Before it sells out.

This season

• Tickets on sale now

  Holiday 2026

  Light shows, zoo and garden lights, and holiday trains. 28 listings across 16 states and DC.

• Happening now

  Fall 2026

  Pumpkin patches, farm festivals, corn mazes and apple picking. 28 listings across 16 states.

Every listing tells you the same four things

• When tickets open

  On sale now, a sale date, or not announced yet.

• How you get in

  Timed tickets, reserve ahead, buy tickets, or walk up.

• What a family of four pays

  Two adults and two kids, from the venue's own prices.

• When we checked

  The month we read the official page. The venue's page always wins.

Book these early

A few places from the calendars whose own pages, or local news, say they sell out or fill up fast. Have a backup.

• Boothbay, ME

  Timed tickets

  Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

  Garden holiday light show

  Dates

  Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027, Thursday to Sunday plus select dates

  Tickets

  On sale now

  How you get in

  Buy a date and time ticket online in advance; none are sold at the door.

  Also needed

  Advance tickets only; changing your date or time costs $2.50 per ticket.

  Family of four $60 to $922 adult and 2 child tickets, from weekday Family Value ($20 and $10) to Saturday Premium ($28 and $18); the 2026 page doesn't list child ages, so this assumes both kids pay the child rate; fees not shown

  Sell-out note. The gardens' 2026 event page says time slots can sell out online and sold-out times can't be bought at the door. Source for Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens selling out

  Accessibility. The gardens lend a limited number of wheelchairs and scooters, and one small area can't be reached by wheelchair or scooter. Venue page on accessibility at Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

  Weekday nights are the cheapest tier, parking is free, and a shuttle runs from downtown Boothbay Harbor Friday to Sunday.

  Official page for Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

  Checked September 2026

• Candia, NH

  Timed tickets

  Santa's Christmas at Charmingfare Farm

  Holiday lights trail and Santa farm visit

  Dates

  2026 dates not announced yet

  Tickets

  Not announced yet

  How you get in

  Reserve a date and check-in time ahead, then ride a wagon, sleigh or tractor train out to see Santa.

  Also needed

  Advance reservation required; arrive 15 minutes before check-in.

  Family of four Price not published

  Sell-out note. Visit NH's 2025 listing said advance reservations were required and popular time slots sold out. Source for Santa's Christmas at Charmingfare Farm selling out

  In 2025 the basic Express ticket was $39 a person with kids under 2 at no charge, and the season ran late November to Christmas Eve.

  Official page for Santa's Christmas at Charmingfare Farm

  Checked September 2026

• Burlington, VT

  Timed tickets

  THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride (Vermont Children's Trust Foundation)

  Holiday train ride

  Dates

  Dec 5 and 6, 2026

  Tickets

  Public ticketing by random selection opens in September 2026

  How you get in

  Join the public interest list; the foundation randomly picks families, who can then buy up to 5 tickets for a set train time.

  Also needed

  Public tickets go by random selection; limit 5 per order.

  Family of four $1604 tickets at $40 each; only children under 2 on a lap ride without a ticket; fees not shown

  Sell-out note. For 2026 the foundation says demand has grown sharply and it expects requests to top the tickets available. Source for THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride (Vermont Children's Trust Foundation) selling out

  Accessibility. The foundation says the event is handicap accessible and offers sensory-friendly train options with Seed and Sew. Venue page on accessibility at THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride (Vermont Children's Trust Foundation)

  Boarding is at the Wing Building at the bottom of King Street, and proceeds fund the foundation's children's programs.

  Official page for THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride (Vermont Children's Trust Foundation)

  Checked September 2026

• Hopewell Junction, NY

  Reserve ahead

  Fishkill Farms

  Pick-your-own apple orchard

  Dates

  Apple picking now through Nov 1, 2026

  Tickets

  On sale now

  How you get in

  Pick-your-own is by reservation only, booked online for a set date and time.

  Also needed

  Reservation required; each one covers up to 5 people

  Family of four Price not published

  Sell-out note. The farm says reservation dates can sell out, and 2026 is its seventh season requiring them. Source for Fishkill Farms selling out

  Accessibility. Strollers and wagons are allowed in the orchards, and one hayride wagon has a ramp for one wheelchair user per trip. Venue page on accessibility at Fishkill Farms

  One reservation covers up to five people, so a family of four needs just one.

  Official page for Fishkill Farms

  Checked September 2026

• Medford, NJ

  Reserve ahead

  Johnson's Corner Farm Fall Harvest

  Pumpkin and apple picking hayrides with corn maze

  Dates

  Daily, Sept 12 to Nov 1, 2026

  Tickets

  On sale now

  How you get in

  Reserve hayride tickets online for a rough start time; walk-up tickets are sold only if space remains.

  Also needed

  Reservation strongly recommended to guarantee entry

  Family of four $50 to $802 adults and 2 kids (5 and 9) on the hayride plus Discovery Barnyard and Animal Farm package: adults $11 and kids $14 on weekdays, adults $18 and kids $22 on weekends; child age range not published; picked crops paid separately; plus sales tax

  Sell-out note. For 2026 the farm says it expects to sell out at peak times. Source for Johnson's Corner Farm Fall Harvest selling out

  Weekdays cost less, and the corn maze add-on runs Friday through Sunday.

  Official page for Johnson's Corner Farm Fall Harvest

  Checked September 2026

• Finleyville, PA

  Buy tickets

  Trax Farms Fall Festival

  Pumpkin patch, hayride and corn maze

  Dates

  Weekends, Sept 19 to Oct 25, 2026

  Tickets

  On sale now

  How you get in

  The festival is free to enter; a hayride ticket gets you to the corn maze and pumpkin patch, and online buyers board first.

  Also needed

  Hayride ticket needed for the maze and pumpkin patch

  Family of four $48 to $562 adults and 2 kids (5 and 9) on hayride tickets that include the corn maze, $12 each online or $14 each on the day; under 2 free; pumpkins extra; before any online fees

  Sell-out note. In 2025 the farm capped hayride tickets per hour and warned they could sell out. Source for Trax Farms Fall Festival selling out

  Pumpkins are priced separately from the hayride ticket.

  Official page for Trax Farms Fall Festival

  Checked September 2026