2018 Harvest Happenings

This Year’s Events

As fall settles in, do you have a hankering for hayrides? Do your kids have a penchant for pumpkin picking? Does your family have a fancy for feasting on fall foods? Then look no further than our 2018 Harvest Happenings! This feature highlights some of the North State’s most energetic and entertaining harvest celebrations, great opportunities for spending time as a family while connecting with the community and introducing kids to the agricultural processes that make the North State’s harvests so bountiful. Be sure to check out our Going Places calendar for additional family fun this October.

Barry Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary Spooktacular BBQ: October 20

The Barry Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary provides rehabilitation and long-term care for a wide range of wild animals, including tigers, macaws, lemurs, alligators and coatimundis! From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on October 20, the sanctuary will open its doors for a fall-themed Spooktacular BBQ, featuring visits with these fascinating creatures, fun activities for all ages, and, of course, a delicious barbecue meal. The Retro Tones will perform live music, and visitors can participate in raffle drawings and a silent auction to benefit the sanctuary. Kids can get extra use out of their Halloween costumes by competing in a friendly costume contest toward the end of the afternoon. Kids can also jump like wild animals in a bounce house. Tickets cost $20 per adult, $10 per child, or $50 for a family pack (two adults and two kids), available over the phone, online, or at Studio One. Tickets purchased in advance include the barbecue meal. (530) 533-1000.

Book Family Farm Pumpkin Patch: Starting October 1

The Book Family Farm Pumpkin Patch beckons pumpkin enthusiasts throughout the month of October. With a variety of pumpkins, winter squash, and other seasonal decorations, your family can bring home the best and brightest icons of fall. The many animals at this old-fashioned family farm hold special charm for young children. Little ones will love watching the antics of Bossie, Coco, and Hazel the cows; Lucy and Ethel the calves; Clarence and Annabelle the goats; and, of course, Henny Penny the chicken—and all 107 of her friends! Through the crops and animals, the farm celebrates the harvest season by introducing children to important concepts of food production. Visit Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fun, educational field trips are available by appointment. 153 Heavy Horse Ln, Durham. (530) 926-1287.

Hillside Poms’ Fall Harvest

Hillside Poms’ Fall Harvest invites guests to come pick their own pomegranates or simply purchase a pre-picked box of delicious, chemical-free pomegranates to juice, jelly, or eat fresh. This unique, seed-like fruit offers not only a refreshing, crisp flavor, but great health benefits, including high quantities of antioxidants and Vitamin C. Hillside Poms’ harvest has increased each year, and the season typically runs from October through late December. As a family-owned farm, Hillside Poms welcomes families with children of all ages. Kids love using the farm’s simple and effective juicer to squeeze the sparkling red juice from the fresh fruit. Check Facebook for opening dates and hours. 1271 Capay Rd, Corning. (530) 228-3050.

Chico FFA Henshaw Farm: Starting September 29

Located on Henshaw between Guynn and Alamo Avenues, the Chico FFA Henshaw Farm carries on a proud legacy of agricultural education at Chico High School. Among other skills, students in FFA (Future Farmers of America) learn how to plant, irrigate, manage pests, market and sell agricultural products, all through hands-on practice. The students welcome the community to get a taste of fall by visiting their pumpkin patch, starting on Saturday, September 29 at 9:00 a.m. The Henshaw Farm will be open to pumpkin hunters 4:00 p.m. to dusk Monday through Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to dusk on the weekends. For more information, contact Elva Anderson or visit the Chico FFA Chapter on Facebook.

Country Pumpkins: Starting October 1

True to its name, Country Pumpkins in Orland has five acres of pumpkins and interesting gourds for visitors to explore, plus a country store with a variety of jams, jellies, local honey, pumpkin butter, and syrup, and other farm products. Families can have bales of fun on the hay pyramid and hay slide. This family-owned and operated farm also offers an observation beehive to introduce children to the important role these insects play in agriculture. One of the farm’s most popular attractions is its 10-acre corn maze, uniquely designed each year by the owner’s family. The proceeds of the maze benefit 4-H programs and other local non-profit organizations. On six select nights during October, the “brave at heart” (10 years and older) can visit the haunted version of the maze to get a dose of the Halloween thrills. The daytime maze costs $3/person, the nighttime maze costs $10/person. Parking and general entry are free. Look for signs between Road P and Stony Creek. 7152 Highway 32, Orland.

Julia’s Fruit Stand

If you’re looking for a drive-by harvest, stop at Julia’s Fruit Stand on Highway 99. Nestled amid beautiful orchards, the stand has been a venue for fresh, delicious farm produce grown by the Brandt family and their neighbors for 18 years. In the autumn, get tree-ripened apples of several varieties, including Somerset, Granny Smith, and Fuji, and find other seasonal fruits and vegetables for sale. The pumpkin fun begins with The Great Pumpkin Festival on September 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If traipsing through pumpkin vines does not appeal to you, you can skip the patch and select a pumpkin right from the roadside. Julia’s Fruit Stand offers twenty varieties of colorful pumpkins that come in all shapes and sizes—sometimes up to as large as 100 pounds! The stand is open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily through October. 1475 CA-99, Los Molinos. (530) 354-4775.

Historic Hawes Farms: Starting September 30

Even though “history” is part of its name, Historic Hawes Farm offers families a wide range of modern fun, including bumper cars, go-karts, zip lines, haunted attractions, a roller coaster, a mechanical bull, a pumpkin blaster, and more! Those with a taste for more traditional harvest activities will love the pony or stagecoach rides, the six-acre corn maze, and the 17-acre pumpkin patch that boasts more than 50 pumpkin and gourd varieties for visitors to choose from. In addition to these ongoing activities, the farm hosts special events every weekend in October, kicking off with beer, wine and food pairings with Taste of the Maize (October 6) and ending with ComFest (October 27-28). In between, check out Heroes Day (October 7) and Faith Harvest Night, featuring Rachel Hale from American Idol (October 11). Make it a date night to dance under the stars to the music of The Billies during the Pumpkin Fest (October 13-14), or test your favorite chili recipe against other family favorites at the chili cookoff during Western Weekend (October 20-21). 21923 Dersch Rd. Anderson. Get details and purchase tickets online. (530) 365-6313.

Johnny Appleseed Days: October 6 & 7

Butte County’s Johnny Appleseed Days, a family tradition celebrating Paradise’s apple heritage, is California’s oldest harvest festival. This year marks the festival’s 130th anniversary, with two full days of fun, featuring children’s games, face painting, live entertainment and artisan vendors. Johnny Appleseed’s annual visit to share stories always charms children, and all ages will love sampling one of the 1,000 homemade apple pies, lovingly baked by talented volunteer bakers. Purchase a single slice of apple pie, add ice cream, or select a whole pie to share with the family. Admission is free. The festival takes place Saturday, October 6, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 7, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Terry Ashe Park, 6626 Skyway. (530) 877-9356.

Kids’ Farm Day & Family Safety Fair at Patrick Ranch: October 20

Gather the family and join Kids’ Farm Day & Family Safety Fair at Patrick Ranch Museum on Saturday, October 20! This annual event, sponsored by North State Parent magazine, celebrates the abundant agricultural community surrounding Butte County by offering farm fun for the whole family. Through hands-on activities, even the smallest kids can learn about animals, farms, and where our food comes from. Older children will love Silly Science in the afternoon, and kids of all ages will enjoy face painting, animal crafts, pumpkin picking, pony cart rides, and the petting zoo. Parents will especially appreciate touring the lovely museum grounds, complete with a historic farmhouse and vintage farm equipment. Visit our Be Safe Zone for fire and bike safety & much more. Arrive at 10:00 a.m. to create a stick horse while supplies last, then race your horse in our derby at noon. Be sure to stay for the $75 golden ticket hunt and a slice of locally made cake to celebrate North State Parent magazine’s 25th anniversary! Admission is $5; kids 12 and under $2. Patrick Ranch Museum, 10381 Midway (between Chico and Durham). (530) 859-2309.

Maisie Jane’s Pun’kin Patch Corner: Starting October 6

Maisie Jane loves bringing back a favorite family tradition with Maisie Jane’s Pun’kin Patch Corner. Come celebrate the season’s harvest by picking your favorite pumpkin right off the vine, or selecting a pre-picked one displayed on Maisie’s hay tower. You might have trouble deciding between the 10 featured varieties, including Cinderella, Blue, White Ghost, Terra-cotta, and traditional orange! Maisie Jane offers kids gourds of fun with pumpkin painting, pumpkin shooting, and pumpkin bowling. And, for kids who do not care for the annual pumpkin craze, the pumpkin patch provides an almond bin maze and a great hay tower for climbing. The pumpkin patch also features education about local crops and bees, the tiny unsung heroes of agriculture. Beginning October 6th, the pumpkin patch is open for free admission from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and open for field trips by appointment during the week. 3763 Hegan Ln, Chico. (530) 899-7909.

Manton Apple Festival: October 6

For over a quarter of a century, Tehama County has celebrated fall with the Manton Apple Festival (October 6). What started as a small fair for apple harvest has expanded into a family-friendly jamboree of high-quality arts, specialty crafts, live entertainment, and more. Even as the years pass, however, apples remain the star of the show. Volunteer bakers stock the Apple Festival Pie Booth with delicious, homemade pies to sell. Fairgoers can enjoy delectable apple treats of all shapes and sizes, and even participate in apple pie-eating contests with cash prizes! Many visitors head home with heavy bags of crisp, locally-grown apples—edible mementos of the fun event. Admission and parking are free, and proceeds from booth rentals and pie sales benefit local education and community projects. The festival takes place at Manton Elementary School from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the first Saturday in October each year. Pets, alcohol, and smoking are not permitted at the event. 31345 Forward Rd.  (530) 474-1224.

Peterson Sisters Pumpkin Patch: Starting September 29

Mary Pat and Frances Peterson, students at Mercy High School, welcome the community to the Peterson Sisters Pumpkin Patch for the second year in a row. Mary Pat began the pumpkin patch as a project for FFA (Future Farmers of America), but the sisters have cultivated the sprawling vines and bright gourds into a complete pumpkin patch experience for all ages to enjoy. Aside from pumpkin picking, families will enjoy a hay maze, hayrides, scarecrow contest, crafts, games, bounce houses, and face painting. The sisters also sell local honey from their own bee boxes, as well as fresh-baked goods prepared by Roots Catering with pumpkins from the sisters’ farm. The pumpkin patch opens every Friday (3:00 p.m. to sunset), and every Saturday and Sunday (10:00 a.m. to sunset) before Halloween. Field trips can be made by appointment. 32000 Bell Rd, Chico.

Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend: October 6 & 7

Early pioneers, having crossed many desolate stretches on their westward journey, immediately recognized the agricultural potential of what is now Butte County. Today, Butte farmers raise an incredibly diverse array of crops that feed people throughout the world. The Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend gives visitors a limited-time opportunity to talk with local farmers and take a closer look at where our food comes from. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on October 6 and 7, visitors can set their own pace, selecting destinations from 34 farms, wineries, and orchards along the Sierra Oro trail. Make it a weekend getaway with your spouse, or pack up the whole family to take a closer look at the natural richness that makes the North State unique in all the world. Sample fresh produce, local wines, artisan cheeses, California-grown nuts, world-class olive oil, and much more. Passport tickets are available online, at Tri Counties Bank branches in Chico and Oroville, and at the Chico Chamber of Commerce office. Tickets cost $30 in person, $32.50 (plus fees) online, and $35 at the farms on the day of the event, subject to availability. Tickets sell quickly, so get yours early! (530) 533-1473.

Trinity Lutheran’s Fall Festival: October 27

Trinity Lutheran’s Fall Festival will transform the churchyard into a colorful, family-friendly carnival on the last Saturday of October. Kids can jump around in the bounce house, and the church welcomes people of all ages to enjoy hayrides, pony rides, face painting, games, and more! If you come with an appetite, you’ll enjoy snacking on candy, popcorn, and goodies from the bake sale. Admission is free, and all visitors are invited to bring friends. The festival will kick off at 1:00 p.m. and wind down around 5:00 p.m. 2440 Hilltop Dr., Redding. (530) 221-6686.

TJ Farms Pumpkin Patch: Starting October 6

On Saturday, October 6, TJ Farms Pumpkin Patch opens its gates to let visitors roam through leaves and vines to find their favorite gourds to take home. With 16 varieties, everyone in the family will surely find the perfect pumpkin for carving, eating or decorating. Kids will love playing in the bouncy house, meeting barn animals, and overcoming the obstacle course. The whole family can clamber aboard a hay wagon for a riding tour of the farm’s picturesque property, surrounded by orchards and studded with visual treasures like waterfalls, fountains, and a Southern Colonial mansion. Bring your favorite picnic to enjoy at the picnic tables and browse the farm’s country store, stocked with jams, dressings and pickles made right at the farm. Parking and admission are free and pumpkins range from $6-$40, depending on weight. Weekend hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with free parking and admission. Large groups can visit by appointment between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. during the week. The country store, bouncy house, and hayrides are only available on weekends. 3600 Chico Ave.
http://www.tjfarmsestates.com. (530) 343-2294.