Updated 9/27/2024
In October of 2013, when this blog was just three months old (and my son was less than two years!), I embarked on a quest to visit as many pumpkin patches in our area as possible and review them for my readers. My initial plan was a full blog post on each, but with a toddler at home and a schedule jam-packed with fall activities, that proved impossible.
Hence, my Two Sentence Pumpkin Patch Reviews. The goal of these isn't to provide every last detail on each patch, but to give enough information to let you know if a patch is right for your family (for example, steering nature-loving peace seekers away from Lemos and feature-loving action seekers somewhere other than Bob's).
I've visited most of these patches many times since 2013 (some every year!), and added new patches as I've discovered them. With the many changes (and, sadly, closures) that I've seen over the last 11 years, 2024 seems like a good time for another update.
What I hope is most helpful about this list, compared to most of the other pumpkin patch lists out there, is that I personally have visited every patch, usually several times over, with comparison in mind. Hopefully this will let you see the distinctions between them and help you spend your Fall in a way that best suits your family.
Feel free to ask questions, share, and enjoy!
(2024 update: I've stretched some of these to three or -- gasp! -- even FOUR sentences. Forgive me my loquaciousness.)
Arata's Farm, Half Moon Bay. A "visit every year" patch for us, Arata's features a large property in a gorgeous setting (about 6 miles south of the Hwy 92/Hwy 1 intersection, so outside the hustle and bustle of HMB -- signage is minimal, so use GPS), with pumpkins laid out in mini-patches among the corn fields. Some of the fun, free offerings from our early visits (a big straw pit and a toddler-sized hay bale maze) have disappeared, but they still have the fantastic (and tough!) big hay maze, a haunted barn (haven't tried it), a small (and somewhat underwhelming) petting zoo, cute little train, hay ride, pony rides, and picnic tables, plus they're leashed dog-friendly and open late on weekends. $20 parking fee Friday-Sunday ($10 of which can be redeemed for pumpkins -- I appreciate this!) (Most recent visit: October 2023)
Bob's Pumpkin Patch, Half Moon Bay. A perfect spot for the pumpkin purist, Bob's focuses on the squash, not the tourist attractions, with nary a bounce house or petting zoo to be found (though you're welcome to greet the resident goats and fowl through the fence and climb on the hay bales); while leashed dogs are welcome, credit cards are not, so be sure to pack some cash or your check book. Bob's is set on a hillside directly across Highway 1 from the Pacific and is totally uncommercialized and authentic, with pumpkins laid out in a mix of sizes and degrees of...um, "character" that you might not find at other patches, with the opportunity to even pick pumpkins from the vine. (Most recent visit: October 2020)
Borchard Farms, Salinas. It's kind of cheating on the two sentence thing, but I'm going to just refer you to my Facebook post on Borchard for lots of details on this wonderful patch! (Most recent visit is 2017 -- it's kind of a drive -- but we LOVED it, and Borchard's IG page suggests the fun is still going strong!)
Cosentino Family Farm, San Jose. I adore the Cosentino family's farmstand year-round, but the addition of a "pumpkin corral" a few years ago made the fall season even more fun. The space is small and peaceful, with a variety of beautiful pumpkins and gourds, photo ops, and all the goodies at the produce stand -- no rides, no gimmicks, no extra charges, just nice people and beautiful pumpkins. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9-5. (Most recent visit: Fall 2023)
Lemos Farm, Half Moon Bay. Less a pumpkin patch than a Halloween theme park, Lemos offers a ton of activities on its large property -- including the best train ride we've taken, hay rides, pony rides, and a petting zoo with very friendly goats -- so it's no surprise that it's one of the most popular (and crowded!!!) pumpkin patches in the Bay Area. Lots of fun, lots of action, LOTS of photo ops, lots of decor, and good looking pumpkins, but this probably isn't the best choice for a pumpkin patch purist. (Last actual visit: Maybe 2015? Every time we've driven by in the years since -- including 2023 -- the ridiculous crowds scared us away. I'm a pumpkin patch purist, so I'd rather head over the Highway 1 and hit the farms there.)
LJB Farms, San Martin. LJB is one of my favorite nearby farms -- a classic pumpkin patch with tons of beautiful, reasonably-priced pumpkins, fun photo ops, a fantastic farm-stand, plenty of space to explore, and no extra charges -- plus it's dog-friendly! We had a blast there in 2023 (see Instagram post for more details... again, I'm cheating on the 2 sentence thing) and will likely return every year going forward. (Most recent visit: Fall 2023)
Live Earth Farm, Watsonville. Live Earth is an organic farm (they sell through CSAs and farmers' markets), rather than a typical pumpkin patch, and offers a variety of u-pick experiences throughout the summer and fall (organic apples, berries, tomatoes, and more) in a lovely setting in the Watsonville hills. We've picked wonderful apples and berries here in the past and loved the non-commercialized experience (no rides or activities to be found -- just some picnic tables, an old tractor, and a few hay bales for climbing) -- I'm guessing pumpkin picking will be just as fun. (Most recent visit: 2020) (2024 update: Live Earth will not have a pumpkin patch this year.)
Moreland Educational Foundation Pumpkin Patch, San Jose. This is a fun little patch that operates as a fundraiser for the school district. Lots of preschool field trips here! They have cool activities for kids and both not-spooky and spooky Halloween trails. Schedule is at the link. (Most recent visit: Maybe 2019?)
Patchen Pumpkin Patch, Santa Cruz Mtns (off Hwy 17, just shy of the summit). Patchen -- a well-established Christmas Tree farm -- began offering a pumpkin patch in 2023, and we had the great fortune to discover it early in the season. It quickly jumped up toward the top of my list of favorite patches for the unique experience, lovely setting, wonderful people, and good old pumpkin patch feel. Open Friday-Sunday, 10-5 -- no added fees for parking or entrance, and free lawn games and photo ops. For a full description, see my Instagram post. (Most recent visit: Fall 2023)
Queen's Pumpkin Patch, Saratoga. Located on Saratoga Avenue, in a not particularly bucolic setting just off Highway 85, Queen's offers lots of pumpkin varietals and fun activities (a great petting zoo, those walk-on-water bubble things, boats, a hay ride, a climbing tower, a pumpkin train that's perfect for little ones), plus a kid-sized hay bale maze, a variety of pumpkin-themed games, and pumpkin painting with the purchase of a pumpkin. Though I generally prefer the more natural, farm-like settings, and their plain orange pumpkins are pricier than at other patches, this was the pumpkin patch of my childhood and we rarely miss a year -- it's nice and enclosed (making it feel safe for young kids), service is friendly, and the petting zoo often has bunnies and baby pigs, so that's pretty much reason enough to go. (2024 update: It kind of makes me sad to read this old summary of Queen's because honestly, I don't know if we'll go this year. Prices seem to be going up, up, and up here, and while I know it's expensive to run a business, I can't justify spending money on an entrance fee just to spend a lot more on activities and pricey pumpkins. I think I'm going to stick to free admission patches this year. Most recent visit was 2022.) (Here's a Queen's reel I made in 2021.)
Rodoni Farms, Davenport. Another "visit every year" patch for us -- and perhaps my single favorite -- Rodoni offers a hillside full of pumpkins overlooking the Pacific, along with a produce stand, hay bale stacks, a corn maze (much less organized than the big patches -- fun, but wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to keep an eye on your kids!), and a great "playground" made of corrugated plastic pipes and hay. It's tough to find a pumpkin patch in a prettier, more natural and bucolic setting than this lovely spot, making it a fun, non-commercialized pumpkin patch for any family. Rodoni is my must-do patch! (Here's a Rodoni reel I made if you'd like to see more.)
Spina Farms, San Jose. This nearby farm (which moved locations a few years ago and expanded considerably, taking on a more Uesugi feel) has lots of fun offerings -- a train, a hayride, corn maze, cow train, pumpkin blasters, ride-on dinosaurs for little kids, and a new Dinosaur Walk -- and a TON of pumpkins. Prices are $8 per ride or $40 for a package that includes everything. Because of its convenience to the South Bay, it's prone to weekend crowds. Parking is free Monday - Thursday, $10 on Friday, and $20 on Saturdays and Sundays (CASH ONLY). Though it seems far more commercialized now than it did back in 2013 when I first visited, it's still a lot of fun and an excellent choice for most families. (Most recent visit: 2023) (Here's an old Spina reel I made in 2021.)
Swank Farms, Hollister. NOTE: We've only been to Swank once, back in 2018, and I'm certain things have changed since then -- check out the link to find their current offerings. Swank Farms offers a "Sunflowers and Fall Days" experience that is totally different from a typical pumpkin patch (I'd describe it more as a fall festival/amusement park), and our 2018 visit was truly one of our most memorable fall adventures as a family. While the pumpkin patch is fine, you really visit for the many fun and creative activities (including two great corn mazes, huge jumping pillows, pedal-powered go carts, pig races, a bouncy slide, ball launchers, a chalkboard house, human hamster wheels, corn kernel sandboxes, and much, much more) that are all covered by one all-inclusive admission fee (everyone age 3 and up must pay -- you can't opt out -- and be sure to buy online in advance for a discount!).
Webb Ranch, Portola Valley. Located just off Highway 280 at the Alpine Road exit, this easy to access patch has some of the prettiest pumpkins around, along with bounce houses, a petting zoo, hay rides and pony rides and a produce stand. The convenience of the location to most of Silicon Valley, relatively small size of the patch, and close grouping of the pumpkins make it easy to find a winner, but lead to serious congestion on busier days of the week. (Most recent visit: October 2021 -- here's the post.) (2024 Update: Webb now has "activity passes" that cover all the available activities -- no more a la carte pricing. On weekdays, a kid pass is $15 and on weekends, when there are several more activities, it's $35. Weekend activities require reservations.)
The Wingfield Family Farm (aka Soquel U Pick), Soquel. Here's another two-sentence review that just refers you to my Facebook post with a whole bunch of sentences -- sorry! We LOVE this little farm and have had a blast picking our own peppers, tomatoes, and corn from the Wingfields' personal (huge) garden, selecting individually-named pumpkins with lots of personality from the small patch, and getting to know Mrs. Wingfield (who's a teacher -- and clearly an amazing one!) and her family -- they add so much to the experience! This place goes on my "not to be missed" list for those who aren't fans of commercialism or rows of identical pumpkins.(Most recent visit: 2020)
Happy Halloween, friends!
^^^^^
Finally, RIP to the following patches that have closed over the years since I started updating this post:
Giordano Farms, San Jose. (CLOSED) Unfortunately, Giordano -- one of our all-time favorite patches -- closed in 2015 amid the restructuring of the Martial Cottle Park area. It has been replaced by the fine, but not so compelling Jacobs Organic Farm -- review below.
Full Circle Farm, Sunnyvale. (CLOSED) Sadly, this fun farm experience closed in 2015.
Perry Farms, Fremont. (CLOSED) Perry Farms' pumpkin patch is another favorite that is sadly closed in 2020. I believe there's another farm operating in that located at Ardenwood, but I haven't visited yet.
Uesugi Farm, Morgan Hill. (CLOSED) Sadly, 2019 marked the last year of business for this South Bay institution which featured more activities than any other pumpkin patch, gorgeous, well-priced pumpkins, and so many memories for so many families (ours included). We'll miss you, Uesugi!