It’s an October ritual that the entire family loves: heading to a pumpkin patch for that perfect pumpkin and a slew of fall family photos. Here’s when the pumpkin patches across Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties are opening for the 2026 season — plus a few farms still finalizing their dates, so bookmark this page and check back as we update it.
Borchard Farms
- 142 Rodgers Road, Salinas
- www.borchardfarms.com
Home of the giant pumpkins, Borchard Farms open September 18 to the public and runs daily through October 31, with a 5-acre corn maze, ghost town, haunted barn, and farm animals.
Crystal Bay Farm
- 40 Zils Road, Watsonville
- www.crystalbayfarm.com
A wide variety of organic pumpkins and gourds, with photo stations set up around the farm. This patch has opened October 1 in past years. 2026 opening date to be confirmed — check their website for final dates and hours.
Earthbound Farm
- 7250 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley
- earthboundfarm.com
- Monday–Saturday 8 am–6 pm, Sunday 9 am–6 pm
Open year-round, with pumpkins and special fall events planned throughout October. Check the farm’s website for this year’s specific weekend event schedule.
Everett Family Farm
- 2111 Old San Jose Road, Soquel
- everettfamilyfarm.com
- Daily, 10 am–5 pm
Not an official “patch,” but a generously stocked farm stand with pumpkins and squash, typically well-supplied through late October.
The Farm
- Exit off Hwy 68, Spreckels Blvd, Salinas
- thefarm-salinasvalley.com
- Monday–Saturday, 10 am–5 pm
Usually opens its pumpkin patch in late September, with fall-themed events added throughout October. 2026 dates and event schedule not yet released — check back with the farm in the coming weeks.
Gizdich Ranch
- 55 Peckham Road, Watsonville
- gizdich-ranch.com
- (831) 722-1056
- Daily, 9 am–5 pm
Known for its pick-your-own fruit and bakery, Gizdich Ranch has typically stocked pumpkins beginning in the second week of October. 2026 pumpkin season dates not yet posted.
Hacienda Hay & Feed
- 7180 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel, 93923
- haciendacv.store
- (831) 293-8133
- Tues–Sat 9 am–5 pm, Sunday 10 am–4 pm, closed Monday
A pumpkin stand with a large selection and great photo opportunities, usually beginning in late September.
The Great Pumpkin Patch (Cuny Farms)
- 2124 Soquel Dr., Santa Cruz, 95065
- cunyfarms.com/pumpkin-patch
- Daily, 10 am–8 pm
Opens October 1, 2026. A family-friendly, never-scary patch with a cow train, hay maze, petting zoo, hayrides, pumpkin slingshots, and bumper boats — great for littles.
Post Street Farm
- 122 Post Street, Santa Cruz
- (831) 251-2946
- facebook.com/poststreetfarm
- Daily, 9 am–8 pm
An urban farm with organic pumpkins, fall flowers, pet rabbits, bee hives, and Halloween photo ops — typically open all of October.
Rancho Siempre Verde Pumpkin Patch
- 2250 Cabrillo Highway, Pescadero
- rsvtrees.com
- Daily, 9 am–4:30 pm
A small family farm overlooking the Pacific, with pick-your-own pumpkins, cut flowers, apples, and fall activities. In past years the Fall Festival Pumpkin Patch has run weekends only, late September through late October — check their site for 2026 ticket dates.
Rodoni Farms
- 4444 Coast Road, Santa Cruz (north of Santa Cruz on Hwy 1)
- www.rodonifarms.com
- Daily, 9 am–6 pm
Typically opens around September 27 based on recent seasons, with fields of pumpkins overlooking the Pacific, a 5-acre corn maze, hay bales, and seasonal produce. Confirm the exact 2026 date on their website as the farm finalizes it.
Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch (Morgan Hill — a popular day-trip option for South County and Salinas Valley families)
- 225 Laguna Avenue, Morgan Hill
- spinafarmspumpkinpatch.com
Typically opens the last weekend of September and runs through October 31, with a pumpkin train, hayrides, corn maze, and dinosaur-themed photo ops. 2026 dates not yet posted as of this writing.
Swank Farms
- 4751 Pacheco Pass Hwy, Hollister
- swankfarms.com
Fall Festival opens October 2, 2026 — celebrating 26 years! The season kicks off with the Hoptober Fest beer stroll on October 3, and continues with a 9-acre corn maze, sunflower field, pumpkin patch, farm animals, games, and the Trail of Lights & Frights at night.
This list will be updated throughout September as more farms confirm their 2026 dates. Know a patch we should add, or have an update on one of these? Let us know at contact us.
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