It's pumpkin hunt time!

Each Halloween, the Peanuts comics character Linus searched for a truly “sincere” pumpkin patch, where he hoped to catch a glimpse of the Great Pumpkin.

Whether you believe in the Great Pumpkin or not, there’s something to be said for a making a pilgrimmage to an authentic pumpkin patch rather than a glitzy, fabricated experience.

The good news is that here in Sonoma County, there are plenty of real, working farms where kids can pick their own pumpkin on the vine, pet the farm animals and frolic in real dirt fields planted to corn and peppers, zinnias and sunflowers.

Some farmers will let you dig your own potatoes and milk a cow. Others offer hay rides around the field, haystacks for climbing and corn mazes to test the youngster’s GPS skills.

Most of the real farms grow a wide range of heirloom pumpkins — the bright orange Cinderella, stately brown Fairy Tale and ghostly white Lumina pumpkins — not just the standard issue jack o’lantern variety found at the grocery stores.

If you’re looking for some pears and melons or some Halloween decorations for the front porch — dried corn stalks, hay bales and wreaths — you just might be able to score those, too.

And to go along with the Great Pumpkins, there are also plenty of Great Squash and Great Gourds for the picking.

Here’s a handful of patches with the right stuff, located somewhat off the beaten path. Some cater to younger kids, others try to appeal to everyone, including moms itching to do some holiday shopping.

Halloween’s still two weeks away, so there’s plenty of time for multiple visits. Don’t forget to bring the camera.

Adobe Pumpkin Farm, 2478 E. Washington St. (corner of Adobe Road), Petaluma. Open daily 10 a.m. to dusk through Oct. 31.

Set in a 30-acre working farm, this eastside pumpkin patch pretty much has it all: a huge variety of pumpkins; an amazing play area with corn maze, hay pyramid and cornhusk teepees; and a plethora of locally made crafts and decorations for sale.

The Neve family, who grow flowers, have been operating this pumpkin patch for 11 years, and they are seriously into Halloween. On weekends, they even have a pumpkin fairy godmother.

“We try to make everyone happy,” said owner Corinna Neve.

In addition to eight acres of pick-your-own pumpkins, you can pick your own flowers, eat lunch, pet the animals and shop for everything from Halloween socks to Christmas tree skirts.

“They have good shopping, and it’s reasonable,” said Kathy Lambert of Petaluma, while her 8-year-old daughter, Karisa, dug into a candy apple.

Two haunted houses (one for the bigger kids and one for the tykes), hayrides, giant slides, jumpies and a corn maze round out the family fun. These will set you back from $2 to $5.

Andersen’s Organic Fruit Stand and Pumpkin Patch, 3488 Bodega Ave., Petaluma. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31.

There’s nothing big or glitzy about Andersen’s, but it’s got a lot of soul.

Long-time rancher Rodney Andersen does all the farming himself, with the help of his dog Pepper, and is famous for his delicious melons, lettuce and other certified organic vegetables, all sold at the farmstand.

The farm offers an excellent selection of gourds, squash and pick-your-own pumpkins, from tiny Munchkins to large Wolf pumpkins, boasting a sturdy stem.

On weekends, kids can take a hayride or mini-train ride around the pumpkin field and corn maze (for a small fee), then head off with an orange wheelbarrow to pick their own. There’s also a hay pyramid and a hay maze for little ones.

Ryan O’Shannan Farms Certified Organic Pumpkin Patch, 5360 Bodega Ave., Petaluma. Open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, through Oct. 31.

Just up the road from Andersen’s, this 15-acre ranch includes an organic strawberry and tomato farm and the Clover organic dairy. Activities include pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides, a sunflower maze, tours and educational activities like butter churning and feeding the cows.

On the weekends, the kids can learn to milk a cow and families can enjoy a barbecue lunch, brick-oven pizza, and farmstead ice cream. Clo the Cow makes a special appearance from noon to 2 p.m on Oct. 25.

Peter’s Pumpkin Patch, Spring Hill Jersey Farm, 4235 Spring Hill Road (off Bodega Avenue), Petaluma. Open daily, 9 a.m. to dusk, through Oct. 31.

Located in a remote coastal valley with gorgeous vistas, this 320-acre farm run by dairy farmer and cheesemaker Larry Peter is the real deal, with lots of space for the kids to run around.

“This is more about the seasons and the harvest,” said Julie Ansara of San Rafael, who brought her two daughters to get a pumpkin and planned to return with a group on the weekend.

Daily activities include dig-your-own potatoes, pick-your-own pumpkins and a cornfield with a path cut through it. You can taste farmstead cheese for free and order homemade ice cream (including a yummy pumpkin flavor) for just a buck.

On the weekends, the place is hopping with live music, homemade tamales and the Pasta King’s garlicky pasta al pesto. Don’t forget a sweater. When the fog creeps through the gap, the temperature drops precipitously.

Olufs Ranch Pumpkin Patch, 899 Shiloh Road, Windsor. Open 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, through Oct. 31.

This working ranch is known for its beef and hay, but rancher Rick Oluf got into growing pumpkins about four years ago to help extend his season.

The farm offers a nice variety of interesting pumpkins — including the variegated Wyatt’s Wonder — along with a corn maze, a hay pyramid, a hay maze for toddlers and a petting zoo run by retired rancher Clarence Davis, who helps kids feed the horse, sheep, heifer and llama.

On weekends, Olufs cranks up the fun with hayrides, jumpies, face painting and crafts for sale. This weekend, a climbing wall ups the ante.

Grandma’s Pumpkin Patch, 17740 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. Open daily 9 a.m. to dusk, through Oct. 31.

This small farm run by real-life grandparents who have six grandchildren is perfect for kids in the pre-school and kindergarten age range.

“It’s low-key — I don’t have room for tractor rides — but there’s a nice grassy area to play,” rancher Ray Crawford said.

Kids can climb on a haystack or an antique tractor, follow a corn path and get up close to hens and chickens, a 2-year-old miniature Hereford, a Dorset lamb and five Yorkshire pigs.

The pumpkins are not grown at the farm, but they are grown locally. A small selection of Halloween paraphernalia rounds out the fun.

“We sell the goofy stuff,” he said. “No blood and guts.”