From celebrity-loved haunts to a world record-holding corn maze, here are 10 California-based pumpkin patches for picking your gourds, taking a hayride, indulging in an apple cider doughnut and ringing in the spooky season.
Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch
Culver City
The celebrity-adored Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch is open for business Oct. 7 through Oct. 31 (Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera are just a few of its famous guests). The female-owned sustainable business offers one of the season’s most adored events, thanks to photo ops, bounce houses and slides, mazes, live entertainment, tasty eats and more. And, of course, Mr. Bones offers a huge selection of pumpkins from farms in Northern California and Oregon, several of which are organic. To learn more, visit mrbonespumpkinpatch.com.
Cool Patch Pumpkins
Dixon
Through Oct. 31, Cool Patch Pumpkins invites locals to pick their own pumpkins (both edible and non-edible varieties), take a hay ride, work their way through the hay maze and savor eats like pumpkin pie and kettle corn. Its incredible corn maze even holds a Guinness World Record for the largest corn maze. The corn maze is $18 per person. To learn more, visit www.coolpatchpumpkins.com.
Swank Farms
Hollister
The Fall Experience at Swank Farms takes place on select days through Halloween and is a beloved local tradition for the entire family. Enjoy a giant corn path, U-Pick pumpkins, endless photo ops, farm animals, games and more. From Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, on Fridays through Sundays, Swank Farms hosts its spooky Trail of Lights (which is a separate ticketed event). Tickets start at $19.95. To learn more, visit www.swankfarms.com.
Dave’s Pumpkin Patch
Sacramento
A long-adored local tradition, a visit to Dave’s Pumpkin Patch (at Vierra Farms) means picking your favorite pumpkin, hopping on the hayride, finding your way through the corn maze and indulging in Dave’s famous apple cider cinnamon doughnuts. Be sure to keep an eye on the patch’s calendar for special events, like Dave’s Pumpkin Spiked Harvest Hoedown on Oct. 8! Admission is free; activities are individually priced. To learn more, visit www.vierrafarms.com.
Greenspot Farms Pumpkin Patch
Mentone
Through Oct. 31, pumpkin lovers will be delighted by Greenspot Farms’ myraid options, including Blue, Ghost and Cinderella varieties. While there, visit the farm animals, bounce houses, duck races, horse rides, hay maze and much, much more. Admission is free; activities are individually priced (cash only). To learn more, visit www.greenspotfarms.com.
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch
Los Angeles and San Diego
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch is a family-owned business offering games, activities and more for guests of all ages. Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns also sells pumpkins (even carving and decorating kits), gourds, squash, corn stalks, hay and more. Admission is free; activities are individually priced. To learn more, visit www.mrjackolanternspumpkins.com.
Joan’s Farm & Pumpkin Patch
Livermore
All month long, guests of Joan’s Farm can enjoy a hay bale maze, pumpkin bowling, a large inflatable slide, a variety of photo ops, an Old West town, feeding the farm animals and much more. Plus, a variety of pumpkins will be ripe for the picking. Admission is free; activities are individually priced (cash only). To learn more, visit joansfarm.com.
Bonita Pumpkin Farm
San Diego
All aboard for train rides, petting zoos and the corn maze at Bonita Pumpkin Farm, through Oct. 31. At its pumpkin farm, families can choose a prize gourd. Admission is free; activities are individually priced. To learn more, visit www.pumpkinstation.com.
Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
Irvine
Touted as one of the only farms in Orange County with a real pumpkin patch, Tanaka Farms invites families to pick their own pumpkin, as well as enjoy wagon rides, arts and crafts and more. Don’t miss the Produce Market Stand, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for pumpkin accessories, snacks, fall décor and more. General admission is $6, though some activities require separate tickets. To learn more, visit www.tanakafarms.com.
Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
Irvine
Pan for gold, get your face painted, ride the train and win carnival games now through Oct. 31 at Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch. The family-friendly haunted house will surely get guests in the Halloween state of mind. Admission to the pumpkin patch is free; activities are individually priced. To learn more, visit www.irvineparkrailroad.com.