North Bay Pumpkin Patches 2011

Fall is here, which means Halloween is just around the corner and local pumpkin patches are 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
  Open daily October 1–31,10 am–6 pm
  
  The only real pick-it-off-the-vine pumpkin patch in Marin County, 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 Big Ned's BBQ on the weekends. Popular children's recording artist Tim Cain performs October 2, 9, and 23. Six-piece Western band Manzanita Moon performs October 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23. Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) Day is October 9 from 10 am–4 pm, with kids' games and contests, local food vendors, beer from Iron Springs Brewery, and educational booths.
  Read our review of the 2010 Nicasio Valley Farms 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 October 1–30 from 10 am–5 pm
  
  Bounce houses, hay pile, face painting, snack shack, picnic area. Groups welcome.
  Read our review of St. Vincent's Pumpkin Patch.
• Tam Junction Pumpkins
  254 Shoreline Highway
  Mill Valley
  prooflab.com/art/tam-junction-pumpkins-at-grow
  Open daily October 1–31, 3–8 pm; 10 am–8 pm weekends
  
  Local businesses Proof Lab and Alpha Dog team up to offer this pumpkin patch preview of GROW, a modern art and garden center. Thousands of pumpkins, squash, ornamental corn, and other Halloween products; games; a raffle; contests; classic Halloween movie screenings on Friday nights (weather permitting), and more. A portion of the proceeds benefit Kiddo!
• 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
  
  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 23 through October 31, 10 am–dusk
  
  Gift shop, 6-acre corn maze, pumpkin picking, farm animals, the Spider Hollow haunted barn, food, coffee, flowers, vegetables, 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 a train ride; food like BBQ, tacos, funnel cakes, kettle corn, and caramel apples; and the Adobe farmers market. You can hold your birthday party here, too. Read our 2011 review of Adobe Pumpkin Farm
• Muelrath Ranch Pumpkin Patch
  3800 Walker Avenue
  Santa Rosa
  (707) 585-2195
  www.muelrathspumpkins.com
  Open daily September 24-October 31
  
  They offer 21 varieties of pumpkins, free hayrides, pumpkin slingshot, hay tunnel and toddler corn maze. Come to "Friday Nights in the Pumpkin Patch" every Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm through the month of October. Enjoy our "Campfire in the Corral" - roast a hot dog and marshmallows, have some hot cider and cookies, and take a night time hay ride. Admission $10. Space is limited so please call ahead for reservations.
• 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 our 2011 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 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 2011 Peter Pumpkin Patch.
• Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze
  550 Stony Point Rd
  Petaluma
  www.petalumapumpkinpatch.com
  September 30–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 amazing corn maze (admission $5, 5 and under free; $9 on Friday and Saturday nights 6–10 pm), farm animals, weekend pony rides, face painting, jumpy houses and inflatables, covered snack area, school tours. Special events include a firemen's pancake breakfast, 4H bake sales and animal demonstrations, and more.
• McClelland's Dairy Pumpkin Patch
  6475 Bodega Avenue
  Petaluma
  (707) 664-0452
  www.mclellandsdairy.com
  Saturdays and Sundays in October, 10 am–6 pm
  
  Find the perfect pumpkin in McClelland's three-acre pumpkin field. 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. There's also a farm store selling products like free-range eggs, lavender, and European-style artisan butter.
• 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 13–16 and 19–23
  9 am–3 pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
  11 am–5 pm Saturday and Sunday
  
  The 6th 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 $3 for ages 13 and up, $1 for children 12 and under; parking is $6 per car or free with a Sonoma County Regional Parks Parks membership. School field trips may be scheduled.
  Read our review of the 2010 Tolay Fall Festival