It's the
best time of the year. This is the time when you can do almost anything with a
pumpkin. Have a pumpkin-painting or pumpkin-carving night with your family and
friends. Join Mom in the kitchen to bake the family's famous pumpkin pie or get
messy and take out all the seeds to make roasted pumpkin seeds. Enjoy a day in
the pumpkin patch and pick the perfect pumpkins, then get creative with the
season.
The Great
Pumpkin Patch at St. Augustine's Church
Every October, St. Augustine's Church in Metairie hosts The Great Pumpkin
Patch, which features thousands of pumpkins and gourds in a variety of sizes
and colors. In addition, the pumpkin patch sells jewelry, crafts, and home-baked
goods. St. Augustine's is excited that they can keep their tradition, saying,
"We look forward to keeping this important tradition alive for or community,"
even with the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting the New Orleans area. All
guests are required to wear masks, and there will be hand sanitizing stations
along the fields. The pumpkin patch is open Monday through Friday, from noon to
8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Great Pumpkin Patch
will be open for all to enjoy through Halloween. St. Augustine's always welcome
volunteers. If interested in volunteering, click here. 3412 Haring Rd., (504) 887-4801, staugustinesmet.com/pumpkin-patch
Mrs.
Heather's Pumpkin Patch
Mrs. Heather's Pumpkin Patch in Hammond is the perfect place for
the whole family to spend the day. As well as being able to pick their own
pumpkin, families can also have fun zip lining, enjoying the hay maze, playing
horseshoes, taking great pictures, and much more. You can even milk a cow! And
pumpkin-painting is available on the weekends. Mrs. Heather's Pumpkin Patch is also
a great spot to spend the day outside along the nature trails and the many
places to have a picnic. Until November 8, the pumpkin patch will be open
Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission for kids is $7, and adults are free. Come find your
future jack-o-lantern here or just come for the fun. 11215 Lee's Ln.,
Hammond, (225) 567-3493, thfarms.com/mrs.-heather-s-pumpkin-patch
St.
Martin's Episcopal Church
Returning
for the 2020 pumpkin season, St. Martin's Episcopal Church is giving guests a chance to pick
their perfect pumpkin from its pumpkin patch. Following COVID-19 safety
guidelines, St. Martin's will be taking precautions, requiring all guests to
wear masks, and they will have hand sanitizing stations, as well as offering
the option of paying by Venmo for touchless transactions. From Monday through
Friday, the pumpkin patch will be open from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and on
Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. St. Martin's is also teaming up
with Red M Studio and Second Harvest Food Bank to help with donations. On Friday,
October 16, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, October 18, from 11 a.m. to 5
p.m., guests can receive a free photo in the pumpkin patch in exchange for
non-perishable food or monetary donations. 2216 Metairie Rd., (504)
835-7357, stmepiscopal.com
Sugar
Roots Farm
Sugar Roots Farm is a nonprofit regenerative farm
with an emphasis on experimental learning that strives to promote healthy food
access and sustainable farm education. Every Saturday in October, the Sugar
Roots Farm will be holding a Fall Festival that is first-come, first served.
Sign up for two-hour time slots to enjoy the pumpkin patch, pet and feed the
animals, and listen to live music. Admission is $20, kids under the age of two get
in free, and pumpkins, items from vendors, and goodies from farm stands are
additional costs. Only 30 people are allowed per time frame, so sign up as
quickly as possible to get your spot. 10701 Willow Dr., (504) 766-7780, sugarrootsfarm.org/visit-us
St.
Paul's Episcopal
A great
place to find pumpkins of all sizes is the St. Paul's Episcopal pumpkin patch. The school's pumpkin patch features pumpkins
weighing from three pounds to 40 pounds. Open as of Saturday, October 10, St.
Paul's Episcopal is taking measures to keep all guests safe by requiring masks,
limiting capacity to 20 people at a time, and forbidding payment by cash. The
pumpkin patch is open Monday to Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from
3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. You can visit the pumpkin patch anytime this month through Halloween. 6249
Canal Blvd., (504) 488-1319, stpauls-lakeview.org
