Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026
The 'Pumpkin Capital of the World' coastal festival — a giant-pumpkin weigh-off and Main Street arts show.
palm trees and giant art against desert mountains, bass thumping as the sun drops
When is Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026 — and where do RVers stay?
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026 runs Oct 17–18, 2026 in Half Moon Bay, CA (Main Street), California. Book an RV from a local California host about 20 weeks out and set up camp within an easy drive of Half Moon Bay, CA (Main Street) — arrive a day early, leave a day late.
Plan your trip · Oct 17–18, 2026 · Half Moon Bay, CA (Main Street)
Rent an RV near Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026
Search opens on your Oct 17–18, 2026 window with a one-day buffer on each side — arrive early, leave late. Book from local California hosts before the event weekend fills.
- Dates
- Oct 17–18, 2026
- Days away
- 84
- Location
- Half Moon Bay, CA (Main Street)
- Book ahead
- 20+ wk
- Demand window
- Plan ahead
Hosting near Half Moon Bay, CA (Main Street)? Event weekends book first — list your rig and fill the calendar.
List your rig →Know before you go
What you need to know
Half Moon Bay is the self-styled Pumpkin Capital of the World, and its Art & Pumpkin Festival fills the coastal town's Main Street every October (the 54th annual, October 17-18, 2026), preceded by the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off where growers roll up half-ton monsters. Add a fine-arts show, harvest food and coastal-California weather and it's a classic day out. The RV tie-in is right there: Half Moon Bay State Beach's Francis Beach campground has RV sites within a mile of downtown on the bluff above the Pacific — book far ahead, it's one of the most-wanted coastal campgrounds in the Bay Area.
Official source: hmbpumpkinfest.com
Safety + legal
Coastal fog and cool wind even on sunny days — pack layers, and Highway 1 backs up hard on festival weekend, so time RV arrivals off-peak.
Insider tip — what you won't find elsewhere
Francis Beach (Half Moon Bay State Beach) has bluff-top RV sites ~1 mile from Main Street — reserve six months out on ReserveCalifornia; it sells out for the festival every year.
Plan-ahead runway
Book early, arrive easy — the whole runway
Event weekends book first. Here is the honest runway from lock-your-rig to head-home, with a one-day buffer on each end.
Book by
~20 weeks out
Event weekends fill first — lock your rig early.
Arrive
Oct 16
Roll in a day early and set up camp.
Event
Oct 17–18
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026
Head home
Oct 19
Leave a day late and skip the exodus.
What to bring
Best rigs for Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026
Plan it by rig
Each recommended class has its own Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026 planning page — class fit and booking guidance in one place.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked about Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026
When is Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026?
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026 runs Oct 17–18, 2026 in Half Moon Bay, CA (Main Street), California.
Where is Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026 held?
Half Moon Bay, CA (Main Street), California.
What are the 2026 dates for Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026?
Oct 17–18, 2026.
What RV should I rent for Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026?
Best categories: rv, trucks-vans. Half Moon Bay is the self-styled Pumpkin Capital of the World, and its Art & Pumpkin Festival fills the coastal town's Main Street every October (the 54th annual, October 17-18, 2026), preceded by the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off where growers roll up half-ton monsters. Add a fine-arts show, harvest food and coastal-California weather and it's a classic day out. The RV tie-in is right there: Half Moon Bay State Beach's Francis Beach campground has RV sites within a mile of downtown on the bluff above the Pacific — book far ahead, it's one of the most-wanted coastal campgrounds in the Bay Area.
How early should I book an RV for Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026?
Recommended lead time: 20 weeks. Event windows book up early, so search and lock your dates as soon as your plans firm up.
What safety + legal guidance applies for Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026?
Coastal fog and cool wind even on sunny days — pack layers, and Highway 1 backs up hard on festival weekend, so time RV arrivals off-peak.
What's an insider tip for Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026?
Francis Beach (Half Moon Bay State Beach) has bluff-top RV sites ~1 mile from Main Street — reserve six months out on ReserveCalifornia; it sells out for the festival every year.
Ready to roll?
California is waiting.
Complete nightly price on every listing — your exact total itemized before you pay · 48h free cancel. Every rig near you, one checkout.
Stay on site
RVs near Los Angeles — sleep at the venue, skip the hotel.
Base your whole weekend for Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026 from a rig parked where the action is: your own beds, kitchen, and gear locker, with no drive back to a room across town. Browse what local owners list around Los Angeles and lock your dates early — event weekends book first.
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Plan around the event · 4
Hub state · nearest city · nearest park · recommended rig category — one click each.
Important: travel + safety + insurance disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only. PickRV is not an insurer, legal advisor, or vehicle-safety authority. Trip planning, route selection, rig suitability, weather, and emergency decisions are the renter's responsibility. Always consult the rig manufacturer's owner's manual, your insurance provider, the U.S. National Park Service (nps.gov), NOAA / NWS weather alerts (weather.gov), state and local emergency-management agencies, and current local regulations before and during travel. Cost figures, season windows, road conditions, and fee references on this page are estimates as of May 2026 and vary by season, location, rig, carrier, and operator. Mentions of brand names, state-tourism marks, national-park feature names, or third-party programs are informational only and do not imply affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement.
Per-state legal callout · CA
Before you rent in California — key local rules
Noncommercial Class B for motorhomes > 40 ft or > 3 axles
California requires a noncommercial Class B license for housecars over 40 ft OR with more than 3 axles. Standard Class C covers most rental motorhomes under that threshold (CA VC §12804.9, §12804.10). Out-of-state visitors must meet the same standard.
California Vehicle Code §12804 · verified 2026-05-24
California Boater Card mandatory by 2025 (all ages)
As of January 1, 2025, all motorized-vessel operators must carry the California Boater Card. The card is issued for life after passing a NASBLA-approved course administered by California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways.
California State Parks — Boater Card · verified 2026-05-24
Green sticker / red sticker required for OHV use on public land
California OHVs must display a current OHV registration sticker (green = year-round, red = restricted seasons for 2003-and-earlier 2-stroke) on any state-managed riding area. Issued by DMV; renewed every 2 years.
California State Parks OHMVR Division · verified 2026-05-24
0.08% BAC limit; open container prohibited in passenger area
Standard 0.08% BAC for drivers (0.04% for commercial). California enforces the federal open-container framework: alcoholic beverages must be sealed or stored in a non-passenger area (e.g., RV living-quarters separator closed) while the vehicle is on a public roadway.
California Vehicle Code §23222 · verified 2026-05-24
California rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 9.75%
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Permit required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-06:00