Best pumpkin patches in Fresno? Here’s 8 fun, affordable & family-friendly spots
Fall is now in full swing, and with it comes lots of fun-filled spooky season opportunities to sip pumpkin-spice drinks and pick pumpkins to paint, carve, bake into a pie or simply display.
Fresno has several spots where you can not only find the perfect pumpkin, but also enjoy family-friendly fun like hay rides, corn mazes, carnival rides and story time.
Here are eight of Fresno’s most fun and affordable options that are also family-friendly:
Sunflower Farm Stand: ‘Huge variety of pumpkins’ plus a pumpkin-launcher
Normally a stunning sunflower maze during the summer, Sunflower Farm Stand has embraced the spirit of Halloween season by offering a Fall Festival complete with a corn maze, hay rides, and a pumpkin patch offering a “huge variety of pumpkins” from Jack-O’-Lanterns to “fancy pumpkins,” the farm stand said on Instagram.
Entry is free, and for $5 you can launch a pumpkin from a giant homemade slingshot.
Pumpkins range from $5 to $20 depending on size and type, and the farm stand also offers pumpkin bags filled with sunflower-themed goodies you can’t get anywhere else — such as chocolate-covered sunflower seeds.
There’s also a petting zoo where you can feed “the Dutch bro’s” goats.
- Where: 18266 Kings Canyon Road, Sanger, CA, 93657
- When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Sept. 27-Oct. 31
- Info: 599-400-3211
Wild Patch Pumpkins: ‘Mom+pop little pumpkin spot’ has a free corn maze
Mom and pop shop Wild Patch Pumpkins offers a variety of pumpkins for visitors to pick themselves, a corn maze and fun photo opportunities.
Both entry and the corn maze are free. Pumpkins range from $2 to $15 depending on size and variety.
You’ll buy your pumpkins directly from local farmers, and you can also bring your dogs to join in on the fun. The spot will also offer food trucks, giveaways and more during the month of October.
“It’s that time of year,” the business said on Instagram. “Leaves are changing. The weather is great. Pumpkins are just waiting to be picked.”
- Where: 255 W Bullard, Clovis
- When: M-F 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Oct. 31
- Info: Direct message on social media for inquiries
Hobb’s Grove/Billy Bob’s Hob’s Pumpkin Grove: Less-scary option for kids
The Pumpkin Grove offers “a fun filled educational experience for kids to cherish,” according to the website.
For $11, families, groups and schools can come enjoy a tour of the Fun Filled Forest, a mini corn maze, hay rides, pick out a “kid size” pumpkin at the patch, straw bales, a corn kernel pit, a painted tire pile, and story time followed by picnic play time.
Kids under 2 years old get in for free.
- Where: Hobb’s Grove 14265 E Goodfellow Ave, Sanger, CA, 93657
- Info: Text or call 559-356-3962 to schedule your tour, or go to pumpkingrove.com
Simonian Farms: Come see a haunted caboose and photo ops galore
Simonian Farms grows over 180 varieties of fruits and vegetables and offers a “beautiful” pumpkin patch each year.
There’s also a haunted caboose for kids and free photo opportunities for the whole family.
Pumpkins range from $1.49 for the smallest and $21.99 for the largest.
- Where: 2629 S. Clovis Ave
- When: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily through Oct. 31
- Info: 599-237-2294 or Facebook
Hillcrest Pumpkin Patch in Reedley: No ghosts, poltergeists, zombies or anything scary
Hillcrest Pumpkin Patch is another non-scary option for kiddos.
“No ghosts, no poltergeists, no zombies, no specters, no R.O.U.S (Rodents of Unusual Size), etc.,” the pumpkin patch said on its website. “Just spicy pumpkins down on the ol’ farm.”
Entry is $10 per car, then train tickets are $5 for one-way or $10 for two-ways. (“No more carrying pumpkins up the hill to the parking lot.”)
Hayride tickets are $4 for ages 2 and up. Pumpkins range from $2 to $70.
There’s also food vendors on both upper and lower levels.
- Where: Hillcrest 6943 S. Reed Ave, Reedley, CA
- When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends through Oct. 26
- Info: 559-638-2762 or hillcrestreedley.com
HAPS Fantastical Farm: ‘No blood, gore or scare actors’
HAPS is designed to be fun for the whole family, so there’s no “blood, gore, or scare actors,” owner Travis House told the Fresno Bee in an email.
“By day, the farm offers pumpkins for sale, food, drinks, games, and three intermingling trails to explore, all individually themed,” the farm said on its website. “By night, the farm…comes to life with thousands of colorful lights synced to relaxing music from the 1940’s. There are no scare actors or gruesome displays at HAPS Fantastical Farm, just good old fashioned autumn fun for everyone.”
Daytime entry is $5 per person.
Tickets for HAPS Fantastical Farm After Dark range from $14 to $21 for adults and $12 to $17 for kids. Prices vary day to day.
Pumpkin prices range from $5 to $25 based on size.
- Where: Southeast corner of Del Rey and Mckinley Ave. in Sanger, CA
- When: Daytime 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Nighttime 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 9
- Info: 599-593-8854 or hapsfarm.com
Planet Pumpkin: A massive carnival experience
Planet Pumpkin is a massive fair experience that offers carnival rides, DJ sets on Friday and Saturday nights, a family photographer, plus story time, birthday parties and field trips.
Pumpkins are sold at 0.85 cents per pound, starting at $1.50 for palm-sized minis, $5.50-$6 for the smallest carvable size at seven pounds and $10-$20 for mediums depending on size. The largest pumpkins from 120-150 pounds range from $95 up to $125, and these sizes usually sell out.
- Where: 720 E Nees Ave, Fresno, CA 93720
- When: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays, rides start at 4 p.m.; Rides start at noon on weekends through Nov. 2
- Info: 559-347-7500 or Instagram
River Ranch Pumpkin Patch: Come ride a pony, hay ride or train
River Ranch Pumpkin Patch offers free entry, a wide variety of pumpkins, plus pony rides, hay rides, train rides, a haunted house, petting zoo, snack bar and photo opportunities, as well as parties.
Pumpkin prices were not available.
- Where: 8906 W. Herndon Ave., Fresno CA 93723
- When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends Oct. 4-26
- Info: RiverRanchPumpkinPatch.com
