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Gail’s
Pumpkin Patch, near Beason, celebrated Fall Farm Day on Sunday,
September 20 with live music, a food truck, free popcorn wagon
rides, and all the charm and kid-friendly activities that keep
families returning year after year.
Well into its 20th season, Gail’s Pumpkin Patch has been part of
Fall Farm day for almost as many years. Owner Gail Sasse explained
that Fall Farm Day started with the Abraham Lincoln Bureau of
Tourism (since renamed) when Geoff Ladd was the director and she was
a board member. Sasse said, “Geoff wanted to do something
farm-related. We rented a school bus and started our farm tour in
West Lincoln then went to Atlanta, then to a cabin where Abraham
Lincoln slept on a farm near Atlanta. Then the group toured
PrairiErth Farm. We were the last stop. I bet we have done this for
16 or 17 years. There was a huge crowd when the bus came, and we
have done it ever since.”
Gail’s Pumpkin Patch continues to expand its family-friendly
activities. They have a UPick pumpkin patch for choosing your own,
as well as already picked pumpkins and gourds. The gift shop set up
in the barn sells honey products from Sasse’s Apiary, 10 varieties
of fresh apples grown on the farm, apple cider, apple cider donuts
and other baked goods, Amish apple butter and jams, and a variety of
other gifts and treats. Gail’s also has a field of UPick popcorn and
a free popcorn wagon that will deliver you to the field on Sundays.
Popcorn is also for sale in the gift shop and it will pop right on
the ear in the microwave.
There are goats for feeding, and
kittens, chickens, and a rabbit to visit. Gail’s Pumpkin Patch
features a barrel train ride for kids, a roller slide, corn boxes,
giant games, mini golf, rope the bull, a barn slide, duck races, a
toddler corner, antique tractors, a hillbilly treadmill, and many
photo opportunities. For Fall Farm Day, local food truck Nuthatch
Grill BBQ was on hand selling tasty barbeque and musician California
Jeff performed just outside the barn gift shop.
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Fans of Gail’s pumpkins may be pleased to know that central
Illinoisans are not the only ones to have appreciated the fruit
of the Sasses’ labor. In their second year of operation, they
were contacted by lifestyle mogul Martha Stewart who needed some
pumpkins. Sasse said Stewart “wanted a specific kind of pumpkin
and we were the only ones who had it. She wanted them in August,
which is a little early for pumpkins. She sent a semi [truck]
out and we had to load them very carefully on pallets for her.”
Gail’s Pumpkin Patch will celebrate its 20th anniversary on
October 4 from noon to 4 p.m. with free cake and ice cream.
Schnitzel sandwiches will also be available for purchase, and
all the regular activities and other treats will be available.
There is still plenty of time to make the short trip down Route
10 to visit Gail’s Pumpkin Patch for food and fun. The season
runs September 10 through October 31, and the Patch and
activities are open Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday from
noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed
Tuesday and Wednesday). Admission is free! Visit
www.gailspumpkinpatch.com for directions and additional
information.
Gail’s Pumpkin Patch celebrates Fall Farm Day photo slideshow
[Stephanie Hall]
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