Andreotti Family Farms
The Andreotti family has been farming the Coastside since 1926. In addition to providing a cornucopia of vegetables throughout the year, they host a Pumpkin Patch on their farm in the Fall, featuring an abundance of reasonably priced gourds to choose from. There’s also a You Pick Sunflower Field that starts flowering near the end of summer. Antique farm equipment adds to the atmosphere and reminds you that you’re on a real working farm.
Arata’s Pumpkin Farm
Fall and Halloween activities abound at this this idyllic farm situated six miles south of Half Moon Bay. Get lost inside the Minotaur’s Labyrinth, a delightfully complex, 2-acre hay maze that changes every year. Bring a friend to grab onto as you cautiously inch your way through the spine-tingling Haunted Barn. Kiddos can delight in more mellow thrills including a petting zoo, pony rides, and a fun hayride through the corn stalks.
Bob’s Pumpkin Farm
Linus van Pelt would adore this expansive, leafy patch that sprouts pumpkins grown on site. Grab a wheelbarrow, and head out into the patch to search for the Great Pumpkin. The traditional pumpkin patch also features haystacks, pens of cute pigs and goats, and a farm stand stocked with fresh produce and local honey.
Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm
Little red wagons stacked with exotic pumpkins greet you at this favorite stop along Highway 1. In addition to plump carving pumpkins, Farmer John offers a wide selection of cooking pumpkins for your seasonal pies and dishes. Little ones will get a kick out of scaling haystacks, hiding in teepees, and sitting atop a snazzy John Deere tractor.
Farmer's Daughter
“See Our Giants Pumpkins” announce the roadside signs approaching this cute patch with tidy rows of pumpkins backed by a sea of verdant Brussels sprouts. Three prized, giant gourds sit atop haystacks, while a corn stalk-flanked teepee invites playful kids and Instagram pics. Swing by the farm stand for an assortment of local jams and produce including fresh stalks of Brussels sprouts.
Lemos Farm
The Western-themed grounds at this festive farm bustle with amusement park worthy attractions and rootin’ tootin’ fun. Kiddos can ride ponies, catch air at bouncy houses, and cup their hands full of feed for hungry baby goats. A popular train ride chugs passengers through a mini western town populated with festive characters. Beware the haunted house that’s crawling with things that go bump in the night (they’ll turn the lights up and the scares down for kiddos).
Pastorino Farms
Old-fashioned fun is the name of the game at this crowd-pleasing patch with an atmospheric train ride, pumpkin pie slices, and oodles of pumpkins. Tucked into a barn, you’ll find a wondrous shop brimming with crafty Halloween goodies and home decor. Don’t miss the haunted house that’s suitable for brave kids. Bonus: Pastorino is located directly across from Lemos Farm with guides to coordinate safe, timed crossings across busy Highway 92.
Rancho Siempre Verde
This charming family farm comes alive during the fall season with its enchanting Fall Festival Pumpkin Patch. Visitors can wander through rows of plump pumpkins, bite into crisp farm-fresh apples, and admire vibrant autumn blooms. But there’s more to this harvest celebration than meets the eye. Every purchase supports Rancho Siempre Verde’s admirable mission: providing diverse, top-quality organic produce to food-insecure families in the Bay Area.
From family-friendly farms with hayrides and petting zoos to peaceful patches perfect for picking that ideal pumpkin, the Coastside offers something for everyone. No matter where you stop, you’ll leave with more than just pumpkins—you’ll take home cherished memories of a quintessential autumn experience!
The Great Pumpkin Legacy of Half Moon Bay
A simple act of agricultural ingenuity in the 1930s planted the seeds for what would become a beloved autumn tradition in Half Moon Bay. The story begins with two enterprising brothers, John and Clarence Arata, barely out of their teens. With no grand plans beyond feeding their family’s hogs, the Arata boys planted pumpkin seeds on their land. Little did they know they were sowing the future of Half Moon Bay’s identity.
Fate intervened one crisp fall day as the brothers trundled down Highway One, their wagon laden with plump, orange gourds. A passing motorist, captivated by the sight, pulled over with an unexpected request – to purchase a few pumpkins. The brothers obliged, exchanging their crop for a quarter. That chance encounter sparked an idea. Soon, what started as hog feed transformed into a thriving business, drawing visitors from near and far. Families flocked to the area, eager to experience the joy of selecting their own pumpkins straight from the patch.
As word spread, other local farmers followed suit, and Half Moon Bay’s pumpkin boom took root. Today, the area is renowned for its expansive pumpkin patches, Pumpkin Festival, and the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off, a testament to the enduring legacy of two young brothers and their accidental discovery.
