As we begin to enjoy our first taste of cooler temperatures and clearer skies, those of us who are big Fall and Halloween fans begin to get excited for the fun that’s soon to come!
To help you in your seasonal merriment, we’ve once again rounded up a list of six awesome local pumpkin patches for you to enjoy this October. Read on for all the details!
1. Planet Pumpkin
Many are familiar with this large and very popular pop-up pumpkin patch that is located at Nees and First in Fresno. This year, the patch is open once again, and will offer rides (just $2 each), shaved ice, food, face painting by Mona Designs, photo booth pictures, Lolo’s Shaved Ice, asada fries, Sanchez Corn, tacos, kettle corn and, of course, lots and lots of pumpkins. Planet Pumpkin will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Halloween.
2. Hillcrest Farms
Located in Reedley, Hillcrest Farms offers a wooded wonderland of family fun with pumpkins, steam trains, hay rides, concessions, nature trails, and play areas. Of all the patches, this is the one I hear touted most often as a favorite.
“They have everything for kids of all ages! Train rides, hayrides, a corn maze, eats and drinks, and of course some amazing pumpkins from all of the pumpkin families!” says Visalia resident Shari Charron.
Hillcrest has an entry fee of $10 per car except on the weekend of Oct. 30-31, when the fee will be $5. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Their treehouse party area is also available with advance reservation.
3. Simonian Farms
Located in eastern Fresno, Simonian Farms offers old-fashioned fun with their year-round ice cream and retro soda shop, shooting gallery, and gold-panning area.
During the month of October, Simonian offers a pumpkin patch complete with Halloween costume accessories gift shop, a haunted house, and hay bale maze. Entrance is free, and while you’re there, you can also stock up on locally grown fruits and vegetables as well as artisan-made jams, jellies, wines, and candies. Simonian Farms is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
4. Sunshine’s Farm
This small family farm is open from 11am to 7pm on weekdays and until 8pm on weekends. They grow a wide variety of vegetables and Asian specialty produce year round, but during the month of October they also offer a pumpkin patch, decorative pumpkins, movie nights and photos! Sunshine’s Farm is located at 284 S. Temperance in Fresno, on the way to Sanger. For more information, visit their Facebook page here.
5. Sweet Thistle Farms
Sweet Thistle Farms is a year round flower farm located at 5365 N. Mendocino Avenue near Shaw and Academy in Clovis. During October, they offer a Pumpkin Patch featuring “over 14 different pumpkin varieties, hay rides, photo opportunities, cheese sampling, food and vendors located around the property.” The entry cost is $15 per car, not per person, and you can make your reservations online here. The Pumpkin Patch is open Saturdays and Sundays during the day, and Friday evenings.
6. Hunter Farms
A highly-praised favorite among Fresnans is a bit of a drive, but well worth it from what we hear. Atwater’s Hunter Farms began operating its pumpkin patch in the fall of 2013, and each year since its attractions have increased and their popularity has grown.
Hunter Farms offers pumpkins, both a corn and hay maze, fall photos, a petting zoo, a hay pyramid for climbing, a trike track, a tractor train ride that takes passengers through historical scenes, simulated gold mining, and a “barnyard bounce” (giant, outdoor bouncing surface).
Open daily from 10 a.m. until dusk, Hunter Farms is sure to delight guests both young and old. For pricing information, click here.
- What’s Hot & Happening September 13-15 - September 13, 2024
- What’s Hot & Happening August 23-25 - August 23, 2024
- What’s Hot & Happening August 16-18 - August 16, 2024
Leave a Reply