When Did This Happen?
Today the girls and I are embarking on our third adventure to a pumpkin patch. When did the pumpkin patch become an amusement destination?
…..
When I was a kid, the pumpkin patch was just that, a pumpkin patch. It was merely a place to go and pick out a pumpkin. It was usually a corner lot on a busy street that would soon hold Christmas Trees.
…..
There were no bounce houses. There were no petting zoos. There were no carnival rides. There were no trains. There were just rows and rows of pumpkins.
…..
The pumpkin patch we are going to today has a petting zoo and train. The one we went to yesterday had a petting zoo, bounce house/slide, carnival-type ball games and a big ball pit for the kid to jump in. The one we went to last week had a petting zoo, carnival swing-type rides, bouncer and giant inflatable slide.
…..
Are our kids that desperate for entertainment that just picking out a pumpkin isn’t enough? Or it is a sign of the times? The farmers can’t make money on pumpkins alone so they added more to entice shoppers to stop at their corner lot.
…..
Whatever it is, we are off today on another pumpkin patch adventure. Just so you know I am not a lunatic driving to pumpkin patches all over the area for fun. Last week was with a group of Air Force friends, yesterday was the Big One’s preschool field trip and today is with our local mom’s group.
…..
Do your local pumpkin patches offer all the entertainment options? Or are they just pumpkin patches?
fixitmommy.com 
I think they are all like that now. The one’s in our area have corn mazes and all the bouncy toys too.
Growing up in the mid-west our pumpkin patches were well pumpkin patches. The one we liked the most was an apple orchard and a pumpkin patch! We drove way out into the “country” (from the town of 9,000) to this paradise. For our entertainment we picked apples off the tree and went into the field and picked our pumpkin. The owners did have this done ahead of time for you, if you didn’t want to do it and if you got there early enough they did have a few pies for purchase as well. The last time we were there was 2 years ago and it was exactly the same. But the entertainment they added was a hay wagon ride through the farm.
Oh you should see Vala’s Pumpkin Patch in NE. It’s ridiculous with acres and acres of fun. There’s a slide out of a hay loft, there are pig races and pumpkin being shot out of cannons, haunted houses, corn mazes (yes there are two), and the hay ride to the actual pumpkin picking. It’s sort of like a carnival. I think it’s more fun and exciting pick your pumpkin off the vine. But you’re right, it’s a bit too much hype.
Entertainment stuff at all of ours too…and next year I swear I am buying the mini doughnuts there. Mmmmmmmm.