It's decorative gourd season again, mofos—everyone is about to be drooling pumpkin spice.
Here are the best pumpkin patches in the Bay Area. Happy picking!
Alameda Point Pumpkin Patch
(Courtesy of @speerfamilyfarms)
Speer Family Farms' pumpkin patch is at a new location in Alameda this year (and also has a location in Tracy). The adventurous mecca will still have its four-story ship slide, jumpy houses, pumpkin shooters, a petting zoo, an adult chill area, and more. Bag your own valley-grown pumpkins and other organic produce before calling it a day. Advance tickets and ordering for delivery are also available online.
// Opens for the season on September 26th from 2pm to 9pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 9pm Saturday through Sunday; 2171 Monarch St. (Alameda), speerfamilyfarms.com
Arata's Pumpkin Farm
(Courtesy of @arataspumpkinfarm)
This isn't your typical run-of-the-mill, ma'-and-pa' pumpkin patch. Latticed with its own hay-walled labyrinth and circled by, yes, a gladiator ring, Arata's Pumpkin Farm is as enchanting as it is enigmatic—there's something different to explore around almost every corner. In the evenings, they also have a Haunted Barn. But don't get too disorientated. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ripe pumpkins ready for you to take home. For kids, Arata's offers hayrides, pony rides, train rides, a bounce house, and a petting zoo.
// The labyrinth is now open daily from 9am to 6:30pm, other attractions begin October 1st and are open from 9am to 6:30pm Sunday through Thursday and 9am to 10:30pm Friday through Saturday; 185 Verde Rd. (Half Moon Bay), aratapumpkinfarm.com
Lemos Farm
(Courtesy of @lemosfarmhmb)
From an activities standpoint, Lemos Farm is the Bay Area's equivalent of a fall-themed Disneyland. Aside from the bevy of gourds to choose from, older kids and kids at heart can enjoy a spooky trek through the haunted house while the young ones can make a beeline to the well-stocked petting zoo or take a pony or train ride. And yes, Lemos Farms does regularly host goat yoga sessions.
// Open 10am to 3pm Wednesday through Sunday, 12320 San Mateo Rd. (Half Moon Bay); Tickets ($35-$30/kids, $18/adults) are available online at lemosfarm.com.
Smith Family Farms
(Courtesy of @sffbrentwood)
Take advantage of this year's bounty at Smith Family Farm's Pumpkin Patch. You can take the fam for insect encounters (there's a beehive and butterfly habitat), enjoy live music and food trucks, walk the Autumn Trail, and gather edible pumpkins for all your pie-baking needs.Your $14 admission fee (cash only) includes a pumpkin of your choice. There's also a fruit stand open daily that sells things like persimmons and pomegranates.
// 9am to 5pm daily through Halloween; 4350 Sellers Ave. (Brentwood), smithfamilyfarm.com
Clancy's Pumpkin Patch
(Courtesy of @clancys1949)
Get a taste of the country at Clancy's Pumpkin Patch, a cultural touchstone since 1979 now with two locations in San Francisco. Expect all varieties of pumpkins and gourds.
// 9am to 9pm daily, October 3-31 at 1620 7th Ave. (Inner Sunset); 9am to 7:30pm Sunday through Thursday and 9am to 9pm Friday and Saturday at 2101 Sloat Blvd. (Lake Merced); clancytrees.com
Pastorino Farms
(Courtesy of @pastorinofarms)
Beginning September 15th, Pastorino's transforms into a seasonal pumpkin farm with hayrides, train rides, ponies, pet-and-feed farm animals, giant slides, and jumpers. On the weekends, enjoy a haunted house and face painting. The farm also operates a year-round nursery where you can find a new plant baby to take home.
// 9:30am to 5:30pm daily through Halloween; 12391 San Mateo Rd. (Half Moon Bay), pastorinofarms.com
Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch
(Courtesy of @farmerjohnspumpkinfarmhmb)
Expect to find some of the plumpest pumpkins in the Peninsula At Farmer John's, with a wide variety of Cinderellas, luminas (white pumpkins), and the world-famous (and world's largest) Atlantic pumpkins. But with some examples of the latter varietal on his farm weighing in at 500 pounds, you'd be hard pressed to fit one in the family hatchback. Bonus points for free admission without registration and a pet-friendly policy.
// Now open daily from 9am to 6pm through Halloween; 850 Cabrillo Hwy N (Half Moon Bay), farmerjohnspumpkins.com
G&M Farms
(Courtesy of @gandmfarms)
If a good old fashioned corn maze is your thing, then get ready to get (somewhat) lost at G&M Farms' nearly six-acre labyrinth, carved with twists and turns, dead ends, and dizzying walkways. Once you find your way out, pick your own gourd right off the vine. Pony rides, farm animals, hay rides, and a Cow Train are available on weekends.
// Pumpkin patch admission is free, corn maze is $10 (free for kids 5 years and under); opens October 3rd, Wednesday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm, 10am to 7pm on Saturdays, and 10am to 6pm Sundays; 487 East Airway Blvd. (Livermore), gmfarms.com
