Southern California Pumpkin Patches and Festivals

It's October and time to visit pumpkin patches and festivals. Many pumpkin patches are ongoing from the last bits of September into the first days of November; others are just one weekend events. As the holiday approaches, look around your own neighborhood for some fun little parking lot pumpkin pockets too! Always check the websites for coupons before heading out, and keep your eyes open for Groupon, LivingSocial, and Amazon Local deals, too! 

These are some of our favorites. Be sure to click "Read more" to get more information about these great pumpkin patches and festivals:

• 21st Annual Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival
• Calabasas Pumpkin Festival
• 1st Annual Haunted History at Los Encinos
• Underwood Family Farms
• Halloween Harvest Festival at Pierce Farm
• Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
• Pa’s Pumpkin Patch 
•  Filmore Pumpkinliner
• Mr. Bone’s Pumpkin Patch
• Tanaka Farms 

LIMITED TIME EVENTS

21st Annual Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival

Saturday, October 19th & Sunday, October 20^th ONLY

8:00am to 5:00pm

This pumpkin patch will start your day off right with a pancake breakfast! Located on campus, this festival definitely has something different to offer, with an insect fair of 500,000 live and preserved specimens. They offer affordable pumpkins, free admission and parking, with varied prices for games, rides, the maze, and the petting zoo. All proceeds support College of Agriculture student clubs and activities, as well as farm operations. Complete information can be found here! 

Calabasas Pumpkin Festival
Saturday, October 19th & Sunday, October 20^th ONLY
10:00am to 5:00pm

Toddler costume parade, eating contest, giant slide, DJ Zone, pumpkin beer…need I go on?? The Calabasas Pumpkin Festival has free parking with shuttles and a $5 admission price. There are lots of free activities once you enter, along with food, crafts, facepainting, and much more in the Marketplace for purchase. Check their website for more information. 

1^st Annual Haunted History at Los Encinos

Saturday, October 26th ONLY

3:00pm

Los Encinos State Historic Park, at the corner of Balboa and Ventura Blvd. (Encino), was, until the late 19th Century, the hub of human habitation in the Southern San Fernando Valley. It looks like an amazing historical site to visit, and this year they’re going spoooooooky! General admission is free, but donations are encouraged. This program is still developing, so check with Los Encinos for updates, but current plans include: 

• Pumpkin carving and kids' activities, Haunted Tours, Jake Storyville Ghost Story Time, twilight Blacksmith demonstration, and more. 
• The Ghosts of Encino rendezvous (Unliving History): come in historical costume, with the addition of ghostly or ghoulish makeup. 
• Screening of the spooky silent film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

 ONGOING PUMPKIN FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Underwood Family Farms (Moorpark)
September 28th to October 31st

Underwood in Moorpark hosts Halloween events that are not to be missed! Festivities include pumpkin carving demonstrations and elaborate pumpkin displays. The farm’s Fall Harvest Festival runs September 28 – October 31, with a different theme each weekend. Pumpkin patch admission includes pig races, tractor-drawn wagon rides, Craig’s chicken show, corn stalk labyrinth, combine slide, animal exhibits, live entertainment, and more. Weekends are $12, weekday admission is free. Games and attractions are available at an additional cost. Online: underwoodfamilyfarms.com

Halloween Harvest Festival at Pierce Farm Center (Woodland Hills)

September 27th to Nov 3rd

The Pierce College festivals have been growing and expanding for years. This year’s Halloween Harvest Festival includes a stage show of Spookly the Square Pumpkin! This festival is large and very professionally handled. As a patron, I vote it to be one of the best in Los Angeles and well worth the drive if you are not nearby. The events and activities are numerous and plenty. Prices vary, so check out the extensive website. Save time and buy online! Get all the details here!

Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch

September 21st to October 31^st

Irvine Park always offers bike rentals, paddle boat rentals, a riding choo-choo train, and the OC Zoo, but for the holidays, the décor comes out and pumpkins are in bloom! The Pumpkin Patch offers John Deere Racers, a spooky bounce house, face painting, carnival games, panning for gold and more! Entrance for the Pumpkin Patch is free, though there is a parking charge for the OC Regional Park. Activities are $5 or more. Pumpkins are priced based on size. For a complete list of details, visit them online.

Pa’s Pumpkin Patch (Long Beach)

September 28th to October 30th

Pa’s Pumpkin Patch is just a great local patch for your annual family pumpkin patch trip. The rides, games, and petting zoo are affordable. There are lots of great photo opportunities in the bales of hay and gourd fields! For complete information, view their page online.

Filmore Pumpkinliner

Saturday and Sunday Departures

The Filmore Pumpkinliner is a special treat. Ride a vintage train to the pumpkin patch to pick your perfect jack-o-lantern. Standard patch activities and attractions are available for purchase. For an extra special treat, ride the Family Dinner Train! Prices vary by age. Check their website for full details.

Mr. Bone’s Pumpkin Patch (West Hollywood)

October 4th to October 30th

Now this is the place to be for everyone who’s anyone! Located in West Hollywood, Mr. Bone's Pumpkin Patch may be worth the visit to catch a peep at Hollywood celebrities in their natural habitat. The attractions are budget-friendly, and entrance is free on weekdays. Your $2-$4 entrance fee is credited towards activities and pumpkin or boutique shopping. All the best attractions are offered with a bonus giant rocking horse! MrBonesPumpkinPatch.com has all the details.

Tanaka Farms (Irvine)
September 27th to October 31st
 
This one is a little bit of a drive, but totally worth it if you are looking for a down home good time. At Tanaka Farms’ U-Pick pumpkin patch, you can pick your own pumpkin right off the vine! Take a wagon ride around this 30-acre farm, visit the sheep, goats and alpacas, and saunter through their corn maze. Admission is free, but activities cost a nominal fee. All the details are on their website!