Where To Pick Pumpkins Near Mill Valley This Fall

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Heading out to a patch or field to pick the best or biggest pumpkin isn’t just about finding the perfect Halloween jack-o-lantern. It’s a seasonal activity blending nature, tradition and community, and there are several places around Mill Valley to create lasting memories with family and friends.

Many pumpkin patches and fields offer complementary activities like hay rides, corn mazes and games for the kids. Picking your own pumpkin also is a good way to support the local farmers who grow them.

Whether you plan to carve a jack-o’-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin near Mill Valley. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Grossi Family Farm

Address: 3666 Novato Blvd., Novato, CA 94947
Phone: 707-888-5607
Details: This farm offers a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, open Wednesdays through Fridays from noon to 5:30 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On weekends, there is a $5 admission fee for ages 2 and up. This fee includes access to the pumpkin fields, hay maze and pyramid, corn pit, corn hole, tetherball, and farm animals. Food is available for purchase during weekend lunch hours. Additional activities, such as the bunny experience and mini pumpkin slingshot, can be added for an extra fee.

• Ian’s Pumpkin Patch

Address: 690 Redwood Highway Frontage Rd., Mill Valley, CA 94941
Phone: (415) 717-7376
Details: Ian’s Pumpkin Patch, located a short distance from San Rafael, is a kid's dream, open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This makeshift pumpkin patch offers a jumping good time with inflatable bounce houses. Tickets can be purchased on site.

• Richmond Pumpkin Patch

Address: 2200 Hilltop Mall Rd., Richmond, CA 94806
Phone: (209) 910-3535
Details: This local pumpkin patch is open every day, offering numerous opportunities for fall-themed photos. Entry is free, with additional attractions such as a petting zoo, inflatables, duck boats, and paintballs available for a fee. Please visit their website for varying prices and operating hours.

• Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch

Address: 5300 Nicasio Valley Rd., Nicasio, CA 94946
Phone: (415) 602-9727
Details: Just a short drive away, the Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch is celebrating its 30th year and is open every day until Nov. 2. Weekday visitors can enjoy hay mazes, farm animals, and a corn sensory play pit. Even more activities are available on weekends. Visit their website for details on pricing, offerings, and hours.

• Petaluma Pumpkin Patch

Address: 450 Stony Point Rd., Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone: (707) 781-3132
Details: The Petaluma Pumpkin Patch offers over five acres of pumpkins and free family activities, including a covered snack area. For an additional cost, visitors can enjoy the "Amazing Corn Maze" and other fall attractions. Please visit their website for details on hours and pricing.

• Pronzini Farms

Address: 3795 Adobe Rd., Petaluma, CA 94954
Phone: (707) 778-3871
Details: Pronzini Farms offers daily pumpkin sales, with prices ranging from $4 to $30. Enjoy fall photo opportunities, including a horse-drawn pumpkin carriage. Live music is featured on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. under the big tent, and daily activities include a hay tower and corn pit. Visit their website for specific pricing and hours.

• Mickelson Pumpkin Patch

Address: 5495 Redwood Hwy South, Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone: (707) 490-8088
Details: Mickelson Pumpkin Patch offers daily fun for the whole family. In addition to pumpkin picking, visitors can enjoy the grain train, hay maze, hay pyramid, apple cannon, and paintball gallery. Food and drink options are also available on-site. For activity pricing and daily hours, please visit the website.

Keep in mind that carving and baking pumpkins aren’t the same. The former are grown in fields to be large, more vibrantly colored, and relatively hollow. The watery flesh doesn’t have the same flavor found in baking pumpkins, which tend to be smaller, have thicker, harder-to-carve walls and sweeter flesh. For those, you’ll probably need to head to the grocery store.

Pumpkins for carving should appear sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season. Here are some tips for carving a perfect jack-o’-lantern from Warren Nash on YouTube, who shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.

Pumpkin carving kits will go a long way in getting what you need. They typically include saws, a scooper, a drill and multiple patterns.

If you're looking for the items individually around the house, here's what you could use:

• Curved boning knife, or serrated knife from the kitchen
• Ice cream scoop or scraper
• Paper
• Pencil or pen
• Candle or battery-operated light
• Lighter

Steps

1. Cut it: If cutting from the top of the pumpkin, make sure to do it on an inward angle, so the top won't drop inside the pumpkin when you put it back on. Michael Natiello, creative director for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze, said it's better to cut the pumpkin from the bottom, in a series of pumpkin carving tips from Good Housekeeping. That helps prevent the sides from caving in later.
2. Gut it: Use the ice cream scoop, or your hands, to remove all the seeds and other debris from inside the pumpkin. Do a thorough cleaning and make sure nothing is left sticking to the sides.
3. Trace it: Draw your design on a piece of paper before putting it on the pumpkin itself. That way, it is easier to trace the design onto the pumpkin.
4. Make the cuts: Cut out the design. Natiello said to use a fork or pencil to poke holes around the lines. When cutting, get the big pieces of pumpkin out first and clean up the edges later.
5. Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin, and step back and admire your work.

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