During the 2000 Halloween season, we found out about a pumpkin farm a half hours drive from us and went out to pick some up for use at our Wanda's Kitchen website. The Pumpkin Patch at Live Oak Canyon grows many varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and Indian corn. They usually have all kinds of events planned for the month of October. It doesn't stop there, they are also a Christmas tree farm as well! They have events planned for the Christmas season as well. If you live in the Redlands-Yucaipa,, California area, check out their website for yearly details.

A little about Live Oak Canyon Christmas Tree Farm & The Pumpkin Patch
32335 Live Oak Canyon Rd.
Redlands, CA 92373

Located just off I-10 in outer Redlands/Yucaipa, California on Live Oak Canyon Rd., You'll find 12 acres of pumpkin patch growing 15 varieties of pumpkins, trees being grown for Christmas and a variety of berries for the picking. The owners, Gregg and Wilhelmina Palmer, have a wonderful  farm!  There's always something going on  there, either for Halloween, Christmas or the berry picking season. Easy freeway access from the north or south using I-10.

Opening week end at the farm was wonderful! Live Oak Canyon was host to an antique tractor show and pull. There were all kinds of things to do, ranging from shopping in the tent chock full of Harvest and Halloween country craft items to watching the kids have various contests to snacking on the foods being sold like roasted corn on the cob. We checked out the pumpkin carving by JanRene' Ashman, she does their huge logo pumpkin every year. In the craft tent, we picked up a few decorations to add to our own store-sized collection at home. They have a fantastic variety of items to choose from and the prices are low. There's also a variety of food stands to keep those hunger pangs at bay, go for the roasted corn on the cob, funnel cake, pizza and all kinds of drinks!

They had a section for kids with a petting zoo including llamas, ponies and goats that are just as cute as they can be! Pony rides, a giant air filled pumpkin bounce, hayrides, picking your own pumpkins, it's a fun place for the whole family to make a day of it. They have a beautiful picnic area with lots of tables all under the shade of tall trees.  Imagine how happy your child will be picking out their own pumpkins to carve. Imagine how happy it makes us big kids as well! And the weather was great! Nice, cool and crisp, perfect pumpkin picking weather!

We found pumpkins from the mini variety to those as large as 150 plus pounds and for very reasonable prices. They also grow a wide a variety of hybrids and heirloom varieties, like the Cinderella, the Wisconsin Cheese Wheel, Fairy Tale, and many more. They made a great addition to the usual orange variety of pumpkin we carve since they come in shades of blue, blue-green and all shades of orange. It was a beautiful display of color! They also stock bales of hay and corn stalk bundles. By making one stop here, you could just about decorate your whole yard in true harvest and Halloween style!

There's something going on every week-end Usually starting the last week-end in September and through the month of October. Stop by their website for a complete schedule of events at Live Oak Canyon Farm for Halloween and Christmas. Our special thanks to Gregg and Wilhelmina Palmer for supplying Halloween Online with pumpkins that year!

If you live in the mid-west, check out this link to find pumpkin patches in your area. It covers Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio.