And the Season Begins:

He Said,

We Arizonans, especially those living around Phoenix, don’t get much fall foliage without having to take what amounts to be a weekend-long drive. But that doesn’t mean October is without its fall delights for us.

And chief among them is what has become a tradition for our family: A visit to the Pumpkin Patch Fest that goes on every year at a farm in a little but quickly growing town called Queen Creek.

This will be our fifth annual visit to the patch, where we’ll eat chili, ride a cool train ride in the dark where kids dress up in scary costumes along the way and try and scare passengers and the kids get a chance to wander through a corn maze, ride some an old-time little roller coaster, race around on three-wheeled bikes and finally pick out the pumpkins that they’ll carve for display outside our house.

We know that the kids are growing older fast and that they soon may find the fest too childish for their teenaged tastes, so we cherish every moment we share with them at the fest.

Later next weekend, we’ll pull out the Halloween decorations and put a bit of a scare outside our front door for a couple of weeks so that trick-or-treaters who visit us on Halloween get a little extra thrill besides some candy.  This is something we started last year and it was such a hit that we’ll do it again in what is kind of a rehearsal for the much bigger display we will mount at Christmas time.

And while we won’t be going to any costume parties on the weekend before Halloween because we have a formal event to attend, we still look at this whole fall-Halloween season with the enthusiasm you usually see only in children.

Last night 3T and I were talking about this month, and I could see my bride’s eyes lighting up brighter than a candle-lit pumpkin!
And what’s even cooler, our traditions this month start a three-month series of holiday celebrations that always make me think how lucky I am.

3T and I both hope you all can look forward to the final quarter of the year with the same enthusiasm.

She Said,

For the 3T family, the beginning of the Arizona Season always starts with a visit to Schnepf Farms for their annual Pumpkin and Chili Party. I look forward to this tradition with the same wide-eyed-child-like anticipation of a visit from Santa Claus.

Schnepf farms is one of the last family-owned and operated farms left in Queen Creek. The owners, Mark and Carrie Schnepf open their home to thousands of school children and families over the course of each season, which begins October 5th and runs thru the weekends of October, November and the evenings in December.  Voted by Phoenix Magazine (Sept. 2006) as “one of the top 50 things every Phoenician should do at least once,” this event is one my family believes should be visited at least once every year!
Our tradition starts with the building of the scarecrow, which has its special spot on our patio thru October.  From stuffing hay into a pair of old jeans and a shirt to painting the burlap sack that will pass as the head of our scarecrow, the kids and Kevin have a wonderful time putting him together while I wildly and randomly snap photos of each phase.  Next, it’s time to check out all the old time rides and activites that are set up for kids. We’ll wander over to a karoake station set up for kids to sing their hearts out to the adoration and clapping of parents. The oversized tricycles are a big hit with both Tayler and Riley, who go round and round the maze for a good hour before they hit the giant slide and the old time miniature rollercoaster.  With the corn maze, miniature golf, music and hay rides, the feeling one gets is of stepping into an eighteenth century country fair.

Two of my favorite activites are chow time and the train ride thru the haunted corn maze. The chili is out of this world! I’m not that big of a chili fan, but there is something about the farm’s atmosphere that has me craving THEIR chili from the moment we enter the farm! Of course, the corn bread is the perfect side dish.  As we eat and listen to the live band playing some old time country music, you can’t help but get caught up in the festive country spirit that pervades the grounds.  The train ride through the Schnepf farm grounds is relaxing and occasionally scary as the kids dressed in costumes jump out at the train once you’re in the maze.

An added bonus is at sunset.  Nothing obstructs the view as the sun goes down among the most vivid colors of the painted sky.  This year I have every intention of trying to capture the beauty of a country sunset. Both Kevin and I have noted that the most beautiful sunset we have seen has been from Schnepf farms two years ago. This year, I’m going to be ready for it!  Fingers crossed, God blesses us with a spectacular sunset this year!  For me, nothing beats the country fair of Schnepf farms!  I prefer this atmosphere to the state fair, or any other event offered this time of year.

On Friday the 13th, the 3T family will be wandering Schnepf farms from 3:00 PM until well past dark, when the bon fires are glowing brightly with kids roasting marshmellows.  This year the newest attraction will be a haunted house dubbed the “Nest,” which is not-so-child-friendly.  As it isn’t recommended for children under the age of 13, it is a “must-see” for my kids, who claim their jaded sense of what’s scary does not cover a haunted house at the family-friendly chili-party.  (I’ll let you know if they manage to bring a scare to my pre-teen and tweener.)
By the time we start heading for the exit, there are two very important activities left for us to complete.  The first, which can take up to a half hour, is browsing through the pumpkin field rows the two pumpkins that Tayler and Riley will pick out to carve for the patio.  As we head for the exit and the cash register, we also pick up one of their many home made pies.  With a wide variety of flavors, ours usually is a pumpkin pie.  The first we’ll eat of the season.

If you happen to make it out to Schnepf farms on Friday the 13th, look for us and say “howdy!”

Love,

3T

The Details:

Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party

Where:
Schnepf Farms 24810 S Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek

When:
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Thursdays & Sundays
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Fridays & Saturdays
Today through October 29th

Admission:
$12.00 Adults $14.00 children 3 - 12 yrs. old. Free for children 2 and younger. Tickets are $10.00 and $12.00 if purchased at Fry’s Food Stores

For more details:
480-987-3100 or http://www.schnepffarms.com

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