Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm isn’t your average parking lot pumpkin patch. Rather, it’s the epitome of all things fall, and it’s the perfect place to celebrate autumn, Halloween, and of course, pumpkins. When we visited, my husband kept commenting on how giddy I was. I couldn’t help it—Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm was everything I love about October all rolled into one, big, pumpkin-y package. And this year, the patch is celebrating its 45th anniversary by hosting a season that is bigger and better than ever before.
I’ll admit that I’m a faithful attendee of Underwood Family Farms. Every year, I wrestle my kiddos into overalls and flannel, and we trek to Moorpark for an idyllic day on the farm, visiting animals, riding the hayride, and selecting a few overpriced pumpkins.
BUT, I’ll confess something to you. Live Oak Canyon is a better pumpkin patch. It’s an amped-up version of Underwood: more rides, more activities, and more fun. It also happens to be the largest patch in Southern California.
This spot is so large that you’ll need a handy map to help guide you to the attractions. We’re talking camel rides, rollercoasters, a giant corn maze, a train ride, pumpkin cannons, a massive corn bin, a palooza of pumpkins, bumper cars, and so much more. If you are looking for ONE pumpkin patch to go to this October, make it Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm. Yes, it’s a bit of a hike from most of LA, but this is an all-day affair; a pumpkin theme park, if you will. I’ve outlined all the must-do attractions below.
Getting to Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm
Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm rises out of the corn fields off the 10 Freeway in Redlands, California. There are plenty of signs helping direct traffic to the patch, and the parking is plentiful and free. Plan on a decent walk from your spot to the front entrance, and make sure to snap a photo of where you left your car, as the sprawling lot can be confusing to navigate.
Photo courtesy of Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm
Admission & Attraction Tickets
Admission to Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm can only be purchased at the entrance booth (no tickets are available online). Major credit cards are accepted. The farm structures their pricing based on the day, so take a look at their pricing calendar for daily rates. Kids 2 and under are always free, and child tickets are less than adult ones. The first two days of the 2025 season (September 25 and 26) are free for everyone! On weekends, pricing drops after 2pm.
There is plenty of free fun inside Live Oak Canyon that’s included with admission. Rides, games, and more interactive attractions do cost extra. You’ll most likely want to purchase activity tickets, which come in bundles at about $1 each (the more you buy, the less they cost). Families can buy 120 tickets for $100—and believe me, they go fast. On select days, kids get in free with a paid adult. There are also days when wristbands are on sale or available as a ticket bundle. On weekdays, wristbands are only $45. Typically, games and rides cost around 5-8 tickets per person.
What’s Included in Admission
You can certainly enjoy a day at Live Oak Pumpkin Farm without shelling out the big bucks. Your kids climb on tractors and hay pyramids, browse in the general store, take photos at the dozens of great photo ops, wander through pumpkin houses, enjoy live music on the weekends, play in the corn box and the bubble barn, navigate the low ropes course, cheer for their favorite pig in the pig races, climb around the spiderweb play nets, zip down the zip lines, and more.
My Top 5 Must-Do Attractions at Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm
If you do opt to purchase activity tickets, these are the best spots to use them!
1. The Train Ride (at night!)
Live Oak Canyon has a beautiful steam train that traces the outline of the park. At night, the entire tour is illuminated by not-so-spooky Halloween decorations. It’s the ultimate Halloween train ride, and it should be a must-do if you come to visit. The train ride costs 7 tickets per rider and is available for all ages.
Photo by the author
2. The Pumpkin Blasters
My boys insisted that I include this in my top 5—they got such a kick out of shooting pumpkins at targets on an elaborate shooting range. The high-powered pumpkin blasters are aimed at a series of targets, and kids and adults can try their hand at hitting a car, a sign, or something else at this shooting range.
3. The Corn Maze
Ready to get lost (like, really lost?). The corn maze at Live Oak Canyon is not your average, measly little walk through the corn. This one is tough, and you’ll want to stick together. The corn maze costs 8 tickets per person, and it is an absolute blast. The last entrance time is one hour before the patch closes, so maze-wanderers have time to find their way out before Live Oak Canyon is closed for the night.
4. The Petting Zoo
I love a good petting zoo, and this one even has those adorably fluffy highland cows, not to mention alpacas, goats, and sheep. It only costs 5 tickets to enter, but for an extra 3 tickets, you can grab food for the animals. There are over 400 friendly animals in this petting zoo, plus some larger friends (horses, Brahma bulls, and llamas) in pens nearby. Want more animal interactions? Live Oak Canyon offers camel rides (talk about a fun bucket list item) and pony rides for additional tickets.
5. The Pumpkin Pillow
This inflatable might seem like a silly thing to pop into my top 5, but my three-year-old spent about 45 minutes laughing hysterically and jumping around on it, so I had to add it in. At only 4 tickets, you get a lot of bang for your buck here, plus it makes for some darn cute photos! There are 6 inflatables set up throughout the park, varying from slides to classic bounce houses to inflatable obstacle courses.
Photo by the author
Honorable Mention: The Corn Box
This giant sensory bin kept my girls entertained for a solid half hour. It was filled with corn kernels and stocked with all manner of buckets, plastic shovels, and toy construction trucks like excavators and bulldozers. Not only was it super fun, but it’s absolutely free. It’s the perfect place to hang out with a baby or toddler while the big kids ride a few rides. Make sure to keep a close eye on babies in the corn bin, as the kernels could be a choking hazard.
Fair Games at Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch
My very competitive 9-year-old always asks to play carnival games at every theme park we go to. The games cost between 5 and 8 tickets, and feature such classics as ring toss, the goldfish game, archery, balloon bust, and more. The perk is that the prizes are great; all of our kids went home with plastic swords that provided hours of post-pumpkin patch entertainment.
Photo by the author
The Rides at Live Oak Pumpkin Patch
In total, there are more than 70 rides and attractions for families to enjoy. My kids absolutely loved the carnival-style rides, and of course, we had to ride the Ferris wheel that towers above the patch- the view was enchanting from the top.
Other great rides include the Cow Coaster, the Pumpkin Spin, and the Carousel. There are height requirements for many of these rides; certain rides don’t permit riders over 66″, while others won’t admit riders under 48″. Certain rides require adult supervision, while others require kids to ride alone; to be honest, the rules aren’t consistent and can be confusing. Thankfully, Live Oak Canyon created a handy graphic to help you ascertain which rides are best suited for your child.
Hungry? Live Oak Canyon Has You Covered
While you are not allowed to bring outside food or drink into Live Oak Canyon, there are plenty of food vendors for you to choose from. Every year, Live Oak Canyon creates a line-up of fair-style food trucks to offer their wares in a food court section of the patch. There are picnic tables and trash bins. The food isn’t the healthiest—think ice cream, lemonade, kettle corn, and pizza. However, it is delicious, and the whole patch smells like a county fair (in the best way!).
Know Before You Go
Look down at your feet before you head to Live Oak Canyon. Are you wearing closed-toed shoes and socks? That’s your best bet to maximize your day. Many inflatable attractions require socks, and closed-toed shoes will protect your feet from the dust and dirt. Live Oak Canyon is mostly set on dirt, so leave your brand-new white tennis shoes at home.
Live Oak Canyon is a non-smoking venue. They also do not allow pets, but make exceptions for service dogs. Minors under the age of 15 must be with an adult.
If you lose something during your visit, make sure to pop by the General Store. That is where staff are directed to take lost items.
The patch is stroller accessible and wheelchair accessible. There is stroller parking near almost every ride, making it easy to bring baby along. The farm cashiers have Apple Pay-enabled devices, so you only need your phone to make purchases. The machines also take chip-enabled Mastercard and Visa.
Live Oak Canyon has a strict no-refunds policy on both admission and tickets. Because you can’t buy until you arrive, same-day purchases are final sale.
Taking Home a Pumpkin
Obviously, if you’re going to a pumpkin patch, you’re going to take home a pumpkin, right? At Live Oak Canyon, there are pumpkins everywhere. Prices are by size, and are fairly reasonable (so many pumpkin patches get you with that per-pound pricing!). You can grab everything from teeny, tiny, little pumpkins to beautiful Cinderella ones. Wagons are available to haul all your purchases to the car.
Photo courtesy of Live Oak Canyon
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm?
The cost to visit Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm varies by day. In general, adult admission costs around $15 – $20, and kids cost around $10. Many rides, games, and attractions require activity tickets, which are not included with admission and are sold at ticket booths inside the patch.
What is there to do at Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm?
Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm has more than 70 rides, games, and attractions, plus a petting zoo with more than 400 animals. The pumpkin patch is Southern California’s largest, with a wide selection of pumpkins, a garden walk, live music on the weekends, food trucks, and an infamous corn maze.
Are all the activities at Live Oak Pumpkin Farm free with admission?
Unfortunately, no. Live Oak Canyon has some fun and free attractions, but many of the rides and games require additional tickets, which can be purchased at ticket booths throughout the patch. If you plan to ride a lot of the rides on-site, consider buying an all-day wristband.
How long should I plan to stay at Live Oak Pumpkin Farm?
If you come on a weekend, Live Oak Pumpkin farm is open from 10am – 10pm- and honestly, you could spend the entire day there! On weekdays, the farm is typically open in the evenings for about 5 hours (4pm – 9pm is standard) and that gives you plenty of time to pack in the fun, though you probably won’t cover everything.
Can I bring my own food to Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm?
No outside food or drink is allowed in the patch. There are food trucks available inside, as well as provisions for purchase in the general store.
How much do the pumpkins cost at Live Oak Pumpkin Patch?
The pumpkins range in price based on size. Small pumpkins cost around $5, while bigger pumpkins may creep closer to $15-$20.
Can I bring a backpack or a bag into the pumpkin patch?
Yes! While food and drinks aren’t allowed, purses, bags, and backpacks are.
Is the pumpkin patch stroller friendly?
Yes! We brought our stroller to the patch and had no trouble navigating the terrain.
Where do we park at Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm?
Parking is available onsite for free!
For more info, visit liveoakcanyon.com