Scroll Down Page for Information about Activities at the Patch!
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026 to
Saturday, October 31, 2026
*SEPTEMBER HOURS: 9:00am to 5:00pm*
*OCTOBER HOURS:*
• Weekdays: 9:00am - 5:30pm
• Last 3 Fridays in October is our
Fall Friday Festival and we're open a little
later these days: 10/9, 10/16, 10/23 | 9:00am - 6:30pm
...Between 3:30pm - 6:30pm they'll be additional
food vendors, activities and live music -
perfect for enjoying dinner at the patch,
a fun after school activity or for catching the
sun setting over the pumpkins!
Extra activities for the kids between 3:30-6:30pm
include Face Painting,Rock Climbing, Kids n Paint,
XR Party Verse: Mobile Virtual Reality Entertainment Station,
slime making and more!
• Weekends: 8:30am - 6:00pm
All Pumpkin Patch activities are listed below.
We will be closing early on Halloween.
Location: Bates Nut Farm
Address: 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center, CA 92082
Phone: 760-749-3333
Description: Celebrate the magic of pumpkin season at our century-old farm in beautiful Valley Center, CA — home to one of San Diego’s most picturesque pumpkin patches! Families have been visiting Bates Nut Farm since 1963, with generations coming together each Fall to celebrate the season and create cherished memories on the farm.
Start your own Fall family tradition at Bates Nut Farm — explore the patch, enjoy a day in the country and create unforgettable memories.
Every Day at the Patch
(9/17/26 to 10/31/26)
• Pumpkin Patch
• Grab a wheelbarrow & experience farm life!
• Tractor Hayrides
• Straw Maze
• Corn Pit
• Bounce House
• Giant Slide (Friday, Saturday & Sunday)
• Pony Rides (Month of October only, see below for schedule.)
• Petting Zoo (Month of October only, same schedule as pony rides.)
Every Day at the Patch & Year Round
• Bates Farm Zoo
• Bates Nut Farm Store & Farmer’s Daughter Boutique
Grab a barrel for your pumpkins!
Enjoy a Weekday Lunch at the Pumpkin Patch!
Food During The Week | October Only
• Chicken Rice Bowls
• Fruit Cups
• Turkey Legs & Chicken Tenders
• Mariposa Ice Cream
• Fruit Drinks
• Funnel Cakes & Caramel Apples
• Fruit Smoothies
• Potato Twisters • And more!
Weekends at the Patch | September Only
Starting 9/19
• Pumpkin Patch
• Grab a wheelbarrow and experience farm life!
• Tractor hayrides
• Straw Maze
• Pumpkin Bounce House
• Corn Pit
• Pony Rides (9/19, 9/20, 9/26 & 9/27)
• Face Painting
• Airbrush Tattoo
• Starting 9/26 >> XR Party Verse: Mobile Virtual Reality Entertainment Station
• Photo Opportunities
9/26 & 9/27 Antique Tractor Show (9am - 5pm) & Live Music (12-3pm)! There will be food from local vendors too and What's Cookin!
Weekends at the Patch | October Only
• Pumpkin Patch
• Live Music (12-4pm)
• Food (see details below)
• Grab a wheelbarrow and experience farm life!
• Tractor hayrides
• Straw Maze
• Corn Pit
• Pony Rides (See below for schedule)
• Petting Zoo
• Face Painting
• Henna
• Airbrush Tattoo
• Bootiful Hair
• Pumpkin Bounce House
• Giant Inflatable Slides
• Rock Climbing
• Mechanical Bull
• Balloon Art
• Kids 'N Paint
• Caricature
• Rubber Band Guns
• Photo Booth
• Crafts
• Photo Opportunities
• XR Party Verse: Mobile Virtual Reality Entertainment Station
• Slime making and more!
Every Day at the Patch & Year Round
• Bates Farm Zoo
• Bates Nut Farm Store & Farmer’s Daughter Boutique
Enjoy a meal at the Pumpkin Patch on the Weekend
Food During Weekends
Every weekend in October!
• BBQ (Burgers, hot dogs & more)
• Mariposa Ice Cream
• Funnel Cakes
• Kettle Corn
• Lemonade
• Cotton Candy
• Coffee Cart
• Chicken Rice Bowls
• Turkey Legs
• Chicken Fingers
• Fruit Cups
• Huge Stuffed Potatoes
• Caramel Apples
• Potato Twisters
• And more!
List of additional food vendors coming soon!
Pet Friendly
We are dog friendly here at the farm!
Your adorable pooch is welcome here at the patch.
We just ask to please keep your pup on leash during your visit
and please clean up after your furry friend as well.
Dogs are welcome at the patch, on the tractor hayride and our straw maze.
Activity Tickets
$2.50 tickets can be used towards any vendor's activity:
Tractor hayride, straw maze, bounce, slide, face painting, rock climbing, pony rides,
petting zoo and kids 'n paint. However, a cash difference may
occur from some vendors. Tickets cannot be used for food vendors.
Snows Pony Rides
Make your Pumpkin Patch visit even more memorable with a pony ride!
2026 Pony Ride Dates & Times:
September 19th & 20th
Saturday, September 19 &
Sunday, September 20
10am–4pm
September 26th & 27th
Saturday, September 26 &
Sunday, September 27
10am–4pm
Weekdays in October: 1–30
Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm
Weekends in October
Saturday & Sunday, 9am–5:30pm
Halloween
October 31: 9am–4pm
75lb weight limit. Venmo, cash and credit card (fees apply.)
$14 per ride, $26 for 2 rides.
Please contact Snows about Meet & Greet opportunities,
(760) 751-2295
To learn more about Snows Pony Rides, please visit their website at: https://www.snowsponies.com/
Live Music Schedule
September
26th | Whiskey Heat 12-3pm
27th | Steal Dawn 12-3pm
October
3rd | VC High School Band 12-3pm
4th | Alias 12-3pm
9th | Nitro Express 3:30-6:30pm
10th | I Know Jack 12-4pm
11th | Cool Rush Band 12-4pm
16th | Ash Street Ramblers 3:30-6:30pm
17th | Heidi & The Hurricane Band 12-4pm
18th | Bayou Brothers 12-4pm
23rd | Alias 3:30-6:30pm
24th | The Smokin Guns 12-4pm
25th | Cool Rush Band 12-4pm
Admission and Parking
Admission to the pumpkin patch is free.
Weekday parking is free.
$10 parking fee only for last weekend in September and every weekend in October.