Halloween is almost here and there are pumpkin patches and harvest festivals to enjoy all over the Valley this week!
Whether you stroll through vine-ripened patches of pumpkins and lug your farm-fresh pumpkin out of the field or hand-select a carved pumpkin that is loaded into your car for you, everyone will enjoy their fall version of this ribbed orange member of the squash family. The pumpkin is a cultivator of the squash plant and brings us delectable treats like pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cookies and cheesecake, and even roasted seeds!
Here are our top three family fun pumpkin patch picks for this season!
Our first pick and the closest pumpkin patch to North Scottsdale is MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch at the corner of Jomax and Scottsdale Road. But MacDonald’s Farm is about much more than just picking out a pumpkin to take home and carve. There are a myriad of events for the little ones; a petting zoo, hay maze, hayride out to the pumpkin patch and back, panning for gold, train and pony rides, games, and pumpkins galore! If you bring a can of perishable food to be donated to our local Desert Mission Food Bank you will receive $1 off the $10 admission price.
Another great pumpkin patch within a short drive of Scottsdale is The Great Pumpkin Festival at the Desert Botanical Gardens near Papago Park in Phoenix. Kids under the age of 12 get a free pumpkin with admission and will be treated to the hay bale maze, petty zoo and carnival style games. Adults will enjoy the gardens and grounds, adult beverages and western style entertainment for the whole family.
Our third pick is Schnepf Farms Pumpkin and Chili Party in Queen Creek and the drive is roughly 40 miles one-way from Scottsdale, but don’t let that deter you! This is a family adventure not to be missed with hay rides, carnival rides, petting zoo, country road rally, rock climbing wall, miniature golf, zipline rides, bonfires with marshmallow roasting, a four acre corn maze, Hillbilly Bob’s Pig Races, BMX show, Extreme Canine Dog Show, and to top it all off, fireworks on both Friday and Saturday nights. There is so much more so check the schedule before you head down there. And an added treat? SRP offers a buy one, get one free coupon; admission is $18 + tax per person.
So put on those Halloween costumes and take the entire family out to celebrate a fall tradition of hand-picking your pumpkins!
