Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
Fall festival · Half Moon Bay · California
Half Moon Bay calls itself the World Pumpkin Capital each October, closing Main Street for two days of giant-pumpkin weigh-offs (entries have topped 2,700 pounds) plus art booths and pie contests tied to the coastal town's commercial pumpkin fields.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
9am-5pm both days; Pumpkin Weigh-Off kicks off Mon Oct 12
Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: November 22–November 26
Color builds from November 9 · mostly bare by December 17
Sampled at Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival’s own coordinates and elevation (22 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 Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
You get about 24 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly December 3. Against California overall, that is 9 days later.
Figure about 22 mi from San Francisco.
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 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
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Frequently asked
- When is Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Oct 17 – Oct 18. 9am-5pm both days; Pumpkin Weigh-Off kicks off Mon Oct 12. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 22–November 26 (best estimate November 24). Color starts around November 9 and is mostly bare by December 17.
- How do I get to Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival?
- Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival is in Half Moon Bay. The closest city is San Francisco, about 22 mi away. It's part of California's fall lineup.
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