Halloween season has started! For those freshly arrived in the Bay Area, you might wonder how to manage the event, and for those who have been around for a while, you know there is no way to really escape it.
The favorite activity before getting your costumes and going trick-or-treating, is fetching pumpkins from a pumpkin patch. In fact some patches includes hay maze, corn maze, hay ride, haunted house … A delight for the youngest and a very good time for the grown up.
Then back home, plan the carving design and go for it. Beware, a pumpkin can be challenging to carve, but with the right tools and a lot of care, everything should work fine.
Here is a list of seven pumpkin patches that we recommend.
San Francisco Clancy’s: the historical Pumpkin Patch in the city HAS MOVED from the Inner Sunset to the Zoo!!!!! The go-to place in the city if you don’t have much time. Fun activities: hay rides, hay maze… Free admission
NEW Address: 2101 Sloat Blvd., San Francisco, CA
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Oct. 1-31.
Online: clancystrees.com
Alameda – Point Pumpkin Patch
The Alameda Point Pumpkin Patch has a giant 4 story ship slide, giant orb balls, biplane, bounce houses, as well as a petting zoo, and of course a lot of local pumpkins. Free admission
Address: 2171 Monarch St., Alameda, CA
Hours: Sept. 29-Oct. 31, 10 a.m. -10 p.m. daily
Online: speerfamilyfarms.com/
This spot offers the family a chance to see the whole process of growing veggies and pumpkins. Located on the grounds of the East Bay Park’s Ardenwood estate, Perry’s is a real working organic farm. Kids can learn about the pumpkin growing process and burn off some steam with a kid’s maze (which parents can see over the top of) and tire patch, character cut-out photo ops, a hay pyramid and hayrides. It’s easy to make a day of it, by exploring the rest of the Ardenwood estate while you’re there.
Free admission during the week, 1$ on the week-end
Address: 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont, CA
Hours: October 1-31, Mon.-Fri., noon-5 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Online: speerfamilyfarms.com or facebook.com
Half Moon Bay – Lemos Farm
Lemos Farm has that magic mix of fun for families with kids of all ages. For kids under 5yo, there’s a fantastic selection of pumpkins along with pony rides, bounce houses and a haunted train ride. The haunted house has two versions of the Scare Zone: look for the “Halloween Fun” version for the younger kids. Older kids or grown-ups, be warned the other Scare Zone includes live actors who are hired to “scare the yell out of you” so it’s really not good for the youngest ones. Located in the heart of Half Moon Bay. Costs vary according to activities
Address: 12320 San Mateo Rd. (Hwy 92), Half Moon Bay, CA
Hours: Open daily Oct. 1-31 – 9 am to 5pm
Online: lemosfarm.com
Half Moon Bay – Arata
One of our favorite and well worth the drive is Arata Pumpkin Patch. The hay maze named the Minotaur’s Labyrinth Hay maze is a must, the haunted house is spooky and the pumpkins are great! You will also find a petting zoo, hay rides, pony rides, train ride. Cost varies according to the activities, check their website for details. They can also bring the hay maze to you with their solution Farm to you!
Address: 185 Verde Rd. -Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Hours: open daily, 9am to 6:30pm
Online: Arata’s Farm
Petaluma – Pumpkin Patch and the Amazing Corn Maze
Close to Highway 101, it is great fun to wander through the corn maze before picking your fresh pumpkin in the adjacent patch as well as taking your little ones through a poney ride, or to the corn pit! The maze will take between 35 and 45mn. Can you beat our record? (28mn). Admission 7$ to corn Maze
Address:450 Stony Point Road Petaluma, CA 94952
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 10am to 6pm – Friday & Saturday 10am to 10pm
Online:petalumapumpkinpatch.com
Petaluma – McLellands Dairy Farm
Wander through over seven acres of pumpkins and pick your own straight off the vine! Visitors can spend the day on a real working dairy farm. Free parking, and free entry to the pumpkin area. Admission to Fun Zone! Gets you a day of fun and includes the petting farm, haunted house, hay maze, corn pit, bounce houses in Jumpy Land, wheat sand box, giant slide, tire swings, life sized games and more!!
Address: 6475 Bodega Avenue Petaluma, California 94952
Hours: Sept 28 to Oct. 27. Saturdays & Sundays 10am-6pm
Online: mcclellandsdairy.com
