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 2023 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 one pumpkin patch this year at the Pacific View Mall in the Trader Joe's/Target parking lot from Sept 29 to Oct 31, 2023. Free admission to the pumpkin patch, with kids’ activities, photo opps and more. Visit bigwavedaveschristmastrees.com/pumpkin-patch.html/

Pumpkin Patch at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 3947 W. Kimber Drive, Newbury Park. October 13 through 31, 2023, Mon-Fri 2-7pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun noon-7pm and Oct 31 9am-4pm. They will also be hosting a free Pumpkin Fest event from 2-6pm on the 28th as well as “Final Rest…an Escape Maze” for kids and adults that day from 5:30-9:30pm.

Boccali Ranch Pumpkin Patch at 3277 E. Ojai Avenue in Ojai will be open 7 days a week from 10am to 7pm during the month of October, The offer tiny to extra-large “Big Mac” pumpkins, squash, gourds, Indian corn and seasonal produce. More details at boccalis.com/pumpkinpatch.html.

Prancer's Pumpkin Patch Santa Paula is located at 18540 East Telegraph Road and will be open from 8am to dusk October 1-31, 2023. Also, they will be offering early access to the pumpkin patch from September 23-30. Admission varies by date. Parking is free and children under 2 are free. Located on a 30 acre farm filled with 10 acres of pumpkins, hay pyramid, animal center viewing, corn expedition, barrel train, horse rides and more. They encourage you to purchase advance tickets online as walk-ins will be limited at peak times. Learn more at prancersfarm.com.

The Santa Paula Rotary's Pumpkin Patch at the Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula will not take place in 2023. Stay tuned for updates at www.pumpkinpatchatlimoneiraranch.com

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

The 2023 Underwood Family Farms Fall Harvest Festival in Moorpark is back from September 30 to October 31 at 3370 Sunset Valley Road. Admission includes all sorts of fun, including humongous 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. 50 acres of fun! Weekday admission is $14 at the gate only. Weekend admission varies from $22 to $28 per person. 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.

The 2023 Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is planned for Sunday, October 22 from 10am to 5pm at De Anza Park. Event will feature pumpkin patch and plenty of other fun activities. $10 per person in advance online. $15 at the gate. Kids under 2 are free. www.calabasaspumpkinfestival.com

The Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch will be back this year at 450 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd (at Hodencamp) in Thousand Oaks from September 29 to October 31, 2023. Hours are 3-9pm Mon-Thu, 3-10pm Fri, 11am-10pm Sat and 11am-9pm Sun. Closes at 7pm on 10/31. Free admission. Rides and attractions priced separately. www.seasonaladventures.com/thousandoakspumpkins

The Simi Valley Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch is also back this year at 1898 Simi Town Center Way from September 29 to October 31, 2023. Hours are 3-9pm Mon-Thu, 3-10pm Fri, 11am-10pm Sat and 11am-9pm Sun. Closes at 7pm on 10/31. Free admission. Rides and attractions priced separately. www.seasonaladventures.com/simivalleypumpkins

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 $1. Check their Instagram page at www.instagram.com/mcgrathgreatpacificpumpkins for updates.

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

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