It’s Time to Celebrate All Things Pumpkin in Half Moon Bay

Glimpses of summer are still present, and jack-o'-lanterns have yet to take residence on our stoops, but for those who have started to crave all things pumpkin, here’s a sneak peak at where you can pay homage this fall to Half Moon Bay’s beloved gourd.

Blow Your Own Glass Pumpkin

Through November

Create an autumn masterpiece to treasure for years when you blow your very own hot glass pumpkin with Half Moon Bay Art Glass! Professional glass blowers are on hand to assist students with shaping, blowing and coloring these magnificent 4-5 inch glass pumpkins. The class is designed for beginners, ages 12 and above. Through November, classes are discounted to $79 (normally $160) with password, “tiramisu.” After the pumpkin masterpiece is completed, pieces can be picked up the very next day or shipped to most locations in the United States. 12341-1 San Mateo Road (Hwy 92), Half Moon Bay, (650) 283-5626, www.hmbartglass.com.

The Great Pumpkin Tasting Event

October 5 from 12-3 p.m. 

In celebration of the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, New Leaf Community Markets will offer tastes of pumpkin goodies in every department including pumpkin chai in the Juice Bar, a tasty pumpkin beer in the beer/wine department, special pumpkin bakery treats, pumpkin oil, pumpkin ravioli, and pumpkin jam. This event takes place on October 5 from 12-3 p.m. 150 San Mateo Road, (650) 726-3110,www.newleaf.com. 

Cooking with Pumpkins 

October 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 11:30am to 1:30pm

Each Saturday in October, the culinary team at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay presents a seasonal cooking demonstration showcasing creative ways to incorporate pumpkin into a menu. Each class includes an appetizer, main course and dessert and a three-course pumpkin lunch at the Chef’s Table in Navio. Cooking with Pumpkins classes are available Saturday, October 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 11:30am to 1:30pm and are $75 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and classes are limited to 12 attendees. One Miramontes Point Road, (650) 712-7040;www.ritzcarlton.com/hmb. Media Contact: Deanne French, (949) 240-5088,Deanne.French@ritzcarlton.com.

Fourth Annual Hand-Blown Art Glass Pumpkin Patch
October 11-14, 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 artist and glass blower Douglass C. Brown. This artistic installation will feature over 1,000 one-of-a-kind glass pumpkins available for purchase, each one personally handcrafted by Brown, who works year round to create this spectacular display.
In addition to browsing this amazing pumpkin patch, visitors will be able to enjoy a range of other activities over the weekend and there will be 50 free gifts given away each day. La Nebbia Winery will be open for guests to partake in wine tasting and to purchase bottles of wine. Bocce ball courts will offer fun for everyone, and Brown will provide hot glass demonstrations for visitors to get a firsthand look at how the pumpkins are created. La Nebbia Winery, 12341 San Mateo Road on Hwy 92, (650) 283-5626, www.hmbartglass.com
 
40th Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off 
October 14, 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. 

 
Pumpkins Take Over the Pescadero Farmers Market
October 17, 3 – 7 p.m.
Local favorite, Pescadero Farmer’s Market plays host to the Pescadero Pumpkin Festival on Thursday, October 17th. Festival goers will be able to purchase Pescadero-grown pumpkins while enjoying games, light refreshments and more. 251 Stage Road, Pescadero, (650) 879-1691, www.pescaderogrown.org.
 
43rd Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival  
October 19 & 20, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
43rd Annual HALF MOON BAY ART & PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, Oct. 19-20.The World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay celebrates its bountiful fall harvest and autumn splendor with a special display of gigantically enormous/heavyweight champion pumpkins, smashing entertainment with three stages of stellar live music, the Great Pumpkin Parade with six-time Gold Glove winner and all-time San Francisco Giants fan favorite J.T. Snow as Grand Marshal, a bone-chilling Haunted House, harvest-inspired crafts, homestyle foods, expert pumpkin carver Farmer Mike sculpting a monster 1,200+ pound pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, photos with the grand champion mega-gourd, pie-eating and costume contests, pumpkin carving for fun, “Smashing Pumpkins: Battle of the Bands”, the Comcast Take 5 Lounge with giant screen TV, ultra-thrilling zip-line and bungee jump, tasty wines and microbrews, pumpkin-infused ales and margaritas, and the Sunday-only “Made on the Coast” local artists block with music, authors, book signings and a haiku contest. Festival admission is free. Presented by the non-profit Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee which has raised several million dollars for community service organizations and civic improvements in its 43 year history. 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. iPhone and iPad users can download the application for free. New to the festival this year is the first ever “Made on the Coast” locals’ block, which will feature original art of all mediums created by local artists on Main Street between Kelly and Mill streets on Sunday. Admission is free. Main Street,(650) 726-9652, www.miramarevents.com. Media Contact: Tim Beeman, (650) 726-3491, tim@miramarevents.com. 
 
Pumpkin Pancakes 
October 19 & 20, 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. 
There is no better way to kick off the Pumpkin Festival fun than with a pancake breakfast! Come out to Mac Dutra Park for delicious buttermilk and pumpkin pancakes that are being served up as a fundraiser by the Half Moon Bay High School Basketball Teams. Cost of breakfast is only $10 and includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, coffee, orange juice and sausages. For a small donation patrons will receive the famous, secret recipe for the fabulous Pumpkin pancakes! Mac Dutra Park located at Kelly Street & Main Street, Half Moon Bay. 

Spooky Crafts at Fog Town Toys 

October 19 and October 20 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

During the month of October, Fog Town Toys' will be offering free spooky craft time for the little ones. Children ages 2-4 are welcome on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.and ages 5+ are welcome on Fridays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. On October 19 and October 20, there will be $1 face painting during the Pumpkin Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 330 Main Street, (650) 726-4556, www.fogtowntoys.com.

Pumpkin Run
October 20, 8 a.m.
Join in the fun with the Pumpkin run! Run or walk a 5k course or take on a 10k. Kids can sign up too with the “Kid’s Fun Run.” Each runner will receive a t-shirt, a pumpkin and breakfast. The run starts and ends at Hatch Elementary School, 490 Miramontes Road. Registration for adults is $30 and kids under 12 and seniors over 65 are $20. To register go to www.seniorcoastsiders.org or www.active.com. 
 
11th Annual Haunted Hostel Halloween
October 26
Spend the evening with ghosts, goblins and ghouls as the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel hosts the 11th Annual Haunted Hostel Halloween. This spooky event is full of fun games, crafts and live entertainment, and offers the perfect opportunity to bring the whole family along for a night of fun. Take part in Halloween themed crafts and activities, while checking out the creative costumes. Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel, 16th Street & Highway 1, Montara, (650) 728-7177.  

Pumpkin Tours

October 27

Join Half Moon Bay Coastside Tours on Sunday, October 27 to celebrate pumpkin season with two fun tours. South Coast Tour – Enjoy a beautiful drive past coastal pumpkin farms and beaches, plus a serene walk in the silent redwoods on the way to Harley Farms, where guests can sample the finest goat cheese, including Harley Farms’ seasonal special pumpkin fromage blanc. $95, transportation included. Downtown Half Moon Bay Tour – Learn about Half Moon Bay history while shopping and enjoying wine on this downtown tour. Participants will start at Barterra Winery for a glass of sparkling wine and an introduction to historic downtown Half Moon Bay. Afterwards, an enriching walking tour of the picturesque downtown allows tour-goers to see pumpkin art from all over the area. This downtown tour ends with more wine tasting. $55, transportation not included. 225 Cabrillo Highway South, (650) 720-7050, www.hmbcoastsidetours.com.

Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patches 

·       4 C’s Pumpkin Patch – make a day of it at this pumpkin farm, where kids can venture through rows of pumpkins while also enjoying pony rides, train rides, slides and a petting zoo. 12371 San Mateo Road, (650) 726-9614.

·       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.

·       Andreotti Family Farm- after picking out a pumpkin, visitors can wander through the corn maze, eat candied apples and check out the animals on display. 329 Kelly Avenue, (650) 726-9151.

·       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.

·       Bob's Pumpkin Farm – visitors will find a large selection of pumpkins, a picnic area, farm animals, a corn maze and a hay pyramid. Cabrillo Highway (Hwy. 1), five miles south of Half Moon Bay, (650) 726-4567.

·       Farmer Dom’s Pumpkin Patch at Harbor Village — pumpkins, family events, fundraisers, jumpers for kids, face painting, kite flying, costume contests, food, specials by the merchants, music, pie eating competitions and pumpkin carving competitions at Harbor Village mall located in Princeton by the Sea. 270 Capistrano Road, (888) 606-4862, http://farmerdomspumpkinpatch.weebly.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.

·       Muzzi’s Ranch Pumpkin Patch – tucked in the hills, families can have fun picking pumpkins, climbing stacks of hay and finding their way through a corn maze at this farm. 950 La Honda Road, San Gregorio, CA 94074

·       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.

·       Pumpkin Depot – visitors to this pumpkin farm will find some of the largest pumpkins in Half Moon Bay, plus other gourds, corn stalks and miniature bales of straw. 2710 N. Cabrillo Highway, (650) 400-0376, www.pumpkindepot.com.