Long Beach Pumpkin Patch - Pa's Pumpkin Patch Harvest Festival, California, Pacific Coast Highway at Studebaker south of 2nd Street

Long Beach's favorite pumpkin patch, Pa's Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Festival is a perfect way to spend some family time with the kids, enjoying carnival rides, a petting zoo, foods and pumpkins galore.

As you enter the free event, you are greeted with a carnival atmosphere. To the left is a stand where you can get down to the basics of purchasing a pumpkin, cutting tools and other items useful as Halloween staples. To the right are the pumpkins of many colors. Then wander the acreage to enjoy kiddie rides, a carousel, tent enclosed petting zoo, kiddie bumper boats, and many fun items for children.  A Halloween House of Mirrors is designed for youngsters and adults to enjoy during their visit to Pa's Pumpkin Patch in Long Beach.

Each year this Oregon-based crew comes to Southern California to set up shop for the holidays, Halloween and Christmas. From beautiful pumpkins and gourds to Christmas trees in November / December, you'll find the huge lot on Pacific Coast Highway is not only fun, but extremely popular.

I don't have any tots but love to stop at the lot to enjoy the spirit of Halloween fun. As a photographer, the vivid orange color of the field is great to photograph. The rides, the games and the atmosphere are clearly a break from those boring drives along Pacific Coast Highway, a road filled with stoplight after stoplight.   For those who need to get in the spirit, go buy yourself a pumpkin. I can't attest to this year's crop but my pumpkin purchased here last year was better than another I bought in Huntington Beach.