We love the fall season in Sacramento! Temperatures cool down enough to enjoy the outdoors, sweaters come out of the closet, pumpkin-flavored treats start to pop up everywhere and there are plenty of special events in the pipeline.

Our round-up of the best things to do in Sacramento this season will keep your family busy through Thanksgiving. Have fun creating new memories together!

 This Fall Fun Guide includes:
Pumpkin Patches, Apple Hill Feature,
Fall Hiking, Fall Festivals & Activities, and Halloween Celebrations

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes & Hayrides

Besides picking out a special pumpkin to take home, most of these patches have a variety of attractions such as hayrides, corn mazes and petting zoos that make for a complete day’s outing. Don’t forget to bring your camera and take advantage of great photo opportunities!

CITRUS HEIGHTS

The Pumpkin Farm
7736 Old Auburn Road, Citrus Heights
(916) 726-1137
Open 10/2 – 10/31 Hours: Tues – Sun 9am – 6pm

DIXON

Cool Patch Pumpkins
6586 Milk Farm Road, Dixon
(530) 304-0163
Open 9/22 – 10/31 Hours: Daily 9am – 8pm

Silveyville Pumpkin Farm
6248 Silveyville Road, Dixon
(707) 678-1823
Open 9/29 – 10/31 Hours: Daily 10am – 6pm

ELK GROVE

Keema Family Pumpkin Patch
6532 Point Pleasant Road, Elk Grove
(916) 684-2334
Open 10/1 – 10/31 Hours: Tues – Fri 11am – 6pm, Sat & Sun 10am – 6pm

FOLSOM

Zittel Farms
6781 Oak Ave, Folsom
(916) 989-2633
Open 10/1 – 10/31 Hours: Weekdays 9am – 5pm, Weekends 9am – 6pm

LATHROP

Dell’ Osso Family Farm
501 S. Manthey Road, Lathrop
(209) 982-0833
Open 9/29 – 10/31 Hours: Daily 10am – 8pm

NATOMAS

Bastiao Farms Goblin Gardens Pumpkin Patch
3845 El Centro Road, Sacramento
(916) 925-2947
Open 10/1 – 10/31 Hours: Daily 10am – 7pm

SACRAMENTO

Roemer Pumpkin Patch
6851 Hedge Road, Sacramento
(916) 381-4331
Open 10/6 – 10/31 Hours: Tues – Fri 2pm – 5pm, Sat – Sun 9am – 5pm

Uncle Ray’s Pumpkin Patch
5610 Garden Hwy, Sacramento
916-997-8573
Open 9/29 – 10/31 Hours: Daily 10:30am-6:30pm

WEST SACRAMENTO

Dave’s Pumpkin Patch
3010 Burrows Ave
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 849-9450
Open 9/22 – 10/31 Hours: Sun – Thurs 10am – dusk, Fri – Sat 10am – 9pm

WHEATLAND

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm
1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland
(530) 633-2568
Open 9/15 – 10/31 Hours: (September) Daily from 9am-6pm (October) Sun – Thurs 9am-7pm, Fri – Sat 9am-8pm

WILTON

Fog Willow Pumpkin Farm
11011 Cecatra Drive, Wilton
(916) 687-4547
Open Wed 9/29 – 10/31 Hours: Mon – Fri 12pm – 6pm, Sat – Sun 9:30am – 6pm

Apple Hill

A fall tradition for many Sacramento families is a visit to Apple Hill! This group of more than 50 ranches is located just an hour from Sacramento. There is a map of the ranches/farms below that you can print out and use as a guide. They are open all year round, but the best time to go is in the fall. October tends to be more crowded, but the changing colors of the leaves makes it so beautiful! October is also the best time for picking apples. November is still a good time to go as it has cooled off and it is more comfortable than the sometimes hot October days.

With so many ranches to choose from, it is important to take a look at the activities available and check out the map before you go with your kids!  Having it planned out will make all the difference and enable you to have a full day of fun.

Tips and extra info:

• My number one tip for you is to either go early in the day on the weekend or go on a weekday if at all possible
• Download this map of the Apple Hill farms
• Apple Hill put together a list of 50 Things To Do when you visit
• Check out our review of Apple Hill and see the 3 different farms we visited…and loved
• Download this free official Apple Hill app – it is user-friendly and will help you navigate the Apple Hill Farms, local dining, recreational areas, stay-over options, events, and more.
• Activities & Events in Apple Hill for October & November

Apple Hill Growers Association
(530) 644-7692

Fall Hiking

These are family-friendly hikes and nature trails.

Cosumnes River Preserve Nature Trails – Galt

Effie Yeaw Nature Trails – Carmichael

Gibson Ranch Trail – Elverta

Hagan Park Wooded Trail next to the American River – Rancho Cordova

Hidden Falls Hike – Auburn

Miners Ravine Trail – Roseville

Nimbus Fish Hatchery  River Trail – Gold River

Quarry Trail – Auburn

The Oaks Nature Trail – Folsom

UC Davis Arboretum – Davis

Zen Garden Hike – inside Black Chasm Cavern Park

Fall Festivals & Activities

October – November

Crafts for Kids
When: Saturdays in October; 11am – 3pm
Where: Lakeshore Learning, Roseville
What: Make fall-inspired crafts.
Cost: FREE

Giant Pumpkin Festival
When: Saturday, October 6 – Sunday, October 7; 10am-5pm
Where: Elk Grove Regional Park
What: Giant pumpkin weigh-off, pumpkin regatta, kids zone, live entertainment, and more.
Cost: FREE; parking $10.00

Nature Fest
When: Sunday, October 7; 10am-3pm
Where: Effie Yeaw Nature Center
What: Live animal presentations, kids activities, guided nature walks, food, and more.
Cost: $5.00 per adult, kids free

Pumpkin Nights
When: October 17 – November 4
Where: Gold Country Fairgrounds, Auburn
What: Venture along a half-mile walking path and discover the Forbidden Pumpkin City, a pirate’s cove, and more fantastical lands built using over 3,000 hand-carved real and artificial pumpkins. The celebration continues with entertainment and games in Pumpkin Central, the central festival area.
Cost: General admission Adults $20, Kids $16, 3 and under free

Auburn Community Festival
When: Saturday, October 20; 9:30am – 4pm
Where: Recreation Park, Auburn
What: Costume contest and parade, live music, food, kids area and more.
Cost: FREE

Floating Pumpkin Patch
When: Sunday, October 21; 1pm – 4pm
Where: Mike Shellito Indoor Pool, Roseville
What: Hunt for your pumpkin in the pool this year! Once you pick your pumpkin, you can decorate it at our pumpkin decorating station. The pool is open for recreational swim throughout the event. There are games, bounce houses and story times. Costumes are encouraged.
Cost: $7.00 admission, under age 2 free; $10.00 admission & pumpkin (Advance registration required)

Pumpkin Splash Patch
When: Saturday, October 27; 2-4pm
Where: El Dorado Hills Community Pool
What: Children 3 to 10 years of age should come wearing their swimsuits for this holiday hunt. Participants will hunt for their perfect pumpkin in the heated pool, decorate it and take it home. In addition, there will be open swim and the Marshall Medical inflatatable will be available. Price includes a pumpkin, decorating supplies, swim pass for the day and a special Trick-or-Treat goodie bag.
Cost: $12.00 per person; pre-registration required

Sacramento Harvest Festival
When: November 16-18; 10am – 6pm
Where: Cal Expo
What: Holiday shopping, showcasing hundreds of vendors, exciting entertainment, unique food inspiration for Thanksgiving, and more. The show also features demonstrating artists, live on-stage performance acts, great musical bands, strolling entertainers, as well as a KidZone area with arts, crafts, and activities for the little ones throughout the event!
Cost: Adults $9.00, Kids 12 & under FREE

Run to Feed the Hungry
When: Thursday, November 22; 8:15am
Where: J Street just west of Sacramento State campus entrance
What: Annual 10K Run & 5K Run/Walk on Thanksgiving morning to support Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. This Sacramento tradition is not only the largest run in Sacramento, but also the largest Thanksgiving Day fun run in the country.
Cost: Adults $35.00-45.00, Youth $20.00

Fairytale Town Free Admission Day/Canned Food Drive
When: Friday, November 23; 10am – 4pm
Where: Fairytale Town
What: Fairytale Town offers free admission to visitors who bring in a canned good to donate the day after Thanksgiving. All goods collected will be donated to the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive. Enjoy free play inside of Fairytale Town, plus free arts and crafts activities. Puppet Art Theater Company will also be on hand to present a puppet show at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 PM in the Children’s Theater. (Puppet show tickets are an additional $1 for members and $2 for nonmembers.)
Cost: FREE admission to visitors who bring in a canned good to donate

Halloween Celebrations

Free Library Halloween Events
Crafts, puppet shows, pumpkin carving, and more.

Spookamotive Train Rides
When: October weekends; Hourly departures 11am-4pm
Where: Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot in Old Sacramento (located on Front Street between J and K Streets)
What: Halloween-themed Spookomotive trains decorated for the season depart from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot in Old Sacramento. Join the Skeleton Crew for a fun and delightful (but not frightful) 40-minute ride along the Sacramento River.
Cost: Adults $15.00, Kids age 6-17 $6.o0, 5 and under free

Spooky Halloween River Cruise
When: October Weekends
Where: Leaves from Old Sacramento L Street Dock
What: One-hour cruise on the Sacramento River, Halloween coloring/activity sheets for kids, music, face painting.
Cost: $18.00 per person

Monster Mini Golf
When: Open year round; T-Th 2-9pm, Fri 2-10pm, Sat 12-10pm, Sun 12-8pm
Where: Monster Mini Golf, 12401 Folsom Blvd., Rancho Cordova
What: 18 holes of Indoor Glow-in-the-Dark Monster Themed Mini Golf.  Golf  in a costume in October and be eligible to win prizes.
Cost: Adults $10.00, Kids $9.00

Halloween Fright Fest at Six Flags
When: Fridays – Sundays, September 21 – October 31
Where: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo
What: Enjoy frightful fun and spine-tingling adventures. Watch as the park transforms from “Thrills by Day” to “Fright by Night.” Seasonally-themed shows, attractions and lots of kid-friendly activities during the daylight hours. There’s traditional trick-or-treating in Looney Tunes Seaport, an elaborate pumpkin patch with cookie decorating and a pint-sized hay maze. When the clock strikes 6:00 p.m., the sun goes down and the ghouls come out! Chilling new haunted maze, and scare zones that will have you looking over your shoulder (and everywhere else!) in Mt. Rotting Cemetery and Arachnid Alley.
Cost: $45.99 and up

Halloween Costume Skate Party
When: Friday, October 19; 7-10pm
Where: Skatetown Ice Arena, Roseville
What: 15th Annual Halloween Costume Skate Party. Light shows, music videos, games, prizes, make snowballs, show off your dance moves and more. No skating experience needed – free lesson, skating aids and loaner helmets.
Cost: General admission $13.50, $12.50 for ages 10 and younger – includes skates

Fairytale Town Safe and Super Halloween: Dinosaurs
When: Friday, October 19 – Sunday, October 21 & Sunday October 28; 5-9pm
Where: Fairytale Town
What: Follow the dino tracks throughout the park to meet and take photos with different dinosaur species. Dig for giant fossils at the excavation site, visit the reptile lab to see growing dinosaurs, and test your dino roar with the roar-o-meter. 15 treat stations, a nightly costume parade at 8:30pm and hands-on activities. Sevilla Magic FX will perform “The Dino Encounter” each night at 6, 7 & 8pm in Sherwood Forest.
Cost: Presale tickets $10.00 all ages, Day of tickets $12.00

Monster Bash
When: Saturday, October 20; 6-8pm
Where: Sacramento Children’s Museum, Rancho Cordova
What: Get those costumes ready for Halloween with a night of music, dancing, haunted hallway, refreshments, and museum play.
Cost: $25.00 per couple, $5.00 per additional child or adult

Halloween Crafts with UnchARTed
When: Saturday, October 27; 10-11am
Where: Arden Fair Mall, Center Court
What: Get creative with UnchARTed for crafts and candy. Costumes are encouraged!
Cost: FREE

Halloween Haunt
When: Saturday, October 27; 11am – 3pm
Where: Safetyville USA, 3909 Bradshaw Rd., Sacramento
What: Set in Safetyville USA, the unique miniature city, the event features carnival games, a costume parade, safety demonstrations and activities, and of course, Trick-or-Treat stations.
Cost: $5.00 per person

Trick-or-Treat in the Historic District
When: Saturday, October 27; 1-4pm
Where: Historic District of Folsom
What: Trick or treat on Sutter Street from 1-4pm, preview Mary Poppins at the amphitheater at 2pm, 2:30 Mad Science, and 3:00 Kids Halloween Costume contest.
Cost: FREE

Fall Festival 
When: Saturday, October 27 – Sunday, October 28; 10am – 5pm
Where: Funderland Amusement Park
What: Trick or treating, meet Jack Skellington & Sally, Magical Mary the Magician, costume contests, free craft, hay maze, and of course…rides.
Cost: Tickets vary for activities and rides; Free daily craft activity

Midtown Halloween Festival & Pooch Parade
When: Saturday, October 27; 1 – 3pm
Where: Marshall Park, 915 27th Street, Sacramento
What: The event will highlight Midtown’s popular mobile off-lease “Pop-Up Dog Park” and include family-friendly activities including face painting, a bounce house, hands-on arts and crafts and entertaining live music.
Cost: FREE

Boo at the Zoo
When: Saturday, October 27 – Sunday, October 28; 11am – 4pm
Where: Sacramento Zoo
What: Enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the entire zoo at 15 different candy stations, face painting for kids, festive games, themed stage shows, magic shows with Trevor the Magician, keeper chats and even animal enrichments. Top off the day with a ride on the spooky zoo train or the creepy carousel for an additional fee.
Cost: Advance tickets $13.00, under age 2 free; $16.00 after October 22

Happy Owloween
When: Sunday, October 28; 1:30am
Where: Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Carmichael
What: From Great Horned Owls to Saw Whet Owls, it will be hard to pick whooooo’s your favorite. Learn about these spooky yet intriguing creatures as you get ready for Owloween!
Cost: FREE, Parking $5.00

Wee Halloween
When: Wednesday, October 31; 10am – 1pm
Where: Crocker Art Museum
What: Costumed kiddos 3 to 5 years old and their grownups are invited to take a delightful stroll through the Museum and encounter enchanting music and dance performances from some of the city’s favorite entertainers. At each stop, children receive a small gift for their creatively decorated treat bag. The magical tour ends with sweet treats and a silly dance party.
Cost: $18.00 adults and children , under 18 mos Free (Advance registration required, sells out early)

Trick-or-Treat in Sacramento Children’s Museum
When: Wednesday, October 31; 10am – 2pm
Where: Sacramento Children’s Museum
What: Dress up in your Halloween costume and join the Museum for trick-or-treat stations, a costume parade at 11am, and hands-on Museum play.
Cost: $5/person or FREE with donation of a children’s book

Please continue to check back throughout the season, as I will be adding new events as I find out about them.

Happy Fall from my family to yours!