Halloween for Kids, Pumpkin Patches & Harvest Events in SLO County
Events
[ I will add 2025 events when they start announcing more a few months before Halloween. To see family-friendly events that are not Halloween events, go to the family-friendly events page. ]
October 24 & 25, 2025 (Fri & Sat) - Zoo Boo at the Charles Paddock Zoo from 4:30PM - 7:30PM. They now have two different dates. Bring the entire family out to a not-too-scary evening at Zoo Boo! You can expect Halloween decorations throughout the Zoo, carnival games, a costume contest, Halloween-themed activities, a haunted house, and tricks & treats to enjoy! Admission is $16 for regular admission, $15 for Zoo members and free for kids 2 years old and under. Tickets are purchased at the zoo. We went to this event before! See my instagram reel of our experience from the past at Zoo Boo at Charles Paddock Zoo. Address: 9100 Morro Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422
(*Keep scrolling to see a list of 10 Pumpkin Patches in San Luis Obispo County in the next section.)
All of October - Scarescrows on display in Cambria and San Simeon. Hundreds of unique creations are expected to be on display between the 2 towns. The even planners say this is family-friendly and best viewed during the day. If you think your kids would be scared of their faces, then I wouldn't bring them. See pictures that I've taken of these creative scarecrows in Cambria. Or, you can press the play button below of a short video I took during my stroll to see the scarecrows. Address Suggestion for GPS: 2277 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428
To see all events that are not Halloween related nor Harvest season related, like Christmas events, go to the main
Family-Friendly Events page.
Pumpkin Patches and Farm Fun
List of Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes and Farms in San Luis Obispo County with Pumpkins
- Avila Valley Barn has pumpkins during the fall season starting mid-september and also offers hayrides for a cost. You can visit farm animals for free! See pictures that I've taken at Avila Valley Barn on this blog post. This barn is open year round and attracts a lot of tourists. Parking is free and you can even shop at their market for produce, desserts and toys. They also have some lunch options from their bbq.
See my instagram reel to see my recent visit at Avila Valley Barn in October.
Avila Valley Barn Address: 560 Avila Beach Dr, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - The Pumpkin Patch in Edna Valley starts selling pumpkins on September 14, 2024 from 9AM - 5PM. They also have a corn maze (costs money). I especially love coming here because you have the option to pick pumpkins and cut them straight from the vine on their farm!
See our pumpkin patch IG video reel of our personal visit through the corn maze here. Address: 2315 Biddle Ranch Road San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Brookshire Farms will usually open starting in September to sell pumpkins. They also usually have night mazes here during the weekends of October, in addition to pumpkins. Address: 4747 Los Osos Valley Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
- Nipomo Pumpkin Patch will open on September 28, 2024. They have the largest pumpkins around with the best prices. It's a great place for a photo opportunity. See a picture that I've taken at Nipomo Pumpkin Patch on instagram. Address: 662 Eucalyptus Rd, Nipomo, CA 93444
- River "K" Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze usually opens in Paso Robles for October. Free parking, free entry, no dogs allowed. According to their instagram, they prefer to take cash. Address: 5670 N River Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446
- SLO Creek Farms is usually open in the fall.
Besides for pumpkins during the fall season, they also have fresh flowers and other fruits that you can pick yourself throughout the year. It's a beautiful farm for a photo opportunity. See my video reel on instagram at SLO Creek Farms from our past visit. Address: 6455 Monte Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Jack Creek Farms usually has pumpkins in the fall for October and their hours change by the season. They have been named one of the top 30 pumpkin patches in U.S.A. by Yelp. Address: Jack Creek Farms, 5000 CA-46, Templeton, CA 93465
- Chesebrough Farm Family Fun usually has dozens of varieties of pumpkins and winter squash and they are open to the public starting Oct 1 through Oct 31 every day from 10AM - 6PM. Address: 790 Moss Lane, Templeton, CA 93465
- Willow Pumpkin Patch usually opens in October. There are pony rides that you will have to pay for. This is a church fundraiser. Among this list of pumpkin patches in San Luis Obispo County, they usually announce their opening for the season the latest of the bunch. They suggest a parking donation to park there. Address: Willow Rd & Hetrick Ave., Nipomo, CA 93444
- Tar Creek Ranch is located in AG and took a bit of a drive through the rural part. I was impressed with how many kids' activities they had in the past but, they were not open to the public last year and now only focuses on event planning for private parties. See my video reel on instagram of my past family visit at Tar Creek Ranch in Arroyo Grande during October from a couple of years ago. They are a great venue for special events like a wedding or work party. Address: 2514 Huasna Rd., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
More About Pumpkin Patches in the Area
Some pumpkin patch places allow you to cut the pumpkins you've selected off the vine or they have already been cut and you can just pick from their pile! A few places have corn mazes and other kid-friendly activities too.
SanLuisObispoMom on IG
@sanluisobispomomHaunted Houses in San Luis Obispo
Major Haunted Houses in Southern California for 2024
Living on the Central Coast, we're only a few hours drive from really scary haunted houses and fun rides at major attractions. Here are ticket offerings for attractions that offer a Haunted House experience at night during the Halloween season.
Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Studios Hollywood in LA offers Halloween Horror Nights General Admission for $74 online through arestravel. Universal Studios Hollywood is a 2 hour and 56 minute drive south from SLO (if no traffic).
Knott's Berry Farm Haunted Experience
On select nights. Knott's Berry Farm turns into Knott's SCARY Farm! It's so scary, it's not recommended for anyone under 13 years old. Knott's Berry Farm is about a 3 hour and 54 minute drive from SLO (if no traffic). Gate price is can be high but you can secure Knott's Scary Farm tickets online at a discount from arestravel.