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Things to do
Schnepf Farms brings back ‘Pumpkin & Chili Party’
Event will mark 25 years
Posted
Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek is ready to start the Halloween season with its 25th annual “Pumpkin & Chili Party.”
The party runs every Thursday-Sunday in October starting Saturday, Oct. 1. Hours are noon-9 p.m., Thursdays; noon-10 p.m., Fridays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturdays; and 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sundays. Schnepf Farms is located at 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road.
This year’s festivities will feature new attractions, entertainment, rides, photo-ops and guest appearances.
“I never thought we'd hit this milestone," Schnepf Farms co-owner Carrie Schnepf said. "When we started 25 years ago, this was a small, three-hour event with a unique name. We cooked the food on a backyard barbecue, and now we keep our team busy with eight, 20-foot grills for all the delicious goodies found at the party."
The Pumpkin & Chili Party has a little bit of everything to keep the young and the young at heart entertained for hours. Visitors can see Hillbilly Bob and his pig races, take hayrides, go to the petting zoo and ride classic amusement rides. Almost every year the Schnepfs have added something new to their farm for people to enjoy.
"As this event grew, we knew we had to consistently come up with new ideas and attractions to keep people coming back," co-owner Mark Schnepf said. "This year I think we may have gone a little overboard, but it’s always fun and rewarding to see our visitors enjoy themselves and create lasting memories."
New this year, visitors can challenge themselves on a ropes course with 17 different obstacles. The course has been designed to remain low to the ground, making it not only a safer, but also a more fun experience for adults and kids.
Other new attractions and experiences include
A 1-acre sunflower field
Water bottle filling station
Scarecrow making competition at 6 p.m.
The Stuntmasters Dog Show
The Happy Bean Coffee Shop
Pete the Pumpkin Guy Mascot
New restrooms
Fireworks every night
A revamped candy shop
A new, old-school toy shop
The party also includes some returning favorites, such as hayrides, mini-golf, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, live music, a 10-acre celebrity maze (the big reveal happens Thursday, Sept. 29), ziplines, rides (roller coaster, carousel, extreme hyperloop and more), scarecrow making, shopping experiences, bonfires, marshmallow roasting and more
Admission is $23.95 per person. Kids 2 and under get in free. There are approximately 30 attractions and rides included with admission. There is an additional cost for pumpkins ranging from $3 to $15, train rides ranging from $5 to $8, the haunted bus, food and some crafts.
The farm will be limiting daily attendance, so visitors are encouraged to pre-order tickets online at schnepffarms.com. Tickets only will be sold online.