Where To Pick A Pumpkin Near Bradenton

BRADENTON, FL — Signs of fall are everywhere, from cooler nights and turning leaves, to pumpkin spice lattes and other products, and a sea of orange pumpkins in front of the grocery store.

But maybe you want the real deal — an actual pumpkin — in your home this season. Whether you’re planning to bake a pie, carve a jack-o’-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin near Bradenton.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Fruitville Grove, 7410 Fruitville Road in Sarasota, hosts its 35th annual Pumpkin Festival with a pumpkin patch and other fall activities. Open Oct. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Hunsader Farms, 5500 C.R. 675 in Bradenton, hosts its 30th annual Pumpkin Festival Oct. 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 per person and $5 to park. Children 10 and under free.
• Pumpkin Patch Express, 12210 83rd Street in East Parrish, is a popular trip from the Florida Railroad Museum that takes you to a patch of pumpkins. Train rides run Oct. 21-22 and 28-29. Children are invited to pick their own pumpkin to take home. Coach tickets are $20 for children, $24 for adults.
• Peace Presbyterian Church Pumpkin Patch, 12705 FL-64 E., Lakewood Ranch. Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Fall Festival at University Town Center, The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota. Oct. 21-22, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to carnival rides, trunk-or-treat, vendors and a pet costume contest, this festival features a pumpkin patch.

And if your pumpkin is destined for a starring role on Halloween night, here’s our guide to carving a perfect jack-o’-lantern. Warren Nash on YouTube also shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.

Pumpkin carving kits will go a long way in getting what you need. They typically include saws, a scooper, a drill and multiple patterns.

If you're looking for the items individually around the house, here's what you could use:

• Pumpkin. Unless you have a pumpkin-growing operation in the backyard, you'll need to pick out one you like from your local pumpkin patch or a store. Make sure it looks sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season.
• Curved boning knife, or serrated knife from the kitchen.
• Ice cream scooper or scraper
• Paper
• Pencil or pen
• Candle or battery-operated light
• Lighter

Steps

1. Cut it: If cutting from the top of the pumpkin, make sure to do it on an inward angle, so the top won't drop inside the pumpkin when you put it back on. Michael Natiello, creative director for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze, said it's better to cut the pumpkin from the bottom, in a series of pumpkin carving tips from Good Housekeeping. That helps prevent the sides from caving in later.
2. Gut it: Use the ice cream scoop, or your hands, to remove all the seeds and other debris from inside the pumpkin. Do a thorough cleaning and make sure nothing is left sticking to the sides.
3. Trace it: Draw your design on a piece of paper before putting it on the pumpkin itself. That way, it is easier to trace the design onto the pumpkin.
4. Make the cuts: Cut out the design. Natiello said to use a fork or pencil to poke holes around the lines. When cutting, get the big pieces of pumpkin out first and clean up the edges later.
5. Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin then admire your work.