Pumpkins and More at the Tolay Fall Festival 2009

Many families in Marin and the North Bay have fond memories of visiting the popular pumpkin patch at Cardoza Ranch outside Petaluma. In 2005, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District and the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department acquired Cardoza Ranch, also known as Tolay Lake Ranch, turning its 1,737 acres of farmland into a county park. Tolay Lake Ranch is a unique spot, with a freshwater lake, wetlands, diverse wildlife, and 8,000 years human habitation with extensive archaeological and historical sites. Tolay Lake Regional Park is currently under development and access is restricted, although the public can now make use of the park through a day-use permit program.

However, I'm sure what's on many people's minds is "What happened to the pumpkin patch?" The Sonoma Regional Parks Department has kept the spirit of the old Cardoza pumpkin patch by holding an the annual Tolay Fall Festival, now in its fourth year. This popular event (over 15,000 people attended last year) takes place over two long weekends in October; the Tolay Fall Festival 2009 happens October 8–11 and 15–18. The Festival is open Thursday and Friday 9 am–3:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday 10 am–5 pm. Admission is free, but there's a $6 parking fee per car (free with a Park Pass).

In addition to Halloween pumpkins in the huge pumpkin patch, this year's festival features a plentiful harvest of gourds, squash, multi-colored corn, and other produce, as well as the World Record Pumpkin Seed-spitting Contest, which is open to all. There will also be ranger-led hay rides, a giant straw maze, a Native American village with demonstrations, the Night Time Creatures Barn with the Creepy Crawly Critters Room, live animals, nature hikes, and more. You can also attend an orientation to receive a day-use permit for the park.

It's definitely worth a visit this season! Tolay Lake Regional Park is located off Lakeville Highway, at Cannon Lane, just outside of Petaluma. It's about equidistant between Highways 37 and 101. To get there from Marin, take Highway 101 to 37 and follow it east to the Lakeville Highway intersection. Turn left onto Lakeville Highway at the traffic signal, and follow it to Cannon Lane. Turn right on Cannon Lane and follow it to Tolay Lake Regional Park.

For more information on Tolay Lake Regional Park and the Tolay Fall Festival, visit www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_tolay.htm or call (707) 565-2401.

Photos courtesy Sonoma County Regional Parks Department.