The best Pumpkin Patch in Half Moon Bay…Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm

There are many pumpkin patches around Half Moon Bay and they’re always fun to explore when you’re in the area around the fall. My favourite has to be Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm, which is a working farm with a traditional, country feel. If you’re taking a road trip along Highway 1, it’s a great place to stop and stretch your legs, enjoy the fresh coastal air and soak up a little autumn atmosphere without having to pay for parking or admission.

Come September, Farmer John’s takes on a distinctly autumnal feel, with a huge selection of the prettiest (and funkiest!) pumpkins and gourds, from little decorative varieties to some impressively large Atlantic Giant pumpkins. I also loved the traditional touches around the farm, including the vintage tractor, tipi and hay bales. They gave the pumpkin patch a really nostalgic feel and, of course, made for some fun photo opportunities.

Sadly, it hasn’t been open during the times I’ve visited, but there’s also a hut selling sweet treats and freshly baked goods open on certain days of the week. Another thing to check before you go is which activities are running on your chosen day. The prices of extras such as hayrides aren’t clearly listed on the farm’s main website, although their Instagram is kept up to date.

Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm has recently won the award for Best Pumpkin Patch 2026 in the Coastside News Readers’ Choice Awards — and this isn’t the first time they’ve taken home the title. They host a number of events throughout the season, many of them dog-themed, including the Annual Bernese Mountain Dog Day and NorCal Goldens meet-up. There’s also a Mini Highland Experience over Pumpkin Fest Weekend, the chance to create your own flower bouquet, face painting and more. Local food trucks and stalls are also present at many of these events, which are advertised on their Instagram page.

Half Moon Bay is famously known as the “Pumpkin Capital of the World”, with pumpkins taking over the coast side fields come September, thanks to its annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival. Farmer John’s is one of the local pumpkin farms that helps keep that tradition alive each fall, filling its fields with pumpkins and gourds of all shapes and sizes and welcoming visitors to enjoy a little taste of the season. If you’re planning to stay and explore more of the area, Half Moon Bay Lodge is a lovely option, with dogs welcome too.