2025 NorCal Fall Fun Guide: The A'Mazing Corn Maze, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025 And More

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — The autumnal equinox on Monday, Sept. 22, signals the official arrival of fall, but the season is already in full swing in Northern California with events such as apple picking, corn mazes, hay rides, fall festivals and haunted houses.

Sunny days and crisp evenings are perfect for outdoor fun. One can’t-miss event is the A'Mazing Corn Maze and pumpkin patch in Petaluma. This pumpkin patch features a 4-acre A'Mazing Corn Maze, complete with second-story viewing platforms. There's also a separate, smaller maze for young children, and acres of pumpkins to explore.

But that’s just the beginning of fun activities taking place over the next couple of months.

Are you planning an event this fall? Feature it so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Below, find the 2025 Patch Guide to Fall Fun in Northern California:

Festivals

Walnut Creek Oktoberfest: Brews, Brats & Bavarian Beats
Where: 1375 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek
When: Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. and Sept. 27 noon to 9 p.m.
Details: Walnut Creek Oktoberfest returns. Enjoy two free days of music, dancing, food, beer, wine, artisan vendors, and kids' activities in the Kinder Platz. Don't miss this festive fall celebration for all ages!

LAGUFEST - Lagunitas Oktoberfest Celebration
Where: 1280 N McDowell Blvd., Petaluma
When: Sept. 21 at 11:30 a.m.
Details: Lagufest at The Lagunitas Brewing Company offers a day filled with fantastic beer, live music, delicious food specials, and exciting contests. Whether you're a craft beer lover or just looking for a good time, Lagufest offers great company and fun for everyone.

San Francisco Fleet Week 2025
Where: 1104 Sanchez St., San Francisco
When: Full Festival: Oct. 5-13, 2025 Airshow: Oct. 10-12
Details: The city's largest annual civic-sponsored event offers a variety of free, family-friendly activities. These events celebrate the dedication of the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces. A key attraction of Fleet Week is the spectacular U.S. Navy Blue Angels air show, which spans three consecutive days.
Cost: Free but there are premium box tickets as well.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025
Where:Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
When: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 3-5
Details: Held annually on the first weekend of October, this three-day musical extravaganza in beautiful Golden Gate Park is one of the country's largest, most beloved and free music festivals. It draws over 750,000 attendees.
Cost: Free

53rd Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
Where: Main Street, between Mill and Spruce Streets, Half Moon Bay, CA
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 18-19 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days
Details: Half Moon Bay’s coast offers a stunning autumn display with seaside farmland, orange fields, scarecrows, barns and pumpkin patches. The area celebrates fall enthusiastically, highlighted by the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, drawing many to the "World Pumpkin Capital."
Cost: Free

Corn Mazes

Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch
Address: 5157 Stony Point Rd., Santa Rosa
Season dates: Opens Sept. 27
Details: Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch offers a huge 8-acre corn maze as well as a kiddy corn maze, hay and sunflower mazes. It also has 8 acres of pumpkins. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The Corn Maze closes 45 minutes before the Patch closes. Closed on rainy days.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday;
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays;
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays;
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays
Cost: Ranges from $5 to $30. See website for more details.
Phone: 707-582-3276

G&M Farms
Address: 487 East Airway Blvd., Livermore
Season dates: Oct. 3-31
Details: G&M Farms has been featured twice on Late Night with David Letterman, and has a giant 6-acre corn maze and more.
Hours: 3-7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays
Cost: Adults $10, children $9, under 5 free.

Three Nunns Farm
Address: 550 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood
Season dates: Opens Sept. 20
Details: Three Nunns Farm in Brentwood, Contra Costa County, offers not one, but two corn mazes. Test your skills in the challenging 5-acre giant corn maze, or enjoy a more leisurely experience on the "Corn Trail."
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily
Cost: $15
Phone: 925-550-0870

Del’Osso Family Farm
Address: 501 Manthey Rd., Lathrop
Season dates: Oct.3-31
Details: Attractions at this Central Valley farm include their famous giant corn maze, entry to which is included with general admission.
Hours: noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Cost: Monday–Thursday $23.95; Friday, $28.95; Saturday & Sunday, $32.95; children 2 and under free.
Phone: 209-982-0833

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and A'Mazing Corn Maze
Address: 550 Stony Point Rd., Petaluma, CA 94952
Season dates: Opens Sept. 19
Details: All visitors aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult throughout the entire maze experience.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
Cost: Corn maze admission $8; free for ages 6 and under. Friday and Saturday evening Night Maze admission $12 for all ages
Phone: 707-781-3132

Hayrides

Lemos Farms
Where: 12320 San Mateo Rd., Half Moon Bay
When: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Details: Lemos Farm on Highway 92 offers pony, train, and hay rides, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and Goat Yoga. In the Fall, it becomes Lemos Farm Pumpkin Patch. The farm offers single ride tickets, unlimited day passes, and options for events and field trips.

Clancy’s Pumpkins and Christmas Trees
Where: Two locations will be open for the 2025 Season: 1620 7th Ave. Pumpkin Patch: Oct. 3 to Oct. 31 and 2102 Sloat Blvd. Pumpkin Patch: Sept. 26 to Oct. 31, both in San Francisco.
Details: Take a hay ride in the middle of San Francisco. Visiting the patch in October, you will find pumpkins of all sizes and shapes. Gourds and corn stalks are in abundance.

Haunted Houses

Pirates of Emerson
Where: Alameda County Fairgrounds
When: Sep. 27 – Nov. 2
Details: Pirates of Emerson returns for its 35th year of scares, hailed as one of America's Top 10 Haunted Houses by Scary Overload. This walk-through attraction, spanning a 6-acre compound, features four haunted attractions, strolling entertainment, music and more. Timed-entry tickets are exclusively available online.

Fear Overload Scream Park
Where: 15555 E 14th St., San Leandro
When: Sep. 21 – Nov. 2
Details: Fear Overload, a leading Bay Area haunted house, offers two intense walk-through experiences: Darkmoor Penitentiary and Slotch Sanatorium. Both are known for their elaborate staging, detailed props, and compelling character actors.

Unhinged: Hotel at Winchester Mystery House
Where: 25 S Winchester Blvd., San Jose
When: Sept. 26 – Nov. 30
Details: Unhinged: Hotel offers a suspenseful, immersive indoor and outdoor haunting experience at the Winchester Mystery House. Guests navigate a disorienting, single-path journey through all four floors, including two basements, with special effects, actors and disturbing scenes. The experience also includes The Mist, which is an outdoor scare zone, a Halloween museum, interactive activities and themed food, drinks, and photo ops. The indoor walk-through is approximately 45 minutes.

Blind Scream Haunted House: Reflections of Terror
Where: 98 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa
When: Oct. 10 - Nov. 1
Details: The Northbay’s largest haunted house boasts over 20,000 square feet of scares. Venture into the southern overgrown woods and discover a dilapidated old house. A profound sense of terror, like icy fingers, will grip your spine as you approach. Though you may hesitate, curiosity will compel you forward. The creaky floorboards of the porch will groan with each step, a warning echoing in the silence. Push open the ivy-covered door and confront the horrors within.