Dell’Osso Family Farm near Stockton opens on October 1 for the fall season with lots of fall fun in the fields, about 90 minutes away from Berkeley. Opening October 1, this San Joaquin County family favorite has all the seasonal, farm activities you could throw a pumpkin at. Look for the pumpkin patch, gigantic corn maze, haunted house, train, pumpkin blasters, apple spiced donuts, carnival food, and pumpkin pie. You can also discover little trinkets in the gift shop. Reservations are available in advance but walk-up business has also been available. Open daily through Halloween.
Find more pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hay mazes near the East Bay in our guide >
Dell’Osso Offers Fall Family Fun in the Fields of Lathrop
Dell’Osso recently opened its gates to offer farm-style, spooky fun with lots of Covid-19 safety precautions in place. I brought my 3-, 5- and 7-year olds out to Lathrop on a very sunny Sunday to test it all out. After spending four hours of playing games, riding rides, and tasting treats, we still hadn’t gotten to every activity we’d hoped to do!
Dell’Osso is an expansive farm property with tons of space to provide a large variety of activities while still feeling spread out. The parking lot is big and easy to maneuver. Dell’Osso is not requiring appointments, you can purchase tickets online beforehand, or when you get there at the entrance.
We had a really fun day. We rode on spinning pumpkins and a very cute train ride; played a baseball toss game; climbed a tire pyramid; and fed goats and cows. I even hauled my big pregnant self up the Giant slide no less than four times because my boys were scared of the height.
It never felt too crowded, but it did get quite hot and there is very little shade. Towards the end of October it will cool down some, but these next couple of weeks are still high 80s. We brought a wagon to drag around the kids’ stuff (and the three-year-old when she was exhausted). Lots of people had strollers, it’s such a big space it gets tiring for toddlers walking in the sun. You’ll want water, snacks, and sun protection, too.
Dell’Osso Family Farm at Halloween has a slightly ‘county fair’ vibe happening with the games but also the food. We bought cherry snow cones that were served on top of scoops of vanilla ice cream! I also noticed my favorite elephant ears and cotton candy. Not to mention the fall favorites like pumpkin pie and apple cider donuts. Can you tell I’m pregnant by how I’m detailing all this delicious junk food? We felt totally comfortable snacking throughout the day.
Dell’Osso creates a really impressive, huge, tricky corn maze every year
They offer aerial photos, a reference map, and three lookout points in the maze itself (three spots you can climb onto storage containers to look out over the fields and see what direction you need to head). If you have patient, adventurous babies or older kids you’ve been quarantined with just a little too long, this might be terrific for your family. Since my kids don’t fit either of those descriptions (and with the heat and my ‘pregnancy’ card), we skipped the maize maze this year.
The Haunted Castle was highly enticing to my seven-year-old. He made it past a couple of scary clowns, but once he saw the dark tunnel of grown men in scary costumes with prop knives, he turned his cute butt right around. It’s way too scary for younger kids, I was surprised they didn’t set an age limit. I’m a haunted house lover, and I’m all for letting him try, but that castle is probably too scary even for some tweens. I’d say 13 and up. There’s a little haunted village walk-through that’s very calm and cute with a couple of silly witches and a dancing Jack Skellington. Much better for most kids.
Plan your visit to Dell’Osso Family Farm and Pumpkin Maze
Plan for a packed day, there’s tons to do! Bring water, hats, and sunscreen and prepare for lots of walking. You could easily entertain both toddlers and teenagers here, if you’re a family with a range of kid ages, this is for you.
There are lots of bathrooms and handwashing stations and plenty of places to sit if you need a minute. Weekdays are a little cheaper and undoubtedly less busy. In a year where kids have been so limited in the joyful fun department, it’s so awesome to see them out enjoying the wholesome fall time fun on the farm. We might go again this season.
Location: Dell’Osso Family Farm – 501 S. Manthey Road – Lathrop, California
Hours: Mon. thru Fri.: Noon to 8 pm (last entry at 7 pm)Â | Sat. & Sun.: 10 am to 8 pm (last entry at 7 pm)
Reserve advance tickets >
Website for rates and info >
Find more pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hay mazes near the East Bay in our guide >
