I know I should have published this blog a lot sooner, since we are halfway through October but better late than never. There are still two weekends left in October which means there is plenty of time to visit a Pumpkin Patch before this season is over. Whether you are going with your boo, friends, family, or kids, these are my favorite Pumpkin Patches in Southern California.

5. Bates Nut Farm (Valley Center)

Address: 15954 Woods Valley Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9am-5:30, Weekends 8:30am-6pm

Admission: Free, Parking $5.00

The only reason Bate’s Nut Farm is #5 is because I have never been there. However I have seen many friends go on Instagram, its big, and in a perfect location which is why I had to mention it on this list.  This pumpkin patch also has tractor hayrides, straw maze, and a petting coral.

There are plenty of options on picking a perfect pumpkin to take home and carve or to just decorate your house. There are also wheel barrows to take cute photos with as well. I will make it my goal to visit this pumpkin patch next year and check it out for myself.

 

 

4. Tanaka Farms (Irvine)

Address: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday 9am-6pm

Admission: $4 per person, Children 2 & younger are free. Parking is free Monday-Friday. Parking passes need to be purchased on the weekends for $10, they sell out so it’s important to reserve them online.

Okay not going to lie, the reason I like this pumpkin patch is because of the Hello Kitty theme. I’m 26 years old and still a sucker for hello kitty decor. This pumpkin patch has become a lot bigger since we have gone in 2016. I would advise to go on the weekends, when they have an array of activities available such as pumpkin blasting, ATV rides, face painting and their own Tanaka Grill serving lunch.

Another thing I love about this Pumpkin Patch, is the U-Pick Vegetable section, you can pick and take home vegetables like Brussels sprouts, squash, zucchini, and more! It is a great opportunity to teach kids about eating vegetables and show them a good relationship with food! There is also a produce market stand, where you can take locally grown produce home, talk about farm to table!

as you can see these photos are from 2016, my picture taking skills have improved since then so I apologize for the sub-par quality lol.

 

3. Pumpkin Station (Escondido)

Address: 13421 Highland Valley Rd, San Diego, CA 92128

Hours: Monday- Sunday 9am-6pm

Admission: Free!

This is one of my favorite pumpkin patches because it is also an actual farm. Pumpkins are grown in many shapes and sizes. There is a hay ride, which normally includes some valuable information on how pumpkins grow. Now the main reason why I love coming to this pumpkin patch, is because of the beautiful sunflower fields. There are so many rows of sunflowers and you are actually able to walk through them. Not only that, but they also have a U-Pick Sunflower Section, where you can cut down your favorite girasoles (spanish for sunflower) and take them home.

There are a few rows of pumpkins, but this pumpkin patch makes my list because I have always dreamed of frolicking through sunflower fields. There is also a small petting zoo! The best part is its free and you can take as many photos in the field as you want, just be gentle with the flowers and don’t pick any outside of the U-Pick area.

 

2. Live Oak Canyon (Redlands)

Address: 32335 Live Oak Canyon Rd, Redlands, CA 92373

Hours: Monday-Thursday 4-9pm, Friday 4-10pm, Saturday 9am-10pm, Sunday 9am-9pm

Admission: Pricing ranges based on the day you are visiting. On weekends, adults are $12, Kids 3-10 are 7$ and kids 2 and under are free, during the week it is two dollars cheaper for adults and kids. Parking is also free and plentiful.

This is definitely the best pumpkin patch in Southern California, it’s huge and there is so much to do! From the petting zoo, pumpkin cannons, corn maze, and all the carnival rides, this pumpkin patch has something for every age! One of the best parts of this pumpkin patch is that they sell alcohol and you can walk around with it. Nothing like enjoying a nice IPA while walking around the scenery.

Live Oak  sells individual tickets for each ride/attraction, each ticket is worth a dollar and the cost of the attractions vary. There is also a wristband option sold on certain days which allows you to take advantage of multiple attractions for an affordable price.

What drew me into this pumpkin patch, was the photo ops! Especially the two Pumpkin houses in the patch, they are aesthetic and can give you the perfect photo in seconds. I like coming to this pumpkin patch in the evening to get the best lighting for photos. Another tip, ride the train ride and I would save the train ride for the evening when they turn on the lights at the patch because it looks so dreamy with all the twinkle lights on.

 

1. Peltzer Pumpkin Farm

Address: 39925 Calle Contento, Temecula, CA 92591

Monday-Sunday 9am-8pm: activity times range by day

Admission: $2 admission for everyone, Children 1 year and younger free with paid adult

Pumpkin Patch on a Winery? Do I need to say more? This is Peltzer Pumpkin Farm’s 13th season and every year they add something to it, to make it the magical place it is today. This pumpkin patch is truly for all ages, there is face painting for the kids, pig races, and even wine for the adult. Peltzer offers one of the best wine tasting experiences in Temecula, with your tasting card you also get a bread and wine pairing.

Some of the activities you can take a part of at the Pumpkin Patch are Petting Farm, Gem Mining, Pony Rides, Tractor Garden (free), Train Ride, John Deere Mini Carts, and Carnival Games.

Every weekend in October they hold their October Nights event which showcases various food trucks at their food truck alley, as well as a Blacksmith Bar. Aside from all the activities offered at Peltzer, this pumpkin patch has beautiful twinkle lights, there are a ton of pumpkins to capture the perfect shot of the pumpkin season!