Whether it’s a pumpkin spice drink, Halloween-themed decor in and outside of your home, or the shade of color you’ve chosen to wear this month, a lot of people are seeing orange these days. Also, don’t let anyone tell you that nothing rhymes with orange because Blorenge (a small mountain in Wales) and sporange (a technical word for a sac where spores are made) totally do.
It’s also a great time of year to visit a nearby pumpkin patch or pumpkin-filled parking lot. It’s a two-for-one when it comes to supporting local farms and adding to the festivities at your home.
So, aside from doing wonders for your hearing (they protect against age-related hearing loss linked to low potassium levels), they’re great for baking pumpkin pies and carving.
Below are a few spots in town giving you a chance to pick out the gourd of your dreams.
Marana Pumpkin Patch & Farm Festival
14950 N. Trico Rd., Marana, AZ
Sure, the Marana Pumpkin Patch & Farm Festival consists of picking your own pumpkin from a field, but it’s much more than that. Think of it as a mini amusement park. It’s at least a 30-minute drive outside of Tucson and aside from the pumpkin patch, the family-friendly farm includes a couple of corn mazes, a petting zoo, pig races, jumping castles, a zip line, train rides, photo opportunities, and plenty more.
The patch is open now until Sunday, October 30. Tickets range from $19 to $21, depending on when and where you buy them. They’re open 3 – 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, visit maranapumpkinpatch.com.
Apple Annie’s Fall Pumpkin Celebration
2081 W. Hardy Rd., Willcox, AZ
Head out to Willcox and you’ll find rows and rows of big pumpkins, mini pumpkins, and even the funky kind. Fall time at the farm consists of hayrides, a corn maze, sunflowers, and beautiful fall weather. Let’s talk about that corn maze for a moment because a 12.5-acre, 600,000-stalk corn maze. It’s open at 9 a.m. with the last entry at 4 p.m. so you’ve got plenty of time to get lost in there.
The pumpkin celebration is happening now until Sunday, October 30 every Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, visit appleannies.com.
Brian & Kelly’s Pumpkins, Trees & Farmer’s Market
5028 E. Broadway Blvd.
It’s possible you’ve seen this pop-up pumpkin shop on the south side of Broadway Boulevard. During the month of December, they’re selling Christmas trees but throughout the month of October, you’ll find loads of pumpkins. Chances are you’ll see some farm animals strolling around, too.
The opening date and hours of operation are still to be determined.
For more information, follow Brian and Kelly’s Pumpkins on Facebook.
Arizona Pumpkin Patch
Multiple locations
When it comes to convenience, this group of pumpkin patches has you covered with more than one location found in Tucson. These folks are more of a regional pumpkin patch, being that they’re found in multiple Arizona cities, but they’ve got quite the selection of pumpkins and even decorative corn stalks.
The individual spots are set to start selling pumpkins on Friday, October 14 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. However, the hours of operation are subject to change and there’s a chance each location will open earlier or later than expected.
Here in town, you can find them at the following spots:
- 6401 N. Oracle Rd. (north side)
- 8400 E. Broadway Blvd. (east side)
- 1825 E. Fort Lowell Rd. (midtown)
- 8328 N. Cortaro Rd. (northwest side)
For more information, visit arizonapumpkinpatch.org.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
