Trade in Grocery Store Pumpkins for the Ultimate Fall Day at Our Favorite Pumpkin Patches in OC
Visiting the pumpkin patch is a quintessential fall tradition. Throw on your flannel and embark on a mission to find the best fall photo ops, corn mazes and hayrides! Whether you’re on a quest for perfectly round jack-o-lanterns or just looking for a really gourd time, here are our top picks for Orange County pumpkin patches—you may even want to visit more than one!
Tanaka Farms
When: Sept. 16-Oct. 31
Resist the urge to add a pumpkin to your cart on your next Trader Joe’s run (sorry TJ’s; we still love you) and pick one yourself at Tanaka Farms. Yes—literally off the vine! A unicorn of OC pumpkin patches, Tanaka Farms grows plump pumpkins on-site. Kids can learn how pumpkins are grown and participate in all the pumpkin patch favorites—wagon rides, corn mazes and a petting zoo! Admission is $20 (Monday-Friday morning) and $22 (Friday starting at noon and Saturdays and Sundays).
Location: Irvine
Irvine Park Railroad
When: Sept. 16-Oct. 31
Full of festive photo ops, Irvine Park Railroad has seasonal fun for the whole family! Admission to the patch is free and includes access to the haunted house and hay maze for the bold and brave! For tractor rides, bounce houses, cookie decorating, face painting and more, pick up a ticket book, which comes with 15 tickets for $90!
Location: Irvine
Pumpkin City
When: Sept. 29-Oct. 31
You’re not in Laguna Hills anymore… Step foot into Pumpkin City and be immersed in harvest galore! Try your luck at winning giant plush toys from carnival booths and watch little ones become conductors on train rides. Then plop down on a hay barrel (or pumpkin) to catch the puppet show and listen to live music. Hungry? Check out Pumpkin City’s diner for classic American treats like hot dogs, popcorn and churros. And be sure to check out the all-new Oktoberfest Beer Garden!
Local Insight: Pumpkin City is offering free admission all day on Halloween this year.
ABC Pumpkin Patch at Outlets at San Clemente
When: Sept. 16-Oct. 31
Picking a pumpkin is as easy as ABC or 123 at ABC Pumpkin Patch at the Outlets at San Clemente! Filled with giant slides, obstacle courses, bumper boats and too many pumpkins to count, ABC Pumpkin Patch has all you could hope for. Admission is free, and the day can easily be spent admiring pumpkin displays or taking all the fall photos your Instagram can handle. Wristbands for inflatables are sold at $18 for 30 minutes, $23 for 60 minutes and $30 for the whole day.
Location: San Clemente
Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch
When: Sept. 29-Oct. 31
The OC Fair may be gone, but the OC Fair & Event Center always has something going on! Situated in the heart of Costa Mesa, this massive event venue is hosting its Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch—the perfect place for some festive fall fun! Gather your family and friends and watch as the little ones have a ball on inflatable slides and kiddie rides, interact with animals in the petting zoo and take a ride on the train. Pick out the perfect pumpkin together or shop at the on-site farmers market for fresh squash and gourds.
Location: Costa Mesa (OC Fair & Event Center)
