Tanaka Farms Guide: Irvine U-Pick Tours, Pumpkin Patch & Hikari
Tanaka Farms is an interactive family farm in Irvine, CA that grows and harvests fresh produce right on the farm, more than 60 kinds of fruits and vegetables in all. Visitors come for the seasonal U-pick tours, the produce market stand, the Barnyard Educational Exhibit and holiday events like the fall pumpkin patch and Hikari: Festival of Lights.
The Tanaka family has farmed in Orange County for generations, and 2023 marked 25 years at the farm’s current home on University Drive. Tanaka Farms also runs a second, seasonal location, Hana Field, in Costa Mesa.
Tanaka Farms at a Glance
5380 ¾ University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612
www.tanakafarms.com
(949) 653-2100
info@tanakafarms.com
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Hours: The University Drive farm is normally open 9am to 5pm daily, and the Produce Market Stand keeps the same daily hours. Hours change on some holidays and during the Pumpkin Patch and Hikari. During pumpkin season, the market stand is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 6pm and Friday through Sunday from 9am to 9pm.
Reservations: All tours and activities need a reservation, and visitors can only go into the fields as part of a U-Pick tour.
| Season | What’s on | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | U-Pick Strawberry Tours; Spring Festival (returns in 2027) | Irvine | Reservation required |
| Summer | Melon Tasting Tours (from early July); blackberries | Irvine | Reservation required |
| Fall | Irvine Pumpkin Patch (Sept 12–Nov 1, 2026) | Irvine | $23 weekday / $27 weekend, ages 3+; pumpkins $1.39/lb |
| Fall | Hana Field Pumpkin Patch (Oct 3–Nov 1, 2026) | Costa Mesa | $23 Wed–Thu / $27 Fri–Sun; cashless |
| Holidays | Hikari: Festival of Lights (opens the day after Thanksgiving) | Irvine | Advance tickets online |
| Year-round | Produce Market Stand; Barnyard (no general entry until November 2026) | Irvine | Market normally 9am–5pm daily |
Admission & Tickets
Tours, events and activities are each priced separately, and reservations are made online.
Children 2 and under are free. Military discounts vary by activity: service members get into the Barnyard free, and they pay a reduced rate for pumpkin patch admission with a valid ID. Military rates don’t extend to family members.
Things to Do at Tanaka Farms
There are many fun, educational things to do at Tanaka Farms. Each season brings a different farm tour, plus festive seasonal events. The tours are perfect for families, field trips, schools, scout troops and other groups. See the event calendar and farm experiences for what’s coming up.
U-Pick Strawberry Tours
Strawberries are a Tanaka Farms classic. On the U-Pick Strawberry Tour, a tractor takes you around the farm while a guide shares the farm’s history and what’s growing. Along the way you’ll pick one seasonal vegetable, then fill a 1-pound container with strawberries right in the field. The tour lasts about 45 minutes to an hour and ends with a visit to the Barnyard.
Strawberry tours run during the spring season. The free Spring Festival, with wagon rides, barn animals and Easter Bunny photos, will return in 2027.
Melon Tasting Tours
Summer brings the Melon Tasting Tours, starting in early July. After a guided tractor tour, you’ll take home one seasonal vegetable, then sit under the melon tent for a tasting of summer produce and Tanaka-grown melons. Every paid guest also goes home with a melon, already picked by the farmers. The tour takes about an hour and 15 minutes and wraps up with a Barnyard visit.
Tanaka’s blackberries will return in early fall. Check the Tanaka Blackberry page for availability.
Barnyard Educational Exhibit
Tanaka Farms doesn’t call its animal area a petting zoo. The Barnyard Educational Exhibit is designed as a learning experience where kids (and adults!) can spend time with the animals in a safe setting. Most of the animals are rescues who will live out the rest of their lives on the farm. Barnyard manager Shelmarie and her team of volunteers run the exhibit through The Legacy Barn, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Be sure to say hi to Pinto the pony!
Every day: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (last entry 3:45 PM)
No reservations are needed for general visits, and there is a small admission fee. Children 2 and under and military service members get in free, and CSA members get in free with up to 4 guests.
Fall note: The Barnyard has no general entry until November 2026. During the Irvine Pumpkin Patch, which is open daily through Nov 1, the Barnyard is included with pumpkin patch admission. Hours and prices can also change during the Hikari Festival of Lights. See the Barnyard Exhibit page for current details, and our list of the best petting zoos in Orange County for more animal visits.
- Storytime at the Barnyard: Staff and volunteers read farm-themed stories right next to the animals, and afterward kids get to visit with their barnyard friends. Storytime lasts about 30 minutes, runs Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:30 AM and is geared toward kids ages 1 to 5. Check the Barnyard page for the next available dates.
- Chicken Club: A spring program that teaches kids all about chickens through games and activities.
- Private events: Goat Yoga, the Chicks and Sprouts class and Storytime are now offered as private events. To book one for your group, fill out the interest form on the Barnyard page.
- Volunteer: The Barnyard is run with help from volunteers. Orientation and shift sign-ups are on the Barnyard page.
Produce Market Stand
At the walk-up market stand you can buy produce harvested on the farm, plus dried fruits, nuts, breads, honeys and jams from local artisans. What’s available depends on the crops and the weather. Chocolate-covered strawberries are a spring and Valentine’s Day treat, and the market isn’t selling strawberries right now.
Breakfast at the Farm & Tanaka Grill
Every Saturday and Sunday, Tanaka Farms serves a made-to-order breakfast, and it comes with free tractor rides and barnyard animal visits. Check the farm’s website for times before you go, especially while the Barnyard is closed to general entry.
The Tanaka Grill serves farm-to-table food during some seasons and events, including the pumpkin patch, where it’s priced separately from admission.
CSA Produce Box
Tanaka’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription is a box of seasonal produce picked just days before you get it, with pickup at the farm or other locations. Choose a small box for $32 (6 to 7 items) or a large box for $42 (9 to 11 items). Learn more on the CSA page.
Private Events & Parties
Tanaka Farms offers seasonal tent rentals for parties and celebrations, with farm activities like a private wagon ride. Availability changes by season, so check the Private Events & Rentals page for current options.
Tanaka Farms isn’t certified organic. It uses organically approved materials on its crops and turns to a low-grade synthetic only when a crop is in danger of failing.
Tanaka Farms Events
Here are the seasonal events that are typically held throughout the year.
Note: Events and activities may vary year to year.
Irvine Pumpkin Patch
The Irvine Pumpkin Patch runs September 12 through November 1, 2026, and a reservation is required. Admission includes the pumpkin fields, unlimited wagon rides, the Barnyard Educational Exhibit, the pollinator garden, a corn maze, a kids play area and photo ops. Pumpkins aren’t included; they’re sold by the pound.
- September hours: Daily, 9 AM - 6 PM (last entry 5 PM)
- October hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM - 6 PM (last entry 5 PM); Friday–Sunday, 9 AM - 9 PM (last entry 8 PM)
- Admission (ages 3+): $23 on weekdays (Monday–Thursday and Friday before noon); $27 on weekends (Friday after noon, Saturday and Sunday)
- Military (service member only, with valid ID): $11.50 on weekdays; $13.50 on weekends
- Parking: A $12 parking pass is required on weekends
- Pumpkins: $1.39 per pound
- Extras: The U-Pick Veggie Patch and Tanaka Grill are priced separately. The games area, bee train and pumpkin cannon run Friday after noon, Saturday and Sunday.
Hours are weather permitting. For more fall fun, see our guides to Orange County pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hayrides.
Hikari: Festival of Lights
Hikari: Festival of Lights opens the day after Thanksgiving and runs through the holiday season, with evening hours for seeing the lights. Ride a wagon through the light displays, stroll the walking paths of themed lights, warm up with holiday treats and hot cocoa, browse the Holiday Market and stop for photos with Santa. Tickets are sold online in advance. See our Hikari guide for hours and details.
Holiday Hilltop Luncheons
On some holidays, such as Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Tanaka Farms hosts farm-to-table luncheons on the hilltop. A wagon ride takes guests up the hill for an all-you-can-eat buffet, views across the farm and lawn games.
Valentine’s Day
Tanaka Farms usually celebrates Valentine’s Day with special farm-to-table events, and the lineup changes from year to year. See our Tanaka Farms Valentine’s Day guide for the latest.
Hana Field in Costa Mesa
427 Anton Boulevard, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Hana Field Pumpkin Patch
Hana Field is Tanaka Farms’ seasonal location in Costa Mesa, and it isn’t at the Irvine farm. It sits at the corner of Sunflower and Anton, and you enter for parking and check-in on Anton Boulevard.
The Hana Field Pumpkin Patch is open October 3 through November 1, 2026, Wednesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM (last entry 5 PM), weather permitting. A reservation is required, and the location is cashless. Admission covers the pumpkin and flower fields (you can pick flowers, too), wagon rides, a barnyard with chickens, sheep, goats, a cow and an alpaca, the Jurassic Fright Corn Maze, a kids play area, photo ops and education stations.
- Admission: $23 Wednesday–Thursday; $27 Friday–Sunday. Children 2 and under are free.
- Military (service member only, with valid ID): $11.50 Wednesday–Thursday; $13.50 Friday–Sunday
- Parking: Free Wednesday–Thursday; $12 per vehicle Friday–Sunday
- Special event: Pumpkins & Pups on October 10
Field Trips & Group Visits
Tanaka Farms welcomes schools and groups of 15 or more for field trips and group tours, with strawberry picking in spring, summer U-pick and the pumpkin patch in fall. See the Field Trips page to book.
Pumpkin Patch field trips are usually offered from September 12 through October 30 and last about 2 to 2½ hours. Each trip starts with a 10- to 15-minute tractor ride, followed by U-pick vegetables, the corn maze and the Barnyard, and every paid pumpkin picker takes home one pumpkin up to 20 pounds. Groups can bring lunch to eat in the picnic area. Restrooms are portable, and there are no water refill stations, so everyone should bring a labeled water bottle.
Hana Field also hosts pumpkin patch field trips Wednesday through Friday, October 7 to 30, for groups of at least 15 paid students. Kids taste fresh veggies, meet the farm animals, pick a flower, walk the corn maze when the crop is ready and take home a pumpkin of their own.
Check before you go
- All tours and activities need a reservation, and you can only enter the fields on a U-Pick tour.
- Hours and prices change on some holidays and during the Pumpkin Patch and Hikari.
- The Barnyard has no general entry until November 2026. Through Nov 1, it’s included with Irvine Pumpkin Patch admission.
- Weekend visits to the Irvine Pumpkin Patch need a $12 parking pass.
- Hana Field is cashless and is in Costa Mesa, not at the Irvine farm.
- There are no water refill stations, so bring your own water bottle.
Tanaka Farms FAQ
Do you need a reservation for Tanaka Farms?
Yes, for tours, activities and both pumpkin patches. When the Barnyard is open for general entry, you don’t need a reservation to visit it.
Can you pick your own produce without a tour?
No. Visitors can only go into the fields as part of a U-Pick tour.
How much is the Tanaka Farms pumpkin patch?
In 2026, Irvine Pumpkin Patch admission is $23 on weekdays and $27 on weekends for ages 3 and up. Pumpkins cost $1.39 per pound, and weekend parking is $12.
Where is Hana Field?
Hana Field is at 427 Anton Boulevard in Costa Mesa. It’s a separate location from the Irvine farm.
Is the Tanaka Farms Barnyard open?
Tanaka Farms lists no general Barnyard entry until November 2026. Through Nov 1, the Barnyard is included with Irvine Pumpkin Patch admission. Normal Barnyard hours are 9 AM to 4 PM daily.
