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Friday, October 26, 2018

A Visit to the Pumpkin Farm


Going to the pumpkin patch is different than it had ever been when I was a kid. For starters, there seems to be more to do than just search through pumpkins and go through the tiny haunted house. 

In order for a pumpkin patch or farm to be successful, visitors demanded that there be more to do. In a sense it is practical and also a shame. The extra things bring more people in, but it has also raised the prices of things that were fun to just do. (However, people have to make a living and a pumpkin farm is only open during this season.)

Last weekend, my family and I went to Jerry Smith's Pumpkin farm in Kenosha, WI. As a tradition, we met up with some family friends and we all had a great time exploring the different things that the farm had to offer. 








We took some pictures while waiting for our friends to meet us. My phone storage wasn't so happy with me because there were plenty of photo opportunities.



Finally! A picture where the wind hadn't completely blown the hair in my daughter's face.




You even get to see some very interesting things when you do some local activities... This guy came riding in on a motorcycle and had on a double raccoon hat. I wish I would have had the courage to ask him if I could get a close up. I was very amused by the two tails.


Once our friends arrived, we were able to go into the pumpkin farm area. This part of the farm is no charge, and it's probably our favorite part. You'll see why.



Free Attractions




The farm takes the time to create little scenes from different movies! They find pumpkins and gourds and paint faces on them. 



The sun was too bright to get a good picture. ☹️


 
This child thinks he's funny.... Just like his mama!


This goes on for rows and rows. This year, however, my kids finally got to know why I appreciate this next showcase so much because they finally got to watch the movie for themselves.




After you see the pictures up front, there is a tunnel you get to go through. Normally the outside of the tunnel spins around like you're going through the "twister", but it wasn't working that day. My kids always thought it was cool, but now they understand why it's there and appreciate it so much more.  Ignore my voice, I'm aware of how annoying I sound, now. 
When you exit out of the tunnel, you land on the "Yellow Brick Road."












After this, we looked at the remaining showcases and enjoyed it when we saw that some characters just did not belong in that one. One of our friends suggested that perhaps there was a seek and find.

I said, "I may be wrong about this, but were there bunnies in Mickey Mouse?" There was a Scrat (the squirrel) from Ice Age in another scene and he didn't belong there either. 

There was a Maui, last year, but I think they had to fix him. Imagine how big his pumpkin would need to be if they scaled it to size. 



Any pumpkin that you saw was up for sale.... except those on the showcases. 


Money Attractions

After all of this, which there was a lot to look at, we now had to pay to get in to see the rest. Before, it had been you paid as you wanted to do it, but now, they have sectioned it off so all you would have to do is buy a wristband. During the week, the wristbands were $5 per person and then $10 per person on the weekend. Guess which day we visited.

Our friend snuck away and bought us wristbands when we thought he was off to the bathroom. Thank you!!! So we made it inside.

This doesn't look like much in the picture, but this was a big sand hill. I was glad that the sand was damp that day because it usually isn't and that means that one or all of my children run to me complaining about the sand that landed in their eye. I was so glad that it did not do that, especially on this very windy day. 



The sand moved throughout the play area. It was fun watching the kids move the dump trucks.



Typically, the things above, used to be a part of the free things. The pictures below are things that we used to have to pay several tickets to do, but were free with the wristbands so the kids could play with them with unlimited turns.


We still had to pay to ride the ponies and even the camel (not pictured) but that's ok. The kids weren't interested anyway.

 These were the hale bales of death. If you didn't watch where you were going, you were going to be jumped on by another kid. I tried to trail my four year old while my husband trailed our six year old daughter. She's more timid and that could get her run over. We would generally have to pay to go in here too, but this was free.



Our friend's wedding ring fell off in this maze. It was literally like looking for a needle in a hay stack. Luckily, she knew the general area it fell off and we found it without too much fuss. It was still a scary thing, but we were able to get the kids from jumping across in that area and some other moms came to help her look for it. It was found within minutes. 





Who needs a swing when you have a random long  tube? There were kids actually crawling inside; mine included.


Attractions Not Pictured

The farm offered many more things, but at this point, my phone had died and I couldn't take anymore pictures. This is also what they offered.

Petting zoo- We didn't go in because we had been there for two hours already and my kids were getting grumpy and cold. The petting zoo offers the normal animals that you would see as well as some exotic birds (I think. They used to, but I don't know if they did this time.) This was another thing that used to cost money, but was free with a wristband. 
Corn Maze- Usually, the farm offers this, but I didn't see it this time around, but I also wasn't looking for it either. There was a big line off to the side, I bet that was it.

Hay Rack Ride

Band Stand- There was a tent area set up for some music and even children's sing-a-longs. 

A Jump Pad- This is like a giant trampoline. I really don't know if there is a limit to how many kids go on this thing, but it's like a long, flat, trampoline with a yoga ball feel. Very weird.

Haunted House- The haunted house is a smaller size one, but it's still pretty good. There is an age limit to who can go in, so that's good. It must be a little bit scary for that to happen.

FOOD- One of the best things about going to a pumpkin farm is the food. This is the time of year where apple cider donuts and pumpkin bars are a staple snack item. This farm has several places to buy these different types of foods including fudge, cookies, apple cider, churros, apple butters, jams, and much more!!!!

Conclusion

There are so many different things that you can do at a pumpkin farm. Jerry Smith's offers this and so much more. If you get the chance to visit one, it doesn't have to be this one because I know you all don't live here, go!

While the wristbands seemed expensive to pay at the time, when we thought about it, we would have paid that, plus more for our kids to do some of the things they did, so it made it worth it in the end.

You get the chance to get some fresh air, exercise, and you get the joy of your kids getting worn out and sleeping nice, that night.

It's not too late to go. Halloween has yet to come and if you're looking for a good, family fun, fall activity, head to your nearest pumpkin farm or apple orchard!





34 comments:

  1. Pumpkin Patches seem to be becoming more and more common for people to come and visit at this time of year and they always seem like they have such amazing attractions on. Seems like you had a great time.

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  2. I have actually never gone pumpkin picking, I hope to be able to take my boys once day for them to be able to experience it.

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    1. We are bad an never actually buy a pumpkin from them. We used to, but they raised their prices.

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  3. Life has been crazy here and we have not gone to the pumpkin patch this year. Maybe I should take the kids this Sunday

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    1. Oh have fun! Trick-or-treating for us is on Sunday. I think I'm more excited than the kids are.

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  4. You took a lot of great pictures. I loved going to the pumpkin patches with my kids when they were little.

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    1. Thank you! I thought I had more, but it was too sunny to see how they turned out

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  5. So cute and fun! Unfortunately in South Florida we don't have the changing seasons but I would love that experience

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    1. I love the color change that comes with fall, but that also comes with rainy, cold weather. It gets old, quickly.

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  6. This looks like such a fun place! We have something similar near us and my girls love it.

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  7. I think every community needs a place like this. We just moved, and I am missing our old Family Farm. I hope I can find one in our new area. Yours looks like so much fun!

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    1. We got lucky when we moved. My husband grew up in this area, so he was pretty familiar.

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  8. WOW what a wonderful farm! will take my kids to visit when i go SF next time, thanks

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  9. Well this looks like so much fun! I love all your pictures!! I wish we had a pumpkin farm in Laguna!

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    1. I'm sure Laguna offers things that we definitely don't have. :)

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  10. We absolutely love going to local pumpkin farms and patches! It is always fun to see what they come up with! This one looks awesome!

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  11. Looks like the kids had a blast. This is something I have always wanted my kids to experience. We don't have that where we live. Anyway, I enjoy looking at your family photos.

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    1. You may not have pumpkin patches, but you are exploring the world.

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  12. What a fun day for the children! I love how the farm has put on an effort to create so many different attractions for kids, and decorated so much of their grounds. I'd love to visit such a farm, shame there is none around where I live.

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    1. What a shame! I guess I always took it for granted that there would be pumpkin patches around for everyone, but it seems like many people don't. :(

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  13. I wish there were pumpkin patches around here too but too bad! I've always love pumpkin Halloween costumes but an experience like this sounds even better.

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    1. I keep reading that many of you don't have the pumpkin patches. That makes me so sad! Hopefully, there is something that you have or get to do that's still special.

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  14. This looks like such a fun day out! I've never been to a pumpkin patch but it looks like something my kids would really enjoy.

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    1. That's so sad! I'm sure that you have something even better to do, though. :)

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  15. It will be fun to go to pumpkin Patch. In between your pictures are awesome.

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  16. Oh my goodness. All the photos are so beautiful! I can't wait to take my kids to the pumpkin farm. They will be so happy!

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  17. Great pictures Brittany Elaine! It looks like you guys had lots of fun.

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