Pumpkin Empire

Fall Fun at Cal Poly Pomona's Pumpkin Festival

10.11.2018

The best part of fall? Pumpkins, of course! One of the largest pumpkin patches in the state is right here in SoCal, situated on more than 20 acres of farmland in Pomona. The rare pumpkin patch with academic credentials, it’s located at the Cal Poly Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture. In the spirit of the season, it’s open free of charge every October during the college’s Pumpkin Festival.

As you climb over the rolling hills covered in vines in search of the perfect pumpkin, you’ll have plenty to choose from. Each year Cal Poly students grow more than 40,000 of them. It’s a sea of orange all around you. But there’s more to this pumpkin patch than just pumpkins. Get lost in the corn maze, a labyrinth of corn stalks over 12 feet tall. Kids will love the maze treasure hunt, seeking all the checkpoints throughout the maze, and successful explorers will be awarded a Maze Magician button.

You can also take a hayride through the Cal Poly farmland and visit furry friends at the petting zoo, including goats, sheep, rabbits, and a dairy calf. Before heading home, be sure to stop in at the Cal Poly Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch, where you can buy produce grown on campus, fresh honey, snacks, drinks (try the fresh lemonade!), and novelty gift items. Visit the campus nursery if you’re tempted to try becoming a farmer yourself. Maybe you can raise a giant pumpkin, but you’re unlikely to top the one just outside the farm store near the picnic area—it weighs nearly 1,000 pounds!

The Cal Poly Pumpkin Patch is located at 3801 W. Temple Ave. in Pomona. From the I-10, take CA-57 south toward Santa Ana, exit on Temple Ave., and turn right. Park in any available campus parking lot, but obey all posted signage. Admission is free; activities and pumpkins priced per item. Open Tuesday and Wednesday noon to 6 p.m. (pumpkin patch and corn maze only); Thursday and Friday noon to 8 p.m. (pumpkin patch and corn maze only); and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., when everything is running. Closed on Mondays. Farm Store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Hiker overlooking Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park near Monterey

    Pinnacles of Spring

    Why hike at Pinnacles National Park? Spring's a beautiful time of year here. And you might spy the magnificent California condor soaring while you gain soaring views from the High Peaks Trail.

    View

  2. Swing into Spring

    Swing into this 7.1-mile hike in the hills of Half Moon Bay! It’s got gorgeous views, fields of spring wildflowers, and a hidden rustic tree swing.

    View

  3. Talk of the Town

    We're spilling the tea on this bountiful 5.5-mile loop to Gossip Rock in Hayward’s Garin Regional Park (currently whispering all the right springtime notes).

    View
  4. woman hiking the Mendocino Headlands State Park

    Heads Up, Headlands!

    There’s one thing that’s pretty much mandatory when you visit Mendocino and that’s a hike along the famous bluffs. The trail system at Mendocino Headlands State Park is vast, surrounding the village and meandering for miles, with sweeping sea panoramas.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Caves in Mojave

    No one expects to see caves when they visit the desert, and that’s part of what makes Mitchell Caverns in the Mojave Desert such an interesting place. Go on a two-hour guided adventure tour through Mitchell Caverns in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Spring Up to These Amazing Events

    Shake it up, shake it all the way up to this sunniest city in the state for the most unique and fun-fueled events. Redding is true Northern California, surrounded by famous mountains, nearby national parks and recreation areas, and the sparkling Sacramento River.

    View
  3. Hikers by the reservoir at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks

    Triumphant in Triunfo

    Go on a hike with a peaceful reservoir, charming meadows, and beautiful spring blooms at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks.

    View
  4. Hiker on a trail at George F Canyon Preserve in Ranchos Palos Verdes

    Secret Blooms

    See wildflowers on the Palos Verdes Peninsula via a 2-mile hike through the hidden 51-acre oasis of George F. Canyon Preserve, and a 1.25-mile hike in neighboring Linden H. Chandler Preserve. 

    View