Autumn

Looking for that true Halloween pumpkin patch experience? Check out list of pumpkin patches in Marin and southern Sonoma counties to find the perfect place for you and your family to pick out your pumpkins and get in the Halloween spirit. In Marin County, only the Lafranchi Pumpkin Patch offers that on-the-farm experience, but old favorites like the St. Vincent's Pumpkin Patch are open as well. To find an abundance of real-live farms offering pumpkin patches this season, head up north a short distance to rural Sonoma County.

We plan to visit as many of these pumpkin patches as we can this fall season, and will post reviews as soon as we can. 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

Lafranchi Pumpkin Patch
Nicasio Valley Farms
5300 Nicasio Valley Rd (1/4 mile north of Nicasio square)
Nicasio
(415) 662-9100
Daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Pumpkin picking, hay rides, farm animals, jumpy houses, farm stand, BBQ on the weekends. Tim Cain performs on Sunday October 7 and 21 at 11 a.m. Read our review of Lafranchi 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
Daily, 10 a.m–5:30 p.m.

Bounce houses, hay pile, face painting, snack shack, picnic area. Groups welcome. Read our review of St. Vincent's Pumpkin Patch.

read more »

Since my husband gets the Columbus Day holiday off, we decided to check out another local pumpkin patch this weekend. We visited what is probably the only pumpkin patch on a working farm in Marin County (if you know of another please let us know): Lafranchi Pumpkin Patch at Nicasio Valley Farms. The Lafranchi pumpkin patch, located in the west Marin hamlet of Nicasio, features all certified organic pumpkins at a real working farm. It's located just west of the Nicasio village square right on Nicasio Valley Road, and is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

read more »

For the second in our ongoing series of North Bay pumpkin patch reviews, we checked out the Godmothers of Timothy Murphy School Pumpkin Field, AKA the St. Vincent's Pumpkin Patch. This popular and long-established seasonal fixture is located in St. Vincent's field near St. Vincent's School for Boys just south of Novato. To get there, take the Marinwood/St. Vincent's exit off Highway 101. Head east toward St. Vincent's and you can't miss it. In the interests of full disclosure, we live pretty much right across the freeway from St. Vincent's and always visit this pumpkin patch several times during the Halloween season.

read more »

Yesterday we dragged the kids to the first pumpkin patch of the season (but certainly not the last). We visited the Adobe Pumpkin Farm in Petaluma, located at the intersection of Adobe Road and East Washington Street. We were enticed in part by the promise of a free mini pumpkin for all children who visited during the Weekend Along Farm Trails event on the weekend of September 29 and 30.

read more »