Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin patch · Valley Center · California
A San Diego County ritual on a Valley Center farm whose name carries a 1921 date. Admission to the patch is free; tractor hayrides and a straw maze run daily from opening, and all of October adds pony rides, a petting corral, a corn pit and a bounce house.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Sept 9-5; Oct weekdays 9-5:30, weekends 8:30-6; $10 weekend parking from Sept 26
Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: November 19–November 23
Color builds from November 7 · mostly bare by December 15
Sampled at Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch’s own coordinates and elevation (487 m) rather than a regional average.
74 weather points cover California, and the model shifts their answer 3 days later, which is what it takes to match 3 published peak dates from monocounty.org and explorefall.com. How the forecast works
When to go to Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch
Good color holds through about November 30, giving you roughly 23 days from the first turn to past peak. That runs roughly 6 days later than the rest of California. The 1,598 ft elevation accounts for most of the difference.
Figure about 35 mi from San Diego.
Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of California, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in California
Leaves & views
Farms & harvest
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Frequently asked
- When is Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Sep 17 – Oct 31. Sept 9-5; Oct weekdays 9-5:30, weekends 8:30-6; $10 weekend parking from Sept 26. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 19–November 23 (best estimate November 21). Color starts around November 7 and is mostly bare by December 15.
- How do I get to Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch?
- Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch is in Valley Center. The closest city is San Diego, about 35 mi away. It's part of California's fall lineup.
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