One of the area’s largest pumpkin patches has opened.
This year’s Pumpkin Patch at Walby Farm Park, near Carlisle is open until Friday November 1, and has thousands of homegrown pumpkins covering around a six-acre site.
Vegetables and crops have been grown at Walby Grange by the Milbourn family since 1928 and current owner and farmer, Neil Milbourn has a huge 15 different weird and varieties to choose from.
This October also sees the return of the popular Pumpkin Picking After Dark events. Aimed at adults, the pumpkin patch will be lit up as Walby Farm Park is transformed into a rustic mini pumpkin festival with live music, and food and drink.
Katie Milbourn, co-owner of Walby Farm Park, said: “The Pumpkin Picking After Dark was a new – aimed at adults – event we introduced last year and we’re doubling the number of after dark evenings in 2024.
“They’re a great opportunity to switch off and let your hair down for a few hours with partners or groups of friends and enjoy some musical entertainment and a few drinks. They’re such special, atmospheric nights with the pumpkin patch illuminated by a combination of our lights and the twinkling of the moon and the stars.
“We’re even opening up the adventure play barn, so you can free your inner child and try out the turrets and tunnels of Milecastle 62 or even brave the 24ft sheer vertical abyss of the demon drop slide. Where else could you have all this fun in one place?”
Later in the month, during half term, Walby Farm Park will introduce some spooky interactive adventures with the new Ghoul School.
Monstrous pupils will be under the watchful eye of Witchy Head Mistress, Fenella Flabberghast, and her Scaredy Cat sidekick to see if they have the frightening qualities needed to graduate. Plus there’s lots more Halloween-themed activities including taking aim at some of the farm’s more frightful targets with the corn cannon and new pumpkin cannon.
Every day, Walby staff will be helping to carve and clean up the pumpkin mess in the Pumpkin Carving tent, and all of the indoor and outdoor adventure play areas and the animal barn will be open and included in the entry fee. Plus lots of spooky sweet treats and hot and cold food and drinks will be available in the Cowshed Café.
