Monterey & Santa Cruz County Pumpkin Patches

It’s an October ritual that the entire family loves: heading to a pumpkin patch for that perfect pumpkin and a slew of seasonal family photos. Here are the patches open in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.

Shout out to the Monterey Bay Parent Facebook group members who sent a pumpkin patch photo!

Borchard Farms

Find a large variety of pumpkins, gourds, and squash while enjoying the 5-acre corn maze, and lots of farm animals. The 22nd Annual California State Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off will be held mid-month. The date hadn’t been released as of press time and will be updated when available on our website.

Cardinale & Wright Pumpkin Patch/Artichoke Festival Haunted House

  • Monterey County Fairgrounds
  • 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey
  • artichokefestival.org
  • Pumpkin Patch hours are Monday through Friday 11 am – 6 pm; Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.

The patch features a variety of pumpkins of all sizes, as well as some new attractions! Be sure to check out the Artichoke Festival’s all-new Miner Madness Haunted Mine Tour. What’s it like to work in the dark with nothing but a pickaxe and a headlamp all day long? Does a person go MAD with rock fever? Do you get the heebie-jeebies when you hear strange echoes in the dark? Miners and excavators ages 12 and up will enjoy the hair-raising, skin-crawling thrills of their worst Halloween nightmares! Tickets will be sold online and at the gate, visit the Artichoke Festival website for ticket prices and tour times.

Crystal Bay Farm

Offering a wide variety of organic pumpkins and gourds for purchase. Stations set up for photos. The pumpkin patch opens on October 1. Check their website for special activities and final operating days and times.

Earthbound Farms

This pumpkin patch is open throughout October with special events planned for each weekend. Enjoy everything from pumpkin carving demonstrations to Movie Night on the lawn to a costumed Halloween scavenger hunt. Visit the official farm website and Facebook page for more information and specific event times.

Everett Family Farm

You won’t find an official pumpkin patch but you will find a generously stocked farm stand with lots of pumpkins.

The Farm

The pumpkin patch is open and pumpkins are also available for sale in the farm stand.

Gizdich Ranch

Pick your own pumpkin patch is open daily. You can also buy produce and pies and use the picnic area.

Hacienda Hay & Feed

  • 7180 Carmel Valley Rd. Carmel, 93923
  • haciendacv.store
  • 831-293-8133
  • Hours vary depending on the activity

Pumpkin stand with a large variety of pumpkins and great photo opps. Plus, this year Hacienda is introducing their “hay maze” to add to the fun.

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Offering a large variety of pumpkins and gourds in all sizes and shapes. An assortment of fun activities for both the children and parents to enjoy, including a petting zoo, hay and train rides, pumpkin slingshots, bumper boats and more. 

Post Street Farm

Urban farm with a wide selection of organic pumpkins, fall flowers and other seasonal goodies. Visit them on Facebook and Instagram for info.

Rodoni Farms

  • 4444 Coast Road, Santa Cruz,
  • North of Santa Cruz on HWY 1
  • www.rodonifarms.com
  • Open through Oct. 31, 9 am-6 pm (rain or shine)

Come roam through fields of pumpkins located along the beautiful California Coast on Hwy 1. There are many to choose from, from traditional Howdens to Gallileos. Enjoy hay bales, scary cutouts, a 5-acre corn maze, and all the varieties of produce you can expect from an autumn harvest!

Swank Farms

  • 4751 Pacheco Pass, Hollister
  • www.swankfarms.com
  • Oct. 1st - Oct. 24th Thursdays; 10am - 6:30pm
  • Fridays - Sundays; 10 am - 10 pm

Swank Farms' annual Fall Experiences has tons of fun planned for the entire family. Kids will enjoy a giant Corn Path, You-Pick Pumpkins, Sunflower Field, cow train, and much more. Plus, you can experience the “Trail of Lights and Frights.” Tickets can be purchased online. Fall Experience is open October 1-31, days and hours vary depending on activity.

Triple F Farms

Call for additional information about what they offer and operating hours.

NOTE: Be sure to call before heading out for your pumpkin. Opening dates and times were accurate as of press time but can change.