An annual visit to the pumpkin patch is a treasured fall tradition – and the Central Valley is home to some of our favorites! From Bakersfield to Butte County, these pumpkin patches offer something for everyone – whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun or a scary good time.
Sweet Thistle Farms
And the award for most picturesque pumpkin patch goes to…(drum roll, please)….Sweet Thistle Farms! Located near the outskirts of Clovis, where the Central Valley bleeds into the foothills, this charming pumpkin patch is the perfect place for fall photos and fun. Throughout October, guests can enjoy tractor rides, a corn pit, and a hay maze, as well as feed the friendly farm animals. With over seventeen varieties of pumpkins to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect pick – and snap an Insta-perfect pic!
During the month of October, you’ll also find u-pick flowers and Indian corn at Sweet Thistle Farms. While you’re there, be sure to sample the goat cheese from the adjoining Rocky Oats Goat Creamery!
Mike’s Pumpkin Patch
Mike’s Pumpkin Patch promises the classic pumpkin patch experience with face-painting, a petting zoo, pumpkins and food trucks! Set aside a few hours this October to enjoy everything this beloved Lodi pumpkin patch has to offer.
Bobby Dazzler’s Pumpkin Patch
If you’re looking for pumpkin patches offering “down-on-the-farm” vibes, check out Bobby Dazzler’s. This Yolo County pumpkin patch is surrounded by fields as far as the eye can see and grows ALL of its own pumpkins. Face painting, a corn “bath”, a petting zoo and pony rides keep younger visitors entertained. Older kids will enjoy the Milo Maze, bungee jump and pony rides.
Bishop’s Pumpkin Patch
Bishop’s Pumpkin Patch has a pretty bold claim to fame: it’s the world’s largest u-pick pumpkin field! There are plenty of amazing ways to spend the day at this Yuba County destination. Grab a homemade apple muffin and catch the hay ride into the pumpkin field. Once you’ve picked the perfect pumpkin, make your way through the corn maze, frolic with farm animals at the petting zoo, or enjoy the carnival rides. On the weekends, Bishop’s Pumpkin Patch offers even more fun – with live music, puppet shows, magicians and even pig races!
Hunter Farms
Hunter Farms is the place to go for good, old-fashioned family fun. This Atwater farm is basically the Disneyland of pumpkin patches – where screen time takes a back seat to adventure. Race mini tractors, jump around the giant bounce zone, sail down a zipline, and ride on a time travel train! Looking for something a little less action-packed? Choose from hundreds of pumpkins, pan for gold, make your way through the corn maze, or hop on the hayride. Either way, Hunter Farms will surely be an unforgettable fall family experience.
Vossler Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch
During the day, Vossler Farms masquerades as a mild-mannered pumpkin patch – with a corn maze, pony rides and all the traditional trappings. On October weekends, however, it’s transformed into the Field of Screams – a spine-chilling, haunted trail weaving through the field, leaving a trail of terror in its wake. Whether you’re seeking family-friendly fun or thrills and chills, there’s something for everyone at Vossler Farms.
Murray Family Farms
Throughout October, Murray Family Farms is the place to be! This iconic Bakersfield farm serves the classic pumpkin patch experience and so much more. Murray Family Farms goes way beyond the classic pumpkin patch with three epic mazes, a glow-in-the-dark tunnel, a paintball gallery, apple cannons, giant bounce houses and slides, and even a popcorn pool. Check their website for more information on their annual costume contest and Trick or Treat trail!
Cotton Tree Ranch
Cotton Tree Ranch Pumpkin Patch offers fall fun for kids of all ages! Littles will enjoy picking out the perfect pumpkin, exploring the toddler mini-maze and frolicking in bounce houses. After dark, teens and adults can brave the Ghosts vs. Goblins Scary Maze – if they dare!
Madera FFA Pumpkin Patch
Disclosure: The Madera FFA Pumpkin Patch doesn’t boast carnival rides or crazy corn mazes. This Central Valley pumpkin patch is unique because it is operated, start to finish, by Madera High School FFA students. The students are involved every step of the way, from planting and harvest to sales. At the end of the supervised agricultural experience (SAE), expenses are deducted, and the profits are divided evenly between participating students. If you’re looking to find the perfect pumpkin AND support the future of farming, check out the Madera FFA Pumpkin Patch.
TJ Farms Estates
Step back in time at the TJ Farms Estates Pumpkin Patch, where history meets harvest. The farm’s 1900s blacksmith shop, antique farm tools and even a stagecoach help bring the past to life. Visitors can borrow a wagon or traipse through the pumpkin patch until they find the perfect pumpkin and snip it from the vine.
Article by Hilary Rance. Photography by Hilary Rance and James Collier.