Find a local pumpkin patch here!

Looking for a local pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayride, gourds and other Halloween activities in California? Scroll down this page and you will see the all of those in California, sorted by county. Some are farms, where you take a hay ride out into the field, others are elaborate farm stands with mountains of pumpkins and other activities and some are simple roadside stands. Most have loads of pumpkins to choose from. To really make it fun for your kids, look for those that have the extra activities, like a corn maze, spook house, or hayride. There is usually a small fee for the mazes (of course, the more elaborate mazes tend to charge more. Hayrides are often free. ALWAYS call before you go to confirm the info, they don't always report changes to me!

And if you know of one I missed and want to add it or correct the information, please let me know! If you are looking for pumpkin weigh-offs and the US and world's largest pumpkins, see this page! Want to do a fundraiser selling pumpkins? See this page! There are affiliate links on this page. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.

New for this year, see our Top Ten list of best pumpkins to make pumpkin pies and for baking and cooking. Also, our Master List of 100 Varieties of Pumpkins for every purpose. Then see this page for our easy pumpkin pie from a real pumpkin recipe.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, active Federal facilities like dams, a mint, NASA, even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas They're fun, inexpensive and educational! And for road trips and camping, see RoadTrippingAndCamping.com

Updates for March 2024

Most pumpkin patches and corn mazes usually open by mid September, some earlier! You may also like a local zombie event or Zombie Paintball!. The world's best pumpkin pie recipe is here, and the pie crust recipe is here! And we have home canning, preserving, drying and freezing directions. You can access many pumpkin and other recipes and other resources from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search.  If you are looking for pick your own apples with pumpkins and often also fun activities, see this page.

NOTE: Many farms went out of business in the past 2 years and others are dropping their websites and switching to Facebook pages thus breaking all links to them. If a link is broken please click the "click here to report a broken link or blank page" so we can find the replacement link! Thanks!

After Halloween, find a Christmas tree at a local Christmas tree farm (and enjoy a bonfire, smore, hot chocolate and free hayrides, and often Santa visits! And next Spring, you'll want to take your children to a free Easter egg hunt - see our companion website to find a local Easter Egg hunt. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me! And Find a a local farm market here

Pumpkin Patch Listings, by county

Click here if you want to see a map of California counties!

NOTE: These are not yet updated so be SURE to call to verify the dates and times!

October 1-31: 29th Annual Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Festival - Santa Paula: Acres of pumpkins, farm animals, free hayrides, giant sunflower forest, children's area play, picnic areas, music entertainment, baby animal petting zoo. 10 am to 5:30 pm, Faulkner Farm, 14292 W. Telegraph Road.(805) 525-2226,

October 1-31: Pumpkin Patch - Ventura: Free hayrides daily after 3 pm and all day on weekends. Variety of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and farm animals. 9am-dusk. McGrath Street Pumpkin Patch, Off Market Street& Knoll Dr. (805) 658-9972

October 1-31: Shipwreck - Long Beach: A month-long Halloween T-e-r-r-o-r fest featuring haunted mazes aboard the Queen Mary. (562) 435-3511.

October 1-31: Fall Harvest Festival at Tierra Rejada Family Farms, 9-6 pm (5 pm after daylight savings time) Phone: 529-3690. Admission: $3 (Saturday and Sunday); $2 (Monday to Friday); Parking is free. Pick-your-own pumpkin in our HUGE pumpkin patch, Clydesdale-drawn hay rides, antique and new farm equipment and machinery displays, fun photo ops, GIANT PUMPKIN display, and pick-your-own fruits and vegetables. Arts & Crafts, Baby animal petting and grooming corral, Pony rides.

October 15-16; 22-23: Ghost Tours - Sacramento: Experience an eerie escorted evening walk of suspense into the dark edges of the dramatic historic district and discover Old Sacramento's haunted heritage. Reservations & info: (916) 442-7644

October 16-17, 30-31: Goosebump Express - Jamestown: Railtown 1897, Jamestown. Specially decorated steam-powered excursion trains with "Skeleton Crew". Free pumpkins for children with train tickets. (209) 984-3953

October 23: Ghost Bus Tour of Haunted Roadways - Ventura: Revel in stories of ghosts and poltergeists from Ventura's past in this bus tour to purported ghost sites, including Olivas and Ortega Adobes as well as Cemetery Park. Bring a warm coat and a flashlight. Please report 10 minutes before departure. $12. 7-9 pm. Tour starts downtown at City Hall steps, 501 Poli Street (805) 658-4726

October 23: Trees, Leaves and Pumpkin Plunge: Fall Festival with wet and dry games. Highlighted by the infamous throwing of pumpkins into the pool. Carlsbad Swim Complex from 12noon - 3 pm . For details call 760-602-4687

October 23-24, 30-31: 6th Annual Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND California - Carlsbad: Daily costume contests, trick-or-treating on the kid-sized Brick-or-Treat Trail and entertainment for the whole family. Children ages 12 and under will receive a LEGOLAND souvenir bag on the park's exclusive Brick-or-Treat Trail. (760)918-LEGO

October 24: Children's Halloween Downtown - Santa Cruz: Halloween activities, costume parade and merchant Trick-or-Treat on Pacific Ave. from Laurel to Water Street (831) 429-8433

October 29: Halloween Carnival & Haunted House - Mammoth Lakes: Located at Canyon Lodge. (760) 934-8989 ext.222

October 29: Merchant Trick or Treat, Main Street. Main Street Ramona Merchants host Ramona's children for a Halloween Trick or Treat up and down Main Street. 3 pm-6 pm.

October 30: Ventura's Haunted Heritage Tour: Some say Halloween is the unluckiest day of the year and a time when ghosts walk the earth. There's no better time to enjoy a spine tingling tour into Ventura's fascinating folklore. Reservations are required. $9. 7-9 pm. Tour starts downtown at City Hall steps, 501 Poli Street (805) 658-4726

October 30: Halloween Costume Ball - Catalina: The ghost and goblins that haunt the Casino Building invite you to "75 Years of Fears" as the Casino Ballroom is transformed into a Haunted Mansion with a frightfully fun atmosphere. Dine if you dare, at a themed buffet, dance to the live music and dress to win the Best Costume Contest. Tickets & info (800) 626-4804

October 30: Annual Pumpkins on the Pier - Pismo Beach: Kids 'Trick or Treat' at downtown merchants, kids parade, costume contest, pumpkin decorating contest, crafts and games.12:30-3 pm. (800) 443-7778

October 30: Halloween in the Village - Arroyo Grande: Thousands of kids "Trick or Treat" downtown businesses from 3-5 pm. Haunted house & games from 5-7 pm. Downtown Arroyo Grande, W. Branch Street. (805) 473-2250

October 30-31: Halloween Festival/Celtic New Years - Sutter Creek: Explore the ancient origins of Halloween around our fantastic Strawhenge, a recreation of Stonehenge made from bales of straw! Visit the authentic Celtic round house; immerse yourself in the past while strolling among our numerous vendors. Meet the High King Bran and Queen Bodacea of Celtic lore. Come in costume and participate in a weekend of trick-or-treating and costume contests with fantastic prizes! Face painting, apple bobbing, and games for the children! Frolic with the fairies, warm your belly with spiced wine, and catch a Celtic rock concert featuring Tempest. General $8, Senior (65+) $6, Junior (8-16) $4, Under 8: Free. Saturday - 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday - 10 am to 4 pm. Italian Picnic Grounds. (800) 400-0305

October 31: Storytelling at Haunted House (Fallback Festival) by the Patchwork layers, contact Patti Christensen & James Nelson-Lucas, (619) 233-4692, [email protected], Island Avenue between 4th & 5th Street, San Diego, Ca 92101, 11 am to 4 pm.

October 31:Halloween in the Village, 4:30 pm, 909-866-4607 Big Bear, CA

October 31: Safe Trick or Treat from 5 pm to 8 pm, Encinitas

October 31: Safe Trick or Treat / Pumpkin Lane - Encinitas: Enjoy trick or treating, music, games and a whole lot of fun! The event is free and takes place on Pumpkin Lane (Hwy 101) in Downtown Encinitas. While you enjoy this family event, you can also view the amazing and creative carved pumpkins. These spectacular carvings can be viewed at a number of different locations on Pumpkin Lane. Each intricately carved pumpkin is displayed at local merchants on Pumpkin Lane, and each area has a different theme. 5-8 pm. (760) 943-1950

October 31: Halloween in the Village - Big Bear: Bring the kids and your smiles to share the fun of this great Valley tradition, with a costume contest at Northwoods at 4:30 pm, and trick or treating through the Village shops & special booths until 7:30 pm.

October 31: Ghost Train - Felton: Ride a steam train to Bear Mountain through a haunted redwood forest as you relive "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". Follow Ichabod Crane as he flees the Headless Horseman. Reservations required. Trains depart at 6:00 and 6:15 pm. Roaring Camp Railroads, Felton. (888) 35-EVENT

October 31: Safe Trick or Treat - Wrightwood: Dress the kids up and bring them downtown to the quaint mountain village of Wrightwood, where they can visit the shops for free candy and treats. 5-7 pm. (760) 249-4320

October 31: 12th Annual Halloween Celebration on Main Street - Huntington Beach: This Trick or Treat Festival features kids rides, Contest, moon bounce, air slides, pony rides, hay rides, booths with coloring, balloons and a Halloween Costume Contest .Come join in the fun at an event that is free for the kids. 5-8 pm. Free. (714) 969-0795.

October 31:Halloween on the Wharf - Santa Cruz: Little witches, goblins, ghosts and their parents can enjoy safe and sane trick-or-treating at this holiday celebration on the Municipal Wharf. 4 -6 pm. (831) 420-5273

October 31: Downtown Halloween Trick-or-Treat - Santa Barbara: Downtown Santa Barbara's local merchants and restaurants welcome costumed children and their families to State Street in search of goodies for the annual Downtown Halloween Trick-or-Treat. Businesses will hand out wrapped candy, balloons, store coupons, prizes, for children in costume. PEP's Fourth Annual Children's Costume Parade begins at 11 am at State and Anapamu Street. (805) 962-2098


Halloween Costumes

Here are some of the most popular Halloween costumes for children this year. For more choices, see our Halloween costumes pages.

You may find these websites useful!

Here's the quick list to related farms for PYO, Honey, Pumpkins, Christmas trees, etc.:

 

 

Find Related Information and Resources Here!

Don't miss our page of costumes, ready made and ones you can make yourself!

And here's a book of 130 pumpkin carving stencils!

More carving kits and stencils are here!


Find Other types of farms:


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