Where To Pick Pumpkins Near Sarasota This Fall

SARASOTA, FL — Heading out to a patch or field to pick the best or biggest pumpkin isn’t just about finding the perfect Halloween jack-o-lantern. It’s a chance to head out with the family in a cherished fall tradition full of fun activities.

Many pumpkin patches and fields offer complementary activities like hayrides, corn mazes and games for the kids. Picking your own pumpkin also is a good way to support the local farmers who grow them.

Whether you plan to 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 Sarasota. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Fruitville Grove, 7410 Fruitville Road in Sarasota, hosts its 36th annual Pumpkin Festival with a pumpkin patch and other fall activities. Open Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Hunsader Farms, 5500 C.R. 675 in Bradenton, hosts its 33rd annual Pumpkin Festival Oct. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 per person and $5 to park. Children 10 and under are free.
• Pumpkin Patch Express, 12210 83rd St. in East Parrish, is a popular trip from the Florida Railroad Museum that takes you to a patch of pumpkins. Train rides run Oct. 19-20 and 26-27. Children are invited to pick their own pumpkins to take home. Tickets are $26 for adults and $22 for children.
• Peace Presbyterian Church Pumpkin Patch, 12705 FL-64 E., Lakewood Ranch. Oct. 26, 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. 19-20, 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.

Keep in mind that carving and baking pumpkins aren’t the same. The former are grown in fields to be large, more vibrant in color and relatively hollow. The watery flesh doesn’t have the same flavor as baking pumpkins, which tend to be smaller, have thicker, harder-to-carve walls and sweeter flesh. For those, you’ll probably need to head to the grocery store.

If your pumpkin is destined for a starring role on Halloween night, here are some tips for 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 scoop 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.