Best Pumpkin Patches in L.A.

Published September 26, 2023

By Luke Perez

Visit the Pumpkin Village in Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch Oct. 5-16. PHOTO COURTESY PASCAL SHIRLEY

Pumpkins have sprouted and are ready to be picked for the fall. With numerous pumpkin patches opening up across L.A. it can be overwhelming choosing which one to visit with the family. To help you with your decision, we rounded up some of the best pumpkin patches to go to in L.A. this fall.

Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch

Tanaka Farms’ annual pumpkin patch will return on Sep. 16 and end Oct. 30. During the weekdays, activities will include wagon rides, a corn maze, pumpkin and veggie patches and a barnyard exhibit. On weekends, arts and crafts, golf, festival games, and their famous Pumpkin Cannon will join the weekday activities. The price for each activity will vary. Tickets for entry will be $20-$22 depending on your time of arrival. Children 2 and under are free.

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch will be up and running Oct. 5-19, with bounce houses, face painting, a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating and the Pumpkin Village to meet Mr. Bones. There will also be a huge “Spooktacular” event on Friday the 13th. More information on that event will be released later. Admission for tickets will open Oct. 1.

Enchanted Country Pumpkins

This family owned pumpkin patch has been operating for 51 years and always delivers on family fun. Enjoy photo ops, carnival games, a petting zoo and a pumpkin carving and decorating area. Enchanted Country is located in San Dimas and Brea. $5; free for ages 3 and under.

Mr. Jack O’Lanterns Pumpkin Patch

Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch is opening both of its locations on Oct. 1. Free photo stations, pumpkin bowling, animal viewing and feeding, bouncy houses, and more will be available in West L.A. (11852 Santa Monica Blvd) and Torrance (17520 Prairie Ave). Admission is free, but prices for activities and pumpkins vary.

Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch

This pumpkin patch always delivers on the family fun and prices. Admission on weekdays is free and only $2.50 on weekdays. Activities such as bouncy houses and slides, petting zoo, carnival games and more only cost $4-$8. Catch this event from Sep. 30 – Oct. 31. For hours of operation, check their website.

Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm

One of the largest pumpkin patches in SoCal returns Sep. 24 and ends on Oct. 31. Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm will feature fall activities like tractor rides, photo-ops, bowling, the pumpkin patch and more. Purchase special ticket bundles for $20-$100 to enjoy bounce houses, ferris wheel and other carnival rides. $8-$10; free for ages 2 and under.

Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival

From Sept. 30 – Oct. 29, check out the Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival. With a crop of over 4,000 pumpkins, you’ll be sure to find the perfect one for your household. Food vendors, corn mazes, hay rides, a petting zoo, live music, and specially themed zones will be a part of the event. It is encouraged to buy tickets from their website, especially on “Value Fridays” for discounts.

Tina’s Pumpkin Patch

From pony rides to train rides to obstacle courses, Tina’s Pumpkin Patch has plenty of fall fun for kids. Open daily from Sept. 30-Oct. 30 at the Westfield Fashion Square parking lot, the pumpkin patch and straw maze are free, while the activities, like the rides, bouncer and slide range from $1-$8.

For more family fun, check out our fall festivals roundup.

Best Fall Festivals in L.A.

Published September 26, 2023

By Luke Perez

With the weather cooling down, many fall-themed events and festivals are popping up around the L.A. area. Trying to pick one for a fun day out with the family? We have you covered with a list of the best fall festivals and events happening in L.A. this September and October.

Fall Festival: A Night in the Park

On Sept. 30 at Johnny Carson Park in Burbank, Fall Festival: A Night in the Park will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tim Burton’s”The Nightmare Before Christmas.” There will be food trucks, live music and art vendors, and the movie will start at 7 p.m. FREE.

Pumpkin Patch and Fall Fun Fest

For the last two weekends of October, Santa Anita Park will host their pumpkin patch and fall festival. Although each weekend will have arts and crafts, train rides, inflatable bouncers, picnic areas, carnival games, pony rides and pumpkin decorating, each day will have a unique theme: “80s Day” on Oct. 21, latin music on Oct. 22, “Spooktober Treat Hunt” on Oct. 28 and “Hallow-Wieners: Wiener Dog Races & Costume Contest” on Oct. 29. $5 and up. Detailed pricing and packages available on their website.

Americana Harvest Festival

On Oct. 8, come celebrate Theatricum’s 50th anniversary with their Americana Harvest Festival. Be one with nature in the outdoor Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, shop at the artisan marketplace, enjoy festive food, and listen The Geer Family & Friends preform a musical tribute to folk songwriter, Woody Guthrie. General admission tickets for adults are $20, $10 for children and children four years old or under are free.

Fall Festival at The Original Farmers Market

From Oct. 21-22, drop by the Farmers Market at The Grove for a free fall festival. Live music, variety of snacks and food, carnival games, a petting zoo, and a small pumpkin patch will be at this event. Children are encouraged to come in costume, too, for this family-friendly festival. FREE.

Underwood Family Farms’ Fall Harvest Festival

Celebrate the 26th annual Fall Harvest Festival at the Underwood Family Farm from Sept. 30 – Oct. 31. Pig races, corn mazes, a country market, tractor rides, carnival games and more will be featured at this event. While weekday admission is cheaper, weekends will have themes such as “Friends of the Farm,” “Farm Country,” “Antique Tractors,” “Wild West” and “All About Pumpkins.” $14 and up.

Día de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

For a fun, cultural event, visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery as they celebrate Día de los Muertos on Oct. 28. There will be live performances from dancers and musicians, vendors selling Mexican food and snacks, face painting, arts and crafts and a special ceremony at the start of the event. If you are taking the whole family, be sure to purchase the day event running from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. $35.

For more fall events, check out our roundup of the Best Pumpkin Patches in L.A.

10 Best Pumpkin Patches in L.A.

Published October 6, 2022

By Nina Harada

Pumpkin patches are more than just a field of oversized squashes. These days, pumpkin patches host a variety of kid-friendly activities that can fill an entire afternoon. From hay mazes and haunted houses to carnival rides and petting zoos, there is something for everyone at these fall favorite events. We’ve rounded up the best pumpkin patches throughout L.A., Ventura County and the O.C.

Ventura County

For some all-around fall fun, make the drive to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark for their 25^th annual Fall Harvest Festival. Through the month of October, the 50-acre farm will feature a giant pumpkin patch, games, rides, photo ops, live entertainment, themed weekends and more. $14 – $28. underwoodfamilyfarms.com

The Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch in Thousand Oaks is open Oct. 1 – 31. Sort through locally grown pumpkins, ride the train, play carnival games and say hello to adorable farm animals at the petting zoo. Ages 3-15 can run obstacle courses and mazes, race down large slides and bounce high in the various inflatables. Admission is FREE. Attractions are $1.35 and up. seasonaladventures.com

West L.A.

PHOTO COURTESY MR. JACK O’LANTERN’S PUMPKIN PATCH

With locations in Torrance, West LA, Hollywood and The Original Farmers Market, Mr. Jack O’Lantern’s Pumpkin Patch is your one-stop-shop for all your fall family fun. Each location has games and activities like themed bouncy houses, pumpkin decorating, corn mazes, animal feeding, photo stations and more. Open Sept. 29 through Oct. 31. Tickets, sold by the bundle, are required for the games. Admission to the pumpkin patch is FREE. mrjackolanternspumpkins.com

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch returns to Culver City Oct. 7-30 with a special Trick or Treat Spooktacular on Oct. 29 from 5 – 7 p.m. The family-friendly event will have a bounce house, straw maze, petting zoo, pumpkin decorating and plenty of pumpkins to choose from to bring the Halloween spirit home. $1 and up. mrbonespumpkinpatch.com

Search for your perfect pumpkin at Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch in West LA and then spend the rest of your day exploring the petting zoo, bounce house, pony rides, train rides, straw maze, giant slides, face painting and carnival games. Oct. 1 – 31. Closed Oct. 3-6, 10, 17 and 24. Admission to the pumpkin patch is FREE. Attractions are $4 and up. shawnspumpkinpatch.com

San Fernando Valley

Tina’s Pumpkin Patch in Sherman Oaks features a daily petting zoo and pony rides. The pumpkin patch asl has an obstacle course, bouncer, train ride and free straw maze. Oct. 1 – 31. Admission is FREE. Attractions are $4 and up. tinaspumpkinpatch.com

The 32^nd annual Toluca Lake Pumpkin Festival features a haunted maze through Oct. 31, along with coin-op rides and a petting zoo that will remain open through the winter holidays. Attractions are $7 – $10. tolucalake-pumpkins-christmastrees.com

The corn maze, train ride and pumpkin patch at Forneris Farms in Mission Hills run Oct. 8 – 31. While you’re there, pick up some in-season produce to take home. $5. fornerisfarms.com

Orange County

From Sept. 17 through Oct. 31 select your pumpkin from Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch, a real pumpkin patch, featuring wagon rides, straw-bale maze, photo ops, arts and crafts and barnyard animals. For a more mellow experience, Hana Field Pumpkin Patch will offer pick-your-own pumpkins and flowers, in addition to the cow train, arts and crafts, root shoot and a pumpkin cannon. $10; free for ages 2 and under. Additional tickets required for certain activities. tanakafarms.com

Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch features plenty of family-fun, including hay rides, train rides, moon bounce, face painting, panning for gold, John Deere race cars, cookie decorating, carnival games, pumpkin toss ring, pumpkin decorating, hay maze, haunted house and festival fall photo ops. $3 – $7 entry fee, $7 activity tickets. irvineparkrailroad.com

For more seasonal fun, check out our fall festivals roundup and Halloween guide.

Fall Fun Ideas: Crafts, Hayrides & More

Published October 13, 2021

By Nina Harada

Grab a sweater and hot beverage of choice because fall is here! In sunny Southern California it’s easy to forget we have seasons, too. But the temperature has started to drop, and the leaves are changing colors, so it’s time for some seasonal fun. Whether it’s visiting a pumpkin patch or heading to the mountains, we’ve rounded up our favorite ways to get into the fall spirit.

Visit a pumpkin patch

Pumpkin patches have popped up all over town. Whether you’re looking for a convenient place to grab a pumpkin or two, like at a shopping mall, or you want the whole fall festival complete with haystacks and corn mazes, there is a pumpkin patch for everyone. We’ve highlighted our favorite pumpkin patches here.

Pick some apples

Nothing says fall like hot apple cider or fresh baked apple pie. You don’t have to venture too far from L.A. to pick your own apples for your homemade treats. Oak Glen, a little town nestled in the mountains between San Bernardino and Palm Springs, has a cluster of apple-producing farms.

Stone Soup Farm offers apple picking for $3.75 per pound with $5 general admission (children ages 3 and under are free).

Los Rios Rancho offers apple picking for $3.75 – $5 per pound and free admission. They also have a petting zoo, nature trails and farm store open daily.

Snow-Line Orchard doesn’t offer apple picking, but they do have a wide variety of fresh picked apples for sale and beautiful picnic grounds with views of fall foliage.

Go on a hayride

Another fall tradition is the hayride. L.A.’s most famous one returns to Griffith Park. The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, recommended for ages 13 and up, includes mazes, scare zones and trick-or-treating through Oct. 31.

Irvine Park Railroad offers a more kid-friendly option at their pumpkin patch. Entrance to the park is free and rides are $6 per person. They also have a hay maze and a hay pyramid, perfect for fall photos.

Celebrate Oktoberfest

Welcome the season with beer for the parents and brats for all. Catalina Island Museum hosts their version of the Bavarian festival Oct. 15 with live music, art projects for kids and bratwursts with all the fixings.

The Biergarten at Old World Huntington Beach is hosting Oktoberfest through Oct. 31. Wednesday and Thursday nights are free family days featuring German food and live entertainment.

If you want to make a little road trip around it, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake are each hosting their own family-friendly Oktoberfests.

Autumn arts & crafts

Now is the perfect time to get cozy with some autumn themed arts and crafts, while creating seasonal décor to decorate your space. We loved DIY expert Sandy Sandler’s autumn acorn pom-pom mobile and PBS KIDS’ pumpkin spice play dough recipe.

Add some seasonal spice to your play dough.

Pumpkin spice play dough

Supply list:

Orange play dough (or make your own)
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Ground cloves

Grab some orange play dough (or make your own)
Knead in shakes of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves to get a pumpkin spice scent.
Use the play dough as you normally would, to make pumpkin spice scented shapes and decorations!

For more fall activity ideas, check out PBS Kids.

Autumn acorn pom-pom

For a visual step-by-step guide, click here.