Linvilla Orchards
300+ acres of u-pick fruit, a pumpkin patch, a fishing pond, and a year-round farm market — the Chester County family classic.
The Quick Version
- • 300+ acre family farm in Media, PA. U-pick (strawberries, peaches, apples, pumpkins by season), a year-round farm market, fishing pond, hayrides, and a barnyard.
- • Entry to the property is free. You pay for activities and what you pick.
- • Fall is the marquee season — Pumpkinland runs through September and October and gets very crowded.
- • Budget 2-4 hours. A full pumpkin-and-hayride visit is a half-day.
Best Ages
All ages
Plan For
2-4 hours
Adults
Free entry to property
Kids
Free entry to property
What to Expect
Linvilla is the Chester County family farm at full scale. 300+ acres, a real working operation, and a marketing-savvy family business that has nailed seasonal events without losing the farm feel.
The farm market is the hub — produce, prepared food, the cider donut counter, baked goods, gifts. The barnyard is right there with goats, chickens, and a few larger animals. The fishing pond (catch-and-release or pay-by-the-fish) is a short walk past the market and is a quiet anchor for younger kids while older ones do bigger things.
U-pick is the main draw. Strawberries in late spring/early summer, cherries and peaches in summer, apples in late summer/fall, pumpkins in October. You check in at u-pick, grab a container or wagon, and head to the field. Hayrides take you out to the larger fields when picking is in a far row.
Fall is the big season. Pumpkinland transforms the entrance area into a kid-scaled fall festival — pumpkin displays, scarecrows, photo ops, a hay maze. The pumpkin patch hayride is the canonical Linvilla experience. Linvilla also runs a separate ticketed Halloween/spooky evening event for tweens and adults that's NOT for little kids — check the calendar so you don't book the wrong thing.
The vibe is busy, family-friendly, and unapologetically commercial in a way that works. It's not a quiet pastoral farm — it's a destination. Expect lines on fall weekends. Manage expectations and go with it.
Did You Know?
Linvilla's fishing pond is stocked and requires no fishing license — kids can catch (and keep, by the pound) on their first try, which is unusual for a public-access fishing experience in Pennsylvania.
Who It's Best For
Babies and toddlers: barnyard animals, easy strolls, picking strawberries low to the ground. Preschoolers: pumpkin picking, hayrides, fishing pond, farm animals. Elementary: u-pick everything, the corn maze, hayrides, fishing. The farm scales well — there's a version of a good day here at every age.
Highlights
Pumpkinland (fall)
Ages 1-12Late September through Halloween. The entrance area is transformed into a pumpkin and scarecrow display. Free to walk through. Hayrides to the pumpkin patch run all weekend.
U-Pick Fruit
All agesStrawberries late May–June, peaches in summer, apples late summer/fall. Strawberries are the easiest with toddlers — low to the ground, fast wins. Check the website for current crop schedule before you go.
Hayrides
All agesTractor-pulled hayrides to the picking fields run during peak seasons. Short, kid-friendly, and one of the simple pleasures of the place.
Fishing Pond
Ages 3+Stocked pond. Ticketed entry ($11 online / $13 onsite for fishing ticket; $6/$8 pondside pass; rod rental $5). No fishing license required. Catch-and-keep priced by weight. A reliable hit for kids who want to catch something on their first try.
Barnyard Animals
Ages 1-7Goats, chickens, sheep, and some larger animals in pens near the market. Feed is available. Free to visit.
Farm Market & Cider Donuts
All agesYear-round market with produce, prepared food, baked goods. The fresh cider donuts are genuinely worth the trip on their own in fall. Pies and apple cider are the other classics.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • October weekend afternoons. Just go on a weekday or a weekend morning.
- • Linvilla's ticketed evening Halloween/spooky event — that's for tweens and adults, not little kids. Stick to daytime Pumpkinland for under-10s.
- • Trying to do u-pick AND the full Pumpkinland AND hayrides AND fishing in one visit with a toddler. Pick two.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
Free entry to property
Kids
Free entry to property
Under
Free
No general admission. Hayrides ~$8-$13 per person depending on season and online vs. onsite. U-pick is priced by weight or by container. Pumpkinland and the corn maze have separate ticketed components on some weekends. Special events (Easter Bunny train, Halloween Nights) are ticketed.
Membership tip: No membership program. Sign up for the email list — they send schedules and occasional discount codes.
Getting There
Parking
Multiple free dirt and gravel lots on the property. The main lot is closest to the farm market.
Fall weekend afternoons are no joke — the lots overflow into nearby fields and the access road backs up. If you're going in October on a Saturday or Sunday, arrive by 10 AM or after 3 PM. Weekdays in October are dramatically better.
Entrance
Main entrance off Knowlton Rd. The farm market is the central hub. Hayride loading, u-pick check-in, and Pumpkinland radiate out from there.
Parent Logistics
Mixed terrain. The market area and barnyard are paved or hard-packed. U-pick fields and the orchard rows are dirt and grass — strollers work but you'll get bumped around. A jogging stroller with bigger wheels is the right tool. Wagons are common and probably better than a stroller if you have your own.
Permanent restrooms near the farm market. Porta-potties scattered around busy areas during peak season. The market bathrooms are your best bet for diapers.
Changing table in the market restroom. Porta-potties are bare-bones.
Mixed. The market and barnyard have some shade. U-pick fields are exposed — bring hats, sunscreen, and water in summer and early fall.
Food & Snacks
Substantial. The farm market sells prepared food (sandwiches, soups, fresh cider donuts that are genuinely famous, ice cream). Seasonal food trucks and BBQ during fall weekends. Plenty of picnic tables.
Snack strategy: The cider donuts are the move. Eat them warm if you can. The market also has fresh pies, cider, and a solid sandwich counter. You don't need to pack lunch — the on-site food is part of the experience.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Weekday visits in October are 80% of the fall fun with 30% of the crowd.
- ✓ Strawberry season (late May-June) is criminally underrated and much calmer than pumpkin season.
- ✓ Cider donuts are best warm. Eat them on a bench by the barnyard.
- ✓ Bring a wagon if you have one. Beats a stroller in the u-pick fields and gives kids something to ride in when they're tired.
- ✓ Cash is faster than card at peak times — bring some.
- ✓ Sign up for the email list. They send the picking schedule a week ahead so you know exactly what's ready.
- ✓ Buy fishing tickets online — saves $2 over the onsite price, and no fishing license is required at the pond.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings in fall to dodge weekend crowds. Strawberry season (late May–June) is much calmer than pumpkin season. Weekday afternoons in summer for peach picking and the pond. Avoid Saturday afternoons in October — the lots overflow.
Seasonal Notes
Strawberries late May into June. Cherries and peaches in summer. Apples late summer into fall. Pumpkins late September through October. The Pumpkinland setup (haunted barn, scarecrows, hay maze) runs roughly mid-September through Halloween. Christmas tree sales in late November and December. The farm market is open year-round.
Rainy Day?
Pumpkinland and the market keep running in light rain. Heavy rain and u-pick fields don't mix — check the day-of update before driving over. The market itself is indoor enough for a short visit even in bad weather.
While You're in the Area
Tyler Arboretum is 10 minutes away for a different style of outdoor day. Media's downtown (State Street) is 5 minutes and has good lunch and ice cream. Ridley Creek State Park is 10 minutes and has a working colonial farm site (Colonial Plantation).
Upcoming Events
Verified against the venue’s official info.
Last reviewed May 13, 2026. Confirm anything dated (admission, hours, special events) on the venue’s own site before you drive.
Sources: linvilla.com