The Best Things to Do in Paso Robles This Weekend (the Pumpkin Patch Is Open)
If you're spending a weekend in Paso Robles and want a plan that doesn't start with a wine list, here's a real one. The 46 Ranch Pumpkin Patch opened for the season on September 18 and runs Friday through Sunday, 11am to 6pm, through November 1. Pair a morning there with the Saturday farmers market downtown and an evening at Sensorio, and you've got a weekend built around the region's other identity, the one with hayrides and heritage hens instead of tasting rooms.
What's open at 46 Ranch's pumpkin patch right now?
The patch runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 11am to 6pm, through November 1. Admission is $10 for ages 3 to 12, $15 for ages 13 and up, and free under 2, and it's a cashless event, so bring a card. A 45-minute guided hayride tour covers the working farm, and this year's patch is built around an Old McVintner story walk that leads guests through the ranch. Beyond the walk, there's a jump pad, an interactive petting zoo with Highland cattle, train rides, rubber duck races, and a hen house game, all included with admission. Gem mining, apple cannons, and animal feeding cost extra. One thing to know, 46 Ranch doesn't allow dogs inside the event, for the safety of the farm animals, though there's a shaded waiting area outside the gate. Full details are on the pumpkin patch page.
What else is 46 Ranch known for, pumpkin season or not?
The ranch runs as a working regenerative farm year-round, and our pasture-raised eggs, from Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, and Easter-Egger hens, are sold at Cambria Nursery's Farm Stand even outside pumpkin season.
What should you do downtown, away from the ranch?
Paso Robles' Farmers Market runs weekly in the historic City Park downtown, with local produce, flowers, and prepared food from Central Coast growers, and it's the kind of stop that takes twenty minutes and is worth every one of them if you're already downtown for lunch. And after dark, Sensorio's Field of Light installation, thousands of solar-powered glass spheres spread across a hillside just outside town, gives the weekend a second act once the pumpkin patch closes at 6.
How do you build the weekend?
Morning at 46 Ranch for our hayride and the patch, since the gate opens at 11 and our farm activities are easiest to enjoy before the afternoon crowd. Early afternoon downtown for the Farmers Market and lunch. Evening at Sensorio, since the Field of Light is built to be seen after sunset.
FAQ
Is 46 Ranch's pumpkin patch open every day?
No. It runs Friday through Sunday only, 11am to 6pm, September 18 through November 1, 2026.
How much does 46 Ranch's pumpkin patch cost?
$10 for ages 3 to 12, $15 for ages 13 and up, and free for children under 2. It's a cashless event, so plan to pay by card at the gate.
Can I bring my dog to 46 Ranch?
No. Dogs aren't allowed inside the event for the safety of the farm animals, though there's a shaded waiting area outside the entrance and pets cannot be left unattended.
What can you do in Paso Robles that isn't wine tasting?
46 Ranch's regenerative working farm, the weekly Farmers Market in downtown City Park, and Sensorio's Field of Light installation are three real options that don't involve a tasting room.
Where can I buy 46 Ranch's eggs?
Pasture-raised eggs from the ranch's Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, and Easter-Egger hens are sold at Cambria Nursery's Farm Stand.
