Dave's Pumpkin Patch at Vierra Farms

Dave's Pumpkin Patch is the big October outing for Sacramento, ten minutes from downtown across the river, and the pumpkins are picked off the field: "Some love the smiles on their kid's faces as they ride the hayride and pick their favorite pumpkin."

What You Can Pick

• Pumpkins - reached by hayride, from 19 September

Good to Know

The farm calls the rest of it the Cornival: a giant jumping pillow, a corn maze, a hay pyramid, hay maze, pumpkin chunkin, films under the stars, pig races and live entertainment. Wristbands are sold for the rides; the patch itself is the reason to come.

In the farm's own words, "This is a true working family farm that all ages will enjoy." The other thing people come back for is Dave's apple cider cinnamon doughnuts.

Pro tip: the patch opens 19 September, two weeks before anyone thinks about pumpkins. Late September is the whole thing without the October queue.