Getting Gourd and Ready for Halloween in Carlsbad

When it comes to holidays, there are two that encourage us to go outside and choose a piece of nature to decorate for the occasion. At Christmas, picking a tree to cut down is a fun way to usher in the season. Venturing out to a local tree vendor and searching for the perfect fir is a unique way to get the family together, do something physical, and invest in a Christmas centerpiece for your home. Sometimes, the search is all the fun – from tall 12-foot showstoppers to tiny crooked and mishapen pines, picking the right one is always an adventure.

The other holiday that begs us to get outside is Halloween – and it’s right around the corner. Whether you enjoy Halloween for the tricks or the treats, pumpkins let everyone know that the holiday is here. The word ‘pumpkin’ comes from a Greek word that actually means ‘large melon’. And while many of us think of pumpkins as a giant squash, they are the unofficial mascot of October. Jack o’ lanterns were originally made with turnips and potatoes by the Irish. In Ireland, they lit beets on fire with embers to ward off evil spirits. It didn’t take long to figure out that pumpkins were much easier (and cuter) to carve. There are more than 45 different varieties of pumpkins and they range in color. So whether you’re in the market to carve a scary Jack o’lantern and cook the seeds for a snack or just like to use pumpkins for fall decor, picking pumpkins can be a fun way to jump start the Halloween festivities.

Here are two Halloween must-dos in October, including all you need to know about the Carlsbad Pumpkin Patch – right in time for Jack o’lanterns and more.

Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND

It wouldn’t be Halloween without the chance to dress up, embrace the night, and be entertained. This year at LEGOLAND, Brick-or-Treat is back and better than ever. The event is an all day affair – on October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 the fun starts bright and early. The park will have live entertainment and will be decked out with Halloween decor. As day becomes night, the park will stay open late and visitors can trick-or-treat and enjoy their favorite rides well after dark. 

There will be seasonal food and beverage options. The SEA LIFE aquarium will be holding their annual Spooktacular festivities with creepy creatures and underwater pumpkin carving. If you come in costume, you can join the Costume Contest Parade and enter for the chance to show off your best homemade costume, group costume, or LEGO movie costume while parading through Miniland USA. 

Pumpkin Patch at the Carlsbad Strawberry Fields

If you’ve visited Carlsbad in the summer, there is no doubt that you might have visited the Carlsbad Strawberry Fields. During the summer, the fields are packed full of sweet strawberries that are ripe for the picking. In the fall, the Strawberry Fields go through a major transformation.

Just in time for Halloween, the Strawberry Fields are open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. -10 p.m. during the month of October with the largest Pumpkin Patch around. The family farm has thousands of pumpkins ranging in size from teeny tiny to large and in charge. Families can use the pumpkins as a backdrop for fall photos and enjoy games and food on the weekends. 

Along with the pumpkins, there is an apple cannon, tractor rides and a Corn Maze. The apple cannon uses air compression to launch apples into the sky and hurdle them at targets in the distance. If you hit the bell on the tractor, you can win a free t-shirt. It costs $20 to shoot a bucket of 12 apples, and the cannons can catapult apples up to 100 miles per hour.

Tractor rides are available everyday until 7 p.m. The tractor takes guests around the Pumpkin Patch, through the fields, and along the outskirts of the property so that you can see views of the lagoon.

Lastly, the Corn Maze is the cherry on top. The Carlsbad Strawberry Company has created a 1.5 Corn Maze that perplexes even the most curious adventurers. The corn reaches far overhead and the Maze is a fun way to test your memory as you try to solve the puzzle. 

On Sunday, October 24th the Pumpkin Patch is also hosting Halloween for Heroes. This event is especially for veterans. It will feature raffle prizes and a Halloween Costume Competition for kids. Military families can win prizes and veterans can register for free admission. 

Brick-or-Treat, pick a pumpkin, get into some games, and indulge your curiosity with the Corn Maze this fall at the Carlsbad Strawberry Company. 

Halloween is almost here!