It's getting to be that time of year again where glowing Jack O'Lanterns are on porches and kids start to put the final touches on this year's
Halloween costume.
Unfortunately for families in Prince George, the climate makes it impossible to be able to hand-pick a fresh pumpkin from the patch.
But BlackSpruce Farms owners, Tammy and Brent Meise, have found a way for kids to have the full Halloween experience.
A man-made pumpkin patch has been set up in the centre of the farm amongst the animals.
Children ran between the pumpkins and animals Sunday afternoon, seemingly unable to decide which was more exciting.
"We tried out this event last year, and people really responded, so we brought it back," said Brent.
So far this year, the couple have given away more than 10 extra-large bins of pumpkins over the course of three weekends, amounting to nearly 350 pumpkins.
"Today we went through seven bins. By the end of the day, we were left with only eight pumpkins. That means we had more than 500 people through the farm in five hours," said Brent.
"Everybody is so happy with the pumpkin patch, we get a lot of compliments on it. But we don't really advertise, so it's a word-of-mouth kind of thing, so it slowly picks up each year," said Brent.
"We like to do really hands on stuff with kids at the farm," said Tammy, who calls herself the Queen of the pumpkin patch, dressed in a floor-length purple hoop-skirt and a veil.
"Oh my God... I thought we weren't going to have enough pumpkins. I thought I was going to have to tell kids that they don't get a
pumpkin," said Tammy.
The event is run by the volunteers, who are friends and family of the owners.
Admission to the pumpkin patch is $5 a person, getting you a bucket of grain to feed the animals on the farm and a free pumpkin for children 12 and under.
"The animals love to interact with the kids and they are very well behaved," said Tammy.
Although the kids are told not to hand-feed the pigs because they can bite.
It's the same petting zoo that was at the Prince George Exhibition the last couple of years said Tammy.
"We really want the kids to get involved. So they can come here, touch the animals and explore the farm. We've done a lot of educational farm activities too in the past, like milking goats, seed planting, egg collecting, butter making and honey extracting, if you book ahead," she said.
After the kids pick their pumpkin, they get to walk around and feed the farm animals. Families are encouraged to take advantage of the concession stand, that offers burgers and hotdogs as well as some home-made Halloween treats.
The farm is a second generation, locally owned and operated working farm and is planning new activities for the public to enjoy, including snowshoeing, birthday packages and donkey/pony rides.
The pumpkin patch is open Saturday and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and runs until Oct. 30. Black Spruce Farms is located off the Old Cariboo Highway at 7550 Bendixon Road, 15 minutes south of Prince George. For more information, call 250-961-0573 or visit www.blacksprucefarmtours.com
