The best pumpkin patches in Los Angeles

Want to take your pumpkin picking up a notch? Make your way to Tanaka Farms in Irvine (known for its Hello Kitty-themed farm experience a few years ago) for festive activities like wagon rides ($6) and a petting zoo. Just note that this themed patch gets very busy, so parking reservations are required in advance on weekends ($10). Plus, if you want to stock up on more than pumpkins, the U-pick vegetable patch is open daily for your merry picking. Look out for the debut of a sister patch in Costa Mesa that promises a more mellow experience.

Sept 18–Oct 31: Daily 9am–6pm.

This former WeHo hotspot packed up its bags and moved over to Culver City a couple of years ago. The popular patch sticks out like a scarecrow in a squash garden. With rows of pumpkins, a giant hand-carved rocking horse, petting zoo and a mini straw maze, it’s like someone dropped off a piece of country farmland in the middle of a fast-paced, urban city. This little slice of harvest also provides pony rides, elaborate face painting, a super slide, pumpkin decorating, a spider bounce and food and drink stands. Swing by on weekday afternoons, if you can, for $5 admission, otherwise you’ll have to pay an increasing entry fee during each weekend and on Friday nights.

Oct 7–31: Daily 9am–9pm

Get lost. No really, get lost in Tapia Brothers Farm’s epic corn maze (an entire lot across from the patch itself) with a much-needed map and a sheet full of trivia questions ($9; closed Mon). The festive pumpkin patch also offers—you guessed it—pumpkins galore (with $2 admission), as well as a fresh farmers’ market (with addicting kettle corn), a mouth-watering roasted corn stand, a petting zoo, pony rides and a tractor-pulled train. Be sure to check it out on the weekends so you have all the activities at your disposal.

Opens Oct 2: Mon–Thu 9am–6pm, Fri–Sun 9am–7pm

Every October, Underwood Family Farms becomes an autumnal wonderland as it celebrates its annual Fall Harvest Festival with different events every weekend ranging from Wild West Weekend to All About Pumpkins. For the entire month, guests can come and be entertained by live music, animal shows, corn mazes and an endless amount of pumpkins. Admission to the festival is $16 per person for the first two weekends and then $22 for the following weekends in October. Weekday admission is $10, free for children two and younger, and parking is free. Check the site for more details.

Sept 25–Oct 31: Daily 9am–6pm.

There’s something about encountering a friendly llama that makes the trip to this tiny but charming patch so worth while. Maybe you’re not into the whole pumpkin picking thing—or even Halloween at all—but interacting with these highly entertaining petting zoo animals is one memory you need to create. The patch itself sits under a large tent with piles of pumpkins available at a great price. Young pumpkin patch-goers can enjoy a pony ride ($7 on select days), train rides ($3.50) and a free straw maze. The patch is located in the Westfield Fashion Square lot, so there’s plenty of free parking available.

Oct 1–31: Sun–Thu 10am–8pm; Fri, Sat 10am–9pm.

Forneris Farms is back again with a four-acre cornfield maze and, of course, an impressive selection of pumpkins. Tractor rides will take pumpkin patch goers on a narrated tour through the cornfields and around the farm. Everything is cash only (and the maze and train will cost you an extra $20 on top of the $5 patch admission fee), but there is an ATM on site.

Oct 9–31: Mon–Fri 1–5pm; Sat, Sun 9am–5pm

If you’re on a budget before the holidays and still looking for a lively pumpkin patch experience, Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch is definitely the spot for you. Like most patches, admission is free and activity prices range from $3.50 to $7 with most falling toward the cheaper end. The Mar Vista patch can only host limited activities this year, but you’ll still find a petting zoo, train rides, a mini straw maze and a sand art booth.

Opens Oct 8: Mon–Thu 1–8pm; Fri, Sat 10am–9pm; Sun 10am–8pm

Who said county fair season is over? There’s no reason a pumpkin patch can’t bring back the same memories of booth games, carnival rides and sugary indulgences. Treat yourself to a weekend of classic festival favorites like giant slides, fun houses and more—all harvest-themed, of course. Beyond a massive collection of varied pumpkins to choose from, the patch is also full of haystacks, corn stalks and gourds (for that epic Halloween party you’re throwing). Kids can enjoy a mini train ride, jump houses and face painting. It’s a little kid’s dream, so be prepared to take them to every single ride and game—you'll be a shoe-in for the parent of the year award.

Oct 1–31: Hours vary by week.

Things we particularly value right now: online ordering and delivery and free parking. This seasonal pumpkin patch is thankfully offering all of the above at its four locations in West L.A. (11852 Santa Monica Blvd), Hollywood (6407 Sunset Blvd), Torrance (17520 Prairie Ave) and at the Original Farmers Market (6333 W 3rd St). That’s in addition to festive activities like pumpkin decorating, a spooky maze, pumpkin bowling and a bounce house.

West L.A., Torrance: Oct 1–31: Mon–Thu 11am–8pm; Fri, Sat 10am–9pm; Sun 10am–8pm.
Hollywood: Oct 8–31: Mon–Thu 11am–8pm; Fri, Sat 10am–9pm; Sun 10am–8pm.
Original Farmers Market: Oct 16–31: Daily 11am–6pm.

If you’re a Gateway Cities dweller looking to entertain your youngsters and buy some pumpkins while you’re at it, head to Whittier Pumpkin Patch. It’s a family destination where guests can pick from their bounty of pumpkins, make a furry companion at the petting zoo, reach new heights on their inflatable jumpers and then ride around on a pony. Admission is free and the prices of the activities vary. Everything is cash only, but there’s an ATM on site.

Oct 1–31: Daily 9am–9pm.

After bringing some much-needed festivity to last year’s trick-or-treating options, this Halloween drive-through is returning to Woodland Hills as an on-foot adventure. Among its themed photo ops, you’ll also be able to both pick and carve a pumpkin.

Go pumpkin picking in the pines as this Halloween-themed month of activities hits a perennially-Christmas theme park Lake Arrowhead amusement park. On weekends from October 9 through 31, pumpkins and hay bales will cover the grounds of SkyPark at Santa’s Village. Though the park is open select days during the week, the Hallowen activities are limited to Saturdays and Sundays—that’s when you’ll find pumpkin picking and painting, cookie decorating, a puppet and magic show, an after-dark light show and trick-or-treating.