When you think of fall activities in Sacramento, Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is probably one of the first things that comes to mind for many families. It easily tops my ultimate fall bucket list for kids in Sacramento.

Located in Wheatland, CA, about 45 minutes from Sacramento, Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is much more than just pumpkins. In fact, while there are plenty of pumpkins, they are almost an afterthought here. That said, it’s still one of the best pumpkin farms in Sacramento.

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is an all-day fall destination where kids can ride a variety of rides, from planes to tractors, see animals in a petting zoo, take a train ride, sip apple cider floats, indulge in apple cider donuts, and enjoy the ultimate fall day of family fun.

If you haven’t been to Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm before, this guide will help you make the most of your visit, from whether or not to buy ride wristbands versus tickets to the best month to visit. Keep reading for the ultimate guide to Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm for families.

Quick Planning Guide

📍 Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm Address: 1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland, CA 95692 

🚗 45 minute drive from Sacramento

🎃 Open seasonally in the fall

⏰ Hours vary by dates

💵 Free admission with rides and some attractions being extra costs

🅿️ Parking fees apply Friday to Sunday in October

🚻 Restrooms located throughout Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm

🍔 Many food options, including fall favorites like apple cider donuts and apple cider slushies, available for purchase

When Does Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm Open?

In 2026, Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm will open for the season on Friday, August 28, 2026.

Interested in learning when other Sacramento area pumpkin patches open? Check out the best pumpkin patches in Sacramento for their opening dates.

When is the Best Time to Visit Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm?

While October might seem like the ideal time to visit a pumpkin farm, I recommend visiting Bishop’s in September, especially if you are not able to visit on a weekday. In September, there are no weekend parking fees. Additionally, ‘All You Can Ride’ wristbands are available on September weekends (and any day in September).

Once October hits, there is a $10 parking fee on Fridays and a $20 parking fee on Saturdays and Sundays. ‘All You Can Ride’ wristbands are also not for sale during weekends in October.

If you can swing a weekday in October, you will get the same perks as September with no parking fees and the option to purchase ‘All You Can Ride’ wristbands.

Trust me that there are still tons of people who visit in September. We can barely find a table to eat lunch during a weekend in September, to give you an idea of the crowds. So, still expect crowds in September, but it will be even more overwhelming come October.

Is Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm Worth Visiting?

If you have the budget, Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is absolutely worth a fall day trip from Sacramento! It’s important to know that this is not a cheap outing. Between rides, food, and possibly even pumpkins, a day at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm can easily add up for a family.

I like to think of Bishop’s as a yearly tradition, similarly to attending the California State Fair. It’s expensive, but worth it, at least in my opinion. Kids (and parents, for that matter) have such a fun time at Bishop’s every year due to the many fun activities, from the petting zoo to the rides. I would say that Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is like the Disneyland of pumpkin farms in the Sacramento area.

If you’re looking for a rustic farm where you can take a hayride and pick pumpkins to take home, there are many more affordable options to do just that at other pumpkin patches in Sacramento. But if you want to level up the fall fun with entertainment and a day of exciting rides at a really nice pumpkin farm, then you’ll have a great time at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm.

Tickets & Admission

While entry to Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is free, costs still add up as some rides and attractions require tickets. And it’s usually not just 1 ticket, but multiple tickets, even up to 6 tickets for some rides.

If you plan to visit on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday in October, you will also have to pay a parking fee. Note that parking fees do not apply in September, November, or on Mondays through Thursdays in October.

‘All You Can Ride’ wristbands are available to purchase any day except Saturdays and Sundays in October. Likewise, Value Day Funtix ($0.25 cheaper) are not available during weekends in October. So, you will be paying premium prices and an additional parking fee when visiting during weekends in October.

Tip: There are several booths to purchase attraction tickets and wristbands at the farm. The busiest and most popular ticket booth is near the Coyote Mountain Mine. There’s also a ticket booth in the back near the corn mazes, flying planes, and tractor rides. There’s rarely ever a line at this ticket booth.

Is an All You Can Ride Wristband Worth it?

If you have older kids above 36″ tall who are old enough to go on rides by themselves, then an all-you-can-ride wristband is absolutely worth it. I’ve seen parents do this, where only the kids get wristbands and go on the majority of the rides with their siblings. Parents usually purchase individual tickets for attractions like the corn maze and train ride to join the kids. A ‘Manic Day’ unlimited ride wristband is $35 for 1 person.

However, if you have younger kids, there are a few options, which include the ‘Parent & Me’ wristband for $28. This includes 2 wristbands (1 for a parent, and 1 for a toddler). This wristband is recommended for children under 36″ tall and at least 2 years old.

Parent & Me Wristband Tip: Before purchasing the Parent & Me wristband, compare the cost with individual attraction tickets. For our family, buying individual Value Day FunTix for our 2-year-old and accompanying parent actually works out cheaper because two of the best rides—Bishop’s Flying Service and Farmer Bill’s Tootling Tractors—aren’t included with the Parent & Me Wristband and require additional tickets anyway. You will need to buy 22 individual tickets for a parent and child to go on those two rides, in addition to the wristband. One other thing to note is that the ‘Parent & Me’ wristband includes a Coyote Mountain attraction, but a 2-year-old can’t go on that attraction as it has an age limit of 3+.

Our family’s money-saving strategy: We visit in September and buy the 100-pack of Value Day FunTix for $94. Since we typically only have time to ride each attraction once, buying individual $1 Value Day FunTix is actually cheaper than wristbands for our family of four—and we usually have a few tickets left over.

Here’s a breakdown of the wristbands and ticket options:

Manic Day Wristband—$35 each

➡️ Best for older kids who can go on rides without parents and plan to go on rides multiple times

Includes the following rides and attractions:

• Bishop’s Flying Service
• Farmer Bill’s Tootling Tractors
• Sunflower Whirl
• BPF Railroad
• Charlie’s Carousel
• Coyote Mountain Mine
• Corn Maze (applicable maze based on age)
• Weeland Petting Zoo (feed is additional)
• Golden Grain Raceway

Parent & Me Wristband —$28 for 2 wristbands (parent & toddler)

➡️ Doesn’t include the two best rides at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm, so most likely, you’ll still need to purchase additional tickets, making this not as good of a deal as it may seem

Includes the following rides and attractions:

• BPF Railroad
• Charlie’s Carousel
• Coyote Mountain Mine
• Corn Maze (Tiny Farmer)
• Weeland Petting Zoo (feed is additional)

There is also an option to add another parent or toddler for $12.

ValueDay FunTix

➡️ Yellow tickets that can be used any day except weekends in October

Options include:

• $1 per Ticket
• $48 for 50 Tickets
• $94 for 100 Tickets

Anytime FunTix

➡️ Green tickets that can be used any day Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is open

Options include:

• $1.25 per Ticket
• $60 for 50 Tickets
• $110 for 100 Tickets

Things to Do at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm

Families with kids of all ages will find a variety of things to do at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm, from rides to several corn mazes, a train ride, a hay ride, a petting zoo, and a mega slide.

Attractions that Require Tickets or Wristbands

Farmer Bill’s Tootling Tractors

➡️ Requires 6 tickets; Must be 2 years old to ride. Children under 6 or under 42″ have to be accompanied by a ticketed adult on the ride.

Farmer Bill’s Tootling Tractors is one of the best rides at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm. This is a tractor ride that follows a track that goes in and out of various barns. Inside the barns, different puppet animals will be singing along to “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” It’s an adorable ride for kids of all ages!

Bishop’s Flying Service

➡️ Requires 5 tickets; Must be 2 years old to ride. Children under 6 or under 42″ have to be accompanied by a ticketed adult on the ride.

Like the tractor ride, Bishop’s Flying Service is one of the most popular rides at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm. Think of this as a Dumbo-style ride, but with planes that have controls to stay low or go high in the air.

Coyote Mountain Mine

➡️ Requires 5 tickets; Must be 3 years old to go down the slide.

Kids can go down two mountainside slides on Coyote Mountain Mine. One is a tunnel slide, while the other is a blue winding open-air slide.

Golden Grain Raceway (Super Mega Slide)

➡️ Requires 3 tickets; Must be 42″ to ride the slide.

Older kids will love the thrilling Golden Grain Raceway. This is a newer attraction that was added in 2025. Older kids will want the wristband solely so they can do this slide over and over again. Since my kids are too young for this slide, I tested it out and can tell you it’s super fun and super fast! This slide is for single riders. Many families were racing each other down the slide to see who would win.

BPF Line

➡️ Requires 4 tickets; Children under 2 ride for free

The BPF Line is an open-air train ride at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm, and it’s the perfect experience for the whole family. It’s a cute train ride that can carry a lot of people and chugs around the farm and pumpkin patches.

Sunflower Whirl

➡️ Requires 4 tickets; Children must be 3 years old to ride. Children under 51” but taller than 36” must ride with an accompanying adult of at least 12 years old. Children over 51″ may ride alone.

The Sunflower Whirl is like a tilt-a-whirl or a teacup ride. This is a spinning attraction with a sunflower theme.

Sunflower Stroll

➡️ Free to walk around but 2 tickets to pick and take home a sunflower

Right near the Sunflower Whirl, families can meander through the Sunflower Stroll. It’s free to walk through and to grab a few photos. There is an option to pick and take home a sunflower. Sunflowers are 2 tickets each to take home.

Charlie’s Carousel

➡️ Requires 4 tickets; Parents standing to accompany children are free.

Children can take a spin on the historic carousel at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm. If you’re familiar with Southern California, this carousel once lived in the Balboa Fun Zone in Newport Beach.

Weeland Petting Zoo

➡️ Requires 2 tickets; Children under 2 are free. All children 10 and under must have an accompanying adult.

If you have younger kids, prepare to spend a lot of time in the petting zoo! There are many animals to see, from bulls to pigs, donkeys, and lots of goats. Food is available to purchase inside the petting zoo to feed the animals. After you’re done, there are many handwashing stations to use before indulging in all the fall treats.

Corn Mazes

➡️ 3 different corn mazes to choose ranging from 1 to 8 tickets required.

Most pumpkin farms have one corn maze; Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm has three corn mazes! If you have younger kids, the only corn maze you need to go to is the Kiddie Maze. Younger kids won’t care about doing the maze, but they won’t be able to get enough of jumping and diving into the large corn bath. Like the petting zoo, plan on staying at the corn bath for a while.

With younger kids in tow, we made the mistake of trying the 2-acre corn maze, and it was actually a little more challenging than we thought it would be. This one might take longer than you realize.

Then, there’s the 7-acre corn maze, which is the largest corn maze and toughest of all at Bishop’s. This one is definitely for older kids who are looking for a more traditional corn maze that has a decent difficulty level. No matter which corn maze you choose to do, be sure to take a map with you on the journey.

The 3 corn mazes and required tickets are as follows:

• Kiddie Maze (has the corn bath) – 1 ticket required
• 2-Acre Corn Maze – 4 tickets required
• 7-Acre Corn Maze – 8 tickets required

Free Attractions at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm

Most of the free attractions are play areas for kids to explore and climb.

Hay Ride

While the train ride requires tickets, the hay ride at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is free! The hay ride will take you to the pumpkin patch, where you can peruse pumpkins to pick and take home. The chosen pumpkins do cost money.

Free Playground Areas

Kids can enjoy a variety of free play areas around Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm that don’t require tickets.

These include:

• Farmer Bill’s Barn
• Tree House
• Tire Jump
• Wild West Town
• Fort Alotafun
• Honey Houses
• Hay Jump
• Caboose

Entertainment

Families can enjoy free entertainment at the farm. The entertainment really begins to pick up come October. Expect puppet shows, pig races, a stunt dog show, and more.

Fireworks

Beginning Friday, September 18, 2026, fireworks will take place on the farm every Friday evening through Friday, October 30, 2026. Fireworks begin at 8:30pm.

Pumpkin Patch at Bishop’s

It’s funny because while Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is a fall pumpkin farm, the pumpkins are almost an afterthought. As mentioned, pumpkins do cost money.

Tip: If you’re looking for photo ops in a pumpkin patch and don’t really care about buying pumpkins during this outing, the best place to grab photos is at the pumpkin patch next to the train. After you exit the train, walk back across the tracks and head to the pumpkin patch directly next to where the train boards. This is our favorite spot for grabbing photos of our kids next to giant pumpkins!

There are also tons of opportunities to purchase pumpkins near the exit, as crates are full of pumpkins in various shapes, sizes, and colors.

Best Food at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm

Honestly, the food options at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm can be overwhelming! From fall favorites like apple cider donuts to their famous apple cider slushies and apple cider floats, turkey legs, and more, there’s a ton of seasonal food to provide the stamina you’ll need to conquer all the fun things to do at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm.

Pigadeli Square

➡️ Where to go for lunch at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm

If you’re planning on having lunch at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm, chances are, you’ll end up at Pigadeli Square. Several eateries make up Pigadeli Square, including pizza, BBQ, corn dogs, and soft serve ice cream. All of the Pigadeli Square dining options (except for Wild Rose Dairy, the ice cream spot) have kids’ meal options.

On weekends, tables near Pigadelli Square at lunchtime fill up pretty quickly. You might have to search a bit to find an open table to eat lunch.

Cider Mill & Cider Slushie Sled

➡️ Where to get the famous apple cider slushies and floats

Bishop’s is known for their over-the-top apple cider floats and apple cider slushies. Do know, they aren’t cheap. Temperatures can still be well in the 80s in September and October in Sacramento, so an apple cider slushie is a nice cool and refreshing treat while still getting a fall fix.

If you’re looking for a fresh-pressed apple cider without the bells and whistles, the Cider Mill is where to go.

Will E. Coyote’s Tradn’ Post

➡️ Where to get apple cider donuts

It’s not fall without apple cider donuts, and there’s only one place at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm that has them, which is Will E. Coyote’s Tradn’ Post. It’s close to the entrance, so you can easily start your day with warm apple cider donuts. Plus, you’ll find lots of seating near the carousel early in the morning to enjoy these fall goodies.

Barnyard BBQ

➡️ Where to get turkey legs

Barnyard BBQ is the place to go for smoked turkey legs. It usually has a shorter line and is faster than the Pigadelli Square spots. Note that it has limited hours, as it’s only open on weekends from September 19 to the end of October 2026. It does not open until 5pm on Fridays, whereas on Saturdays and Sundays it does open earlier at 11am.

Mrs. B’s Bakery

➡️ Where to get pies and baked goods

My oldest toddler was adamant about trying a pumpkin pie last time we were at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm. Luckily, Mrs. B’s Bakery has every kind of baked good you can imagine, including mini pumpkin pies and other specialty goodies.

There is a wide variety of food options available for purchase at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm, from seasonal fall treats to lunch fare. Plus, if you want to save some money, you can actually bring your own food with you to the farm.

Movie Nights at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm

Families can also enjoy movie nights in the pumpkin field on Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, October 24, 2026. Movies begin playing at dusk. The same movie is shown on Saturday and Sunday. While movies are free, parking rates do apply during October weekends. Don’t forget to bring chairs and blankets!

2026 Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm Movie Night Schedule:

• September 19 & 20: Zootopia
• September 26 & 27: Zootopia 2
• October 3 & 4: Elio
• October 10 & 11: Lilo & Stitch (Live action)
• October 17 & 18: The Goonies
• October 24 & 25: Hocus Pocus

Fire Pits

Fire pits are another popular option at Bishop’s, and they go fast! They need to be reserved and are available to rent from select Thursdays to Sundays in September and October. In 2026, fire pit reservations will become available on Friday, July 31, 2026.

Tips Before You Visit

• Arrive early when the farm first opens.
• Weekdays and weekends in September are less busy and more affordable.
• Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be doing a lot of walking across the farm.
• Bring a stroller to make it easy to transport babies and younger kids. (There are areas to park strollers when going on the train, rides, etc.)
• Expect crowds during weekends in October.
• Bring sunscreen, as there are some shady spots, but the farm is mostly in the sun.
• Bring your own food if you plan to save money.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm open?

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm opens for the season in 2026 on Friday, August 28, 2026.

Can you bring food?

Yes! Bringing your own food to Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm is allowed. Outside alcohol is not allowed.

Is admission free?

Yes, admission is always free to Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm. Beginning in October, parking rates apply on weekends during October, Fridays to Sundays.

Is it worth visiting with toddlers?

It’s absolutely worth visiting with toddlers! I have brought both my toddlers to Bishop’s, and they’ve had such a fun time. Highlights will be the petting zoo, rides, and jumping into the corn bath at the Kiddie Corn Maze.

How much are rides?

The cost of rides vary on whether you plan to purchase a wristband or individual tickets. Wristbands are not available during weekends in October. Individual ticket prices will also be slightly more during October weekends.

When is the best time to visit?

Weekends in September will be less crowded, have the option of ride wristbands, and no parking fees will apply. If you’re able to make a weekday work, weekdays in October would also be a good option.

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📍Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm: 1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland, CA 95692