PUMPKINS ABOUND ALONG THE HALF MOON BAY COASTSIDE

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 sandwiches, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin spice lattes, and even pumpkin beer on tap!

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.org and also download iCoastside to access information on the region’s cosy 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 -

15th Annual Bernese Mountain Dog Day (free!)

Oct. 1, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Join over 130 Bernese Mountain Dogs at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm for the 15th Annual Mountain Dog Day! Berner friends will be accompanied by John’s Bernese, Clara Honey, along with her cousin Chloe who will welcome their old and new pals. Farmer John will be ready to give hayrides for his furry friends. 800 North Cabrillo Highway, 650) 726-4980, www.farmerjohnspumpkins.com.

10th Annual Hand-Blown Art Glass Pumpkin Patch

Oct. 7-8, 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. For those who wish to create their own piece of art, HMB Art Glass offers several classes each day year-round. 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. Classes start as low as $59 per person. Ask for the "NewClient40" special rate for up to 50% off website pricing. La Nebbia Winery, 12341 San Mateo Road on Hwy. 92, (650) 283-5626, www.hmbartglass.com.

44th Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off (free!)

Oct. 9, 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 $7 per pound for the champion mega-pumpkin. Superstar grower Cindy Tobeck’s monster 1,910-pound weigh-off champion mega-gourd obliterated a formidable field of heavyweight contenders in winning the 2016 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 on October 14-15. IDES Grounds, 735 Main Street, (650) 726-9652, www.miramarevents.com.

47th Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival (free!)

Oct. 14 & 15, 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, four stages of stellar live music, the Great Pumpkin Parade, a bone-chilling Haunted House, harvest-inspired crafts, home-style foods, expert pumpkin carver Peter Hazel sculpting a monster 10,000+ 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. 

Fourth Annual Coastside Brewfest

Oct. 21, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Enjoy some of the best breweries on the West Coast at the Fourth Annual Coastside Brew Fest, hosted by Mavericks Community Foundation. Held in the parking lot of Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, guests can enjoy unlimited tastes of their favourite brews from vendors including Alpha Acid Brewing Company, Alvarado Street Brewery, Barebottle Brewery, Deschutes Brewery, Drake’s Brewing Company, Fieldwork Brewing Company, Hop Dogma Brewing Company, Temescal Brewing, and many more. Local food trucks offer guests the chance to purchase a wide variety of delicious bites, and the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company restaurant will be open for dining. This year’s beneficiary is the Mavericks Coastside Foundation, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Coastside Hope. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door (includes souvenir glass); designated driver tickets are $10. Tickets are available at www.coastsidebrewfest.com. 390 Capistrano Road, (650) 728-2739, www.hmbbrewingco.com.