Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party: A Fall Farm Day in Queen Creek, Arizona
Fall in the East Valley does not really feel like fall until the pumpkin patches open, and one of the biggest and longest-running is the Pumpkin & Chili Party at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek. It is a working family farm that turns into a full-blown fall festival every October, with hayrides, a corn maze, vintage carnival rides, pig races, bonfires, and, of course, a lot of chili. This year the farm is celebrating 30 years of the party.
If you are looking for a fall outing that works for little kids, teens, grandparents, and the gardener in the family, this is a good one. Below I cover dates and hours, tickets, what is included, the food, tips for planning your visit, and a few ideas for bringing a bit of the farm home to your own garden. Everything here comes from the farm's official website, event site, and ticket page, and I link them throughout so you can double-check details before you go.
The Basics: Dates, Hours, and Location
The 2026 Pumpkin & Chili Party runs October 1 through October 31. The official schedule lists these hours:
Wednesdays: 4 pm to 9 pm
Thursdays: noon to 9 pm
Fridays: noon to 10 pm
Saturdays: 10 am to 10 pm
Sundays: 10 am to 9 pm
Mondays and Tuesdays are not on the schedule. On Thursdays and Fridays the farm opens early for school groups that have booked field trips, and the general public comes in at noon. The FAQ page also mentions discounted Wednesday nights, so check the ticket page for current Wednesday pricing.
Address: Schnepf Farms, 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142. The farm's main phone number is 480-987-3100, and the event site lists 480-217-0249 and info@schnepffarms.com for party questions.
One thing to know: during October, the regular farm park and its usual train rides are closed because of the party, and the farm says October is the only month it charges admission. You can still stop by the cafe, the coffee shop, and the bakery without a party ticket. The cafe serves breakfast and lunch from 8 am to 3:30 pm, and Farmer's Daughter Coffee has a spot on the front patio.
Official info: https://www.schnepffarms.com/ and https://www.pumpkinandchiliparty.com/
Tickets and Prices
The event's ticketing page lists general admission at $28.95 per person, and children 2 and under get in free. It is one price for adults and kids. Tickets are sold online at https://schnepffarms.ticketspice.com/schnepf-farms-pumpkin-chili-party
A few things worth knowing before you buy:
Buying online is cheaper. The FAQ says tickets bought at the gate cost more.
Discount tickets are sold at the gate only. The ticketing page lists $15 tickets for military and veterans, police, and firefighters with ID. The discount is for that person only, not the whole family.
Senior Day is every Friday. Guests 65 and older can buy a $15 ticket at the gate.
Season pass. A season ticket is listed at $99 per person and is good for any day of the party, with a 5 percent discount at the shops, country store, bakery, and pumpkins. It does not include the train.
Family bundles. The ticket page offers family four-packs that bundle general admission with paintball rounds and mining bags. The top "Ultimate" family pack ($239, with food passports) is listed as sold out on the ticketing page.
Tickets are non-refundable. You can change your date for a $5 fee, and the event runs rain or shine.
Ticket details: https://www.pumpkinandchiliparty.com/ticketing
What Admission Includes
This is where Schnepf Farms really shines. The FAQ says general admission includes everything except food, the train ride, pumpkins, and anything you buy in the shops. The farm describes over 40 attractions and rides, and most rides are restored vintage pieces with an old-school amusement park feel. The ticketing page lists these, among others, as included:
Hayrides out to the 10-acre corn maze
Live music on two stages
Vintage rides, including a 1912 Parker carousel and a 1925 Herschell carousel, a Tilt-a-Whirl, the Miler roller coaster, the Honeybee Adventure, and Swingin' Lady Bugz
New for 2026: the Extreme Spin Out ride, Barnyard Stampede, the Peach Pit, Barnstormers, a Coffee Cup Twirl, a Giant Slide, Peach Box Hill, and Phoenix Raceway pedal cars
Jumping pillows, a rock wall, a ropes course, and play yards
The petting zoo, with goats, chickens, cows, peacocks, and turtles
Hillbilly Bob's Pig Races, which the farm says have been running for 29 years
The Stunt Dog Show (three shows a day, though not the first weekend) and the Stuntmasters bike show
Bonfires (weather permitting) and photo spots like the Giant Scarecrow and Pumpkin Mountain
The renovated Schnepf Family Museum, which tells the story of the farm
Some rides have height limits. For example, the Plan Your Visit page lists 52 inches for the extreme ride, 36 inches for the Schnepf Roller Coaster, and a 50-pound minimum for the rock wall. If you have little ones, check the list before you promise anyone a specific ride.
There is also line dancing at the Scootin' Boot Dance Pavilion starting at 7 pm Thursdays through Saturdays, and the FAQ says fireworks go off on Friday and Saturday nights.
Attractions list: https://www.pumpkinandchiliparty.com/plan-your-visit
Paid Extras: Train, Paintball, Mining, and Pumpkins
A few things cost extra on top of admission:
Day Train ($7). A hop-on, hop-off train with four stops (main depot, bakery, ride area, and mini golf) that runs until 4 pm. Your first stop has to be the main train depot.
Spooky Train ($10). Starts at 6:30 pm.
The Bunker paintball. Listed at $5 for 50 paintballs and $10 for about 100.
Resolution Copper Mining Experience. Buy a bag of mining rough and sift it in water to find gemstones and minerals. Bags start at $8 for 3 pounds.
Pumpkins. Not included with admission. The FAQ lists prices from about $4 to $15.
Private bonfires. You can reserve a private fire for up to 10 people, lit by 6:30 pm, with optional hot dog roasting boxes, s'mores kits, or a pot of chili and cornbread.
The Food (It Is a Chili Party, After All)
Food is a big part of the day, and the farm does not allow outside food or drinks, though bottled water is okay. Here is what the official Plan Your Visit page lists:
Chili. The main grills serve pumpkin chili, regular chili, and veggie chili, plus the classic chili dinners and chili-and-chicken dinners. New this year, you can preorder a chili dinner and pick it up at a set time to skip the line.
Succotash. A farm favorite cooked on 20-foot griddles with potatoes, squash, peppers, corn, and okra.
Taco bar and potato bar. Mini tacos you load yourself, and loaded baked potatoes by the pumpkin patch.
The Truck Stop. Burgers, hot dogs, pizza, curly fries, potato on a stick, fresh-squeezed lemonade, funnel cakes, and coffee.
Sweets. Hot cider donuts, new cider slushies, kettle corn, Italian ice, homemade pretzels, roasted nuts, and pies, cookies, and cinnamon rolls from the Schnepf bakery.
As a gardener, I love that a lot of this menu is basically a fall harvest on a plate: squash, peppers, corn, okra, potatoes, and pumpkin. It is a fun way to show kids where food comes from.
Tips for Planning Your Visit
A few practical notes pulled from the official FAQ and ticket terms:
Wear closed-toe shoes and bring socks for the jumping pillows.
Bring a light jacket for the evening. Desert nights cool off fast in October.
Expect some mosquitoes at dusk, even though the farm fogs. Bug spray is a good idea.
Parking is free. Accessible parking is near the front gate. Ask a parking attendant when you drive in.
You can leave and come back. Ask for a wristband when you exit.
Leashed dogs are welcome. Pick up after them, and keep in mind there is a dog show and fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights.
Accessibility. The farm says it is wheelchair accessible, but it is a large, 300-acre working farm with uneven paths, and the corn maze can be tricky. Wheelchairs and strollers are not available to rent.
Restrooms and baby care. There are restroom buildings near the front admission and by the bakery, plus a mother's lounge at Guest Services.
Payment. Cash and cards are accepted, including contactless payments.
Stay for sunset. The farm itself suggests coming during the day and staying into the evening, when the lights, bonfires, and spooky train make it feel like a different place.
Shopping: Pies, Salsa, and Seeds
Before you leave, stop by the shops. The bakery and country store sell pies, cinnamon rolls, pumpkin treats, apple butters, and salsas. There is an old-fashioned candy shop, a toy shop, and a garden center with gardening tools, gifts, and seed packets.
The garden center is a nice stop for anyone who gardens. October is prime planting time in the low desert, so a fall farm day is a great reminder to get your own cool-season seeds in the ground.
Bring the Farm Feeling Home
After a day at the farm, I always want to do a fall project at home. Here are a few ideas from past posts:
Make a pumpkin planter. Turn one of your farm pumpkins into a living centerpiece: https://www.greenthumbhobbies.com/post/diy-pumpkin-succulent-planter
String a chile ristra. If the chili inspired you, try drying red chiles into a classic Southwest garland: https://www.greenthumbhobbies.com/post/diy-chile-ristra
Turn a gourd into a birdhouse. Pick up a hard-shell gourd and make a home for backyard birds: https://www.greenthumbhobbies.com/post/diy-gourd-birdhouse
Find more East Valley fall fun. My roundup of fall activities around San Tan Valley has more ideas close to Queen Creek: https://www.greenthumbhobbies.com/post/fall-activities-in-san-tan-valley-az
Do not forget to save some seeds from your pumpkin if it is an heirloom variety. Scoop them out, rinse off the pulp, dry them on a paper towel, and store them in a cool, dry place for next year.
Final Thoughts
The Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party is a true East Valley fall tradition, and 30 years in, it is still packed with things to do. Come in the afternoon and stay into the evening for the lights and bonfires, or pick a Friday or Saturday night if you want fireworks. Buy tickets online ahead of time, bring a jacket and closed-toe shoes, and save room for chili and a cider donut. There are only a couple of weeks left this season, since the party wraps up October 31, so check the official site for hours and tickets before you head out: https://www.pumpkinandchiliparty.com/
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