50th Annual Fall Festival 9/13 – 10/26

Countdown to Opening Day

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Golden Year Giveaway

Follow us on Instagram for the countdown to 50 years of Fall Festival Fun. You’ll have a chance to win a weekly $50 Hicks Nurseries Gift Card in our Golden Year Giveaway! Follow Us >>

A woman and a girl holding pumpkins.
A Halloween-themed hay maze features a large inflatable pumpkin-headed scarecrow with a black hat and red arms, surrounded by hay bales and spooky decorations. Trees and a green fence are visible in the background.
Four young children and an adult decorate pumpkins with paper shapes at a table covered in a purple cloth, enjoying a festive outdoor activity. The kids appear focused and excited.

Fall Festival Pay One Price Wristband

$25 for Advantage Members, in-store or online. Purchasing online automatically enrolls you in our program.

$30 for non-members, in-store purchase. Sign up to enjoy the discount.

 

Available Weekends and School Holidays Sept 13 – Oct 26 :
Tues. Sept. 23 Rosh Hashanah
Thurs. Oct. 2 Yom Kippur
Mon. Oct. 13 Columbus Day

Mon. Oct. 20 Diwali

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

POP Wristband includes:

Unlimited hay maze for the day & 3 crafts:

  • Decorate a picture frame (NEW!)
  • Decorate a potted mum plant
  • Decorate a mystic pumpkin

SAVE TIME, BUY P.O.P. WRISTBANDS ONLINE!

Get your weekend P.O.P. wristbands to the Fall Festival in advance. No need to choose a date. Buy your wristbands online, at least a day in advance of your visit, and pick up in store at customer service when you are ready.

Weekends & Holidays Only. Weather permitting. In case of inclement weather, please call us to confirm 516-334-0066.

Hay Maze Only Ticket

$8 per person unlimited (ages 2 and under free. Adult must purchase ticket to take child through the maze.)

Available every day, seven days a week. Purchase in-store.

Weekend activities and hay maze are outdoors. In case of inclement weather, please call us to confirm that Festival is open before you come in: 516-334-0066

Fall Food Favorites

A wicker basket filled with green apples sits on a wooden table, surrounded by crates of red and yellow apples in the background.
A woman wearing sunglasses smiles while eating corn on the cob at an outdoor market, with a food truck and people in the background.
A woman and two children prepare corn on the cob at an outdoor market table covered with spices and toppings, while a man stands nearby. Other people and pumpkins can be seen in the background.

Available for purchase daily 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sept 13 – Oct 26

Bring home a taste of fall harvest with some of your favorite treats including our fudge dipped donuts, cider donuts, homemade pies, New York State apples, fudge, kettle corn, character cookies, apple cider and more.

Hicks Food Truck: open weekends and holidays only 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Serving fresh and tasty chicken tenders, hot dogs, French fries, and beverages.

Our Famous Fresh Roasted Corn: available weekends and holidays only 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Free Activities

People play a bean bag toss game at an outdoor fall festival, with colorful bunting overhead, a Fall Festival banner, and families watching and participating under sunny skies. Trees and a tent are in the background.
A family of four smiles while posing in front of large inflatable jack-o’-lanterns at a pumpkin patch. The parents sit with their two young daughters, surrounded by autumn decorations and hay.
A parent holds a child while viewing a festive Halloween display with witches, ghosts, pumpkins, and a snowman figure, all surrounded by colorful decorations and autumn leaves. Another child stands nearby.

Fun for the entire family!

  • Corn Hole
  • Scarecrow Ring Toss
  • Connect 4
  • Bowling
  • Tic Tac Toe
  • 3-Hole Mini Golf
  • More than 14 photo op stations including our ‘pumpkin patch’
  • Giveaways to celebrate our 50th “Golden” Anniversary

and everything listed below!

Meet & Take Pictures with Otto the Ghost

A group of kids hugging a person in a garment.
A group of six people, including three adults and three children, pose and smile with a person in a ghost costume at a fall-themed event. Decorations and a large inflatable cat are visible in the background.
A smiling child in a purple witch costume hugs a large person in a happy ghost costume at a garden center, surrounded by plants and flowers on display tables.

Weekends and Holidays only Sept 13 – Oct 26 FREE
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4 p.m.

Since the 1970s, Otto the Ghost has been the heart and soul of our Fall Festival. Generations of Long Islanders have grown up visiting Otto each year. Beloved by kids and adults alike, this friendly ghost has become more than just a mascot, he’s a cherished family tradition capturing the “spirit” of the season.

Animated Halloween Walkthrough Experience

A spooky, winged gargoyle with glowing red eyes sits behind a disco ball and candles, surrounded by dark fabrics, fake cobwebs, and eerie purple lighting.
Two scarecrows with banjos sit among pumpkins, autumn leaves, and a white dog statue. Bright orange pumpkins and a carved jack-o’-lantern add to the festive fall scene.
A parent holds a child while viewing a festive Halloween display with witches, ghosts, pumpkins, and a snowman figure, all surrounded by colorful decorations and autumn leaves. Another child stands nearby.

Daily Sept. 13 – Oct. 31 FREE
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Our animated children’s Halloween story is a walkthrough experience that has been delighting kids for decades! A new story every year features Otto the Ghost and emphasizes the value of friendship and being of service to others.

Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to our annual Long Island Cares food drive. Drop-off at the end of the animated children’s story journey. “Let kids be kids instead of being hungry.” Learn more at licares.org

Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off

Four people in matching pumpkin-themed shirts pose and smile around a huge, pale orange pumpkin on a pallet. One person holds a sign that reads “1st 1931.” A banner with a green truck and pumpkin logo is in the background.
A young girl with brown hair in a ponytail holds a pumpkin, standing outdoors by a wooden table. Behind her are green plants, yellow flowers, and a sign with a green truck and pumpkin.
A man and woman stand next to a massive orange pumpkin on a wooden pallet. The man holds a sign reading 854 and they are outdoors with plants and a banner in the background.

Sunday, October 5 FREE
Entries accepted 10 am – 10:45 am; Judging begins promptly at 11 am.

Watch as local pumpkin growers compete for prizes. Everyone who has grown a pumpkin, no matter what its size – is encouraged to bring it to the competition and show off their growing skills. Alongside prizes for the three heaviest pumpkins, we’ll recognize the ‘Rookie of the Year’ and the ‘Best Pumpkin Grown by a Child’ (under 15). Every participating child will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Weigh-Off Prizes:

  • 1st place: $500
  • 2nd place: $300
  • 3rd place: $200
  • Rookie of the Year: $100
  • Best Pumpkin Grown by a Child: $50 (ages 15 years old and younger)

Please note: Contestants who need help unloading their pumpkins must arrive at the nursery no later than 10am.

Pet Parade & Costume Competition

A smiling dog in a tuxedo and top hat sits in the center of a Monopoly board, with two dice and game pieces around it, outdoors on a brick pavement.
A woman and her dog are dressed up for Halloween as the Paws and Claws game with a life sized Otto the Ghost at Hicks Nurseries Annual Pet Parade
Two adults dressed as pilots and a dog in a pilot outfit pose with a red toy airplane. The man holds an orange ribbon. People and dogs in costumes are in the background at an outdoor event.

Wednesday, October 15 FREE
Registration begins at 4:00pm
Parade starts at 5 p.m.
$550 in prizes

Our annual pet parade is back! Bring your pets in their best Halloween costume to Hicks Nurseries for our much anticipated Pet Parade and Costume Competition! There are five categories of costumes with five chances of winning a Hicks Nurseries Gift card plus, meet and take pics with Otto the Ghost.

 

2025 New Categories & Prizes:

  • Best Overall $150 gift card: Crowned the ultimate Howl-o-ween champion, this pet steals the show with style, spirit, and tail-wagging charm.
  • Best Group $100 gift card: A pack that shines together! This award goes to the most paw-some squad, family, or crew in costume. 
  • Most Original $100 gift card: A bone-a-fide-original! This winner wows with creativity, imagination, and one-of-a-kind flair.
  • Funniest $100 gift card: For the pet that’s paw-sitively hilarious! This award celebrates costumes guaranteed to make the crowd howl with laughter.
  • Best Child & Pet $100 gift card: A paw-fect pair! This dynamic duo captures hearts with matching looks and unbeatable cuteness.

 

Every pet gets a participation ribbon plus more surprises!!

Please help support pets by bringing pet food, new toys, cat litter, leashes and other items to donate to Long Island Cares for pets in need. Learn more about Long Island Cares Baxter’s Pet Pantry.

Please note: Hicks Nurseries reserves the right to use photos of all the participants taken during the event.

Fall Harvest: Fall Plants & Decorations

Close-up of a bright orange pumpkin with a green stem, showing its textured surface. Another pumpkin is partially visible in the background, with a soft, out-of-focus green backdrop.
Purple flowers with vibrant yellow centers bloom in a lush cluster against a backdrop of green leaves. The petals are long and narrow, radiating outward, creating a striking contrast with the rich green foliage.
fall at hicks, pumpkins, mums

Welcome fall into your home and garden with a mosaic of fall flowering plants, chrysanthemums, cabbage, pumpkins, seasonal vegetables, and holiday decorations. 

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Plant Finder

Find the ideal plant with our Plant Finder tool. Learn more about a specific plant's attributes, growth and care.