What’s Halloween without a visit to a pumpkin patch, especially if the pumpkin patch doubles as a seasonal family theme park? The largest dog-friendly pumpkin patch in Northern California is Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon, offering enough activities to keep tails wagging all day.
The largest corn maze in the world (40 acres) awaits, along with a Kid Zone with straw castle, trikes, mini maze, scarecrows and more, plus pumpkin launching cannons, hay rides, meals, snacks and thousands of carving and heirloom pumpkins for your picking pleasure. Cool Patch Pumpkins is very dog friendly, but they kindly ask you only bring your four-legged family members on a leash, and on weekdays only.
In West Sacramento, Dave’s Pumpkin Farm welcomes visitors to their authentic working farm for pumpkin picking, hayrides, the corn maze and Dave’s famous apple cider cinnamon donuts. Bring cash or your checkbook, the rural location is unable to support credit card transactions. Friendly dogs are welcome provided they are leashed and able to handle large crowds and excited children.
If you live in San Francisco, you don’t even have to leave the city to find a great pumpkin patch. Clancy’s in the Inner Sunset has been around for decades, offering hayrides and other family fun. Small dogs that you can hold in your arms are welcome to accompany you.
In Half Moon Bay, home of that famous (but not dog-friendly) pumpkin festival, Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm is a great destination for families who can’t bear to leave their pets at home. If you happen to have a Bernese Mountain Dog (or just like being around them), be sure to show up for the annual Berner Dog Day (check the website for the date).
