Monterey and Santa Cruz County Pumpkin Patches for Fall 2020

This year brings changes and challenges to our traditional trip to the pumpkin patch. Although we have lost a few of our normal haunts the remaining patches are taking extra precautions to ensure your safety.

1. Borchard Farms

142 Rodgers Road, Salinas • www.borchardfarms.com • Open 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily.

Staff will be enforcing masks, social distancing, and performing a temperature check prior to entering. They promise to have a pumpkin wonderland waiting beyond the checkpoints filled with many varieties of gourds, squash, and pumpkins. They will also feature the family activities of Ghost Town, the Haunted Barn, and the 5 acre corn maze.

2. Cardinale & Wright Pumpkin Patch/Artichoke Festival Haunted House

Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey artichokefestival.org • Open 5-10 pm every Friday and Saturday in October

The Artichoke Festival presents something new – a ghoulish Haunted House. Next to the Cardinale & Wright Pumpkin Patch, ghouls and goblins age 12 and up will enjoy the thrills of a very scary night of Halloween nightmares. The Haunted House will follow all social distancing protocols with plenty of space between guests, touchless ticketing, and hand sanitizing stations. Not recommended for children under 12, but the Pumpkin Patch will be friendly for all ages.

3. Crystal Bay Farm

40 Zils Road, Watsonville • www.crystalbayfarm.com • Open through October 31st 10 am.-6:00 pm • Open till 8 pm on Fridays

Covid 19 information was unavailable at this time, please contact the farm for more details. They list a $2 entrance fee and dogs are allowed.

4. Earthbound Farms

7250 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley • www.earthboundfarm.com

Every precaution is being taken to ensure your family’s safety. Masks are required, there are hand sanitizer stations available, and the pumpkins are priced as a flat rate rather than by weight this year to encourage you to shop with your eyes and only touch the pumpkin you plan to take home. Before you go you should know that no groups are allowed during this time, the area is roped off to control traffic flow, and only ten people at a time will be permitted. Patch Attendants will limit you to twenty minutes to pick.

5. The Farm

Exit off Hwy 68, Spreckels Blvd, Salinas • thefarm-salinasvalley.com • Open Monday through Saturday, 10 am-5 pm

Pumpkin patch is open. Special Autumn events/activities still being planned as of press time.

6. Rodoni Farms

4444 Coast Road, Santa Cruz, North of Santa Cruz on HWY 1 • www.rodonifarms.com • Open through Oct. 31, 2020, Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9am-6pm (rain or shine)

For a day of fun in Santa Cruz you can stop in at the Rodoni Farm where they will be enforcing social distancing guidelines. They have hay bales, scary cutouts, and a 5 acre corn maze. The pumpkins are priced by size, not weight. They also have fresh Brussels sprouts on the stalk, artichokes, corn stalks, and gourds. They are dog friendly.

7. Swank Farms

4751 Pacheco Pass, Hollister • www.swankfarms.com • Open through Nov. 1st, 10am to 10pm

Family fun is sure to abound at Swank Farms! All staff pass a health check prior to each shift. Common areas are routinely sanitized and hand sanitizer or hand washing stations will be available to you as well as staff. They will also have their yearly sunflower field, trail of lights and frights, and Fall Days.

Anya Heidenberg is the owner of a gluten-free bakery, a children’s cancer advocate and author of Through Emma’s Eye. She is a 20-year resident of Monterey and lives on a modern-day homestead with her husband and three daughters.