You know what I like about Bates Nut Farm? The gift shops! I really admire how clean and organized the gift shops at Bates remain...year after year. And what a selection of goodies, wearables, and adorable keepsakes to treasure year in and out. You know what I don't like about Bates Nut Farm? No beer or wine. I would love to sit down on a hay bale, eat some snacks purchased at the gift shop, dip on a cold beer, and look at all of those pumpkins...so many pumpkins. Until that day arrives, I, unfortunately, must give Bates Nut Farm four stars. read more

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Updating my review because I've had great experiences recently. I love this place, I've been coming since I was a kid. They have events on certain dates so check out their event calendar for more info. They have car shows, food trucks, pony rides and more! The store is the best, they have a huge variety of candy, nuts and other goodies! You can't leave without buying something. The animals on the farm are available to feed, you can pet the goats too. They are very sweet. A major plus is this place is dog friendly, outside and in the store. This place is a fun and relaxing thing to do on your free time. Make sure to check out the food trucks, they're delicious! read more

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First time ever at a pumpkin patch. I was very excited to come since I've heard so many good things about this place. There is an $8 charge to park in the parking lot. If you want to do anything fun in here it cost money. For example face painting $4, petting animals $4, rock climbing $4 etc. They have a few food trucks but I tried the Hawaiian Chicken Bowl, I got their Pineapple Dragonfruit Lemonade, $12. Was good but definitely not worth $12. They had a general store which had a lot of good things inside. This was a good first time experience, but since I live about 40 mins away I would not come back only because I felt like everything was expensive from parking, food, rides for the kids and then buying the pumpkins. read more

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Went to Bates to do a 10 years later recreation with our kids and it was great! We've never been on the weekend so we were expecting a big crowd. Not sure if it was due to the 11th hour trip, but it was pleasantly not crowded. Steady with people but super manageable. The food trucks and music were rockin and the candy/treat shop was as cute as ever. If you live in SD county Bates is a must. read more

Bates Nut Farm - Hangin with my hubs. - Specialty Food Near Me - Valley Center, California

Pros: free admission on weekdays, pony rides!, lots of different shaped pumpkins, variety of fair-esque food Cons: really crowded on weekdays due to field trips, hayride doesn't provide great views (mostly dying corn and some shoddy scarecrows), not a ton of decor for many photo ops read more

A four star for fun family place in fall. Lots to do for the kids. This is a kids ideal fun spot. Plenty of food trucks and candy in the general store. Kids petting zoo is a hit for young ones and picture perfect moments for parents. Try and get out of there without a cute face painting. Super Jack o Lantern pumpkins if your Halloween must be over the top. read more

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I thought I had already given them a review. I have gone here a few times and each time was fun. The shops are really good and I always pick up some hard to find nuts and usually some fudge. I also like to roam around and see the beautiful location. They often have events, though I have not been to one. I am hoping to do a camp event in the future. There are a few animals to see and kids would enjoy. The people that I have met there are friendly. They may be family, but I didn't ask. I just like this place and the drive to get there. read more

11-26-21 some signs of Thanksgiving were seen in front of the store with a huge pumpkin display. In the store there was a 50% sale off Thanksgiving items- kitchen towels, ceramic pumpkins, etc. If you are not allergic to nuts or have friends that can eat nuts without a reaction will be very happy indeed to devour these goodies. In the back of the shop were Christmas items and baby merchandise. Bought some packages of candy, stuffed animals, a variety of flavored tea, a Thanksgiving kitchen towel for next year while in the store. Outside at the craft fair was another story. I love crafted or handmade artsy items. Found fancy glass spoon rests, gnome ornaments, and more for gifts and our white revolving fake tree. Also purchased 3 funnel cakes, one lemonade and 2 mocha drinks all made to order. Amazingly the funnel cake remained crispy and the whipped cream did not melt on the 45 minute car ride back. A perfect place for family since there is a petting zoo, bbq available, sleigh rides on certain days and times. Many people seemed to bump into friends from the past. It was great! read more

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To me, the best parts about this place are that they sell honey and chocolate, and that they have animals outside you can look at and feed. Other than this, I have never cared for the store. It is a beautiful place to sit and have a picnic outside, though. Watch out for the bees and wasps. read more

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This year is not a good time to come to this place they don't have any food places. It's just a waste of money for the parking

Visited Bates Nut Farm for their Christmas arts and crafts event. Pros: -pet friendly -they have so many different animals on their property (pigs, cow, ostrich, goats, etc.). You can buy the feed in the store -large parking lot -they have some great areas set up that are perfect for photos -restrooms are available -store has a lot of items that would make good gifts Cons: -n/a read more

I am a little shocked at how many unreasonable people have left reviews about long lines & waiting... As if we all didn't just recover from a year of complete lockdown, of course everyone will be eager to get out again & participate in holiday festivities. My advice? Don't go during peak hours which are weekends in the evenings. Which by the way are the only times they make you pay for parking. I went on a weekday around noon until the evening & the lines were nonexistent to very minimal and overall, Bates this year was just as Memorable as I remember it. Do not let poor reviews by inconsiderate & impatient people discourage you from going to make some memories this fall! read more

Bates Nut Farm - Specialty Food Near Me - Valley Center, California

Perfect weekday activity for little kids to visit & feed the animals. Feed is 25 cents from the machine or bag of it from store for 75 cents. One pen had 2 horses, pen of many goats, pen of many sheep, a lama, pen of 2 pigs, pen of a turkey, roosters & chicken, an ostrich & lastly pen of ducks/geese. We spent 45 min feeding & watching the animals during a weekday in May. read more

I had a great time at the farm last weekend, it was my first visit and I will definitely be back. They had all kinds of activities available for a fee - tractor rides, petting zoo, pony rides, rock climbing, balloons and face paint...every kids dream. It can defiantly get pricey and could be tough for large families or those on a budget. Parking was $8 and tickets were $4 each. The pony ride alone was 4 tickets...so $16. The tractor ride was 1 ticket per person, so that was $12 for my group of 3. I was surprised that the balloons were $4, they were very simple. They had cooler ones for $8. We purchased a $4 one and about 10 seconds later it popped on a price of hay that was poking out at the pumpkin patch which was a bummer. Overall, we had a really great time. They had lots of people working and everyone was really nice. They also have a HUGE selection of pumpkins so it was super fun picking those out. I loved the market they have in the back...filled to the rim with candy, nuts and other goodies. Pricey, but that didn't stop us! I can't wait to come back off season when it won't be as crowded. read more

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this place is really cool. I'm going to try to make this an annual thing every year. They have a really huge pumpkin patch. They actually grow them there. They have a pretty cool petting zoo , a lot of activities for the kids and pop up tents to eat at ... see you guys next October.. read more

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This place is about 5 minutes away from Valley View Casino. As you turn into the drive way, the patch is to your right and parking in the dirt is on the left. If you want a marked stall or be by the grass park, you can drive in further but limited parking. This place is massive and so organized! All the jumbo oversized pumpkins are scattered in the back, the small and medium sized were bunched up in a pile in the middle like canon balls. The tiny hand held pumpkins were separated in cardboard bins in the front near the check out. Outside away from the pumpkin patch area exists a nice grass area with picnic tables, animal area, petting zoo, pony ride, straw maze, wagon ride, and a few food trucks. However only Mariposa Ice cream was opened. The pony ride does require cash or Venmo only and you have to be a certain height. The petting zoo is next door to the pony ride. But the animal area with goats, chickens, ostrich, etc is on the side as the patch. They have an outdoor sink for you to wash your hands. You can only pet them through the fence and can buy food pellets to feed the chickens. Out in the distance is a straw maze that cost $3 a person and to pay at the ticket booth but on this particular day, the booth was closed and people just walked in. The straw haystack is like 3ft tall. There's a tractor wagon that takes you around the haystack. The last big attraction is the Bates Nut Farm Store! So many different types of nuts, fruits, pickles, honey, preservatives, trinkets. There's a chocolate deli in the back. Enormous selection of tea and candles. There's a back room full of Christmas items. We went on a Thursday and got there at 11 thinking that we would be the only people there but we were wrong! So many families must have gotten here when they opened at 9. So go early on in the season to get the best pumpkins and practice social distancing. There's plenty of wheel barrels but I'm guessing on a weekend or busy day, it'll be taken. There are portable toilets between the patch and animal area as well as over by the straw maze. However, if you want clean restroom, it's next to Bates Nut Farm store. Parking is free on weekdays but $5 on weekends. Check the calendar for events because they offer more fun festivities like jump houses and more food vendors. read more

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Great venue, be mindful it will be busy during events but worth it! I go every year with my spouse for the pumpkin patch, and the occasional car or farm show, now I can't wait to take my son to his first pumpkin patch! read more

Bates Nut Farm - Son and I with their horse near their petting zoo. Can't pet it but fun to look at - Specialty Food Near Me - Valley Center, California

I've literally been coming here for over 20 years, we used to come and feed all the animals and hangout and have lunch. We also love coming every season for pumpkins as well, it's a fun experience for the families. I'm glad it's up and still running after all these years. read more

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This place is great. We go most every year and spend half a day. Service is great and lots for the kiddos to do. I think their prices are on point although with three kids it's still expensive. If you have not been before, I'm sure you will enjoy it. The only downside it's quite the drive so plan on spending quite a bit of time there. read more

Always a great and pleasant experience. My nephews already look forward to going when Bates has their pumpkin patch. I love being able to create those memories and traditions with them at such a great place. Their store is also great! I bought their raspberry preserve and their apple butter. They were both really tasty! read more

This makes for a fun day trip for families especially but is also a fun couples trip. There are so many photo worthy spots & is a classic Fall activity everyone can enjoy, & you can even bring your doggo! Lots of open space. There are often people getting professional photos taken here. +PROS: -Dog friendly! We brought our 20lb terrier mix here on leash the whole time & she had a great time! -Farm animals like a llama, horses, geese, turtles you get to see & feed -Hay ride which also allows dogs. Our dog @RealSlimSadieDog LOVED it! I believe it was $5 per person. The ride is very short, just 1 loop around, but still fun. I prefer the hay ride at Pumpkin Station in RB more :) because it's more scenic. -HUGE pumpkin patch w/ multiple expansive areas w/ LOTS of pumpkins of all sizes -Lots of wheelbarrows on the property to transport pumpkins & to take cute pics with -Friendly staff -Lots of cute areas for pics -No parking or admission fee (we came on a weekday) -A small handful of vendors which sell snacks & ice cream -Cute gift shop -CONS: -It can get pricey if you're buying multiple pumpkins here. Many if not all the pumpkins here aren't actually grown on site, & the farms they appear to come from are the same ones from big box stores, so it's kind of a rip-off imo. You can probably get several pumpkins elsewhere for $20, but here, you may walk out with only 1. FYI. read more

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Halloween was so much fun here. Kids loved the animals and running around the huge pumpkin patch. Lots of food choices. Pretty mellow and fun for everyone. read more

Was out here camping and decided to check out this place. Place is huge with a lot of property land. When I came they held a car show and they had a good amount of classic cars. Some areas with nice trees shading it, and other areas in the open that was hot. They had a few food trucks and vendors that had a variety of things that was cool. Parking is just in a grass area and not Lowered car friendly. Farm - The animal area was an ok size that allows kids to enjoy and see them or feed them. Overall cool place worth checking out if in the area, other than that I wouldn't make the drive. read more

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Bates Nut Farm is a yearly tradition for my family. It usually takes us an hour to get there, but the landscape just makes it feel more like a fall activity. Bates has an amazing selection of pumpkins; from green to white to orange in color and from small to extremely large. Every year we strive to get a photo of my daughter sitting on a pumpkin. Aside from the pumpkins, the farm normally has a number of food/drink vendors as well as crafters. Their store offers cute Halloween and Christmas decorations, gifts, candy and snacks. You can also buy feed for their farm animals. We absolutely enjoy feeding the goats. If this wasn't enough, there are activities perfect for the kiddos and families. They have a hay maze, hay rides, pony rides and a rock climbing wall. There is a $10 parking fee during the weekends in October. read more

I have been going to Bates Nut Farm for years. It's a wonderful place to spend time with family or friends. I love taking pictures in the pumpkin patch and choosing the perfect pumpkins. There is a large store with seasonal merchandise and gifts. There is a wide selection of one of a kind items as well as food. They have different bags to make a nice soup. Each one having different ingredients. There is hot sauce, candy, fudge, popcorn and of course nuts! They also have a really cute boutique with perfume, jewelry and clothing items. Don't forget to visit the adorable animals. They have goats, chickens, sheep, and an ostrich. There are a few others. It's a beautiful place with good vibes. read more

This place is great! So much to do with the kids and family, also dog friendly. Pumpkins were decently priced with a wide variety of sizes. There's also many different food vendors to choose from. read more

Bates Nut Farm - Specialty Food Near Me - Valley Center, California

We had so much fun here! Someone recommended it to us because we were in the area. We thought it was maybe a little roadside stand or something. Nope! We went for the pumpkin patch and ended being there for two hours! We also did a fair amount of shopping at the gift shop inside. read more

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Always a fun place to visit! The homemade fudge is so delicious----and they have so many other candies, nuts, sauces, dried fruits, etc.! There are also lots of gift items from which to choose. The grounds are beautifully kept and the animals are fun to see. read more

We went here on a Friday at noon mid October. It's dog friendly so we brought our dog too . It was pretty crowded because of all the school field trips there . At 1:00 it died down and it was a lot less crowded! We come here every October for the last 20 years . We walked through the corn maze, looked at the farm animals went on the hay tractor ride! After we went to the gift shop. They sell home made salsas , jams , nuts , truffles, salt water taffy , fudge etc..toys , Xmas and fall decor . Everything is triple the normal price you would pay anywhere else ! Unique gifts though ! read more

Bates Nut Farm - Pumpkin patch at noon on a Friday - Specialty Food Near Me - Valley Center, California

First time my wife and I visited was back in 2011. We have been visiting since as an annual tradition during Halloween. Since Our first time visiting the event has gotten bigger and bigger. Crowds are never my thing but a sure sign their Fall Festival is successful each year and that the word is out this is the place to be. I always bring a wagon, fold up chairs, and picnic basket because it's a full day of fun. We normally set at the petting zoo area when it's time to eat. This review is for the month of October during their pumpkin patch sale. There are food trucks, events for the kids, and a handful of local artist and vendors to spend some money. Wear shoes... Highly, recommended! read more

Bates Nut Farm - Specialty Food Near Me - Valley Center, California

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I drove up and it wasn't until I got a few car lengths into the farm that I see a small sign, $8 per car to park. I think, surely not to just visit their store. I ask the gal taking the money and she says yep, I still have to pay $8. I said I just looked at the website and it says nothing about $8 to park.. she said yes it does. As you will see, nothing on the front pages of the website, photos attached, saying anything about having to pay $8 per car to simply "park during the month of October". I wanted to visit the store and buy a few things for my daughters' birthday but they still require that I pay $8 to park. Are y'all crazy?! I have been going here for many years but someone made a bonehead move that may make a bunch of money in the short term but long term it is terrible customer service! read more

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Most people only come here for the Pumpkin Patch but Bates Nut Farm has year round activities that you should check out too. I don't really go to the patch anymore because it's very busy and chaotic. However, it's a great place for small kids and for family pictures that's for sure.. Pumpkin prices are pretty high and on weekends they charge $5 parking (to cover the cost of added security and liability). They do grow their own super pumpkins but I believe the smaller ones are imported from the Chino area. But let's say you're here on some random weekend. Well they do have some animal pens and for a small fee you can buy corn and feed the sheep, alpaca, chickens and geese. They also have a general store filled with bagged nuts, candies and chocolates. If you've ever been to Hadley's in Palm Springs or the Cider Mill in Julian then this is the same thing.. They do sell some interesting hot sauces that make great gifts. So what other events are held at Bates? - Food truck events - Garage sales - Dog shows - Vintage Car shows - Christmas stuff - Weddings Tip - If you're coming up for pumpkins try to come during the weekdays. Free parking, fewer people and and nobody checking for tickets at the hay bale maze. read more

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This review is for dog owners who seeks fun outdoor time with your pup. During off season like today (Jan)lot is wide open and my dogs and I come here to enjoy no leash walk, play soccer in the field and meeting other animals (seasonally where they do the Pumpkin patch or various types of Market!). Facing mountains, this place is one of our favorite spot to come out for a picnic and spend half day on blanket soaking suns and fresh air. I think our (SD) dogs need this tranquility too as they can smell and feel the nature openly. It's a flat field that opens up xxxx acre so clear visibility all around except to west facing beautiful mountain view. It's really laid back being here and also good to have the little shop for your refreshments and grab some snacks on site, and also plenty for eveeyone to glaze(as my dogs love!). read more

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A terrific destination for creating lasting family memories amid colossal pumpkins, intricate mazes, and delicious food options. read more

Bates Nut Farm - A fantastic spot for capturing memorable family photos with oversized pumpkins. - Specialty Food Near Me - Valley Center, California

Wait, I hadn't done a review before? Are you kidding?! Truth is, you sometimes forget about obvious places, when they're nearby and you get used to them. I hadn't been here in a while, so now's a good time! I spent a lot of my childhood weekends on the craft fair circuit, and we did the shows here a couple of times a year. I have a different perspective than the normal kid. I was working, not doing the pony rides or feeding the animals. But I still got to pick out something from the general store, and I really looked forward to earning a treat whenever we came. The general store has an awesome selection of food, from nuts and fudge to BBQ sauce and jams. They also carry a lot of decor items, especially at Christmas. Tons of ornaments, figures, and small gifts. If that isn't enough, the Farmer's Daughter shop sells jewelry, gifts, and accessories as well, with some items made locally. So come for the car shows, art fairs, or food truck festivals. Not to mention the famous pumpkin patch and hayrides. Just don't forget the nuts, it's what made them famous! read more

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Such a cute find! We incorporated a stop at Bates into our trip to Harrah's, which is right down the road. Perfect little stop for my two animal-loving toddlers and my kitschy stuff-loving husband. The amount of candy, fun treats, nuts, and everything else imaginable was intense! You just don't know where to look first. There were too many neat things to see that I got sensory overload and ended up buying nothing lol. My husband did get some some candy and nuts though. As far as the animal farm goes, it was the highlight of Bates for me. We could have spent a long time there but we had to get home. The kids loved the variety of animals. We will be back next time we visit Harrah's! Check out our full visit here: https://youtu.be/On-ebKgyrvc read more

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Bring the family and cameras. Yes, it's crowded, but the memories are forever. We went on the weekend and it packed! The line of cars to get in after 1pm was horrendous. Parking is worse. We ended getting one of the final spots in the lot. On weekends, the parking is $5 per car. They make a total killing with parking. If you do decide to come on the weekend, then come after 3pm. People start to leave and parking is easier to find. We met my other family members at the patch to take family photos. Bring a tripod if you can because Bates can be a great backdrop for photos. Or you can ask a bystander to take them (but you don't know what you'll get!) I was amazed on how big this place is. I got a little motion sickness going up the mountain, so be mindful as you travel out to Valley Center. Lots of things to do and to keep your kiddos busy. Food vendors, petting zoo, hay rides, and more. You can purchase pumpkins at this farm and there are various sizes. I'm a fan and will now make it an annual tradition to come here with my new family. read more

This is our 5th year to Bates Nut Farm and I am surprised that I did not write a review yet. Bates Nut Farm is our October tradition, with just 30 min drive you land to a Pumpkin wonder land. We usually pick a Weekday evening and there is no Parking or Entry fee also less crowded. Even other times, its only $5, so I feel its very affordable. Bates Nut Farm have lot to offer starting from celebrative atmosphere to everything else. We usually start with Pony ride and Petting farm animals. 2020 Price: Pony Ride $9 Petting Zoo $4 Combo: $12 Tractor Ride $3 They have few food stands with lot of seating area around. You could also get outside food and do a picnic instead. They have a small store with lot of cadies and treats. Pumpkin Patch: This place is huge, and tons of pumpkins sorted in different sizes. Great place for family pictures. Pets are allowed too, keep it leashed. Staff: People work here are very helpful and friendly. During COVID they were extra cautious and made sure all are safe. Recommendation: Have some trash cans around in Parking area. read more

Having grown up in Valley Center, Bates Nut Farm was just always there. I never realized how cool it was until getting older! It offers so much: ample parking, great seating areas, awesome fields for playing, a petting zoo, and a retail market. It's one of the most frequently used venues in town for community events and a spectacular spot for regular park uses: kicking the soccer ball with your nephew or doing a picnic lunch with a friend. read more

Perfect Fall outing. You can come here for the full day and just hang out or just for pumpkins. Plenty of photo opportunities! I have seen many people post pictures here and I had to come check it out myself. The place is huge. Two areas with larger pumpkins. If you want to purchase them it's by weight. There is also an area in the center for the regular sized pumpkins. $7.50 for any of them. Past the pumpkin area, there are animals on the farm, food trucks, a maze. Hayrides, art, music and other kid friendly activities. I saw people with blankets hanging out like they've been there the whole and day (what a great idea) The rides and maze were $2.50 each so pricing is pretty good. I'd say this a great place to take a date or to come with family. Lots of fun! read more

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