The Great Pumpkin Patch that has been serving the Ponte Vedra Beach community for 26 years returns Sunday, Oct. 11, for three weeks, covering an acre at a local church.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 276 N. Roscoe Blvd., will have more than 2,000 pumpkins of every size, shape and color sitting on pallets covering its front lawn for the community to select from.
This is the church’s largest annual fundraising effort, and this year it will donate 10% of net pumpkin proceeds to Stop Solider Suicide, the only national nonprofit focused solely on solving the issue of suicide among U.S. veterans and service members.
Aside from pumpkins in the Patch, the inside of the front section of the church has mini pumpkins and a variety of gourds, along with homemade pickles, jams, jellies, baked goods and its signature pumpkin pies baked from scratch using pumpkins from the patch for its secret puree mixture! The $12 pumpkin pies can be ordered in advance onsite for a later pick up date, if so desired.
New this year will be a special story time book reading for children of all ages, from 10 a.m. to noon and noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. It also includes a craft.
Tractor rides around the property will be available on two weekends: Saturday and Sunday Oct. 17 and 18 from noon to 4 p.m., and again on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24 and 25 from noon to 4 p.m.
The Great Pumpkin Patch hours are from 1 p.m. to dusk Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to dusk Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to dusk Sundays. On Monday, Oct. 12, when St. Johns County and Duval schools are out, the Pumpkin Patch will be open all day from 9 a.m. to dusk. The Patch will even be open on Halloween day for those running late from noon to 2 p.m.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
