Annual fall activity at local farm offers family oriented fun
YACOLT — The Pomeroy Farm, a local historic attraction in Yacolt, offers fall activities every weekend in October as part of its annual Pumpkin Lane celebration.
The Pomeroy Farm began hosting fall themed activities in the mid 1990s, according to Executive Director Bob Brink. The farm hosted school field trips, and held a pumpkin festival the first weekend in October.
According to Brink, an article in a local newspaper about the pumpkin festival said that the Pomeroy Farm hosted it every weekend in October. Ever since then, the farm has hosted pumpkin themed events every weekend in October.
The Pomeroy Farm’s annual fall activities are called Pumpkin Lane.
The main attraction is a mile-long hayride around part of the farm down Pumpkin Lane. Along the route of the hayride, small vignettes and scenes feature “pumpkin people.” Each one is a person with a decorated pumpkin for a head and a costume fitting the scene.
Pumpkin Lane features all kinds of creative scenes, drawn from popular culture and local history. The scenes ranged from a Harry Potter scene, to a pumpkin people church service to a celebration of the local logging industry.
Brink said that his sister-in-law has a degree in fine arts and comes up with the inspiration for the pumpkin scenes with the help of Brink’s wife.
An attraction for families and children of all ages at the Pomeroy Farm is the pumpkin patch, where visitors can choose a pumpkin to take with them. Children and families excitedly exited hay rides to find the perfect pumpkin in the patch.
In addition to the pumpkin patch and hayrides, the Pumpkin Lane event lets visitors see various farm animals at the Pomeroy Farm. Children were even able to feed several goats on the property.
There are food stands on hand to provide refreshments, and games such as cornhole were spread around the main yard of the property to provide more entertainment.
Visitors to the Pomeroy Farm’s Pumpkin Lane were also able to tour the log house, a farm house built on the farm in the 1920s and which is preserved much as it was when it was first built.
Brink said that most of the helpers during October’s Pumpkin Lane are volunteers or family friends. Some local students from Rotary Interact clubs are also on hand as volunteers, Brink said.
Brink said that the family oriented nature of the Pumpkin Lane activities were his favorite part of the event. It provides an opportunity for families, from grandparents to parents to children, to enjoy several hours at the Pomeroy Farm, Brink said.
“I just enjoy watching people having a good time,” Brink said.
Pumpkin Lane at the Pomeroy Farm is open every weekend in October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 3 to 11. Pumpkin prices begin at $1.50.
The Pomeroy Farm is located at 20902 NE Lucia Falls Road, Yacolt, Washington. More information can be found online at http://pomeroyfarm.org/.
