Every year, we make a couple of trips the pumpkin patch. It’s always a great day for the whole family and it really gets us into the fall spirit here in San Diego. This year, we’ve been extra lucky, getting to experience true fall weather in October (which literally never happens).
We visited our first pumpkin patch early this year and it has already climbed to the top of our list of best pumpkin patches in San Diego. Oma’s Family Farm is located in Lakeside and has it all. It was such a fun experience for all of us and we were entertained for several hours. The best part is that it’s open weekdays, so if you are wanting to avoid crowds, checking it on a weekday is highly recommended.
While more than half of San Diego’s pumpkin patches are located in a parking lot or outside of a busy mall, that is not the case with Oma’s. You know you’re heading to a true pumpkin patch when you head out to Lakeside and make the drive to Oma’s.
Before planning your visit, be sure to purchase tickets ahead of time on their website. They do not sell tickets on-site and you need to purchase tickets in advance to get in. The kids tickets also come with a pumpkin that your kids can pick on the way out.
When we first arrived, we were so excited for all of the amazing photo opportunities right when you walk in. Literally every turn you make, there’s a different photo spot for you to take amazing photos at. Okay, so this made me super excited but the kids top picks will come next.
When heading to Oma’s, I would plan for a full day. You can pack a lunch, or they sell snacks and meals on-site as well. You will likely spend several hours at Oma’s so plan accordingly with your family’s schedule!
Here’s what you will get to experience at Oma’s Family Farm:
Playgrounds
So many playgrounds to choose from. They have play sets with slides and swings at nearly every turn. Some large slides, some small. They also have play areas for toddlers and babies where they have push cars, play houses and so much more. I’m also not talking your standard play-at-the-park-kinda-playground (while they do have that too). They have slides made out of construction tubes, old trucks turned into slides and playgrounds, and so much more. There’s also a huge football field that’s filled with a variety of bounce balls, footballs, and soccer balls for the kids to spend kicking and running around to unload some of that energy.
Cottonseed Hill
This was a huge hit for the kids. Imagine sledding in the snow, but on a huge pile of cottonseed. Have the kids take off their shoes, climb the hill and sled down on one of the tubes they provide for the kids. It was just like a snow day but minus the mess, the cold, and the falling in the snow.
Petting Zoo
Around the farm, you’ll find goats, pigs and more. They even have a petting zoo filled with goats (yes baby goats too) that your kids can walk in and spend some time feeding and petting the animals.
Variety of kid powered games
It was so impressive how the farm used so many simple items to turn them into fun games for the kids. One of the favorites was a magnet wall with tubes where kids could mix and match different pieces to see if they can slide the marbles from start to end. They also had corn hole, a bullseye, shuffle board and several other games for the whole family to get together and play.
Wagon Ride
We didn’t get a chance to do the wagon ride, but it seemed like a lot of fun. It takes you around the whole farm, talks about the animals, etc. The wagon ride is an extra $5 per person
Food trucks
New this year- they’ll have a variety of food trucks joining the farm over the weekends. Like I mentioned, Oma’s Family Farm can be all-day event, so be sure to pack a lunch or plan to buy a lunch because getting your kids out of there is going to be a whole other ball game!
I’m going to have to go ahead and argue that Oma’s is probably the best pumpkin patch in San Diego. If you’ve been, I’m sure you can related, and if you haven’t had a chance to make it out, be sure to add it your fall bucket list because it is a great day for the entire family.
