Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival
*October 9th, 2026…read more*5:30pm- Friday
*3.5 Stars
Environment:
*Moderate Sized Parking Lot
*Outside Seating
*Information Station
*Events: Pumpkin Patch Corn Maze, Rubber Duck Races, Petting/Feeding Zoo, Hay Rides, Music/DJ
*Access to Farm Store
Food/Drinks:
*Food Trucks Available
*Snack Vendors Available
Went to the Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival for Alumni Opening Day with my sister, who graduated from here, and my mom. Overall, it was a good experience with lots of activities to enjoy, plenty of staff around, and information booths where you could learn more about the different services and events. There was also a good variety of food trucks and snack vendors, and I liked having access to the farm store.
However, I do think there are a few areas that could be improved. Getting into the event was somewhat confusing, with three separate lines for alumni/family, families of current students, and scholarship attendees. The lines weren't clearly distinguished, and there were only two tablets being used for all three lines, making it difficult to tell where we were supposed to go. Once we got inside, we were given wristbands and tickets, but no one explained what the tickets were for or how to use them.
Although there were plenty of activities advertised, not everything was open during our visit. The event layout also felt a little crowded, especially around the information booths, which were close together and made it difficult to explore with so many people around. Having a map showing where all the activities were located would have been helpful. For example, the corn maze and hay rides were tucked away in a corner without clear signage, and we only found them because our group happened to wander in that direction. I'm glad we did, though, because I really enjoyed the corn maze, and the staff in that area were very friendly!
Parking was another area that could use improvement. Luckily, visitors with handicap placards were able to park across the street in paved spots for easier access. For everyone else, cars were parked on a field adjacent to the event with uneven ground and holes, making it difficult to walk, especially for older visitors or anyone with an unsteady gait. There also weren't clearly marked parking spaces or lanes, so figuring out how to leave was confusing. With only one entrance and exit, traffic could become difficult when leaving. While there were plenty of staff members throughout the event, it would have been nice to have some stationed at popular photo spots to help take pictures, such as by the pumpkin patch hill sign or Cal Poly Pumpkin sign as you enter. Lastly, the farm store was open, but many items were already out of stock less than an hour into the event.
Overall, I enjoyed the experience and appreciated the variety of activities available. With clearer check-in lines, better communication about the wristbands and tickets, improved signage and parking organization, and better stocking of the farm store, I think the festival could be even more enjoyable for visitors. I appreciate Cal Poly Pomona continuing to put on this event year after year, especially since it's closer to home compared to other pumpkin and fall festivals that can take 2-3 hours to get to. Despite a few areas for improvement, it's a fun local event with lots of potential, and I'm glad we had the opportunity to attend!