Best 2024 Pumpkin Patches in Orange County and San Diego

Pre-picked pumpkins sit on haystacks for people to take or photograph with at Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon, Calif., on Sept. 26, 2021. Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times

Pumpkin patches are one of our most beloved autumn celebrations. It’s an excellent opportunity to make a family excursion to buy pumpkins. Then, once you’ve picked the pumpkin of your choice, you can go home, bake the seeds, and carve a Jack-O-Lantern together.

The time of the year is quickly approaching when it’s time to go pick a pumpkin right off a vine. Pumpkin patches are taking place throughout Southern California and include a little bit of everything for the whole family—from petting zoos to beer gardens. Below are just some of the best-known pumpkin patches in the region.

Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch

Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch has something to offer for all ages. Set behind this regional park’s amusement train station, the Irvine Park pumpkin patch is free of charge. While entry is free, parking starts at $3 and activity tickets cost $8.

Open Sept. 14 through Oct. 31 (weather permitting) on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch

For one of few farms in Orange County with a real pumpkin patch, head out to Tanaka Farms to pick your own pumpkins. Enjoy a slew of activities, including an eye-popping pumpkin cannon. Monday through Thursday and Friday until noon, Tanaka Farms offers U-Pick pumpkin fields, a barnyard educational exhibit, wagon rides, a corn maze, and a U-Pick veggie patch. Admission is free.

To prevent pumpkin patch visitors from parking on the neighboring streets, Tanaka Farms does not allow pedestrian traffic to enter without proof of a local address. Parking is free on weekdays, but the farm charges $10 for parking on weekends (which can be purchased online) to ensure those who make parking reservations show up. The farm is very busy on the weekends.

Open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Sept. 14–30) and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Oct. 4–27). On Halloween Day (Oct. 31) it will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Laguna Hills Pumpkin City

At Pumpkin City, thousands of pumpkins of all sizes and shapes await you. A number of amusement rides, game booths, and activities for children are available. This pumpkin patch has something special for parents as well: the Oktoberfest Beer Garden with food and drinks.

Note that this pumpkin patch only offers free admission Monday through Friday until 4 p.m. Outside of those hours, an admission ticket is required for everyone. For those aged 2 to 12, the cost is $8. For those 13 years of age or older, the cost is $12.

Open Oct. 1 to Oct. 31 Monday through Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Orange County Fair Grounds

The pumpkin patch at Orange County Fairgrounds is put on by Seasonal Adventures and offers mechanical rides, blow-up slides, obstacle courses, bounce houses, a petting zoo, and also a small train for kid rides. Fresh pumpkins of all shapes and sizes await your judging eyes. Not only pumpkins await, to be sure, but also squash and gourds. Admission is free. Parking is free Monday through Thursday and $12 Friday through Sunday.

Open Oct. 1 to 31 Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It closes on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.

Bates Nuts Farm

The Bates Farm pumpkin patch offers a host of activities, including hay rides, a straw maze, pony rides (October), a Garden of Eden-themed petting zoo, and a mechanical bull. Grab a bite to eat, too, as Bates Farm offers rice bowls, fruit, turkey legs, and Mariposa ice cream, as well as different food vendors every weekend. Admission is free. Activity tickets cost $2 (can be used towards any activity, costs of which vary). Parking is free.

On Oct. 11, 18, and 25, Bates throws its Fall Friday Festival, which lasts from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. It includes live music, kids crafts, face painting, rubber band guns, a bounce and slide, hay rides, straw maze, pony rides, and the Garden of Eden petting zoo.

Activity tickets are required for the hay ride, straw maze, bounce and slide, face painting, rock climbing, pony rides, petting zoo, and kids ‘n paint.

Open Thursday, Sept. 19, to Thursday, Oct. 31. In September, it’s open Monday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In October, it’s open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Carlsbad Strawberry Pumpkin Patch

During the spring and summer, you can go to the Carlsbad Strawberry Co. fields and fill up a bucket with strawberries. There is often a jumping house for children ($30 per hour), as well as tractor bikes. In the fall, the Carlsbad Strawberry Co. fields become a pumpkin patch.

General admission is $10 Monday through Thursday and $12 Friday through Sunday. Children aged 4 and younger are free. If you’re looking to spend a little extra, you can check out the sheep, goats, tractor ride, rabbits, haunted corn maze, and more.

Open Sept. 20 through Nov. 3 daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday through Saturday in October from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Goff Family Pumpkin Patch at Liberty Station

This year marks the third annual Goff Family Pumpkin Patch at Liberty Station, which is one of San Diego’s most happening spots with restaurants and breweries. This high-rated pumpkin patch is located at the putting green inside the north entrance across from the Presley. Parking and admission are free.

Parents might enjoy the Tap Truck, serving beer and wine Friday through Sunday every weekend that the pumpkin patch is open.

Open Sept. 20 through Oct. 31 Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m.–8 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Del Mar Pumpkin Station

The Del Mar pumpkin patch has all sorts of activities for kids, including giant slides, as well as a train jump, play center, antique carousel, swing ride, Ferris wheel, petting zoo, train ride, and more. Catering to a younger crowd, the pumpkin station offers awesome rides for toddlers. It is located in the east parking lot of the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which is just off I-5 in North County, San Diego. Admission and parking are free.

Open Sept. 27 through Oct. 27 Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.