Fall Fun at Dell’Osso Family Farm in Lathrop
Find fall fun at Dell’Osso Family Farm in Lathrop, September 28 – October 31, 2019. Photos: Dell’Osso Farm/Facebook
LATHROP, California – Mother Nature may have waited until the end of summer to crank up the thermostat this year, but despite the unseasonably toasty days, the calendar says fall. This can mean only one thing: it’s time to plan your Halloween outings.
If you love fall festivals, a trip to Dell’Osso Family Farm should be on your agenda. This is not the pumpkin patch of your youth where you wandered around a field of orange before finding a hard-to-lift pumpkin, took obligatory photos, slurped down some apple cider and then headed home.
The pumpkin patch at Dell’Osso Family Farm has plenty to choose from. Photo: Dell’Osso Family Farm/Facebook
Dell’Osso Family Farm, which began as a working asparagus farm in the 1920s by three Italian brothers, is a fall family adventure destination. Your admission fee provides access to a wide variety of fun, including the pumpkin patch, corn maze, a haunted castle, an express train, hayride, mystery tour, carnival-style rides in kiddie land, an animal zoo, a Walk-the-Plank activity and more.
The massive corn maze at Dell’Osso Family Farm in Lathrop is designed using computers and GPS. Photo: Dell’Osso Family Farm/Facebook
With all the exciting activities to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin. Dell’Osso Family Farm suggests you start by getting lost in their pumpkin maze. The massive corn maze labyrinths are part of a Dell’Osso tradition that has been going strong for 23 years. Initially, the Dell’Osso family designed the mazes by hand and plowed them using farm equipment. Today’s mazes are created using computers and GPS, bringing this traditional attraction into the digital age. Pick an entrance and see how long you take to find your way out. Also, be sure to check out Dell’Osso’s website to see aerial views of the mind-blowing mazes they’ve devised.
Anyone with a sweet tooth will want to visit the Country Store/Bakery. Here you’ll find a variety of locally made goodies and apple spiced donuts.
Before you head out the door, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Although it may be sandal weather, thrill-seekers who want to walk the 30-foot high plank before dropping to the ground (in a harness) need to wear close-toed shoes. For safety reasons, all Walk-the-Plank participants must fit into the safety harness and weigh between 60 and 250 pounds. It should also be noted that the mystery tour and haunted castle are not recommended for small children. After all, pumpkin patches are intended to be fun, not nightmare-inducing.
Pig races take place twice a day during the week, and at regular intervals during the weekend. Check the calendar for bands appearing on the musical stage, watch live magic and encourage your kids to take part in the interactive pirate show.
Besides all the activities included in the admission fee, Dell’Osso also offers some add-on adventures. They charge separate fees for gem mining, the zip lines, pumpkin blaster, pony rides and pumpkin painting. Some of these activities are cash only, so plan ahead.
If you go: Find Dell’Osso Family Farm at 501 S Manthey Road in Lathrop. General admission is $14.95 per person Monday – Thursday and $19.95 Friday – Sunday. Admission is free for children 2 and under. The farm is open from 10am, with last entry at 8pm. For more information, visit PumpkinMaze.com or call 209.969.6048. The fun takes place September 28 through October 31.
Your Town Daycations is a series featured in Your Town Monthly. A version of this article was originally published in the October 2019 print editions.
