Pumpkin Patches in Ventura County and Adjacent Areas

The star of the Halloween show is the pumpkin. According to my favorite resource Wikipedia, the name pumpkin originated from the ancient Greek word pepon ("large melon"). The French called it pompom. The British changed it to pumpion. Then American colonists changed it to pumpkin.

Pumpkins are gourd-like squashes and technically are a fruit. They can range in size from 1 lb to 1,000 lbs.

But who cares about all that...what we REALLY want to know is, where are the pumpkin patches in Ventura County and surrounding areas for the 2025 fall season!? Well, here are some choices...but make sure to call before you go for hours, etc.

OTHER HALLOWEEN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Big Wave Dave's Pumpkin Patch will be operating its pumpkin patch again this year at the Pacific View Mall under the big tent in the Trader Joe's/Target parking lot from September 26th through October 31st, 2025. Free admission to the pumpkin patch, with kids’ activities, photo opps and more. BBQ tri tip sandwiches available on weekends. Open Wednesday to Sunday. Hours 2:30pm-7:30pm Wed/Thu, 2:30pm-8:30pm Fri, 11am-8pm Sat and 11am-6pm Sun. Visit bigwavedaveschristmastrees.com/pumpkin-patch.html

Conejo Family Farms is a new local pumpkin patch in 2025 located at 5937 Ridge View Street in Camarillo. There is a pumpkin patch, 5 acre corn maze, hay rides, bounce house, weekend music, and more. Opens Wednesday, September 17th. Entry fee $10 for ages 5 and up. Visit www.conejofamilyfarms.com for more information. From Thousand Oaks, take the 101 north to Camarillo Springs Road, go south to Ridge View Street and take a right. The patch will be on the right.

Mizel Family Foundation You Pick Pumpkin Days in Hidden Valley on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4-5:30PM, October 14-30. Visit Mizel Estate Wines on a fall afternoon where you can select and harvest your own pumpkins. Mizel’s Pumpkin Patch features a wide variety of pumpkins in all sizes, shapes and colors. Located at 1050 W. Potrero Road. www.mizelestate.com

Boccali Ranch Pumpkin Patch at 3277 E. Ojai Avenue in Ojai will be open 7 days a week from 10am to 7pm from October 4-31, 2025. They offer tiny to extra-large “Big Mac” pumpkins, squash, gourds, Indian corn and seasonal produce. More details at boccalipumpkins.com.

Prancer's Pumpkin Patch Santa Paula is located at 18540 East Telegraph Road and their Fall Fest will take place September 27 to October 31, 2025. Pumpkin patch events on weekends from 9am to 6pm with the following themes:

• 9/27-9/28: Animals of the Farm

• 10/4-10/5: Heroes on the Farm

• 10/11-10/12: Wild West on the Farm

• 10/18-10/19: Fiesta at the Farm

• 10/25-10/26: Harvest Fest on the Farm

Fall fest includes 10 acres of pumpkin patch, wagon hay ride, animal center, corn field expedition, farm games, live entertainment and more. Admission $26 ages 3 and up. Ages 2 and under free. Check for details at prancersfarm.com.

Stu Miller's Pumpkin Patch just east of the Simi Valley Town Center.

The 2025 Underwood Family Farms Fall Harvest Festival in Moorpark is back from September 27 to October 31 at 3370 Sunset Valley Road. Admission includes huge pumpkin patch, tractor-drawn wagon rides, corn maze, giant tractor display, hay pyramids, animal center, and many other family-friendly activities. Themed weekend events include animal shows, pig races, live performers, roaming entertainment and more. Weekday admission is $16 at the gate only. Weekend admission varies from $25 to $34 per person purchased online. Children 2 and under and parking are free. More details at www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/fall-harvest.

The Underwood Farm Center in Somis at 5696 Los Angeles Avenue also has a pumpkin patch along with its year-round animal center. Open 9am to 6pm.

McGrath Brothers Great Pacific Pumpkins is located at 5100 Olivas Park Drive in Ventura. Call 805.644.1235. They are open the entire month of October from 9am to 6pm. Admission is $3. Tractor ride is $2. Hay Maze is $2. Check their Instagram page at www.instagram.com/mcgrathgreatpacificpumpkins for updates.

Bennett's Best Pumpkin Patch has locations next to the Whizin Market Square at 28900 Roadside Drive and at the corner of Kanan and Agoura Roads.

The Four Seasons of Fun Adventureland pumpkin patch at the Simi Valley Town Center in the parking lot open daily through November 2nd. Hours vary. Bounce house activities available. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581115013603

There will not be a Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch this year in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley as in years past. However, they will be hosting a Pumpkin Patch at the Pierce College Farm Center, 7100 El Rancho Drive, Woodland Hills. The patch will be open daily from October 1st to 31st, 2025. Hours 4-9pm Mon-Thu, 4-10pm Fri, 11am-10pm Sat and 11am-9pm Sun. Free admission and parking. Attractions require tickets. www.seasonaladventures.com/pierce-college

The Best Ever Pumpkin Bread Recipe!

Here's a delicious pumpkin bread recipe from Jill Fisher. Jill has a B.S. in Food Science and Nutrition and is a licensed Personal Chef. She has taught cooking classes at Conejo Valley Adult School and Williams Sonoma in Thousand Oaks and has written articles for local food magazines such as 805 Living.

The Best Ever Pumpkin Bread!

1 cup salad oil (not olive)

2/3 cup water

3 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 cups pumpkin

Whisk together in a large bowl.

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

1 ½ tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

3 ½ cups flour

1 cup chopped pecans

Whisk together in a small bowl.

Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.  Mix well.  Pour into individual mini loaf pans (approximately 4-5) that have been sprayed with Pam cooking spray.

Bake at 350F for 55 minutes.

Cool and slice.  These loaves freeze very well.

Note from Conejo Joe:  This recipe looks so easy that even I, an incompetent nincompoop in the kitchen, can make this pumpkin bread recipe!

The Pumpkin Chucker at the Pumpkin Patch at Faulkner Farm in Santa Paula

A trebuchet is a catapult that works by using the energy of a raised counterweight to throw a projectile. It was popular in medieval times for hurling large stones and missiles. It became obsolete in the 15th century with the introduction of gunpowder.

However, in recent years, the Pumpkin Chucker at the Faulkner Farm Pumpkin Patch in Santa Paula has brought this ancient projectile thrower back into the spotlight!

For $5 (or 3 for $10), visitors to the pumpkin patch can select a small pumpkin that is carefully placed into a launch position on the Pumpkin Chucker, ring the Pumpkin Chucker bell, then pull the rope that triggers a 500 lb counterweight that projects the pumpkin 200 feet away towards a target.

In our recent visit, I was surprised to experience about a 45 minute wait for the Pumpkin Chucker! But that didn't seem to bother anyone, as everyone enjoyed watching the airborne pumpkins and cheering as they came close to the target. It was so popular in fact that I think this could be a great year-round business opportunity...flinging pumpkins, watermelons, canteloupes and other worthy produce!

Pumpkin commencing its 200 foot flight from the Pumpkin Chucker

The Faulkner Farm Pumpkin Patch, run by the Rotary Club of Santa Paula since 2007, is typically open on weekends in October each year. Learn more at www.faulknerfarmpumpkinpatch.com.

Pumpkin Chucker target area and post-flight remnants of pumpkins at Faulkner Farm