Pumpkin patches bring a touch of farm life to Southern California towns, but many have more to offer than supplying the raw materials for Halloween jack-o-lanterns.
They have carnival rides, children’s activities, petting zoos and often live entertainment.
Here are some of the places that will be opening between now and the beginning of October.
Los Angeles County
Cal Poly Pumpkin Festival: October 1-30. Pumpkin patch with photo stops, rides, petting goats, corn maze, fair food and live entertainment. Tickets are only available online for reserved time slots. $6-$10 for general admission; $5-7 for ages 3-12. There will be a preview on September 30 with food and drink samples and entertainment; tickets are $70. AGRIscapes Center, Cal Poly Pomona, 4102 S. University Drive, Pomona. cpp.edu/~pumpkinfestival
Carved at Jardins Descanso: October 7-31. Hundreds of carved pumpkins on display, hay maze, holiday foods. $20-$26 for members, $32-$38 for non-members. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. 818-949-4200, descansogardens.org
Bakeries Farms: October 8-31. Pumpkin and corn maze. Admission is $5, cash only, and there are additional charges for other attractions. 15200 Rinaldi St., Los Angeles. fornerisfarms.com
La Verne Heritage Foundation: October 7-30. Pumpkin patch, tractor rides, animal farm. Heritage Park, 5001 Via De Mansions, La Verne. laverneheritage.org
Mr. Good Pumpkin Patch: October 7-30. Pumpkin and teepee villages, bounce houses, straw maze, zoos, giant horses. Admission $10-$30 depending on date and time, additional fees for activities. 10100 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City. 310-276-9827, mrbonespumpkinpatch.com
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch, Farmers Market: October 15-31. Games, activities and animals. Free entry, supplement for activities. 6333 W 3rd St., Los Angeles. mrjackolanternspumpkins.com
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch, Torrance: October 1-31. Games, activities and animals. Free entry, supplement for activities. 17520 Prairie Ave., Torrance. mrjackolanternspumpkins.com
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch, West Los Angeles: October 1-31. Games, activities and animals. Free entry, supplement for activities. 11852 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. mrjackolanternspumpkins.com
Pa’s Pumpkin Patch: September 30-October. 31. Petting zoo, pony rides, corn stalks and fair food. Advance booking is required and can be booked online. 6701 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach. paspumpkinpatch.com
Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch: October 1-31. Pumpkin bounce house, train rides, petting zoo, carnival games. No admission, but activities cost $3.50 to $7. 11650 Santa Monica Blvd. the angels shawnspumpkinpatch.com
Lake Toluca Pumpkin Park: September 26-October. 31. Zoo and haunted maze. $10 for admission to both. 10601 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood. 818-505-8039
Orange County
Hana Field Pumpkin Park: October 1-29. Collect pumpkins and sunflowers, corn maze and barnyard. $10 admission, $15 to pick flowers, extra activities. 427 Anton Blvd, Costa Mesa. 949-653-2100.
Irvine Park Railroad: September 17-October. 31 Free Haunted House, Hay Maze, Hay Pyramid, Image Holders. Other activities cost extra, such as train and hay rides, bounce houses, face painting and panning for gold. Great pumpkin weight, Saturday, September 24. Admission is free, but parking is $3-$7. Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. 714-997-3968, irvineparkrailroad.com
Selection of pumpkins from the patch: September 17-October. 31. Giant inflatable slides. Admission is free; wristbands for inflatables cost between $17 and $30. 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. abctreefarms.net
Pumpkin City, Anaheim: September 30-October. 31. Carnival rides, games, zoo, entertainment. 2180 E. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim. pumpkincity.com
Pumpkin City, Laguna Hills: September 30-October. 31. Carnival rides, games, petting zoo, entertainment, beer garden at Oktoberfest. Laguna Hills Mall, 24203 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills. pumpkincity.com
Pumpkin Factory: October 1-31. Rides, bounce houses, paintball shooting, petting zoo. 1025 Westminster Mall, Westminster. thepumpkinfactory.com
Tanaka Farms: Open now until October 31st. Collect pumpkins, wagon rides, arts and crafts. $10 general admission; extra for activities. Parking passes are required, the fee is $10 on weekends. 5380 University Drive, Irvine. 949-653-2100.
Zoom in on River Street Ranch: Saturday, September 24-October. 31. Zoo with goats, sheep and guinea pigs, ponies, trains and mini tractor rides. Admission is $15, $12 for children 12 and under, 31791 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano. 949-831-6550, riverstreetranch.com
Riverside County
Big Horse Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch: October 1-30. Giant Maze at Big Horse Feed and Mercantile. Food vendors and beer garden on weekends. 33320 Temecula Parkway, Temecula. $15 admission, $10 parking on weekends. 951-389-4621, bighorsecornmaze.com
Hunter’s Pumpkin Patch: Open now until October 30th. Carnival games, rides, barrel train, food. 12125 Day St., Building Q, Moreno Valley. 951-440-2027, hunterspumpkinpatch.com
Peltzer Pumpkin Farm: Saturday, September 24-October. 31. Zoo, games, mining, face painting, attractions. Admission $2 weekdays, $3 weekends, extra for attractions. Pumpkin painting classes for $20 on Tuesdays and Thursdays in October. 39925 Calle Contento, Temecula. peltzerfarms.com
Selection of pumpkins from the patch: Saturday, September 24-October 31. Giant inflatable slides. Admission is free; wristbands for inflatables cost between $17 and $30. 18614 Dexter Ave., Lake Elsinore. abctreefarms.net
Pumpkin Factory: October 1-31. Attractions, bounce houses, zoo. 1545 Circle City Drive, Corona. thepumpkinfactory.com
San Bernardino County
Frosty’s Forest: September 30-October. 30. “Hocus Pocus” themed corn maze, sunflower maze, petting zoo, bounce houses, carnival games. Admission $5-$10. On the property is a spooky corn maze called Haunted Harvest with separate admission of $30. 14861 Ramona Ave., Chino. frostysforest.com, thehauntedharvest.com
Greenspot Farms: Opens October 1. Rides, farm animals, duck races, crafts and hay maze. Free admission. From October 16th to October 31st, spooky nighttime attractions such as the Haunted Hayride and Haunted Trail will be on offer. Tickets cost between $15 and $30. 10133 Ward Way, Mentone. 909-794-7653, greenspotfarms.com
Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm: Open now until October 31st. Carve pumpkins, 50+ attractions including corn maze, petting zoo and rides. Live animation in October. Admission $10 to $25 for adults, $5 to $20 for children; additional charge for some attractions. Live Oak Canyon Road at Hwy 10, Yucaipa. liveoakcanyon.com
SkyPark in Santa’s Village: October 8-30. Pumpkin, activities, live entertainment and trick or treating on the weekends. . $59 for adults, $49 for children. 28950 Highway 18, Skyforest. skyparksantasvillage.com
