Pumpkin patches bring a little bit of country into the big city during Halloween season.
But Southern California also has pockets of agriculture that become like theme parks in October with rides, games and live entertainment as well as selling pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns and other gourds for decorating and cooking.
Many of the pumpkin patches have free admission, though some charge for entrance. Almost all of them charge for attractions such as tractor rides, corn mazes, bounce houses and petting zoos. Some have ticket systems like old-time country fairs or wristband systems for carnival rides. And some are cash-only or card-only, while others sell tickets online.
Also, most are family-friendly, but a few have scary attractions or serve alchohol.
Check websites for restrictions before you go.
Los Angeles County
Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Fest
AGRIscapes Center, Cal Poly Pomona, 4102 S. University Drive, Pomona; cpp.edu/pumpkinfestival; noon-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-Oct. 27.
This annual event is put on by the Huntley College of Agriculture. Attractions include a corn maze, pumpkin patches, hay rides and animal farm. Admission is $10.80 for adults, $8.74 for children, seniors and military. Season passes are available.
Carved at Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge; 818-949-4200, descansogardens.org; 6-10 p.m. Oct. 4-30.
Hundreds of carved and illuminated pumpkins will decorate the grounds of this 150-acre botanical garden. Features will include the “Pine Family,” tree spirits carved into logs by an artist known as Chainsaw Jenna. Entry is timed at half-hour intervals. Tickets are $35-$45, $28-38 for members.
Forneris Farms
15200 Rinaldi St., Los Angeles; 818-730-7707, fornerisfarms.com; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, Oct. 5-Nov. 3.
Attractions include a Peanuts-themed corn maze, games and refreshments. Admission is $5. Transactions are cash only.
La Verne Heritage Foundation
Heritage Park, 5001 Via De Mansions, La Verne; laverneheritage.org; 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-27.
Attractions include tractor rides, petting farm and selfie opportunities.
Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch
West Los Angeles College, 10100 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City; mrbonespumpkinpatch.com; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. weekends, Oct. 5-31.
Attractions include a pumpkin village, straw maze, petting zoo, slides, food and live entertainment, including a Dia De Los Muertos celebration on Oct. 27. New this year is a 12-foot owl made of pumpkins. Admission varies by date. Tickets go on sale Sept. 25.
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch, Torrance
17520 Prairie Ave., Torrance; mrjackolanternspumpkins.com; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-31.
Activities include candy corn hole, pumpkin bowling, animal feeding and bounce house. Admission is free, but there are charges for activities.
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch, West Los Angeles
11404 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles; mrjackolanternspumpkins.com; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-31.
Activities include animals, slides, pumpkin smash and pumpkin decorating. New this year is a Giant Extreme Wicked Obstacle Course Wee Be Little bounce house for small children only. Free admission, extra charge for activities.
Pa’s Pumpkin Patch
500 Lakewood Center Mall, Lakewood; paspumpkinpatch.com; Opens Oct. 1.
The patch is moving from Long Beach to Lakewood this year. Attractions include rides, games and fair foods. Admission is $5 for adults weekdays, $10 on weekends, and $2.50 for children younger than 13 years on weekdays, $5 on weekends.
Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch
3443 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles; shawnspumpkinpatch.com; Daily, hours vary, Oct. 5-Nov. 3.
There’s a new location on Sepulveda Boulevard this year. Attractions include a bounce house, bungee trampoline, pony rides and petting zoo.
Orange County
Hana Field Pumpkin Patch & Flower Fields
427 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa; 949-653-2100, tanakafarms.com/hana-field-pumpkin-patch; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-27.
Attractions include u-pick pumpkins, a corn maze, cow train and barnyard animals. The farm’s website cautions that the flower crop is disappointing this year. Admission is $10, younger than 2 years and military are free.
Irvine Park Railroad
Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. 714-997-3968, irvineparkrailroad.com; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends, through Oct. 31
Activities include hay rides, bounce houses, face painting and panning for gold. Great Pumpkin Weigh-off starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. Park entrance is $3 per vehicle weekdays, $5 on weekends.
Pumpkin City, Laguna Hills
24203 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills; 949-449-4189, pumpkincity.com; 12:30-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-31.
Attractions include rides and games, plus an Oktoberfest beer garden. Admission is free before 4 p.m. weekdays, $12 for evenings and weekends. Children 2-12 years are $8.
Pumpkin Factory, Westminster
1025 Westminster Mall, Westminster; thepumpkinfactory.com; 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3-31.
Attractions include rides, slides and a petting zoo. Admission is free Monday through Thursday, $5 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Tanaka Farms
5380 University Drive, Irvine. 949-653-2100; tanakafarms.com/tanaka-farms-pumpkin-patch; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 14-30; Friday, Saturday and Sunday hours expand to 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 4-27; Halloween hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 31.
Daily activities include u-pick pumpkins, wagon rides and a corn maze. Weekends have more going on, including a pumpkin cannon. Admission is $20-$22.
Zoomars at River Street Ranch
31791 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano. 949-831-6550; riverstreetranch.com; 10 a.m-4 p.m. daily, through Oct. 31.
This petting zoo with goats, sheep and guinea pigs does a pumpkin patch during Halloween season. Admission is $15, $12 for children12 years and younger.
Riverside County
Big Horse Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
Big Horse Feed and Mercantile, 33320 Temecula Parkway, Temecula; 951-389-4621, bighorsecornmaze.com; provisional dates Sept. 28-Oct. 31.
This corn maze bills itself as the largest in Southern California. It usually has a patriotic theme. Details were not available at press time.
Hunter’s Pumpkin Patch
12125 Day St., Moreno Valley. 951-440-2027; hunterspumpkinpatch.com; 4-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, through Oct. 30.
Attractions include slides, a barrel train and other rides, games and music.
Peltzer Pumpkin Farm
39925 Calle Contento, Temecula; 951-695-1115, peltzerfarms.com; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Halloween, through Oct. 31.
Attractions include a petting zoo, pig races, pony rides and carnival games. Admission is $2-$4. Peltzer is also a winery and hosts seasonal events for adults as well as children evenings throughout October.
Pumpkin Factory
1545 Circle City Drive, Corona; thepumpkinfactory.com; 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3-31.
Attractions include rides, games, petting zoo and food vendors. Admission is free Monday through Thursday, $5 Friday through Sunday.
San Bernardino County
Frosty’s Forest Pumpkin Patch
14861 Ramona Ave., Chino; frostysforest.com; 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, opens Sept. 27.
Attractions include a corn maze, sunflower labyrinth, petting zoo, bounce houses and carnival games. $5-$10 admission, free on Mondays. A scary corn maze called The Haunted Harvest is on the property. Admission is separate.
Greenspot Farms
10133 Ward Way, Mentone; 909-794-7653, greenspotfarms.com; open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily beginning Sept. 28; scary nighttime attractions will be added 7-10 p.m. weekends, Oct. 11-Nov. 2.
Attractions include a hay maze, bounce house, tractor rides, duck races and farm animals. Admission is free. Tickets for the nighttime Haunted Hayride are $30 for adults, $25 for children younger than 12. Haunted Trail is $20, $15 for children.
Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm
Live Oak Canyon Road at the 10 Freeway, office is 32335 Live Oak Canyon, Redlands; liveoakcanyon.com; open 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday; 4-8 p.m. on Halloween; through Nov. 2.
In addition to u-pick pumpkins and a large selection of picked pumpkins and gourds, there are more than 70 attractions including a corn maze, petting zoo and rides. Live entertainment starting Oct. 7 includes gunfighters and Anthony the Magic. Admission ranges between $15 to $32 for adults, and $12 to $26 for children ages 3-10. Check the website’s calendar for daily prices.
Los Rios Rancho
39611 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa; losriosrancho.com; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
This farm has more than five acres of pumpkins for cooking, jack-o-lanterns and other decorating. The u-pick season is in October and November while supplies last. Los Rios also has apple picking, a 3-acre corn maze, animals and other attractions for kids.
Riley’s Farm
12261 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa; rileysfarm.com; open Monday through Saturday.
Several varieties of u-pick pumpkins and apples are available. The property also has a bakery and restaurant. It’s putting on a dinner theater production of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that includes a hayride.
SkyPark at Santa’s Village
28950 Highway 18, Skyforest; skyparksantasvillage.com; Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-27, plus Oct. 31.
“Pumpkins in the Pines” includes a parkwide pumpkin patch, “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” puppet show, costume contests and seasonal food and beverages. Ticket information was not available at press time.