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| Art Glass Pumpkin Patch |
There is no better place to celebrate the wonders of the fall season than along the Half Moon Bay Coastside. Fondly regarded as the pumpkin capital of the world, this beautiful coastal region, located approximately 35 minutes south of San Francisco, produces more than 3,000 tons of pumpkins every year. Visitors will delight in the area’s brilliant orange-pick-your-own-pumpkins and scenic backdrop of rich fall colors. The local menus are brimming over with pumpkin-inspired delights such as pumpkin risotto, pumpkin cheesecake, and even pumpkin beer on tap! Those seeking an unforgettable seasonal indulgence can experience the merriment with specialty pumpkin spa experiences.
Below is a summary of pumpkin-related events, dining experiences, spa treatments and more along the Half Moon Bay Coastside. To plan a trip, visit www.visithalfmoonbay.organd also download iCoastside to access information on the region’s cozy inns and luxury coastal resorts, renowned restaurants, farm visits, golfing, wine tasting, fishing, whale watching, surfing and much more.
Special Note: All locations are in Half Moon Bay unless otherwise noted.
Oct. 10 & 11; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Half Moon Bay Art Glass will transform the grounds of La Nebbia Winery into a glistening glass pumpkin patch featuring the work of glass blower Douglass C. Brown. This artistic installation will feature hundreds of one-of-a-kind glass pumpkins available for purchase, each one personally handcrafted by Brown, who works year round to create this spectacular display. La Nebbia Winery will be open for guests to partake in wine tasting and to purchase bottles of wine, while bocce ball courts will offer fun for everyone. La Nebbia Winery, 12341 San Mateo Road on Hwy. 92, (650) 283-5626, www.hmbartglass.com
42nd Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off (free!)
Oct. 12; 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Superstar Gourd Growing Greats and their hard-to-believe, titanic orange orbs gather for the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in the World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay. A special $30,000 bonus mega-prize will be awarded to any grower who breaks the world record at Half Moon Bay, considered the "Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs." A host of veteran growers contend for the coveted title, the $30,000 world record prize and thousands in additional prize money. In a pay-by-the-pound system, the winner will take home a hefty $6 per pound for the champion mega-pumpkin. Superstar grower John Hawkley's astounding 2,058-pound weigh-off champion mega-gourd set a new North American record and obliterated a formidable field of heavyweight contenders in winning the 2014 Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. The grand champion gourd (along with the top five overall) will be on display at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 17-18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. IDES Grounds, 735 Main Street, (650) 726-9652, www.miramarevents.com
45th Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival (free!)
Oct. 17 & 18; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Half Moon Bay celebrates its bountiful fall harvest and autumn splendor with a special display of gigantically enormous heavyweight champion pumpkins, three stages of stellar live music, the Great Pumpkin Parade, a bone-chilling Haunted House, harvest-inspired crafts, home-style foods, expert pumpkin carver Farmer Mike sculpting a monster 1,200+ pound pumpkin, photos with the grand champion mega-gourd, pie-eating and costume contests, pumpkin carving for fun, and so much more! With so much to see and do, visitors can use iPumpkin, the official mobile application of the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, to navigate their way through the festival. Admission is free. Main Street, (650) 726-9652, www.miramarevents.com.
Pumpkin Run
Oct. 18; 8 a.m.
With a route that winds up the beautiful Coastside trail, the annual Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run is one of the most picturesque in California. This event is a great way to get some exercise, fresh air and an early start on this year’s Pumpkin Festival. Choose from the Pumpkin Power 5K Obstacle Challenge, a 5K run or walk, or bring your children to the Kids Fun Run! Registration cost is $30 pre-registration (post-marked by October 15); $35 after October 15; $20 children under 12 and seniors over 65. The run starts and ends at Hatch Elementary School, 490 Miramontes Road. To register go to www.seniorcoastsiders.org. For more information, call (650) 712-7322.
Coastside Brewfest
Oct. 24; 1 - 5 p.m.
In celebration of the plethora of amazing breweries in the Bay Area and on the Coastside, the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is hosting their Second Annual Coastside Brewfest. Sample some the best breweries of the Bay Area including Mavericks, Hop Dogma, Cellermaker, Devil’s Canyon, Deschutes, Fieldwork, Fort Point, Sudwerk, Santa Cruz Ale Works and others. Off the Grid food trucks will provide a wide variety of local specialties for purchase. In keeping with the Brewing Company’s ongoing philanthropic initiatives, a portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to Coastside Hope. Tickets are $30 per person in advance; $40 at the door. 390 Capistrano Road, (650) 728-2739, www.hmbbrewingco.com.
An autumn visit to the pumpkin fields around Half Moon Bay is a popular annual tradition for many families. Spread out along Highway 92 and Cabrillo Highway (Rt. 1), visitors will
discover pumpkins in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes in beautiful rural settings. Below is a selection of local pumpkin farms open to visitors:
A. Repetto Nursery- at this pumpkin patch, visitors can choose from more than 30 different pumpkin varieties, meander through a corn maze and go for a hayride. 12331 San Mateo Road, (650) 726-6414.
Arata Pumpkin Farm – in addition to pumpkins, this family-friendly farm features pony rides, a haunted barn, a petting zoo, a hay maze and more. 185 Verde Road, (650) 726-7548, www.aratapumpkinfarm.com.
Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm - life-long farmers Farmer John and his wife Eda grow more than 60 varieties of pumpkins and squash. Visitors can also check out an authentic Native American Teepee and take a ride on a vintage tractor. 850 North Cabrillo Highway, (650) 726-4980, www.farmerjohnspumpkins.com.
Lemos Family Farm - this family farm specializes in year-round activities for children such as pony rides, tractor/train rides, petting zoo and more. 12320 San Mateo Road, (650) 726-2342, www.lemosfarm.com.
Pastorino Gifts & Plants – this family-run farm boasts hayrides, train rides, ponies, pet and feed farm animals, giant slides, and on the weekends there’s a haunted house and face painting. 12391 San Mateo Road, (650) 726-6440, www.pastorinofarms.com.
Tom & Pete’s Produce - celebrating 50 years since its inception in 1964, the produce stand will have pumpkins for sale during the month of October. 270 Main Street, (650) 726-7500.
Seasonal Bounty Awaits at Local Farmer’s Markets
Here’s how to partake in the plethora of fresh, local produce (including lots of pumpkins!) available at the Half Moon Bay Coastside’s Farmer’s Markets:
Below is a summary of pumpkin-related events, dining experiences, spa treatments and more along the Half Moon Bay Coastside. To plan a trip, visit www.visithalfmoonbay.organd also download iCoastside to access information on the region’s cozy inns and luxury coastal resorts, renowned restaurants, farm visits, golfing, wine tasting, fishing, whale watching, surfing and much more.
Special Note: All locations are in Half Moon Bay unless otherwise noted.
- EVENTS -
Sixth Annual Hand-Blown Art Glass Pumpkin PatchOct. 10 & 11; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Half Moon Bay Art Glass will transform the grounds of La Nebbia Winery into a glistening glass pumpkin patch featuring the work of glass blower Douglass C. Brown. This artistic installation will feature hundreds of one-of-a-kind glass pumpkins available for purchase, each one personally handcrafted by Brown, who works year round to create this spectacular display. La Nebbia Winery will be open for guests to partake in wine tasting and to purchase bottles of wine, while bocce ball courts will offer fun for everyone. La Nebbia Winery, 12341 San Mateo Road on Hwy. 92, (650) 283-5626, www.hmbartglass.com
42nd Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off (free!)
Oct. 12; 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Superstar Gourd Growing Greats and their hard-to-believe, titanic orange orbs gather for the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in the World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay. A special $30,000 bonus mega-prize will be awarded to any grower who breaks the world record at Half Moon Bay, considered the "Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs." A host of veteran growers contend for the coveted title, the $30,000 world record prize and thousands in additional prize money. In a pay-by-the-pound system, the winner will take home a hefty $6 per pound for the champion mega-pumpkin. Superstar grower John Hawkley's astounding 2,058-pound weigh-off champion mega-gourd set a new North American record and obliterated a formidable field of heavyweight contenders in winning the 2014 Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. The grand champion gourd (along with the top five overall) will be on display at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 17-18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. IDES Grounds, 735 Main Street, (650) 726-9652, www.miramarevents.com
45th Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival (free!)
Oct. 17 & 18; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Half Moon Bay celebrates its bountiful fall harvest and autumn splendor with a special display of gigantically enormous heavyweight champion pumpkins, three stages of stellar live music, the Great Pumpkin Parade, a bone-chilling Haunted House, harvest-inspired crafts, home-style foods, expert pumpkin carver Farmer Mike sculpting a monster 1,200+ pound pumpkin, photos with the grand champion mega-gourd, pie-eating and costume contests, pumpkin carving for fun, and so much more! With so much to see and do, visitors can use iPumpkin, the official mobile application of the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, to navigate their way through the festival. Admission is free. Main Street, (650) 726-9652, www.miramarevents.com.
Pumpkin Run
Oct. 18; 8 a.m.
With a route that winds up the beautiful Coastside trail, the annual Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run is one of the most picturesque in California. This event is a great way to get some exercise, fresh air and an early start on this year’s Pumpkin Festival. Choose from the Pumpkin Power 5K Obstacle Challenge, a 5K run or walk, or bring your children to the Kids Fun Run! Registration cost is $30 pre-registration (post-marked by October 15); $35 after October 15; $20 children under 12 and seniors over 65. The run starts and ends at Hatch Elementary School, 490 Miramontes Road. To register go to www.seniorcoastsiders.org. For more information, call (650) 712-7322.
Coastside Brewfest
Oct. 24; 1 - 5 p.m.
In celebration of the plethora of amazing breweries in the Bay Area and on the Coastside, the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is hosting their Second Annual Coastside Brewfest. Sample some the best breweries of the Bay Area including Mavericks, Hop Dogma, Cellermaker, Devil’s Canyon, Deschutes, Fieldwork, Fort Point, Sudwerk, Santa Cruz Ale Works and others. Off the Grid food trucks will provide a wide variety of local specialties for purchase. In keeping with the Brewing Company’s ongoing philanthropic initiatives, a portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to Coastside Hope. Tickets are $30 per person in advance; $40 at the door. 390 Capistrano Road, (650) 728-2739, www.hmbbrewingco.com.
- LOCAL RICHES -
Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin PatchesAn autumn visit to the pumpkin fields around Half Moon Bay is a popular annual tradition for many families. Spread out along Highway 92 and Cabrillo Highway (Rt. 1), visitors will
discover pumpkins in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes in beautiful rural settings. Below is a selection of local pumpkin farms open to visitors:
A. Repetto Nursery- at this pumpkin patch, visitors can choose from more than 30 different pumpkin varieties, meander through a corn maze and go for a hayride. 12331 San Mateo Road, (650) 726-6414.
Arata Pumpkin Farm – in addition to pumpkins, this family-friendly farm features pony rides, a haunted barn, a petting zoo, a hay maze and more. 185 Verde Road, (650) 726-7548, www.aratapumpkinfarm.com.
Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm - life-long farmers Farmer John and his wife Eda grow more than 60 varieties of pumpkins and squash. Visitors can also check out an authentic Native American Teepee and take a ride on a vintage tractor. 850 North Cabrillo Highway, (650) 726-4980, www.farmerjohnspumpkins.com.
Lemos Family Farm - this family farm specializes in year-round activities for children such as pony rides, tractor/train rides, petting zoo and more. 12320 San Mateo Road, (650) 726-2342, www.lemosfarm.com.
Pastorino Gifts & Plants – this family-run farm boasts hayrides, train rides, ponies, pet and feed farm animals, giant slides, and on the weekends there’s a haunted house and face painting. 12391 San Mateo Road, (650) 726-6440, www.pastorinofarms.com.
Tom & Pete’s Produce - celebrating 50 years since its inception in 1964, the produce stand will have pumpkins for sale during the month of October. 270 Main Street, (650) 726-7500.
Seasonal Bounty Awaits at Local Farmer’s Markets
Here’s how to partake in the plethora of fresh, local produce (including lots of pumpkins!) available at the Half Moon Bay Coastside’s Farmer’s Markets:
- Coastside Farmers’ Market at Shoreline Station in Half Moon Bay. Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. through December, www.coastsidefarmersmarket.org.
- Coastside Farmers’ Market at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica. Wednesdays, 2:30 - 6 p.m. through December, www.coastsidefarmersmarket.org.
- Pescadero Grown Farmer's Market. 251 Stage Road, Pescadero. Thursdays, 3 - 7 p.m. through early Oct. 29, www.pescaderogrown.org.
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