Tanaka Farms

Tanaka Farms is a real, working farm in Irvine that offers a variety of activities such as strawberry picking and farm tours. Every October, Tanaka Farms opens its gates to thousands of visitors, who can pick the perfect pumpkin straight out of the field it grew in! Some activities the 30-acre property hosts during the spooky season include tractor rides, a petting zoo, face painting, a pumpkin cannon, a corn maze, arts and crafts, and a you-pick vegetable patch. The pumpkin patch is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tanaka Farms has a lot to offer, however, it will cost a bit more to visit. Parking passes are required for most days and times and cost $10 per vehicle, admission costs $20 per person, and activity tickets are $6 each, which can be used for games, face painting, and the veggie patch. Tanaka Farms is located at 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612, and will be open until Halloween day.

Hana Field by Tanaka Farms

An affiliate of Tanaka Farms, Hana Field is another working farm located in Costa Mesa. One of Hana Field’s most unique features is its expansive sunflower fields, and for $15, visitors can purchase a container to fill with sunflowers of their choosing. With fewer crowds than any other pumpkin patch on this list, Hana Field is a great way to experience and visit a real pumpkin patch without the busy atmosphere. Another unique feature of this pumpkin patch is that visitors who bring their own cutting tools can not only pick their own pumpkin straight out of the field but can also cut their pumpkin straight off the vine. Other activities hosted by Hana Field include a petting zoo, corn maze, face painting, arts and crafts, pumpkin cannons, and a play garden for younger kids. Activities tickets cost $6 each at Hana Field, and general admission is $10 per person with no parking pass required, making this one of the more cost-friendly options for OC pumpkin patches. Hana Field is open Saturdays and Sundays only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located at 427 Anton Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Irvine Park Railroad

Located within Irvine Regional Park, the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch is not one to miss! Featuring a Pumpkin-Weigh-Off contest, a train ride around the park, panning for gold, hay rides, a haunted house, a hay maze, and tons of carnival games, the Irvine Park Pumpkin Patch has some of the best activities of the pumpkin patches on this list. Activities tickets cost $7, and entrance to the pumpkin patch is free, however, there is a $3-5 charge to enter Irvine Regional Park itself. Unique to this pumpkin patch, Irvine Park offers plenty of activities for younger children, including cookie decorating, John Deere Racers, Mini Diggers, pumpkin decorating, face painting, and bounce houses, making it a great place to take the whole family. One benefit of visiting the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch is its location within Irvine Regional Park. The park itself offers plenty of opportunities to walk through nature, rent bikes and paddle boats, go on horseback rides, and even visit the OC Zoo. Pumpkins of various sizes, shapes, and colors are for sale scattered throughout the park. Despite the endless spooky activities offered by the park, one common issue experienced by visitors is trouble finding parking and large crowds, so be sure to show up early or be prepared to park on the street and walk to the park. The Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and is located at 1 Irvine Park Road Map Orange, CA 92869.

Pumpkin City

For those who would rather skip the fields and go to a carnival, Pumpkin City, located in Laguna Hills, is the best place to go! The pumpkin patch may not let you cut your pumpkins straight off the vine, but they offer an array of traditional carnival rides such as bounce houses, car rides, giant slides, swing rides, and tractor rides. Pumpkin City also has plenty of game booths, with games such as inflatable axe-throwing, fishing games, ping pong toss, and lucky ducks. Activities tickets are $1.25 each, however, unlike other pumpkin patches on this list, most activities will require 4-9 tickets each. Along with the carnival attractions, Pumpkin City also has a petting zoo, general store, puppet theater, and geode-breaking activity. Entrance to the pumpkin patch is free Monday-Friday before 4 p.m. and costs $10 after 4 p.m., and they are open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pumpkin City is located at 24203 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills, CA 92653.