The gates will be thrown open to the pumpkin patch at Peltzer Farms in Temecula Sunday, marking the beginning of a monthlong celebration during which visitors can pick up huge pumpkins, watch pig races, enjoy a petting zoo and take mini-train rides until Halloween.
The annual Pumpkin Festival is part of a tradition started by the Peltzer family in 2007.
Visitors can stop by an open-air market and buy gourds as large as 100 pounds, according to organizers. Corn, squash and other vegetables will also be available to purchase or eat at the cafe.
There will be pony rides and short trips aboard a 12-passenger train daily, organizers said.
A corn maze — with stalks as high as 10 feet — will be part of the family fare, along with a giant mound of hay and a petting zoo filled with goats, sheep, ponies and other animals.
The farm’s unique tractor collection will be on display, and the Peltzer Mining Co. will offer visitors a chance to pan for a variety of “unpolished gems” in a sluice box.
The festival will conclude Oct. 31.
Most exhibits are free, though visitors will be charged $2 to $5 for train and pony rides, petting zoo access and panning.
More information is available at www.peltzerfarms.com.
— City News Service