October is when Redding finally exhales. The triple-digit days are behind us, the mornings turn crisp, and the fields out on Old Oregon Trail and along the river near Anderson fill up with pumpkins and families in hoodies.
As a lifelong Shasta County local, I think this is one of the best months to be here, especially if you have kids. You don’t have to drive far or spend a fortune to fill a few weekends with the classic stuff: picking pumpkins, getting lost in a corn maze, and hauling a bag of candy home on Halloween night.
Here’s a short, verified list of what’s happening in October 2026, plus a few tips that make these outings go smoother.
Redding Pumpkin Patch Picks for 2026
There are two big farm destinations most local families know by heart. Both are running for 2026.
Nash Ranch Pumpkin Patch (Redding)
Nash Ranch sits on Old Oregon Trail on the east side of Redding, which makes it an easy after-school trip from Palo Cedro, Bella Vista, or east Redding. Visit Redding lists the 2026 season as running daily from Monday, September 28 through Sunday, November 1.
- Pick-your-own pumpkins, with over 30 varieties of pumpkins, winter squash, and gourds
- A corn maze with about 3 miles of trails, which turns into a haunted maze on Friday and Saturday nights
- Farm animal petting zoo, hay maze, air pillow, and a train ride
- A craft fair on weekends, with most independent vendors only there Saturday and Sunday
Listed hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays for the patch, and some attractions depend on the weather.
Historic Hawes Farm (Anderson)
Hawes sits along the Sacramento River between Anderson and Palo Cedro, and it’s the bigger, more amusement-style option. Their 2026 season opened in September with a flower festival, and Pumpkin Fest runs through November 1. Most weekends have a theme:
- October 3–4: Community Fundraiser Weekend
- October 9–10: Think Pink Weekend (breast cancer awareness)
- October 16–18: Heroes Weekend, honoring firefighters, police, military, and EMTs, with live music Friday and Saturday nights
- October 20: Stars of the Farm, a calmer, sensory-friendly evening for guests with special needs (4–8 p.m.)
- October 23–25: Western Weekend with line dancing
- October 30–November 1: Halloween Weekend with a costume contest, pumpkin drop, and trick-or-treating at the farm
Hawes notes that dates can change depending on crop and weather, and they sell tickets online, often at a discount. Check their website before you go.
Corn Mazes and Haunts for Older Kids
Once the sun goes down, both farms get a lot spookier. This part is better suited to teens than to little ones.
- Hawes Haunts is the farm’s haunted corn maze. It opens October 9 and runs Fridays and Saturdays (October 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31) from dark until closing.
- The Dreams of Darkness Haunted House is at Nash Ranch and bills itself as Redding’s only professional haunted house. Visit Redding lists 2026 nights on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from September 25 through October 31, starting at 6 p.m. It’s not wheelchair accessible.
- Redding Haunted House at the Monolith, run by the Redding Rotary Club at Turtle Bay, has been a local favorite the last few Octobers. I couldn’t find 2026 dates yet, so check their website and social pages before you plan around it.
Halloween Events at Turtle Bay
The Turtle Bay Exploration Park area has a couple of October events worth putting on the calendar.
- Oktoberfest at Turtle Bay is set for Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. It’s listed as family friendly.
- Halloween Hoot! takes place on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids come in costume, work through an activity passport around the park, and trade a finished passport for a prize. There’s a spooky animal program at 11 a.m. in the Forest Amphitheater, followed by an all-ages costume contest. It’s included with admission and free for members.
With Halloween on a Saturday this year, the Hoot is an easy morning plan. Come home for a nap, then head out trick-or-treating.
Ghost Stories and Local History in Old Shasta
If your family likes history with a little chill to it, this one is a real local gem.
“Beneath an Autumn Moon” Cemetery Tours at Shasta State Historic Park run Thursday through Saturday, October 1–3, 2026. The 30-minute evening tours cover the lives (and deaths) of the pioneers buried in the Shasta Union Cemetery.
- Tours leave from the steps of the Courthouse Museum between 6:30 and 8 p.m.
- Admission is $5 per person, and each tour is capped at 30 people
- Reservations are required, so call the Courthouse Museum at 530-243-8194
- Bring a flashlight and sturdy shoes, because it runs rain or shine
Old Shasta is only about six miles west of Redding on Highway 299, but it feels like stepping back 150 years.
Trunk-or-Treats and Halloween Night in Shasta County
Community trunk-or-treats have become a big part of Halloween here, and they’re a good fit for young kids.
- City of Shasta Lake Trunk or Treat: Shasta Damboree hosts its 8th annual event on Halloween night, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the City of Shasta Lake City Hall parking lot. Organizers tell trunk hosts to plan for 400 to 600 trick-or-treaters.
- Churches, schools, and businesses around Redding, Anderson, and Cottonwood hold their own trunk-or-treats every year. Many don’t post details until mid-October, so watch the Visit Redding events calendar and local community pages.
As for neighborhoods, every Redding family has a favorite trick-or-treat street, and those change over time. If you’re new, look for established areas with sidewalks, good lighting, and decorated porches, or just ask a neighbor who’s been on the block a while.
Practical Tips for October Outings in Redding
A little planning keeps a fun day from going sideways.
- Go on a weekday if you can. Weekend afternoons at the pumpkin patches get busy, especially the last two weekends before Halloween.
- Buy tickets online where it’s offered. Hawes sells online tickets and has run sales earlier in the season.
- Bring some cash anyway. Craft fair and food vendors are small operations, and it’s easier than hunting for an ATM.
- Dress in layers. October afternoons in Redding can still hit the 80s, and evenings cool off fast, especially out in the fields.
- Check hours the morning you go. Several of these events depend on weather.
- Keep an eye on smoke and fire conditions. Fire season can linger into fall here, so check air quality before a long day outside.
Settling Into Fall in the North State
For families thinking about a move to Redding, October gives you a good feel for what life here is actually like. The pumpkin patch is 15 minutes away instead of an hour. The haunted house is run by the Rotary Club. You’ll see the same families at the corn maze, the farmers market, and the school carnival.
If you’re weighing neighborhoods, school areas, or how far you want to be from town, I’m happy to walk you through it. Sometimes the best way to get a feel for a place is to spend a Saturday here, and I can help you plan that too.
530-953-1100 · jcreteam.com/contact · [email protected]
About Justin Cartwright — Justin Cartwright is a third-generation Shasta County resident and licensed REALTOR® with Waterman Real Estate in Redding, CA. He and the JCRE Team specialize in helping buyers and sellers navigate the Redding and greater Shasta County market with honest guidance and genuine care. DRE License #02093872 · Waterman Real Estate, 1760 Churn Creek Rd, Redding, CA 96002 · 530-953-1100.
Sources: Visit Redding events calendar (visitredding.com), Historic Hawes Farm (historichawesfarm.com), Nash Ranch Pumpkin Patch listing on Visit Redding, Turtle Bay Exploration Park event listings, Shasta State Historic Park via Visit Redding, Shasta Damboree (shastadamboree.org), KRCR News coverage of the Redding Haunted House at the Monolith.
