By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The first day of fall was Saturday and that means one of the area's growing traditions is back. Long Pumpkin Patch, 163 NE 30 Road just outside Great Bend, begins its 15th season on Saturday, Sept. 30. Owner Roger Long said there will be plenty to pick this fall.
"Our berries are a little bit better this year," he said. "We had that last year, people could come out and pick blackberries and raspberries along with the pumpkins."
The patch will again allow families to pick pumpkins from the vine, and will feature the corn maze, gourd launcher, and culvert swing and corn pit. A story walk has been added as part of the corn maze this year, and guests can practice their roping with a saddle and steer head. Long said the ongoing drought had little impact on what the pumpkin patch has to offer.
"Even our dryland produced pretty well," he said. "We had enough rain throughout. What really hurt us last year was not just the drought but the heat. It wasn't as bad this year. It didn't come at as bad a time."
Long's Pumpkin Patch is open Sept. 30 through Halloween. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday.