Your San Diego pumpkin patch guide
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Oma's Farm never disappoints. Photo: Claire Trageser/Axios
The weather isn't exactly autumnal, but that won't stop us from getting our pumpkin patch on.
The big picture: There are several across the county to choose from.
🎃 Oma's Family Farm — Lakeside
What they have: Pumpkins for sale, rubber duck races, a giant pillow trampoline, playgrounds, corn maze slides, trikes to ride, animals to feed and that dusty farm feeling.
Hours: Thursday–Saturday from 9am–8pm through Oct. 31.
Price: Tickets start at $19.60, depending on the date and package. Children 2 and younger are free, and parking is free. Tractor-pulled wagon rides cost an additional $5.
Good to know: Visitors may bring food and nonalcoholic drinks, but pets are not allowed, except certified service animals.
🌼 Carlsbad Strawberry Company — Carlsbad
What they have: A pumpkin patch, marigold and celosia fields, chocolate milk saloon, tricycle track, hippity-hop balls, hay pyramid and photo-ops. Extras include a 1.5-mile corn maze, tractor ride, sheep, goats, rabbits and a dinosaur-themed "Jurassic Fright" attraction.
For braver visitors: The haunted corn maze runs Fridays and Saturdays from 7–10pm throughout October.
Hours: The season runs through Nov. 8.
- Sunday–Thursday 9am–6pm
- Friday–Saturday 9am–10pm
Price: $20 Monday–Thursday, $25 Friday–Sunday. The corn maze and tractor ride are $10 each; Jurassic Fright is $8; animal encounters are $5 each; and the haunted maze is $25. A $25 farm bundle covers the corn maze, tractor ride and animal petting.
Good to know: Tickets are walk-up only.
🌾 Bates Nut Farm — Valley Center
What they have: Big Mac pumpkins, tractor hayrides, a straw maze, pony rides, a petting corral, corn pit and bounce house. On weekends, face painting, rock climbing, a mechanical bull, an inflatable slide, live music and more food vendors.
Hours: Weekdays 9am–5:30pm, weekends 8:30am–6pm.
- Fall Friday Festivals on Oct. 9, 16 and 23 run until 6:30pm.
Price: Admission is free. Weekday parking is free, $10 on weekends. Activity tickets cost $2.50 each, although some attractions require multiple tickets or an additional payment. Pony rides are $14, or $26 for two.
Good to know: Leashed dogs are welcome in the patch, straw maze and tractor hayride.
🍕 Goff Family Pumpkin Patch — Liberty Station
What they have: A smaller, laid-back patch beside the Loma Club putting green with pumpkins, flower arranging, festive games and room to picnic. On the weekends, Birdie's serves hand-tossed pizza, the Tap Truck offers beer and wine and The Craft Creamery and Moniker Coffee sell ice cream and drinks.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 9am–8pm; Friday-Saturday from 9am–9pm.
Price: Admission is always free. Pumpkins, pizza and drinks are sold separately.
Good to know: Leashed dogs and outside picnics are welcome. Organizers recommend parking in the Cushing Road lot near Sea Hive.
🚜 Pumpkin Station — four locations
What they have: The Del Mar and Plaza Bonita city locations offer pumpkins, kids rides, inflatable slides, bounce houses and petting zoos. The Bonita and Rancho Bernardo farms add sunflower fields, corn mazes and tractor rides.
Hours:
- Del Mar: 15555 Jimmy Durante Blvd.; Monday-Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-9pm and Sunday 9am-7pm.
- Plaza Bonita: 3030 Plaza Bonita Road; Monday-Friday 3-9pm and Saturday-Sunday 11am-9pm.
- Bonita farm: 5354 Sweetwater Road; daily 9am-6pm through Oct. 8 and 9am-9pm beginning Oct. 9.
- Rancho Bernardo farm: 13421 Highland Valley Road; daily 9am-6pm through Oct. 8 and 9am-7pm beginning Oct. 9. Hayride and corn maze close at 6pm.
Price: Admission and parking are free, and pumpkins are priced by size. Most individual attractions cost one $5 ticket. Packages are $52 for 12 tickets, $80 for 24 or $94 for 36.
Good to know: Leashed dogs and outside food and drinks are allowed.
👻 Mr. Jack O'Lanterns — Clairemont
What they have: Pumpkins, carving supplies, Halloween decorations and costumes, free photo stations, pumpkin tic-tac-toe and Tumbling Tombstones.
- Paid attractions include a petting zoo, animal feeding, pumpkin bowling, cornhole, balloon pop, "Boosketball," miniature golf and bounce houses.
Hours: Monday-Friday noon-8pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-8pm.
Price: Admission and parking are free. Pumpkins are priced by size, individual activity tickets cost extra.
Good to know: Leashed dogs are welcome.