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Published October 2006
Fall
fun on the farm
By
Kimberly Hilden The days are getting shorter; the weather is getting cooler; and, at least at my house, televised football games have become a weekend mainstay. Yes, autumn is here — almost. I still have to find the perfect pumpkin. For that, I’ll turn to the Snohomish Festival of Pumpkins. Now in its fifth year, the October festival is a cooperative venture of a half-dozen Snohomish-area farmers whose pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides and family fun have attracted more than 110,000 visitors to the area annually, said Keith Stocker, president of the Snohomish Festival of Pumpkins Marketing Association.
This year, the festival is joining forces with the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce, the city of Snohomish and other local organizations to make it an areawide seasonal celebration, with a craft show, pet-and-owner costume contest, children’s carnival and a pumpkin river race among the events taking place throughout October. “It’s truly our vision that we will be in October what the Tulip Festival is in April,” Stocker said, referring to the annual Skagit Valley tourist attraction. Among farm participants, the Snohomish festival boasts more than 80 acres of pumpkins, 30 acres of corn mazes and an atmosphere to fit any age or leisure preference. Have little ones? Craven Pumpkin Patch has nursery-rhyme scenes, baby farm animals, a children’s carnival and photo opportunities to go along with 20-plus acres of pumpkins. “We’re a lot more kid-oriented, for preschoolers probably up to about third or fourth grade,” said Judy Craven. “We don’t do anything scary or gruesome.” Craven Pumpkin Patch also has a 12-acre corn maze, with a section created for younger children. “What’s really neat is we have kids coming, (who came) when they were little tots, now bringing their children back to the pumpkin patch,” said Craven, whose pumpkin patch has been in operation for the past 25 years. Another fall favorite is The Farm, operated by the Krause family, which offers a petting zoo, pig show, story trail and wagon rides in addition to 34 acres of pumpkins and a corn maze. For families with teenagers seeking a thrill, some of the festival’s farms have night mazes, including The Farm and Bob’s Corn & Pumpkin, which operate their night mazes by appointment only, and Stocker Farms, whose Haunted Field of Screams is open Friday and Saturday nights beginning Oct. 7. And for those seeking autumnal simplicity, there is Pumpkin Place, also owned by the Stocker family. At Pumpkin Place, there are no children’s games or petting zoo, no corn maze or hot dogs. There is a pumpkin patch, fall decorations, farm-fresh produce and honey, cider and espresso, and jams and preserves. “What my wife and I felt was missing was a place for families to go get a pumpkin without all the bells and whistles,” Stocker said. “Not everybody wants a carnival environment.” Like Pumpkin Place, many of the participating pumpkin farms sell produce, homemade treats or specialty items. “In our produce stand, we have all the fall products — corn stalks, gourds and decorations,” said Reid Carleton of Carleton Farm Produce. “We do have quite a line of gourmet-type salad dressings, barbecue sauces and jams, which are great gifts for Christmas.” Carleton Farm Produce also has a new espresso stand, no doubt to help fuel visitors who are eager to test their wits inside the Cornfusion maze before or after they’ve visited the farm’s 11-acre patch. With so many prospective jack-o’-lanterns among the festival’s farms, that perfect pumpkin is just waiting to be found. And then autumn truly will have arrived. |
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©
2006 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA
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