Where To Pick Pumpkins Near Pacifica This Fall

SAN MATEO 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 Pacifica 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 Pacifica. Here are a few of our favorites:

Webb Ranch

Address: 2718 Alpine Rd., Portola Valley, CA 94028
Contact: Atlee@WebbRanchInc.com
Details: Webb Ranch pumpkin patch is open daily from September 26 to October 31, 2025, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (activities conclude at 5 p.m.). Enjoy pumpkin picking, seasonal produce, and family-friendly farm photo opportunities. Activities offered include bounce houses, a corn maze, and tractor hay rides. Walk-ins are welcome on weekdays, but reservations are required for weekend activities. Book your weekend visit here.

Queen’s Pumpkin Patch

Address: 12985 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070
Phone: (408) 898-8896
Details: Queen's Pumpkin Patch is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Oct. 31. Attractions include a petting zoo, hay rides, home-grown pumpkins, and a sunflower patch. Tickets are required, and pumpkins and activities are priced individually.

Lemos Farm

Address: 12320 San Mateo Rd., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: (650) 726-2342
Details: Open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the pumpkin patch offers pony and train rides, a haunted house, a petting zoo, themed photo opportunities, and food vendors. The event runs until November 16, 2025. Pre-purchased tickets are recommended due to limited at-the-door tickets and farm capacity restrictions.

Farmer John's Pumpkin Farm

Address: 850 N Cabrillo Hwy., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: (650) 730-9258
Details: During pumpkin season, Farmer John's is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last day being October 31, 2025. There is no admission fee or need for reservations, and pets are welcome. Pumpkins are priced individually.

Arata’s Pumpkin Farm

Address: 185 Verde Rd., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: (650) 726-7548
Details: Experience autumn fun daily through Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Beyond pumpkin picking, families can explore a huge hay maze, a haunted barn, enjoy pony rides, and more! Admission costs vary by activity. Visit the attractions page for reservation recommendations and evening hours.

Pastorino Farms

Address: 12391 San Mateo Rd., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: (650) 726-6440
Details: Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Oct. 31, guests can enjoy a wide selection of pumpkins and fresh farm produce. The farm offers a variety of activities, seasonal decorations, and festive family fun. Attractions, weather permitting,: Available October 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Hay rides, train rides, pony rides, and a petting zoo. Weekends Only: Haunted house and face painting. Please visit the website for pricing details.

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.

Check more Fall fun from Patch:

• Get Your Halloween Frights Early With These Spooky Events In Northern CA
• 2025 NorCal Fall Fun Guide: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025 And More
• Where To Pick Apples Around The Bay Area: 2025 Guide