Pumpkin patches in Southern California are about more than agriculture. They’re mini-amusement parks with lots of atmosphere that cover the non-scary side of Halloween.
Most charge admission, but that usually just gets you through the front gate. Attractions such as petting zoos, corn mazes, carnival games and hayrides aren’t included. And you’ll be charged for any pumpkins you buy.
Some sell tickets for rides and attractions, while others offer wristbands. Also, some patches are cash-only or card-only. When patches sell tickets online, fees may be attached.
Check out the details before you go.
Los Angeles County
Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Fest
AGRIscapes Center, Cal Poly Pomona, 4102 S. University Drive, Pomona; cpp.edu/pumpkinfestival; Festival Days are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-26; closed Monday and Friday.
This annual event is put on by the Huntley College of Agriculture. Attractions include a country fair, live music, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hay rides and an animal farm. Weekend general admission is $20.60.
Carved at Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge; 818-949-4200, descansogardens.org; 6-10 p.m. Oct. 3-30.
Hundreds of carved and illuminated pumpkins, stained-glass houses and sculptures from the studio HYBYCOZO will decorate the grounds of this 150-acre botanical garden. Tickets are $27-$45, $17-$30 for children ages 2-12. Members can get discounted tickets.
El Dorado Frontier Pumpkin Patch
El Dorado East Regional Park, 7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach; theeldoradofrontier.com; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-Oct. 26.
Attractions include rides and photo ops. General admission is $7. Pawfest Halloween, dress-up for dogs, takes places Oct. 4-5. Tickets are $12 and $18.
Forneris Farms
15200 Rinaldi St., Los Angeles; 818-730-7707, fornerisfarms.com; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, Oct. 4-Nov. 2.
This produce market offers a pumpkin patch with train rides and a corn maze. Admission is $5, which can be taken off of the purchase of an orange pumpkin priced at $10 or more. Transactions are cash only.
La Verne Heritage Foundation
Heritage Park, 5001 Via De Mansions, La Verne; laverneheritage.org; 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-26.
Attractions include tractor rides and more than 40 vendors. There will be a car show on Oct. 25.
Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch
10100 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City; mrbonespumpkinpatch.com; hours vary, Oct. 4-30.
Attractions include a pumpkin village, straw maze, petting zoo, slides, food and live entertainment. Admission varies by date. Admission is $10-$30, depending on the date.
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch, Torrance
17520 Prairie Ave., Torrance; mrjackolanternspumpkins.com; Oct. 3-Nov. 2.
Activities include candy corn hole, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin smash and animal feeding. Admission is $1.
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch, West Los Angeles
11404 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles; mrjackolanternspumpkins.com; Oct. 3-Nov. 2.
Activities include animal viewing, slides, bounce house and pumpkin decorating. Admission is $1.
Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch
11111 Jefferson Blvd. Culver City; shawnspumpkinpatch.com; Open daily, hours vary, Oct. 4-Nov. 2.
Attractions include a bounce house, bungee trampoline, pony rides and petting zoo. Entrance fee is $3 for adults and children over 12 ($2 applies to purchase of a pumpkin)
Orange County
Hana Field in Costa Mesa Pumpkin Patch
427 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa; tanakafarms.com; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-Nov. 9.
Attractions include Jurassic Fright Corn Maze with dinosaurs, cow train, animal feeding and flower fields. Admission is $25-$31 for adults, $14-$21 ages 3-12.
Irvine Park Railroad
Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. 714-997-3968, irvineparkrailroad.com; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends, through Oct. 31
Activities include hay rides, bounce houses, face painting and panning for gold. The Great Pumpkin Weigh-off is Sept. 20. Reservations are required for weekends in October. Park entrance is $3 per vehicle weekdays, $5 on weekends, and admission is $20 per person.
Pumpkin City, Laguna Hills
24203 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills; 949-449-4189, pumpkincity.com; 12:30-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-31.
Attractions include rides and games, plus an Oktoberfest beer garden. Admission is free before 4 p.m. weekdays.
Pumpkin Factory, Westminster
1025 Westminster Mall, Westminster; thepumpkinfactory.com; 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2-31.
Attractions include rides, slides and a petting zoo. Admission is free Monday through Thursday. Weekend admission varies.
River Street Ranch
31791 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano. 949-831-6550; riverstreetranch.com; 10 a.m-4 p.m. daily, through Oct. 31.
This petting zoo with goats, sheep and guinea pigs will have a pumpkin patch with seasonal decorations. Admission is $16, $13 for children12 years and younger.
Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
5380 University Drive, Irvine. 949-653-2100; tanakafarms.com; daily through Nov. 2, hours vary.
Daily activities include u-pick pumpkins, wagon rides and a corn maze. Weekends have more going on, including a pumpkin cannon. Admission is $20-$22.
Riverside County
Big Horse Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
Big Horse Feed and Mercantile, 33320 Temecula Parkway, Temecula; 951-389-4621, bighorsecornmaze.com.
This corn maze bills itself as the largest in Southern California. It expects to open in October, according to its website. Details were not available at press time.
Peltzer Pumpkin Farm
39925 Calle Contento, Temecula; 951-695-1115, peltzerfarms.com; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-Oct. 31.
Attractions include a petting zoo, pig races, pony rides and carnival games. Admission is $2-$4. Peltzer is also a winery and hosts seasonal events for adults as well as children evenings throughout October.
Pumpkin Factory, Corona
1545 Circle City Drive, Corona; thepumpkinfactory.com; 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2-31.
Attractions include rides, games, petting zoo and food vendors. Admission is free Monday through Thursday. Weekend admission varies.
Riverside Pumpkin Patch
17501 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside; ; 3-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 3-Nov. 1.
Attractions include a petting zoo, pony rides, an inflatable rock wall and inflatable slides.
San Bernardino County
Frosty’s Forest Pumpkin Patch
14861 Ramona Ave., Chino; frostysforest.com; 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26-Oct. 27.
Attractions include a corn maze, sunflower labyrinth, petting zoo, bounce houses, carnival games and a photo op path. $5-$10 admission, free on Mondays. A scary corn maze called The Haunted Harvest is on the property. Admission is separate.
Greenspot Farms
10133 Ward Way, Mentone; 909-794-7653, greenspotfarms.com; open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. beginning Oct. 1.
Attractions include a hay maze, bounce house, tractor rides, hay maze, duck races and farm animals. Admission is free. There’s also a scary Haunted Hayride and Haunted Trail on select nights Oct. 10-Nov. 1. Tickets $30 for adults, $25 for children younger than 12 for the hayride, and the Haunted Trail is $20, $15 for children.
Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm
Live Oak Canyon Road at the 10 Freeway; office is 32335 Live Oak Canyon, Redlands; liveoakcanyon.com; open 4-9 p.m. Open daily Sept. 25-Nov. 2, hours vary.
In addition to U-pick pumpkins and a large selection of picked pumpkins and gourds, there are more than 70 attractions including a corn maze, rides, petting zoo and a singing chicken show. Admission varies by day, ranging between $10-$32 for adults, and $5-$20 for children ages 3-10.
SkyPark at Santa’s Village
28950 Highway 18, Skyforest; skyparksantasvillage.com; Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-26.
“Pumpkins in the Pines” includes a parkwide pumpkin patch, “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” puppet show and seasonal food and beverages. Ticket information was not available at press time.
