Haunted Corn Maze Near Me in Pomona: Cal Poly Pomona PumpkinFest

Cal Poly Pomona PumpkinFest transforms the university's sprawling AGRIscapes Center at 4102 S University Drive in Pomona into Southern California's premier agricultural autumn celebration. While many commercial Halloween listings in Los Angeles feature staged indoor scream parks, Cal Poly Pomona offers Los Angeles County's premier authentic living corn maze experience. Set across working university farmland in the San Jose Hills basin, this beloved harvest festival delivers genuine agrarian exploration through tall, dense cornstalk corridors under clear California skies, providing an open-air harvest celebration rooted in authentic university agricultural traditions.

The central highlight of PumpkinFest is its pair of authentic living corn labyrinths planted specifically for the October harvest. The main attraction is a massive multi-acre corn maze featuring towering stalks rising over eight feet high, dense green walls, and intricate branching dirt pathways designed to challenge navigational skills. For younger children and families seeking a gentle stroll, the Jr. Farmers Discovery Maze offers shorter walking paths and interactive educational checkpoints that teach kids about sustainable farming, crop rotation, and soil health.

Complementing the corn labyrinths is the stunning Sunflower Maze, where visitors can wander between vibrant golden blooms and capture memorable seasonal photographs. Just beyond the sunflower rows lies Pumpkin Hill, a vast open-air patch holding tens of thousands of university-grown pumpkins. Shoppers can walk among sprawling rows of classic orange jack-o'-lanterns, creamy white ghost pumpkins, ribbed heirloom Cinderella squash, and whimsical ornamental gourds harvested directly from campus acreage by agricultural science students.

General admission includes an expansive lineup of pastoral attractions suitable for visitors of all generations. Guests can climb aboard scenic tractor-drawn farm wagons for a leisurely tour winding through university research orchards and experimental citrus groves. Children delight in riding the Moo Moo Cow Train, exploring farm-themed play structures, and interacting with friendly sheep, goats, pigs, and calves at the extensive student-run petting farm managed by the Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture.

PumpkinFest enhances the visitor experience with curated themed festival weekends throughout October. The schedule features Pumpkinzania celebrating giant gourd carving and agricultural weight contests (October 10–11), the popular university Insect Festival showcasing beneficial pollinators and exotic arthropods (October 17–18), Indigenous Agriculture Weekend honoring heritage farming traditions (October 24–25), and Halloween at PumpkinFest with family costume celebrations (October 31).

Adjacent to the farm attractions, the open-air festival Marketplace curated by 909 Open Market brings together dozens of regional independent craft artisans, local food producers, and student agricultural organizations. Shoppers can browse handmade autumn home decor, local artisan soaps, fresh culinary herbs, and jars of golden wildflower honey harvested directly from university apiaries managed by campus beekeepers.

Dining options across the festival grounds celebrate fresh California harvest flavors. Food concession booths and local mobile food trucks serve freshly grilled sweet corn on the cob seasoned with cotija cheese and lime, slow-smoked barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, street tacos, crispy chicken tenders, warm kettle corn, and iced spiced apple cider. Plentiful shaded picnic tables beneath timber pergolas allow families to relax and enjoy meals between farm activities.

Cal Poly Pomona provides clear and verified seasonal pricing for all festival activities. General admission tickets purchased online in advance through Ticketspice are $18.00 per person, while general admission tickets purchased on-site at the entry gate are $22.00 per person. Admission covers entry to the main corn maze, Jr. Farmers mini maze, sunflower maze, petting farm, and tractor wagon rides. Children ages 2 and under enter completely free. University-grown pumpkins on Pumpkin Hill are priced separately by size from $5.00 for small sugar pie pumpkins up to $15.00 for jumbo carving gourds.

Planning your visit is straightforward when considering the event calendar and hours. PumpkinFest 2026 operates on weekends from October 10 through October 31, 2026. Gates are open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with the festival grounds remaining closed to the public Monday through Friday. Arriving during morning opening hours between 10:00 AM and noon offers the easiest parking access and shortest lines for tractor rides and the main corn maze.

Because PumpkinFest takes place on real working agricultural farmland, wearing sensible closed-toe walking shoes or work boots is strongly recommended. The corn maze paths consist of compacted farm soil that can be dusty during warm afternoons. Wearing breathable layers, wide-brimmed sun hats, and sunscreen ensures comfort throughout the day, while a light sweater is pleasant for breezy late-afternoon strolls.

The farm grounds accommodate wagons and sturdy all-terrain strollers, making it effortless to transport heavy pumpkins and young children across dirt pathways. For guest safety and agricultural biosecurity, outside alcoholic beverages, glass containers, and unauthorized drones are strictly prohibited on university property. Certified service animals are welcome on leash, while household pets must remain at home.

Following your farm adventure, explore local dining options in neighboring Pomona. Just one mile west on university land, Innovation Brew Works at 3650 W Temple Ave serves handcrafted artisan stone-fired pizzas ($16.00), crisp brewery soft pretzels, and house-brewed root beers ($4.00) in a welcoming community taproom.

Cal Poly Pomona PumpkinFest stands as Los Angeles County's premier authentic agricultural harvest event, pairing challenging living cornfield labyrinths with classic farm traditions. Its expansive sunflower corridors, student-grown pumpkin fields, and tractor rides provide an unforgettable autumn experience that celebrates the enduring agricultural heritage of the San Gabriel Valley.