North Bay Pumpkin Patches 2009

Although you wouldn't know it by the weather, summer is over and fall is here, which means Halloween is just around the corner and most local pumpkin patches are now open! For those seeking that that true Halloween pumpkin patch experience, we present our annual roster of pumpkin patches in Marin and southern Sonoma counties. In Marin County, only the Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch offers that on-the-farm experience, but old favorites like the St. Vincent's Pumpkin Patch offer an exciting Halloween experience for families, too. To seek out real live farms offering pumpkin patches this season, head up north a short distance to rural Sonoma County, where you'll find them in relative abundance.

We visited as many of these pumpkin patches as we could last year, and have posted links to our reviews of them below. We'll certainly make an effort to visit again this year, and we'll add our updated reviews when they're written.

We've included dates and hours for pumpkin patches when available. As a rule, most pumpkin patches are open throughout the month of October, although some open in September and some run through early November.

Have we overlooked your favorite pumpkin patch? Let us and everyone else know by leaving a comment. Admission to pumpkin patches is free unless otherwise noted.

Marin County

• Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch
  (Lafranchi Pumpkin Patch)
  5300 Nicasio Valley Rd (1/4 mile north of Nicasio square)
  Nicasio
  (415) 662-9100
  Now Open: Open daily October 3–31,10 am–6 pm
  
  The only real pick-it-off-the-vine pumpkin patch in Marin County, Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch at Nicasio Valley Farms offers organic pumpkins, hay rides, farm animals, jumpy houses, a farm stand, and BBQ on the weekends. Popular children's recording artist Tim Cain performs October 4, 10, 18, and 25. Local 4-H-ers show off their animals on October 11. Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) Day is October 18, with kids' games and contests, wood-fired pizza for Fornax est, Mexican food by Delicias de Marin, beer from Iron Springs Brewery, and educational booths. Read our review of 2009's Nicasio Pumpkin Patch.
• Godmothers of Timothy Murphy School Pumpkin Patch
  St. Vincent's Field, at the Marinwood/St. Vincent's exit off Hwy 101
  Marinwood
  (415) 785-3264
  Open daily starting October 6 from 10 am–5:30 pm
  
  Bounce houses, hay pile, face painting, snack shack, picnic area. Groups welcome. Read our review of St. Vincent's Pumpkin Patch.
• Ian's Pumpkin Patch at Bon Aire Center
  Bon Aire Shopping Center, Sir Francis Drake Blvd
  Greenbrae
  
  Shopping center pumpkin patch with bounce house and slide.
• Ian's Lazy Days Pumpkin Patch
  690 Redwood Highway (at Marin Backyard play structures site)
  Mill Valley
  Daily, 9 am–9 pm
  
  A pumpkin patch with bounce houses and play structures. Off Hwy 101.
• Kevin's Strawberry Villa Pumpkin Patch
  100 Shoreline Highway
  Mill Valley
  Open mid-September
  Daily, 9 am–9 pm
  
  A pumpkin patch with bounce houses and inflatable space shuttle slide. Off Hwy 101.

Sonoma County

• Adobe Pumpkin Farm
  2478 East Washington St
  Petaluma
  (707) 763-6416
  www.adobepumpkinfarm.com
  Now Open: Open daily September 26 through October 31, 10 am–dusk
  
  Gift shop, 6-acre corn maze, pumpkin picking, farm animals, haunted house, food, coffee, flowers, vegetables, a Christmas shop, and more. You can hold your birthday party here, too. Read our 2009 review of Adobe Pumpkin Farm
• Peterson's Farm
  636 Gossage Ave (off Petaluma Blvd N)
  Petaluma
  (707) 765-4582
  www.petersonsfarm.com
  Now Open: Open daily in October, 10 am–6 pm
  
  Voted Best Local Farm in 2006 by Petaluma Magazine. Pumpkins, tomatoes, honey, farm animals, picnic area, school and group tours by appointment. All farm products are pesticide and herbicide free. This is one of our favorite pumpkin patches! Read our 2008 Peterson's Farm review.
• Peter Pumpkin Patch
  Spring Hill Jersey Farm
  4235 Spring Hill Rd (off Bodega Ave)
  Petaluma
  (707) 762-3446
  www.springhillcheese.com
  Open daily in October, 9 am–dusk
  
  Another one of our favorites. Pick your own pumpkin, dig for potatoes, hay rides, farm animals, homemade ice cream, milk a cow, hay maze, Spring Hill cheese tasting, fresh fruits and vegetables, picnic baskets. Free parking. This is an wonderful and fun pumpkin patch on a real working farm. Don't miss the homemade pumpkin ice cream! Read our review of Peter Pumpkin Patch.
• Ryan O'Shannan Farms Certified Organic Pumpkin Patch and Farm Days
  5360 Bodega Ave
  Petaluma
  (707) 695-7805
  Open September 26 through October 31, Thursday–Sunday, 9:30 am–6 pm
  
  Pick your own certified organic pumpkin in their 15-acre pumpkin field. See how Clover organic milk is produced, make your own butter, buy farm-fresh produce, find your way through their corn maze, and enjoy a hayride. Weekend-only events include cow milking, brick oven pizza, free face painting with Budderball the Clown (October 10, 11 am–1 pm), live music (October 17 and 24), and children's trick-or-treat bag craft activity with Whole Foods Market (October 24, 1:30–3 pm). Located 5 miles west of Petaluma.
• Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze
  550 Stony Point Rd
  Petaluma
  www.petalumapumpkinpatch.com
  Opening day September 25
  Sunday–Thursday, 10 am–6 pm
  Friday and Saturday, 10 am–10 pm
  Closes 1 hour earlier after end of daylight savings time.
  
  This is the one you see off of 101 on your way out of Petaluma. Over 50 varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds, as well as a 4-acre amazing corn maze (admission $4.00 day, $7.00 Friday and Saturday nights), farm animals, face painting, jumpy houses, covered snack area, school tours. Special events include a firemen's pancake breakfast, 4H bake sales, square dancers, pony rides, inflatables and jumpies, and more.
• Tara Firma Farms
  3796 I Street Ext
  Petaluma
  Open through Halloween, daily, 10 am–5 pm
  (707) 765-1202
  www.tarafirmafarms.com
  
  Sustainable working family farm (working at becoming certified organic) has hundreds of pumpkins (include some very large specimens) and raises pigs, chickens, cows, and produce, too. On I Street Extension in western Petaluma.
• Tolay Fall Festival
  Tolay Lake Regional Park
  Lakeville Hwy at Cannon Ln
  Petaluma
  (707) 565-2041
  www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_tolay_fallfestival.htm
  October 8–11 and 15–18
  9 am–3:30 pm Thursday and Friday
  10 am–5 pm Saturday and Sunday
  
  The 4th annual Tolay Fall Festival takes place over two long weekends in October at the site of the old Cardoza Ranch, which was famous for its pumpkin patch. In addition to pumpkins and fall decorative items for sale, activities include a Native American village, the Nighttime Creatures Barn with Creepy Crawly Critters Room, nature hikes, a giant straw maze, and hay rides. Free admission; parking is $6 per car. School field trips may be scheduled.
• Field of Greens Pumpkin Patch
  1777 West Watmaugh Rd
  Sonoma
  (707) 939-3648
  Open daily 10 am–7 pm
  
  Pumpkins and other farm-fresh produce, including eggs.
• Andersen's Organic Fruit Stand and Pumpkin Patch
  4588 Bodega Ave
  Petaluma
  (707) 529-1279
  Daily in October, noon–6 pm
  
  Pumpkins, gourds, corn maze, hay rides, and other activities for children. Large variety of organic vegetables.
• Grossi Farms
  6652 Petaluma Hill Rd
  Rohnert Park, across the street from Sonoma State University
  (707) 664-1602
  Daily in October, 9 am–4:30 pm
  
  Pick-your-own pumpkins, apples, apple juice and sauce. Certified organic fruits and vegetables.
• Fisher Farm
  2870 Canfield Rd
  Sebastopol
  (707) 823-4817
  Weekends, 9 am to dark
  
  Popular Sebastopol Christmas tree farm has a you-pick pumpkin patch in October.
• Pumpkin Patch (no name)
  Highway 101 at San Antonio Road
  South of Petaluma, past the Marin County line
  
  New pumpkin patch advertises discount pricing and has all kinds of jump houses and inflateables. Located on US 101 between Novato and Petaluma. Closest cross-street is San Antonio Road.