An introduction to the pumpkin patch lifestyle

Zachary and dad

Tractor train ride

When I was a kid Halloween was a one-evening event. You dressed up in some wacko costume, grabbed a large shopping bag and went out – without adults – and extorted as much candy booty from your neighbors as time and upper body strength would allow. Followed by a week of sugar overdosing.

But now Halloween appears to be a month-long event, with all sorts of decorating activities (I previously described the contest here at the campground), Halloween greeting cards and pumpkin patch experiences. Even the public schools get involved. My grandson, Zachary, had a field trip last week to a pumpkin patch extravaganza. Apparently it had a variety of fall-themed carnival-style activities and opportunities to purchase hot cider and pumpkin-flavored treats.

So schools that have banned birthday cupcakes now put kids on a bus to buy pumpkin cupcakes. Make sense to you? Not to me.

But I digress. What I wanted to describe was my own, personal, introduction to the pumpkin patch lifestyle. I accompanied Zachary (who apparently had not overdosed on pumpkins on his field trip) and his dad to a small pumpkin patch event in Woodbridge VA. It wasn’t much as festivals go, but it was a cold day and we didn’t want to stay long anyway. It did offer a bouncy house, a tractor-pulled train ride and a hayride. It also had a really cheesy maze which took about 2 minutes to navigate.

We also got to warm inside the concessions trailer which was owned and operated by Uncle J, a friend of Zachary’s dad.

So, yes, it was fun. But I still don’t quite see the need for expanding the Halloween experience. That one night was plenty for kids of my generation.

Cheesy maze

Warming up with Uncle J