After my recent post about Prescott pumpkin festivals and other fall things to do, I just had to see the Freeman Farms Pumpkin Festival for myself. And boy am I glad I did! It was so much fun, charging into the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin to take home, watching the informative Saddlebred horse demonstration, riding the little train around the perimeter of this working farm, getting up close to the sweet goats, pig, cow and sheep inside the petting zoo, and generally enjoying the glorious 72 degree sunny weather.
Here is a photo gallery and more of the story after the bump…
I was so happy that I got to experience this festival in its third year, which translated to not-overwhelmingly-large crowds and easy parking. However, if I am to be completely honest in my review, it was clear to me that Freeman Farms still has some kinks to work out. We waited an hour for a hot dog and nearly missed paying for our entrance fee and pumpkin take because the ticket booth / pumpkin cashier was set back on the property so that it was not obvious that we would indeed owe an entrance fee ($3 per person.) It wasn’t until we were leaving that we realized we should really get in the (quite long) line to weigh our pumpkins and pay our entrance fee.
Suggestions for the farm for next year: Include a couple weigh-it-yourself stations with honor-system dropboxes for cash owed. I would have gladly paid far more than the pumpkins’ price just to avoid the line and donate to the cause. Second, they need better signage at the intersection of Road 3 South off of Highway 89 (the farm’s website driving directions said look for signs but I didn’t see any and nearly missed the turn.)
If you go (and you certainly should):
- Driving: If coming from Prescott (or any point south), start looking to turn onto Road 3 South just after the roundabout on Highway 89 entering Chino Valley.
- Food: Bring your own. We had packed a cooler of snacks and drinks and we were glad we did… the wait for concessions was a long one.
- Wear: Sunscreen! It was a gorgeous sunny and warm day, with not much shade to be had. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes if you plan to explore the pumpkin patch.
- Bring: Your own cutting tool for pumpkins and maybe even a gardening glove… Many pumpkins are detached already but you’ll need hand-held lawn clippers to cut those *prickly* pumpkin stems.
- Bring: Cash in small denominations. Food and tickets for entrance, train rides, hay rides, the corn maze and horseback riding lessons are required, and most things are affordable…priced around $3.
- Stay: Make a weekend of it… book your hotel on Prescott.com, find restaurants, other attractions and other events and festivals nearby.
