Fall in the Sacramento region is hands down the most enjoyable season of the year. The air is cooling, the leaves are beginning to turn color and the summer harvest is coming to an end. Our farm-to-fork connections provide for an abundance of nearby farms to turn into mini amusement parks - a.k.a. pumpkin farms - for kids and families this time of year. Making a trip to the pumpkin patch no longer means just picking out your pumpkin - it means an experience! Kids of all ages will find activities like train and hay rides, haunted barns, giant jumping pillows, climbable hay pyramids and much more. Here's a list of our top five pumpkin farms you'll want to visit. Some are small family-owned farms, others are bigger enterprises. Whatever your preference, there is a fun pumpkin farm perfect for your family. Happy pumpkin hunting!
1. Bishop's Pumpkin Farm, Wheatland - admission to Bishop's is free Parking is free on weekdays, $10 on weekends. Activities require tickets at $0.89 each. Attractions and activities include corn maze, coyote mine, play fort, hay and pony rides, petting zoo, railroad, zip line, flower farm, and play areas.
2. Dave's Pumpkin Patch at Vierra Farms, West Sacramento - Admission is free, activities vary in cost. Attractions include giant jumping pillow, pumpkin princess castle, corn play boxes, pony and hay rides, kiddie hay maze, pumpkin chuckin', pig races, goats, photo booth, and snack shack. A haunted corn maze is open on the weekends.
3. Fog Willow Farms, Wilton - Admission is $4 per person for unlimited activities. Attractions include hay and pony rides, adventure course, gold mining, petting zoo, farm animals, climbing haystack, bunny village, craft and gift items, and a snack bar.
4. Bastio Farms Goblin Gardens, Sacramento - Admission it $7 per person. Attractions include hay pyramid, mini hay maze, haunted corn maze, play area, miner's cabin, western town, train station, sunflower seed box, giant slide, haunted barn and face painting. Train, slide, haunted barn and face painting are an additional fee.
5. Keema Family Pumpkin Patch, Elk Grove - admission to this small, family-owned pumpkin patch is free, and parking is free. However, there are fees for the attractions, which include hay maze, hay pyramid, hay ride, corn maze and farm animals.
