The Halloween season brings families together once again for some pumpkin picking fun.
People from all over the Bay Area returned to the annual Webb Ranch Pumpkin Patch to make more memories that are bound to last a lifetime. This month-long event has become a popular spot for families to come together during the spooky season.
“We’re one of the only pumpkin patches on the peninsula that has a lot of attractions for little kids. We try to bring people from any nearby area just to come and have a good time. We grow most of the pumpkins that we sell here on the ranch in our organic fields. The kids here can have a blast through jump houses and pony rides,” said Jon Hayward, manager of the pumpkin patch.
With the help of Hayward and other staff members, they have managed to form a real sense of community throughout the ranch. The goal of the Webb Ranch Pumpkin Patch is to take that sense of community they have developed among themselves and spread it to the rest of the people in the Bay Area.
“It’s kinda like a small community, we board horses, and there’s like 250 people. I grew up in a small town of 2000 people, so everyone knew everyone, and that’s the kind of community we have here. We all look out for each other and horses,” Nathan Hensley said.
However, over time, this once small community has grown, and the event has dramatically increased in popularity, which has led the ranch to become more crowded. Although most people don’t mind, some parents with younger children found the lines to be a bit lengthy.
“At this time point, there are way too many people for the kids because we were standing in line for 30 minutes,” Angelica Quartino said.
The event’s popularity likely sprouts from the uniqueness of its location. Webb Ranch stands out as a sanctuary of farm life in the middle of Bay Area urban sprawl.
“Small children don’t get a lot of exposure to farming and farm life in the Bay Area. When they see things like the corn maze or the horses, they light up. The ranch here is a hidden gem,” Hayward said.
