Lawrence pumpkin patch opens for fall season

The sign at the entrance of Garrett’s Pumpkin Patch in Lawrence, Kan. Kolton Kennon //KUJH

Fall has officially arrived in Lawrence, and with it comes the return of a seasonal tradition, Garrett’s Family Pumpkin Patch. The family-run farm kicked off its fourth season with a busy and festive opening weekend.

It’s located east of Lawrence off the K-10 highway, The pumpkin patch offers a wide range of attractions for visitors of all ages. From pumpkin picking and two hay mazes to bounce houses, fall decorations for sale, and a thrilling zombie paintball hunt, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Now in its fourth year, the patch continues to grow each season — a trend co-owner Eric Garrett says has been exciting to watch.

“The first year we did this we were like,did we make the right decision? Then the next year we gained some traction, and last year we had times throughout the week and on weekends when we could take a step back and know the potential this pumpkin patch had,”Garrett said.

This year, the patch introduced a brand-new attraction, a gel-blaster zombie hunt through a ghost town, designed to appeal to high school and college-age guests.

Garrett’s Pumpkin Patch is one of the more affordable fall attractions in the area, but also one of the only pumpkin patches in Lawrence, with it costing $5 to enter.

“We definitely have a lot of people from all over,” co-owner Ally Garrett said. “Some people are like, ‘We’ve never heard of this!’ This is so cool — and this is what we want to hear. Something for the kids to do and the families.”

A season long pass is also available for returning customers in the fall season. The patch is open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM, with extended hours on weekends until 10 PM. More information is available on its website.