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Pumpkin Patch set for Oct. 1
Leila Lily Ben Blakeney
The Richmond Hill Garden Clubs annual Pumpkin Patch has grown into one of the areas most popular fall events for young and old alike. - photo by File photo

The Richmond Hill Garden Club will host the 17th annual Pumpkin Patch 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 1 in J.F. Gregory Park. Admission is free and tickets for games, food and activities are $1 each.

This year’s game options are extensive. There are two bean bag toss games — one for the little ones, and one for older kids who try to hit that giant pumpkin mouth. Also, as always, there are the Fish Pond, Ring the Pumpkin, and Pick a Pumpkin games. Recent smash hits from previous years—Pumpkin Wheel of Fortune and Creepy Feels — will return also. And for those who want to know about their future (young and old alike), the Pumpkin Fortune Teller will reveal all. Each game requires a $1 ticket to play, and each player wins a prize.

Lisa McCann, professional face painter and garden club member, and her interns will offer face painting. The service requires 1 ticket for the simple option and 5 tickets for the fancy one.

Photo opportunities abound, so wear your Halloween costumes if you wish. The Pumpkin Fairy will be there, carrying her magic wand, distributing lollipops to youngsters, and posing for pictures. There will be many staged areas with scarecrows, pumpkins, and bales of straw for everyone to pose and shoot as many pictures as they wish.

Huge Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins and lots of small pumpkins just the right size for youngsters will be waiting in the Pumpkin Patch, nestled among giant mums. Come early for the best selection. Along with all of this will be lots of indoor and outdoor decorative items for sale. Wreaths, signs, baskets, centerpieces—anything you need for decorating your home and yard—will be available, all at reasonable prices. Traditional garden Club craft items, especially the famous Spider on a Stick, will also be featured. Pumpkins, decorative items, and bales of straw can be purchased for cash.

The Green Thumb Kids booth will return this year, distributing all sorts of free plants to youngsters. Kids will be able to select a plant, ask for some planting advice, and take their selection home to nurture it, either inside or out, depending on the plant chosen. This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn about gardening.

After playing games, taking pictures, and having your face painted, you’ll find a huge array of homemade goodies to enjoy. Garden Club members bake cakes, cookies, muffins, and special Halloween-themed items. Food items require 1 ticket each or can be purchased for cash.

The Pumpkin Patch is an annual event, the garden club’s fund raiser that allows it to complete its many community projects. These projects include maintaining landscaping at its garden in Henderson Park, the library, and other spots in town, distributing daffodil bulbs during the Christmas Parade, purchasing books for the Richmond Hill Library, donating to local charities such as the Way Station, and providing a $1,000 scholarship for a deserving senior at Richmond Hill High School.

Don’t miss this year’s Pumpkin Patch. You’ll find something for everyone and have lots of fun. Please remember that debit and credit cards are not accepted.

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