Emma Lea Farms, a perfect spot for an outdoor playdate

How fitting that we end our tour of smaller pumpkin patches in the Lower Mainland at a farm best known as a top U-Pick berry spot. We went west to Emma Lea Farms to pay homage to one of the oldest family run farms in BC now in their 5th generation of farming.

>> Have you been to Willow View Farms?

This 100% organic farm first started in 1885 when Joseph Tamboline immigrated from Italy and met his wife Myra EMMA Falkner in 1891 (Yes, the name of the farm is a nod to his wife). This family-owned farm has been in operation for over a century and was awarded the BC Century Farm and Ranch Award by the Minister of Agriculture in 1994.

>> Find out about Petey’s Pumpkin Patch

Emma Lea Farms has since grown with each generation in size and scale now offering beans, peas, rutabaga, beets, cabbage and have a SPCA Certified beef cattle herd, free range laying chickens, miniature donkeys, a rescue mule, two retired quarter horses and dogs on their farm. Every spring, they plant their crop of pumpkins to host their Fall at the Farm during October. They even set up elaborate pumpkin displays and an “Oat Maze” where they hide hilarious jokes scattered throughout the pumpkin field for children to enjoy.

>> Meadows Family Farm perfect for little kids

With the Emma Lea Grocery Store, The Ice Cream Shoppe and the playground/ picnic area fully operational, you can quite easily spend half the day here having an outdoor playdate with precautions and physical distancing with a friend. What a great day it was!

Who knew that berries turn into pumpkins come Fall? Magical.
See Also

Explore Vancouver

Halloween Events in Metro Vancouver

>> Learn all about Hazelmere Pumpkin Patch

How To Plan Your Visit

Main Attractions

Open air play space with; (1) a small Emma Lea Grocery Store, (2) Ice Cream
Shoppe—serving hot food and drinks, (3) Emma’s Fire pit—where you can roast S’mores and hot dogs available for purchase, (4) Playground and picnic area—swings, slides, climbing apparatus, toss games, picnic tables to enjoy the weather and have lunch
Massive 3-acre fields in the backdrop offering views and of course fruits and berries
squashes around the seasons.

Admission and Hours

Thursday—Sunday: 9-5pm

Halloween OPEN: 9-5pm (last day for the pumpkin patch & Oat Maze)
Farm will remain open in November
FREE admission you pay for what you pick (cash or debit only)

Parking

Plentiful FREE parking on-site

Washrooms

Fully functional washroom on site with proper COVID precautions and social distancing rules in effect— baby change available table on-site

What to Bring/ What to Wear

Rainboots and coat, even extra clothes & extra shoes for this farm—by far the MUDDIEST patch we’ve visited this season. Fun!

Bring your own mask to this location. Provincial guidelines recommend wearing a mask in public spaces at all times.

Special Notes

Wagons are offered on-site, yet the site is large, wide and flat and is very stroller-friendly. this is a non pet-friendly farm, please keep your paw friends at home.
Spend the day while physically distancing— plenty of space, picnic tables, very nice