The Vegas Pumpkin Patch in the Cowabunga Bay parking lot in Henderson is scheduled to run through October 31. Admission and parking are free, with guests only paying if they want to hit the rides, games or food stands scattered across the lot at 900 Galleria Drive.
The patch has been building toward Halloween since it opened October 2, and according to vegaspumpkinpatch.com, it advertises more than 30 carnival rides, more than 30 carnival games and over 10 food vendors spread across the grounds. That tally differs from what organizer Sherry McKay described to FOX5 Vegas, where the attraction was characterized as featuring 28 carnival rides, large pumpkins, decorations and photo opportunities.
McKay, who has run pumpkin patches in the area for about 20 years per her account to the station, told FOX5 Vegas that getting the lot ready takes roughly two weeks of setup, with preparation days running about 12 hours. She said she is meticulous about how the decorations and photo-op spots look before the gates open, and that the goal of the whole operation is simple: bringing families together, in her words to the outlet.
What's Free and What Costs Tickets
Beyond the open-air carnival rides, several features inside the patch cost nothing at all. The hay maze, the kids activity center and the photo opportunities are free, and so are the Halloween party and trick-or-treating, per the official site. Rides are the main paid component, with each one requiring between five and eight individual ride tickets depending on the attraction, and a daily ride wristband that's valid from opening until 9 p.m.
Hours have also varied across listings. The patch's own events page states regular hours run 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and notes the attraction may stay open later depending on crowd size. A separate listing from everyday.vegas lays out a different schedule, with Monday through Thursday running 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday extending to 4 p.m. through 11 p.m., Saturday opening earlier at 2 p.m. and running to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Big Pumpkins and a Halloween Night Send-Off
Those oversized pumpkins McKay mentioned aren't an exaggeration — the gourds on display reportedly weigh between 250 and 500 pounds, according to her comments to FOX5 Vegas. The patch's closing night on October 31 is shaping up as its biggest draw, with free trick-or-treating, a free Halloween party, live music and a DJ planned, per everyday.vegas.
Guests headed to the lot should also know the fine print. Backpacks and outside food or beverages aren't allowed inside, though purses and diaper bags are permitted subject to inspection, and attendees may go through handheld metal-detector screening with no re-entry once they leave, according to the official site. Ride safety restrictions tied to height, size and weight also vary by attraction and are posted at each one.
Plenty of Competition Across the Valley
The Vegas Pumpkin Patch is far from the only fall option around the valley this month. The area's offerings generally split between carnival-style setups like this one and more agricultural, field-oriented experiences, as everyday.vegas frames it in its seasonal guide. For a classic pumpkin-field outing, Gilcrease Orchard's fall festival runs through October 31, open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with admission at $4 plus fees on weekdays and $6 plus fees on weekends, according to USA Today.
Other nearby options include the Las Vegas Farm Harvest Festival, running weekends through October 31 with $10 adult admission and $5 for kids 12 and under at its West Teton Drive location, and McKee Ranch's daily harvest festival off Dean Martin Drive, which charges a flat $25 per family. Closer to the Vegas Pumpkin Patch itself, the Henderson Pumpkin Patch opened October 3 at 1001 New Beginnings Drive with $3 adult admission, free entry for anyone under 18, and attractions including a petting zoo and train rides, per everyday.vegas. Halloween Town is also expanding to four Las Vegas locations this season, all open since October 8 and running through Halloween, according to vegasfamilyevents.com.
