If you live in the Midwest, there’s a chance you’ve heard of Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard. It’s a magical place, open just a couple of months in the fall. You can pick apples and pumpkins, go on rides, and try some amazing homemade food. I’ve worked there for a couple of years, but unfortunately (but also fortunately) this year I’m taking off to take care of my new kid. Here are some of my favorite tricks and tips to make your trip well worth the price!

Updated September 21, 2024

Find discount tickets

There are a few ways to do this one! 

Season Pass

If you plan to go a lot, season passes are the way to go. Vala’s has a discount once a year for these (you just missed the one for 2024), so be on the lookout in July 2025 for the next one! You can still buy them online at a discount for $84.99 this year.

Weekday Pass

If the full season passes are a little too much for you and you don’t enjoy huge crowds anyways, I suggest getting the new weekday season pass. They’re $49.99, so a little more affordable if you have more people to buy passes for. If you’re going at least 3 times during the week this season, this is the deal for you.

Day Tickets

Day tickets are $35.99 this year online and $19.79 for weekday (Mon-Fri) tickets. Be sure to buy them online for that discounted pricing!

Military discount

If you go through Offutt AFB’s ITT office, you can buy day tickets for $19. These always sell out before the season is over, so get them early if you’re interested. These tickets can be used whenever Vala’s is open. The price isn’t much lower than the online weekday tickets ($19.79), so plan accordingly if you want to get a lot of trips in (though the daytime season pass might be better for that this year!).

Work There

If you have some extra time, working there is well worth it for the benefits! You need to be able to work there at least 15 hours a week during the season. If you do that, you’ll get a season pass for yourself and (at least last year) for 5 others. You’ll also get some day tickets, discounts on food and other items, lifelong friendships, and a great community. 

Group Tickets

You can get the usual group tickets where your office, class, or community group wants to go, so you buy a bunch of discounted tickets. The group discounts don’t end there though! If your kids are homeschooled, in Scouts, AWANA, 4H, or if you’re a teacher or in healthcare, be sure to check out the Special Group Discount Days page on their website for special pricing on certain days! 

Avoid the Crowds

Both visiting earlier in the day and earlier in the season will mean it’s less busy. 

Earlier in the day you’ll have fewer families, though still quite a few mamas with younger kids walking around with their strollers. You will get a bunch of school groups, but these often travel in packs, so if you just find another area to enjoy while the school group is in a certain area, you should be fine. Most families and groups visit in the evenings, so I like to avoid those if I don’t want to navigate the crowds, but to each their own. The sweet spot is the early afternoon when the school groups leave, high schoolers with season passes aren’t there yet, and parents aren’t off work yet.

Earlier in the season, save for the first day, it’s usually less crowded. As the season progresses, weekends and evenings attendance numbers go up by thousands. 

Bring Your Own Food & Get a Food Passport

Did you know you can bring your own food into Vala’s? They have DELICIOUS food, but it can certainly add up if you have kids that need snacks constantly! Bring some snacks for the kids and a water bottle to refill while you’re there. 

They’ve brought the food passport back this year! This is such a fun treat, and well worth the hefty-looking $39.99 price tag. Here’s the description from their website:

Discover all the signature tastes of fall with Vala’s tasting passport! Choose 5 items for $39.99. There are more than 40 items to choose from across 20 food locations on the farm! These passports are only valid during the 2024 Fall Season and will expire 03NOV2024.

Pick up one at admissions or the Information (InFARMation) booth just inside the farm. Have the family vote on which items to pick or have each of your kids pick a treat from the list.

If you prefer sweet (nonalcoholic) cider and soda, pick up a souvenir cup. Last year they had two options: a plastic one that you could refill with soda and a metal one you can refill with soda or sweet cider. Be sure to see what this year’s cup can be filled with for yourself rather than using old information! I think it’s just sodas this year (2024). These cups can be refilled all season, so it’s a great deal if you’re there often!

For more food insights, I’ll be writing a separate post with my recommendations soon!

Getting Around Vala’s

Strollers & wagons. A good portion of Vala’s is stroller and wagon friendly, but I recommend ones with off-road wheels and that are good with hills. Some pathways are dirt, some are gravel, and some are paved. My stroller has basic wheels and I don’t plan on bringing it. I have a couple of carriers including a Tushbaby—it’s one of my favorites because it’s easy to put on, has all sorts of storage pockets for diapers, personal items, keys, and even a water bottle! It also takes a lot of strain off of my arms and back. 

I also recently got a wagon! I decided to go with the Evenflo Pivot Xplore Dreamz. It has all-terrain tires, an awning, converts from wagon (pull) to stroller (push) to make hills so much easier to navigate. My favorite part is the wagon converts to a bassinet! This makes naps so much easier (if she isn’t just sleeping on me in her carrier. Ha!).

Maps

You can download one online if you want to have a digital one, or you can pick up a map at Admissions or the InFARMation booth. If you have a fire pit site reserved, be sure to grab the map specifically for those and have your site name or number handy. Studying the map is key to finding the best shortcuts! These are less crowded if you need a break from the craziness, and incredibly scenic. 

What to Wear

This one is such an interesting question because the Vala’s season always starts super hot, but it can be snowing by the end! Regardless, I always recommend sturdy, comfortable shoes for lots of walking. You don’t have to go with hiking shoes level (unless that’s your thing), and I personally don’t recommend sandals. I have some hiking sandals I might wear (I’m sure I’ll have to dump out gravel a few times though) and some cute tennies or boots once it cools off. Your shoes will get dirty, so keep that in mind and skip your fancy/expensive shoes. 

Dress in layers. If you’re going for just a few hours, you might be able to skip this one, but for those spending the day at Vala’s, it’s a great tip. Mornings and evenings will be chilly, afternoons will be hot. Walking around or standing in the sun will warm you up. This is fairly common knowledge, but it deserves repeating since you’ll be spending your time on a farm—there’s no air conditioning and minimal heating. 

Visiting Vala’s with a Baby

This bonus section is for those mamas who have a little one. As a new mama of a nursing 7 month old, I’m searching out all the best local restaurants, stores, and places that accommodate kids. Vala’s thankfully checks off some of my essentials! 

Right when you enter, there’s a Mother’s Nursing Room (pics below). This is the only place that has air conditioning on the farm, and it’s so nice! There are two rocking chairs for mamas, a sink, and a changing table, along with plenty of room for your stroller/wagon. 

Most of the restrooms around the farm have changing tables (can’t speak to the portapotty ones because I don’t use them). 

While there’s currently just the one Mother’s Room, there are still plenty of little shaded areas with a bench or picnic table that are out of the way where you can nurse throughout the farm. Water is free to refill in your own water bottle, so be sure to bring one. I like to bring one with a filter because I’m extra like that. If you like electrolyte drinks, be sure to bring some!