There are many fun events for students and Tucson locals to attend this Halloween season, including pumpkin patches, haunted houses and fall festivals. Here are a few of the best pumpkin patches Tucson has to offer for all of your jack-o’-lantern needs:
Buckelew Farm
Buckelew Farm is a great place to go for corn mazes, pumpkin picking and fun with friends. Admission for the pumpkin patch during the day is only $4, and pumpkins are only 50 cents per pound. The regular hours for the weekend are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you aren’t into pumpkin patches during the day, Buckelew Farm offers a College Night Out on Oct. 30, which grants you $5 off the $25 admission with a valid college ID. College Night Out can offer a bit more terror to your Halloween weekend with its infamous Terror in the Corn maze, but if that seems too scary, then the regular Corn Maze is always an option.
The pumpkin patch is great because there are activities for every type of enjoyment and scare level. Buckelew Farm is located at 17000 W. Ajo Highway.
Marana Pumpkin Patch and Farm Festival
The Marana Pumpkin Patch and Farm Festival offers an affordable way to enjoy the fall season with corn mazes, straw slides, zip lines and a petting zoo. The grounds offer tons of food options, as well as traditional carnival food such as pizza, nachos, burgers and pulled pork sandwiches, among others. Breakfast is also offered on the weekends for any early risers. Coming to the pumpkin patch in a costume is highly encouraged to keep within the Halloween spirit.
There are activities for all ages to enjoy at this location. The pumpkin patch is open from 3-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and it is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the weekends. The prices vary depending on when you go. The price is $10 Monday through Thursday and $12 Friday through Sunday. Marana Pumpkin Patch and Farm Festival is located at 14901 N. Wentz Road.
Tucson Girls Chorus Pumpkin Patch
The Tucson Girls Chorus Pumpkin Patch has a convenient location this year at 4330 E. Broadway Blvd. The great thing about this pumpkin patch is that it is all not-for-profit. The Tucson Girls Chorus consists of 197 girls and has been around for about 30 years, said Cheryl Novalis-Marine, the mother of a 10-year-old in the Girls Chorus.
If you’re looking to hear beautiful voices and to choose from a variety of pumpkin sizes, then this is the place for you. The pumpkin patch is held underneath a large white tent that is decorated festively for Halloween and the fall season. The pumpkin sizes vary from small (two for $1) all the way to extra large ($24). The pumpkin patch also sells carving utensils for all your Halloween needs.
“Come to this pumpkin patch, because it’s local,” Novalis-Marine said. “A portion of the money goes to tuition for girls who couldn’t normally afford to attend school. It also helps to keep our facilities updated.”
Novalis-Marine also mentioned that the pumpkin patch is entirely run by volunteers and sometimes the girls themselves. “I think it gives the girls a sense of ownership when they volunteer here,” she said. The girls rehearse at the pumpkin patch during the day as well. Their voices fill the tent for patrons to listen to during visits to the pumpkin patch.
The hours for the Tucson Girls Chorus Pumpkin Patch are noon to 9 p.m. from Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The pumpkin patch is open on Halloween, and dressing up for a visit is highly recommended.
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