Fall farms are one of the best parts of October around here, so here is my rundown of where to go, how far it is, and which one fits which kind of day.
The close ones
TJ Farms Estates, Chico
You will find this one on Chico Ave, right in town, open through October 31, Thursday and Friday 11 to 6 and Saturday and Sunday 10 to 6.
The draw here is that you cut your own pumpkin straight off the vine, which most patches do not let you do. There are also wagon rides, farm animals, corn cracking, and an 1800s blacksmith shop on the property. If you want the full farm experience without leaving Chico, this is it.
Book Family Farm, Durham
This one is on Heavy Horse Lane in Durham, open through October, Monday through Saturday, 9 to 6, and about fifteen minutes from Chico.
This is the one I send families with little kids to. You can gather eggs, feed the chickens, and learn to milk a cow, and there is a hay maze scaled for small people. It is a real working farm rather than a pumpkin lot with attractions bolted on.
Patrick Ranch Autumn Fest, Durham
Patrick Ranch runs Autumn Fest on the Midway in Durham every weekend in October, 10 to 4.
You get hayrides, a petting zoo, kids’ crafts, and tours of the Glenwood Farm House. Patrick Ranch is a preserved working valley farmstead, so the history is part of the visit rather than a sideshow. They also run a haunted house on select nights from 6 to 9 p.m., which is a separate thing entirely and better suited to older kids.
Worth the drive
Julia’s Fruit Stand, Dairyville
Julia’s is on Highway 99E, about forty minutes north, open daily 8 to 6 through Halloween.
This is my pick if you care about variety. Julia’s grows heritage pumpkins and gourds you will not find anywhere else around here, and the selection is genuinely remarkable. If you are the kind of person who wants something more interesting than an orange sphere on the porch, go here. Sundays bring live music, games, and food trucks, and you can stock up on fall apples while you are there.
Max’s Miracle Ranch, Biggs
Max’s is on Smith Ave in Biggs, open daily in October, 9 to 5.
You get kid-sized train rides, apple picking, and a bounce house. It is worth knowing that the ranch supports families of children with serious illnesses, so your admission is doing something beyond buying a pumpkin.
The day trips
Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm, Wheatland
Bishop’s is about an hour and fifteen minutes south, open daily through November 15.
This is the destination. You get a hay ride out to the pumpkin field, a corn maze, a carousel and other rides, and Mrs. B’s bakery, which you should not skip. Dog Dayz runs on the final weekend if you want to bring your dog. Making the trip to Bishop’s is a must at least once per season, maybe not every year, but once, so the kids have it.
Nash’s Ranch, Redding
Nash’s is on Old Oregon Trail in Redding, about an hour and twenty minutes, open daily through November 1.
You get an eight-acre corn maze that goes haunted on Friday and Saturday nights, the Dreams of Darkness haunted house, and a craft faire on weekends. This is the one for teenagers.
Bobby Dazzler’s, Woodland
Bobby Dazzler’s is about an hour and a half south, open through October 31.
You get a cow train, a milo maze, a petting zoo, horse rides, a corn bath, and a hay pyramid. It is a full day with a lot of ground to cover.
Closed this season
Two are worth knowing about before you drive out. L&T Farms is closed for the season, and Peterson Sisters is permanently closed. Both still show up in older guides and search results, so if you saw them on a list somewhere, that is why.
When to go
Mid-October is peak everything: peak crowd, peak activities, peak energy. That is great if it is what you want and rough if it is not.
Go on a weekday morning if you want photos without other people in them. TJ Farms and Book Family Farm are both open weekdays, which most patches are not. Late October at the bigger farms is often quieter than you would expect, once most people already have their pumpkins. And go for the gourds early, because the interesting heritage varieties at Julia’s go first, and once they are gone they are gone until next year.
If you are building a whole fall weekend, pair a patch with the Saturday farmers market, and when you are ready for costumes, here is my full guide to Halloween events in Butte County.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest pumpkin patch to Chico? TJ Farms Estates on Chico Ave is in town, and Book Family Farm in Durham is about fifteen minutes out. Both are open through the end of October.
Which pumpkin patch has the best variety? Julia’s Fruit Stand in Dairyville, about forty minutes north on Highway 99E, has the widest selection of heritage pumpkins and gourds in the area.
Where can I cut my own pumpkin near Chico? TJ Farms Estates on Chico Ave lets you cut your own pumpkin straight off the vine.
Is there a corn maze near Chico? Nash’s Ranch in Redding has an eight-acre maze that goes haunted on Friday and Saturday nights, and Bobby Dazzler’s in Woodland has a milo maze. Both are over an hour from Chico.
What pumpkin patch is best for toddlers? Book Family Farm in Durham. Kids can gather eggs, feed chickens, and learn to milk a cow, and the hay maze is scaled for little ones.
Is Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm worth the drive from Chico? It is about an hour and fifteen minutes, and it is the largest operation in the region, with hay rides, a corn maze, a carousel, and a bakery. Most families do it once a season rather than every year.
Are L&T Farms and Peterson Sisters open? No. L&T Farms is closed for the season and Peterson Sisters is permanently closed, though both still appear in older guides.