Sat–Mon Oct 10–12 · curated & link-verified

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend 2026 in the Bay Area

Pumpkin season opens, fall colors arrive, and the summer crowds are gone. The best long weekend of early fall — if you beat the Half Moon Bay traffic.

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October long weekend heads-up

Hwy 92 to Half Moon Bay backs up 45–90 minutes by 10am on fall weekends — go before 9am or after 3pm, or choose Ardenwood Farm (East Bay, zero traffic). Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival is the following weekend (Oct 17–18), so this is actually the better weekend to visit the farms — same pumpkins, far fewer people. Muir Woods requires advance timed-entry reservations year-round; book at recreation.gov now.

Pumpkin season opens

The October long weekend is prime pumpkin time — farms open, lines are manageable (the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival is the weekend after, Oct 17–18), and the fall light is stunning.

Half Moon Bay (Hwy 92 / Hwy 1)

Half Moon Bay pumpkin farms corridor

All weekend · Oct 10–12 · farms open 9am–5pm

Dozens of family-run pumpkin farms along Highway 92 and Pescadero Road — Pastorino's, Lemos, Arata's, Andreotti. This weekend is actually better than Pumpkin Festival weekend (Oct 17–18): same farms, same pumpkins, far fewer people. Go before noon on Saturday. Hwy 92 from I-280 to Hwy 1 backs up by 10am.

Details & directions →

Fremont (East Bay)🐕 dog-friendly

Ardenwood Historic Farm

Thu–Sun · admission fee · pumpkin patch open

A real working Victorian farm in the East Bay: Belgian draft horses, heritage livestock, old-growth orchard, and a fall harvest maze. The pumpkin patch opens in October. Easy parking, great for ages 2–10, and zero Hwy 92 traffic. Dogs allowed in the park grounds (not the farm buildings).

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Morgan Hill (South Bay)

Uesugi Farms, Morgan Hill

All weekend · corn maze + pumpkin patch · fee

The South Bay's answer to Half Moon Bay: a 10-acre corn maze, massive pumpkin patch, and a genuine working farm. Shorter drive for San Jose, Sunnyvale, and South Bay families. Arrive before 11am on Saturday; this one fills up too.

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Berkeley Hills (East Bay)Free🐕 dog-friendly

Tilden Regional Park Little Farm

All weekend · free · 8:30am–4pm

Free and genuinely great for toddlers: friendly farm animals (cows, goats, pigs, chickens) in a working homestead setting inside Tilden. Park at Shasta Road for the shortest walk in. Combine with the Tilden carousel for a full morning. No admission fee; bring stale bread for the animals.

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Fall color & day trips

October brings the Bay Area's best hiking weather — warm enough for long trails, cool enough to not overheat. Coast redwoods, oak woodlands, and the first whale migration of the season.

Point Reyes Station, MarinFree🐕 dog-friendly

Point Reyes National Seashore — fall hiking

All weekend · park free · dogs on leash (some beaches)

Fall is Point Reyes at its best: the summer fog lifts, gray whale migration starts in October (Chimney Rock viewpoint), and the trails are un-crowded. Bear Valley Visitor Center → Arch Rock is an easy 8.4-mile round trip with kids. Kehoe Beach and Limantour Beach allow leashed dogs.

Details & directions →

Mill Valley, Marin

Muir Woods National Monument

All weekend · timed entry reservation required · fee

Fall is Muir Woods at its most peaceful — the summer rush is gone and the redwood light in October is extraordinary. Reservations are required year-round; book at recreation.gov several days ahead (slots exist for this weekend). No dogs inside Muir Woods, but Mount Tamalpais State Park (same parking) welcomes leashed dogs.

Details & directions →

Danville / Clayton (East Bay)🐕 dog-friendly

Mount Diablo State Park