2006 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival

This festival has quickly become my favorite overcrowded event on the San Francisco Peninsula. The pumpkin pancakes and pie are a must!

The Half Moon Bay winery and half moon bay brewery are a few of the sponsors of the event and have multiple booths at key locations. Both charge about 10 bucks for a commemorative glass/mug with their specialty. The wine glass was just ugly with a nasty orange frosted stem. I preferred the mug. My wife even went so far as to ask if we could pay for the mug and substitute a glass worth of wine but they were unaccommodating. Instead I went with the Mavericks Pale Ale Oktoberfest version.

I sat down on a cloudy but lively Saturday afternoon holding a corndog with a ¼ inch thick batter. Nothing could have fit more perfect to wash it down than the Pale Ale with the not so subtle hint of pumpkin. I don’t drink beer that often these days, but sometimes you have to part from the wine. As a side note, Half Moon Bay Brewery is a terrific atmosphere to relax with friends. They have lots of outdoor seating with fire pits (bring warm clothes). They often host interesting country and jazz bands in their cozy bar. The restaurant itself is lively with views of the marina and food that satisfies the appetite.