San Diego Halloween Guide: Pumpkins

How to Choose a Pumpkin

• Look for one that is visually appealing, evenly a deep orange. The shape is just whatever appeals to you.
• Make sure that it's free from cuts, soft spots, bruises. The flesh should feel hard, and not give easily.
• Make sure the stem is attached.

Varieties of Pumpkins

• Sugar - Excellent for baking
• Jack O'Lantern - used for carving
• White Lumina - medium-sized white pumpkin
• Mini - Used for decoration
• Gourds - Many varieties (shapes and colors), used for decorations

Tip: Don't throw out the seeds when making Jack-O-Lanterns or cooking fresh pumpkins, they make great snacks. Kids especially love them.

Pumpkin Patches

Bates Nut Farm's Pumpkin Patch
15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center (760) 749-3333
Jack O’Lantern Pumpkins, Tractor Hayrides, Straw Maze, Interactive Petting Corral, Pony Rides, Mule drawn hayrides & Tour and more...
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
October 10, 2009 Scarecrow Contest
October 3 - 4 Pumpkin Festival Craft Fair
October 10 - 11 Nuts for the Arts - Fine Arts Fair
October 24 Costume Contest
October 25 Doggie Costume Parade & Contest

Del Mar Fairgrounds Pumpkin Station
1555 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar Fairgrounds (888) 302-8733
It is ideal for children aged 3 to 13 and includes pumpkins, and several children's rides, slides and jumps. School programs are available for children to learn about the harvest of the season. Pumpkin Station offers a wide variety of gourds, squashes, Indian corn, and pumpkins. Admission is free, but tickets are sold for rides.
Hours: Sept. 25 - Oct. 31, 2009 Mon - Thurs 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. & Fri - Sun 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Pinery Pumpkin Patch Tours
Rancho Bernardo, 13421 Highland Valley Road
Bonita, 5437 Bonita Road (858) 566-7466
Offers a farm tour in which kids get a pumpkin (up to $4 value), coloring book, tractor-pulled hayride, walk though a 8-ft living high corn maze, bottled water, and farm animals.
Hours: Sept 28 - Oct 31, 2009. Mon-Thu 11am-9pm; Fri-Sun 9am-9pm.

Pumpkin Station
Westfield Shopping Town Mission Valley 1640 Camino Del Rio North at Mission Center Road
Plaza Bonita Shopping Center 3030 Plaza Bonita Road, National City (858) 566-7466
Hours: Daily in October .Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Roadrunner Country Corner
Highway 78 and San Pasqual Road, Escondido (760) 746-8822
Pick your own from the patch at this family-owned farm then stop and visit the barnyard animals at the petting corral. Walk through the Children's Maze (made out of corn and bamboo) and bring your own brown bag lunch for the picnic area.
Hours: Daily in October, noon-6 p.m.

Victoria's Gardens
(Hwy 67, exit east on Willow Rd. go 1 mile to entrance) (619) 390-9571
Hours: Sept. 25 - Oct. 31, 2009 Sun. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Fri. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2 Tbsp oil or melted butter
Remove seeds from the pumpkin and separate the seeds from the meat or stringy fiber
Wash the seeds and dry with a paper towel
Stir seeds with oil in a bowl
Spread the seeds on a baking sheet and sprinkle generously with salt
Bake for 15-30 minutes or until the seed's shell is crispy but not brown
*If you're feeling adventurous, try adding these additional seasonings: garlic powder, cayenne pepper, cajun seasoning, worcestershire sauce, or soy sauce.

Note: Kids be sure to have a parent or adult help you.