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.

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.

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: 27-Oct. 31, 2008 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
October 4 Scarecrow Contest
October 4-5 Pumpkin Festival Craft Fair
October 11-12 Nuts for the Arts -- Fine Arts Faire
October 25 Costume Contest
October 26 Pet Costume Contest

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. 26-Oct. 31, 2008 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Mountain Valley Ranch
842 Highway 78, Ramona (760) 788-8703 Hayrides, farm animals and pick your pumpkins.
Hours: October 1-31, 2008 9 a.m.-6 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 29-Oct 31, 2008. 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. 21 - Oct. 31, 2008 Sun. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Fri. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

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

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.

Recommend this article...