Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze

The 2010 and 2011 winner of the Marin Mommies Pumpkin Patch Poll was the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze. This is the big Halloween pumpkin patch that you see on the side of Highway 101 just north of the last Petaluma exit. You may even have been stuck in southbound traffic caused by rubberneckers slowing down to look at it.

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch, a Halloween fixture in Sonoma County since 1993, is popular for a number of reasons. For one, it's a real pumpkin patch that's not too far from civilization—it's off the North Bay's major freeway. Second, it offers a nice mix of real country attractions and other more commercial activities like bounce houses. Third, their pumpkin prices are really reasonable: from $1 for the smallest mini pumpkins to $15 and up for really large examples.

The entrance to their large parking lot is located off Stony Point Road just north of Petaluma. Keep your eyes open for the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch sign, because it can be easy to miss. When you first enter, you'll see that they offer a wide variety of squashes of all different types, including Hubbard, spaghetti, and turban squash, as well as ornamental gourds. There are some pre-picked pumpkins here, too, but you'll find most of them are off in the huge five-acre pumpkin field nearby.

On the way to the pumpkin patch you'll find farm animals to visit, including llamas, donkeys, pigs, a calf, and goats, a mini corn maze for kids 6 and under (help Farmer Jim find his chickens), a huge hay bale pyramid, a corn pit to play in, and shaded picnic areas. All those attractions, as well as admission to the pumpkin patch, are free. There's also food available for sale on weekends, including Chicago-style hot dogs, kettle corn, and pasta.

On weekends, you'll find fun activities and attractions like pony rides, a 90-foot zip line, inflatables, and more. A smaller Halloween bounce house is available for younger children during the week. In addition, Budderball the Clown will appear throughout the month of October for face painting, glitter tattoos, and balloons; check their website for schedule information.

Also on hand is the four-acre Amazing Corn Maze, which offers families the challenge of finding their way through a field of ten-foot-tall cornstalks. Admission to the corn maze is free for kids 5 and under, and $5 for everyone else. On Friday and Saturday nights from 6–10 pm it becomes the Night Maze (last entry at 9:30 pm), and admission goes up to $9 per person. The maze takes approximately 45 minutes to complete, and children under 15 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch is a busy bustling place, filled with families picking out their Halloween pumpkins and enjoying the attractions the place has to offer. The only distraction is the traffic on the adjacent freeway constantly zipping by. It's noisy and annoying, but then that's the price you pay for not having to head out into the country to a more serene pumpkin patch experience. On the plus side, it's blessed with a convenient location, good prices, and plenty of fun things for everyone to do.

If you go

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze is located at 550 Stony Point Road, just north of Petaluma. It's open through November 1 from 10 am–6 pm Sunday–Thursday and 10 am–10 pm on Friday and Saturday. Petaluma Pumpkin Patch is also available for school field trips during the week.

To get there, take Highway 101 north to the Old Redwood Highway/Penngrove exit. Turn left at the stop light and head west over the freeway, then turn right onto Stony Point Road. The entrance to the pumpkin patch is about a half mile up the road on your right.

Parking is free, and there's an ATM located on site in case you need some cash. Portable toilets with hand washing stations are available. No pets (other than service animals) are allowed.

For more information, visit www.petalumapumpkinpatch.com.