Marin and Sonoma Pumpkin Patches 2012

Fall is here, which means Halloween is just around the corner and local pumpkin patches will soon be 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, Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch offers that on-the-farm experience and old favorites like the St. Vincent's Pumpkin Patch (Godmothers of Timothy Murphy School Pumpkin Patch) offer an exciting Halloween experience for families.

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. Admission to pumpkin patches is free unless otherwise noted.

Marin County

• Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch
  (Lafranchi Pumpkin Patch)
  5300 Nicasio Valley Road (1/4 mile north of Nicasio square)
  Nicasio
  (415) 662-9100
  Open daily October 1–31,10 am–6 pm
  
  The Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch offers organic pumpkins, hay rides, farm animals, bounce house and slide, a farm stand, Nicasio Valley Cheese Company (Thursdays–Sundays) and BBQ and ice cream for sale on the weekends. Popular children's recording artist Tim Cain performs every Sunday (October 6, 13, 20, and 27) from 11 am to noon. Six-piece Western band Manzanita Moon performs Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 12:30 to 4:30 pm. Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) Day is Sunday October 21 from 10 am–6 pm, with kids' games and crafts; barn animals; local food, beer, and wine; educational exhibits; and more.
  Read our review of Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch.
• Farm Girl Nursery
  100 Pacheco Avenue (off Indian Valley Road)
  Novato
  (415) 730-6917
  Open Saturdays, 10 am–4 pm or by appointment
  Farm Girl Nursery Facebook Page
  
  Farm Girl Nursery in Novato's Indian Valley neighborhood will be home to Pumpkin Hill and plenty of giant pumpkins this fall. They're open every Saturday from 10 am–4 pm. Saturday, October 21, 10 am–2 pm, will be Pumpkin Hill Day—pick pumpkins, harvest veggies, have a picnic, and more! Read more about Farm Girl Nursery in our article here.
• Godmothers of Timothy Murphy School Pumpkin Patch (St. Vincent's)
  St. Vincent's Field, at the Marinwood/St. Vincent's exit off Hwy 101
  Marinwood
  (415) 785-3264
  Open Wednesday–Sunday, October 6–28, 10 am–5 pm
  www.godmothers.org
  
  This long-time favorite pumpkin patch at St. Vincent's near Marinwood offers a variety of pumpkins as well as attractions and activities like bounce houses, a hay pile, face painting, snack shack, and a picnic area. Groups welcome. Read our review of St. Vincent's Pumpkin Patch.
  
• Ian's Pumpkin Patch at Bon Air 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
  
  A pumpkin patch with bounce houses and play structures. Off Highway 101.
• Kevin's Strawberry Villa Pumpkin Patch
  100 Shoreline Highway
  Mill Valley
  
  A pumpkin patch with bounce houses and inflatable space shuttle slide. Right off 101 near the Highway 1 exit.

Sonoma County

• Adobe Pumpkin Farm
  2478 East Washington St
  Petaluma
  (707) 763-6416
  www.adobepumpkinfarm.com
  Open daily September 29 through October 31, 10 am–6 pm
  
  Adobe Pumpkin Farm features a 6-acre corn maze, pumpkin picking, farm animals, food, coffee, flowers, vegetables, farm animals, a Halloween barn with tons of Halloween decorations, a Christmas shop, and more. This year, the Pumpkin Fairy Godmother rises out of the pumpkin patch every weekend to tell stories, visit, and sprinkle fairy dust on your pumpkins! Other weekend events and attractions include the Spider Hollow haunted barn, live entertainment, hay rides, food vendors, and the Adobe Farmers Market. The Adobe Pumpkin Festival take place on October 13 and 14. You can hold your birthday party here, too. Read our review of Adobe Pumpkin Farm
• First Light Farm Organic Pumpkin Patch and Corn Jungle Maze
  4588 Bodega Avenue
  Petaluma
  (707) 480-5346
  www.facebook.com/FirstLightFarmStore
  Open through October
  Wednesday–Friday noon–6 pm
  Saturday and Sunday 10 am–6 pm
  
  This new farm store and old-fashioned certified organic pumpkin patch is located just three miles from downtown Petaluma, on the site of the old Andersen Farm. Pick pumpkins; shop for organic produce, eggs, and local honey; take a farm tour; explore the corn maze; take a hay ride; and climb the hay pyramid. It's a real functioning farm, too.
• McClelland's Dairy Pumpkin Patch
  6475 Bodega Avenue
  Petaluma
  (707) 664-0452
  www.mcclellandsdairy.com
  Saturdays and Sundays in October, 10 am–6 pm
  
  Find the perfect pumpkin in McClelland's three-acre pumpkin field. Pick your pumpkins straight from the vine. Pumpkins range from mini to giant in size. Free admission includes pumpkin patch, petting farm animals (including cows, goats, and chickens), and watching cows being milked in the parlor. Find your way through our Hay Maze. Check out our Bounce House. Eat a delicious barbecue lunch. There's also a farm store selling products like free-range eggs, lavender, and European-style artisan butter. Read our 2012 review here.
• Muelrath Ranches Pumpkin Patch
  3800 Walker Avenue
  Santa Rosa
  (707) 585-2195
  www.muelrathspumpkins.com
  Open daily September 29–October 31
  Monday–Thursday 3–6 pm
  Friday 3–9 pm
  Saturday and Sunday 10 am–6 pm
  
  Muelrath Ranches offer 21 varieties of pesticide-free, sustainably grown pumpkins, as well as gourds, winter squash, sunflowers, ornamental corn, and more. Activities include free hayrides, pumpkin slingshot, hay tunnel, and toddler corn maze. Experience "Friday Nights in the Pumpkin Patch" every Friday from 5–9 pm through the month of October. Enjoy a campfire in the corral and roast a hot dog and marshmallows, have some hot cider and cookies, and take a night time hay ride. Friday night admission $10; space is limited so call ahead for reservations.
  
• Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze
  550 Stony Point Rd
  Petaluma
  www.petalumapumpkinpatch.com
  September 28–November 1
  Sunday–Thursday, 10 am–6 pm
  Friday and Saturday, 10 am–10 pm
  
  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 "a-maze-ing" corn maze (admission $5, 5 and under free; $9 on Friday and Saturday nights 6–10 pm), farm animals, a zip line, weekend pony rides, face painting, jumpy houses and inflatables, food vendors, covered snack area, school tours. Special events include a firemen's day and raffle, 4H bake sales and animal demonstrations, and more. Read about our visit to Petaluma Pumpkin Patch.
  
• Peter Pumpkin Patch
  Spring Hill Jersey Farm
  4235 Spring Hill Rd (off Bodega Ave)
  Petaluma
  (707) 762-3446
  www.springhillcheese.com
  Open daily September 28–October 31, 9 am–dusk
  
  Another one of our all-time favorite pumpkin patches. Pick your own pumpkin, dig for potatoes, take a tractor ride, visit farm animals, taste homemade ice cream and Spring Hill cheese, milk a cow, and get lost in the hay maze. Peter Pumpkin Patch also ofers fresh fruits and vegetables and picnic baskets. Free parking. This is a wonderful and fun pumpkin patch on a real working farm. Don't miss the homemade pumpkin ice cream! Read our review of the 2012 Peter Pumpkin Patch.
• Peterson's Farm
  636 Gossage Ave (off Petaluma Blvd N)
  Petaluma
  (707) 765-4582
  www.petersonsfarm.com
  Open daily in October, 10 am–6 pm
  
  Voted Best Local Farm in 2006 by Petaluma Magazine. Peterson's offers several varieties of pumpkins as well as tomatoes, honey, and free range eggs. There are farm animals to visit and a picnic area. School and group tours available by appointment. All farm products are pesticide and herbicide free. This is one of our favorite pumpkin patches! Read about our visit to Peterson's Farm.
  
• Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch
  5157 Stony Point Road (at Rohnert Park Expressway)
  Santa Rosa
  (707) 331-6653
  santarosapumpkinpatch.com
  Open daily starting September 27, Sunday–Thursday 9 am–7 pm, Friday and Saturday 9 am–9 pm
  
  The Patch offers 8 acres of pumpkins, a 5-acre corn maze, kiddy corn mazes, jack-o-lantern tether ball, tire swings, a huge jumpy pillow, a corn play box, a petting zoo, face painting, children's entertainers, hay rides, yummy treats and food, and more. Cash only.
  
• Tolay Fall Festival
  Tolay Lake Regional Park
  Lakeville Highway at Cannon Lane
  Petaluma
  (707) 565-2041
  www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_tolay_fallfestival.htm
  October 11–14 and 17–21
  9 am–3 pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
  11 am–5 pm Saturday and Sunday
  
  The 7th annual Tolay Fall Festival takes place over two long weekends in October at the site of the old Cardoza Ranch off Lakeville Highway, 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, a hands-on children's area and kiddie corral, and hay rides. Festival admission is $4 for ages 13 and up, $1 for children 12 and under; parking is $7 per car or free with a Sonoma County Regional Parks Parks membership. School field trips may be scheduled.
  Read our review of the Tolay Fall Festival