That second group may have the better strategy.
Pumpkin shopping is more fun when it feels like a search. You turn one around to check its shape. You compare stems. You talk yourself into one that is too big, then find another that somehow looks even better. Before long, the trunk has more pumpkins than planned, which is a classic sign of a good fall stop.
The property is located about 20 minutes north of Lafayette, Indiana (address below). If you have never visited Kent's Cucurbits in Brookston, Indiana we highly recommend checking it out!
Address: 1595 E State Road 18, Brookston, IN
Phone: (765)563-3472
Follow Kent's Cucurbits on Social Media!
Facebook: @kents.cucurbits
Instagram: @kents_cucurbits_llc
TikTok: @kents.cucurbits.l
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