Fall near Apex: Scarecrow Row and the Tour of Frights through Oct. 31, Phillips Farms of Cary Thursday to Sunday, and Hill Ridge Farms' festival to Nov. 6.

Last checked Oct. 25, 2026. Facts come from each farm’s own website and the Town of Apex. Farms change hours for weather, so check before you drive. This page is updated each September.

Updated Oct. 25: Hill Ridge Farms now lists festival days through Friday, Nov. 6, with shorter hours the final week. Fall Harvest Night and the Oct. 23-24 nearby events are past.

The Town of Apex fills October with free fall events, and farm parks in western Cary and Youngsville run through the end of the season. Here is what is on.

Before you go

  • Town events: Apex Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, 919-249-3402
  • Phillips Farms of Cary: phillipsfarmsofcary.com, 6800 Good Hope Church Road, Cary
  • Hill Ridge Farms: hillridgefarms.com, 703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville
  • Weather closures: farms post them on their home pages, so check the morning you go

Fall in Apex

All free and run by the town:

  • Scarecrow Row, Oct. 23-31, Apex Community Park, 2200 Laura Duncan Road: scarecrows decorated by local families and groups. The park closes at 10 p.m.; bring a flashlight after dark (details).
  • Tour of Frights, nightly 6 to 9 p.m. through Oct. 31: a map of homes and businesses with Halloween and fall decorations (routes).
  • The Tour of Frights map has three routes, orange, purple and green, laid out so you can see the most stops in one drive; a printable map (PDF) is on the town’s site.
  • Apex Farmers Market, every Saturday at The Depot, 8 a.m. to noon through October, with local produce from vendors who change weekly. See our farmers markets guide.

The town’s Oktoberfest was Oct. 10, and Fall Harvest Night at The Depot was Oct. 16. For Halloween events, see our trick-or-treat guide.

Pumpkin patches and farm parks

Phillips Farms of Cary, 6800 Good Hope Church Road, Cary. The family fun park opened for the fall season on Sept. 19 and is open Thursday through Sunday: 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. General admission covers the rides and games; the apple cannon, face painting and some other activities cost extra. The farm says the corn maze and sunflower field are not available all year. Tickets are sold only in person at the booth this year, cash or card, with no ATM on site, and the booth closes an hour before the park does. Admission details are on the farm’s FAQ page. The farm also runs the separate Phillips Haunted Farm.

Hill Ridge Farms, 703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville, north of Raleigh. Its fall festival is open 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday through Nov. 1, then 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, to Friday, Nov. 6, the farm’s last festival days. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Last admission is an hour before closing, and the farm suggests coming after 1 p.m. on weekdays, when school field trips have left. General admission is $24.95, or $22.95 for military and ages 65 and older; under 2 is free. Every admission includes a free pumpkin from the patch, reached by covered wagon tour. The farm sells apple cider doughnuts and fresh cider. Its Festival of Lights opens Thanksgiving night.

Nearby town events

  • The Holly Springs Farmers Market itself runs Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon through October and 9 a.m. to noon November to March, and accepts EBT, Double Bucks, WIC and senior vouchers, according to Wake County. See our farmers markets guide.

When the season is over

Pumpkins are food waste, not yard waste, in Apex. Put them in the trash cart, or take them to the Public Works facility, 105 Upchurch St., the first week of November or the week after Thanksgiving. Yard waste moves to every other week starting Oct. 19; see our trash and recycling guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a pumpkin patch or farm park near Apex?

Phillips Farms of Cary, 6800 Good Hope Church Road, runs a fall family fun park Thursday through Sunday. Hill Ridge Farms in Youngsville holds a fall festival with a pumpkin patch through Friday, Nov. 6.

What fall festivals are in Apex in October 2026?

Scarecrow Row is at Apex Community Park through Oct. 31, and the Tour of Frights runs nightly through Oct. 31. Fall Harvest Night at The Depot was Oct. 16.

Is there a fall festival with free pumpkins near Raleigh?

Hill Ridge Farms in Youngsville includes a free pumpkin with every admission during its fall festival, which runs through Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.

What are the hours at Phillips Farms of Cary in the fall?

Since Sept. 19 the park has been open 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are sold only at the booth.