Fall in San Diego means warm days, cool nights, Halloween fun and, of course, pumpkin patches! Browse the list below to find the perfect pumpkin patch near you.
Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch
Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center has been a Pumpkin Patch staple for as long as I can remember (the Bates family has owned the farm since 1921, and I have been going since the early 80s). Bates has plenty of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, tractor hayrides, a straw maze, pony rides and a petting zoo. Weekends at Bates include live entertainment from 12:00 to 3:00 PM, BBQ, kettle corn, food trucks, rock climb, bounce, slide and other family friendly events.
Where: 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center, CA 92082
When: September 24 – October 31, 2014
Hours: Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Saturday-Sunday: 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: Free Admission. Pumpkin and activity prices vary.
> Find out more about Bate’s Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch
Boomont Park Fall Festival and Haunt
Pick an amazing pumpkin by the beach at Belmont Park’s Boomont Park Fall Festival and Haunt. While you’re there, bravely walk through the Boomont Manor (a kid-friendly haunted house and maze), play zombie laser tag, ride the spooky Giant Dipper and enter the costume contest on Saturdays. Don’t forget to bring the pumpkin pail for free trick-or-treating.
Where: 3146 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
When: October 3 – November 1, 2014 (Fridays-Sundays)
Hours: Friday: 5:00 to 10:00 PM. Saturday-Sunday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Cost: Free admission. Haunted House, rides and laser tag have separate admission costs.
> Find out more about the Boomont Park Fall Festival and Haunt
Pumpkin Express
Join in the fun aboard the Pumpkin Express at the historic Campo Depot and travel to the Great Pumpkin Patch. Enjoy the one hour train ride, then tour the Haunted Train, where each child gets to pick out his or her own pumpkin and decorate it inside the Display Building. Advance reservations are required and arrive at least 45 minutes before your departure time.
Where: The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum – 750 Depot Street, Campo, CA 91906
When: October 11-26, 2014 (Saturday-Sunday)
Hours: Departures at 10:00 AM, 12:15 PM and 2:30 PM
Cost: $5-$15
> Find out more about the Pumpkin Express
Farm Stand West’s Pumpkin Patch
Get a true pumpkin picking experience by picking the perfect future jack-o-lantern straight from Farm Stand West’s pumpkin fields. Stop by over the weekend of October 25-26 between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM for the Annual Farm Stand Fall Harvest Festival & Boutique. Have fun on a hayride, pick up some delicious homemade jams and farm fresh produce, and shop from local artisans.
Where: 2115 Miller Ave., Escondido, CA 92025
When: September 30 – October 31, 2013 (Closed on Mondays)
Hours: Weekdays: 12:00 to 6:00 PM. Weekends: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Cost: Free admission, pumpkins vary
> Find out more about Farm Stand West’s Pumpkin Patch
Julian Mining Company Pumpkin Picking Patch
Take the family on a day trip to Julian for apple pie from Mom’s and pumpkins from the Julian Mining Company. Even more fall fun awaits with Indian Camp, Tomahawk throwing and farm animals. Upgrade to the Harvest tour and enjoy a hayride, fresh apple cider and an animal corral. In for a fright? Well then ride on the kid-friendly Night Time Spooky Hayride: Tale of the Doomed Miner through the pastures and fields and includes the tale of the doomed miner (you may even see his spirit wandering with a lantern in the distance). Spooky Hayrides are offered on October 18 and 25 at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Reservations for the Spooky Hayride are required.
Where: 4444 State Highway, Julian, CA 92036
When: October 4-26, 2014 (Saturday-Sunday)
Hours: Saturday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Sunday: 12:00 to 5:00 PM.
Cost: Kids – $2, Adults – $3. Harvest Tour: Kids – $7, Adults – $9. Spooky Hayride: $15 per person
> Find out more about the Julian Mining Company Pumpkin Picking Patch
Lavender Hill Pumpkins
Looking for a no-nonsense pumpkin picking outing? Then head to Lavendar Hill Pumpkins for a vast selection of pumpkins perfect for either carving or cooking.
Where: 1509 East Mission Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028
When: September 27 – October 31, 2014
Hours: Weekdays: 2:00 to 5:00 PM, Weekends: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: Varies
> Find out more about Lavender Hill Pumpkins
Mountain Valley Ranch Pumpkin Patch
Up near the small mountain town of Ramona is the Mountain Valley Ranch Pumpkin Patch. Take some time to find the perfect carving or cooking pumpkin, get lost in the gigantic corn maze, launch an ear of corn out of a cannon, pet a few farm animals and add a few pictures of the kids on antique farm equipment to the scrapbook.
Where: 842 Hwy 78, Ramona, CA 92065
When: September 27 – October 31, 2014
Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: Varies (Cash Only)
> Find out more about Mountain Valley Ranch Pumpkin Patch
Norris Amusements Pumpkin Patches
Norris Amusements has North County and South Bay covered with locations in Chula Vista and Oceanside. Both locations offers pumpkins and fun for the little ones with bounce houses, giant slides and obstacle courses. Go on Tuesdays for Wristband Tuesday and enjoy unlimited rides for one price.
Where:
Chula Vista – 555 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Oceanside – 2205 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA 92054
When: October 1-31, 2014
Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Friday-Saturday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: Varies, Ride Wristbands: $10-$25
> Find out more about Norris Amusements Pumpkin Patches
15th Annual Oma’s Pumpkin Patch
Over in Lakeside, Oma’s Pumpkin Patch is offering fun for the whole family. The child admission includes a Jack Patch pumpkin, a bottle of water, covered hay rides, a hay bale maze, petting corral, kid-powered games, sand pile with toy trucks & tractors, and a large play area with the climbable Cottonseed Mountain.
Where: 14950 El Monte Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040
When: September 23 – November 1, 2014 (Tuesday-Saturday)
Hours: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Cost: $8 per child with one free adult per child. Additional adults are $4. (Cash Only)
> Find out more about the 15th Annual Oma’s Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin Station
All aboard…one of the seven convenient Pumpkin Station locations (including the two actual farms) throughout San Diego County. At the Pumpkin Stations, kids can peruse for the perfect pumpkin while enjoying the kiddie rides, slides, inflatable play centers and petting zoo. At their two farms in Rancho Bernardo and Bonita, little pumpkin carvers will find a living pumpkin patch, corn maze, farm animals and a tractor-pulled haywagon ride.
When: Vary by location
Hours: Vary by location
Cost: Free admission. Ride tickets start at $3.50 (discounted ticket packages available)
> Find out more about the Pumpkin Station
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum Fall Family Festival
Stop by the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum for hands-on education (don’t tell the kids), pumpkins and fun. The Fall Family Festival will feature live music by Hullabaloo, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, food, gardening workshops to educate children and families on current environmental and conservation issues, Halloween costume exchange, and other fun fall activities!
Where: 320 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
When: October 5, 2014
Hours: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Cost: Members – $5, Nonmembers – $10, Kids 12 and Under – Free
> Find out more about the SDCDM Fall Family Festival
Summer Past Farms Pumpkin Patch
Head on over to Summer Past Farms Pumpkin Patch picking weekends for family fun including a jumpee, popcorn, corn-dogs and smoothies.
Where: 15602 Olde Hwy 80, Flinn Springs, CA 92021
When: October 4-26, 2013 (Saturday-Sunday)
Hours: Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: Varies
> Find out more about Summer Past Farms Pumpkin Patch
Suzie’s Farm Pumpkin Patch & Palooza
Make a day of it in San Diego’s South Bay with pumpkin picking at Suzie’s Farm. Bring a wheelbarrow to carry home plenty of pumpkins for carving and cooking picked right from the fields, fresh produce, jams and more. During Pumpkin Palooza, enjoy live music and plenty of delicious food. Don’t forget the camera!
Where: 2570 Sunset Avenue, San Diego, CA 92154
When: October 4-25, 2014 (Saturday) Pumpkin Palooza: October 18, 2014
Hours: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pumpkin Palooza – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Cost: Free Admission, Pumpkins Vary
> Find out more about Suzie’s Farm Pumpkin Patch
> Find out more about Suzie’s Farm Pumpkin Palooza
> Discover more to do in San Diego this Fall
Have a great time at the pumpkin patch? Notice one is missing? Could I have possibly made a mistake on the info? Let me and others know in the comments below.