There are plenty of pumpkin farms near Petaluma, but this one, located on a cheese farm, offers the most tantalizing treats to accompany the pumpkins. Visitors can milk a cow, dig for potatoes, and taste homemade ice cream and cheese after picking the perfect pumpkin. A must for any child with exceptional gastronomic tastes!
Pumpkins are accompanied by barbecue, country music, pony rides, and mechanical bulls at this Marin patch. Children are very welcome but dogs are not allowed.
Our final patch pick sends all of its proceeds to the Timothy Murphy School at St. Vincent’s for orphaned boys. The farm where the patch sits is used as a learning farm for the students throughout the year.
10 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day
Open 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. every day through October, this East Bat patch carries over 15 varieties of pumpkins; from tiny Muskins up to Atlantic Giants, orange, red, white, bumpy, ribbed, green, and multi-colored. Phew! They even have two haunted houses experiences—a scary one (for big kids and adults) and a not-so-scary version (for little kids).
Family owned and operated pumpkin patch uses local farmers only. This Alameda farm (formerly in Emeryville) also has a massive ship slide, petting zoo, bouncy houses, mazes and more for maximum enjoyment.
10 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily
Noted as San Francisco’s first pumpkin patch in 1979, they’re still the top spot for Halloween squashes. They also feature hayrides around the patch. Best of all, there’s free parking, making it a festive and convenient experience.
9 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily
This East Bay pumpkin patch is part of J.E. Perry Farm, an organic produce grower. The pumpkin patch includes the chance to see a real, working organic farm that harvests many different crops.
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. until noon; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
This pumpkin patch offers inflatable fun for the kids as well as different varieties of pumpkins from which to choose from. There’s also a Halloween-themed “memory zone” to take pictures of your wee ones.
Large pumpkin patches with hundreds of pumpkins, large and small, from which to choose. During the holiday, the farm also turns their Choo-Choo Train into a spooky (but not too spooky!) Ghost Train. Also of note, this farm has two pumpkin patches—one for little kids, the other for “kids of all ages,” where they promise to “scare the yell out of you.”
Located just off of Highway One in Half Moon Bay, Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm boasts a wide variety of pumpkins, including the Atlantic Giant. Best of all, your canine family members are all welcome.
And, yes, Farmer John is a real person who also opens his farm to under-served youngsters by having special days when children with disabilities can come to the farm and enjoy being outdoors on a real farm.
Monday–Friday 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday. 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
In addition to bushels of pumpkins, you can lose yourself in this Half Moon Bay farm’s six-acre corn field and pumpkin river. For an extra challenge, brave the two-acre Minotaur’s Labyrinth Hay Maze. Other highlights here include a playground, petting zoo, and picnic area.
Sunday–Thursday, 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 9 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
Aside from an orangey array of pumpkins, this Santa Cruz farm will also feature a corn maze and face painting.
Open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.