Local guide

October around the bay.

October is one of the best months to be at Olalla Bay. The pumpkin patches open within a short drive: Harbor Farms in Gig Harbor runs a full farm experience with a petting zoo and Western Town by timed reservation, Hunter Farms in Union runs its annual October pumpkin patch with a corn maze and tractor rides, and the Artondale Farm stand sells fall pumpkins every weekend through Christmas Eve. When the patch is done, the trails deliver the second half of fall: bigleaf maples turn gold at Banner Forest, the boardwalks at Theler Wetlands go golden, and the shoreline parks mix fall color with salt water.

Go on a weekday if you can. The patches are calm, the parking is easy, and the light is better for photos.

Written by Assaf, the Olalla Bay editor. Updated October 2026.

Pumpkin patches worth the drive

Harbor Farms: the closest full patch experience. At 7725 92nd Street NW in Gig Harbor, Harbor Farms opened its 2026 pumpkin patch on October 3. Admission is by timed reservation only, booked on their site, and a visit includes a 90-minute farm visit with a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, Western Town play area, and photo ops. If you only want to buy pumpkins without the full visit, they run pumpkin-sales-only evenings on October 16 and 23 from 4 to 7 pm with no reservation needed.

Hunter Farms: the big October tradition in the Skokomish Valley. This is the seventh generation of the same family farming the same valley since 1889, and the pumpkin patch has run every October since 1983. It is open daily October 1 through 31, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, at 1921 E State Route 106 in Union. Tractor rides carry visitors out to the pumpkin patch, and the farm has a corn maze, a hay maze in the barn, and barn animals. Leashed dogs are welcome. Two things to know: the farm does not take cards during the pumpkin patch event, and the pumpkin field gets muddy, so wear boots.

Artondale Farm stand: weekend pumpkins, Gig Harbor. The small family-run farm stand at 5925 Artondale Drive NW is open Friday through Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm, from the first weekend in April through Christmas Eve. In October the stand sells locally grown pumpkins alongside seasonal produce, a good stop for carving pumpkins and fall decorations without the full patch outing.

Worth the crossing: Suyematsu Farms on Bainbridge Island is a longtime pumpkin-picking tradition, Colello's Farm Stand in Port Orchard does a cozy smaller pumpkin patch, and Fat Turnip Farms in Kingston runs an organic pumpkin patch Monday through Saturday. All three make good add-ons if you are already out for a day trip.

Fall color walks

Peak color in Kitsap usually lands in the second half of October. The best walks mix maple gold with water:

Banner Forest Heritage Park. The 635-acre forest in Port Orchard turns with bigleaf maple color in October, and the trail network gives you anything from a short loop to a long wander. Details are in the hiking guide.

Theler Wetlands, Belfair. The boardwalk trails at the head of Hood Canal go golden in fall, with ducks and herons working the estuary. Flat, easy, and good for an hour or two.

Kopachuck State Park. The shoreline trails mix maple and evergreen with salt water, and the park reopened in August 2026 after a full renovation, so the grounds are in the best shape they have been in years.

Manchester State Park. Mixed forest trails above Rich Passage with views across Puget Sound, a solid pick when you want fall color and a waterfront in the same walk.

One fall event to note

PenMet Parks hosts its annual Scarecrow Festival at Sehmel Homestead Park each year in early October: market vendors, live music, food trucks, a petting zoo, hayrides, pumpkin launchers, and a scarecrow contest. It is free. The 2026 edition has already happened, so check the PenMet Parks calendar as next fall approaches and plan around it.

Questions people ask

What is the best pumpkin patch near Gig Harbor?

Harbor Farms on 92nd Street NW: the closest full pumpkin-patch experience, with a petting zoo, Western Town play area, and photo ops by timed reservation. For a bigger day out with a corn maze and tractor rides, Hunter Farms in Union runs its annual patch daily through October 31.

Do pumpkin patches near Olalla Bay require reservations?

Harbor Farms in Gig Harbor is timed-reservation only: book ahead on their site. Hunter Farms in Union and the Artondale Farm stand are open during posted hours with no reservation. Weekdays avoid the weekend crowds everywhere.

When is pumpkin patch season near Gig Harbor?

The patches open in late September or the first days of October and run through Halloween. Hunter Farms runs October 1 through 31; Harbor Farms opened October 3 in 2026. The last two weekends of October are the busiest.

Where can you see fall colors near Olalla Bay?

Banner Forest Heritage Park for bigleaf maple color, Theler Wetlands in Belfair for golden boardwalk walks, Kopachuck State Park for shoreline maples, and Manchester State Park for mixed forest above Puget Sound. Peak color usually lands in the second half of October.

Is there a fall festival in Gig Harbor?

PenMet Parks hosts its annual Scarecrow Festival at Sehmel Homestead Park each year in early October, with vendors, music, food trucks, a petting zoo, hayrides, and a scarecrow contest. It is free. Check the PenMet Parks calendar as fall approaches for the next date.