We Are Grateful for You!

Happy Thanksgiving! We are entering a season of gratitude, and today Papa is mindful of the hundreds (really, it’s over 500) volunteers who made this season’s pumpkin patch a reality. It’s hard to imagine and yet amazingly true. In 2012, we welcomed well over 50,000 guests, and our volunteers from every walk of life made your visit to Papa’s a memorable one.

Papa and the family extend a heartfelt thank you to the teachers, students, doctors, nurses, musicians, dancers, insurance agents, bankers, attorneys, financial advisors, pharmacists, accountants, business owners, firefighters, youth pastors, special olympians, retirees, programmers, mechanics, farmers, electrical linemen, administrative and HR professionals… The list is long and we are grateful for each of your contributions.

Many of these volunteers represent the 49 organizations who have or will soon receive support from Papa’s in 2012. Our goal was to contribute $30,000 this year, and with your help, we were able to far exceed that.

The ad you see here will be in the Sunday, Nov. 25 edition of the Bismarck Tribune. It lists the 49 groups Papa supports in 2012, features some children doing what they do best at Papa’s — remind us all how to enjoy life, and most importantly, says THANK YOU!

Saturday, Oct. 20 — Papa’s Final Day for 2012 Is Here!

The last day of the 2012 season at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is here. Saturday, Oct. 20 is the final day, and it’s more about fun and being outdoors than pumpkins to be sure.

Our 30th year has been an amazing one. We sold out of pumpkins last Sunday and were able to haul another 10,000 pounds of pumpkins in Monday morning. Today, our final day, there aren’t many left. More than just the one in this photo of Pumpkin and Patch but we are certain to sell out again today.

Papa also has some (not much) left for gourds and squash. Also a few straw bales. We are sold out of decorative corn and corn stalk bundles. There are still some gorgeous fall items in the gift store.

So what is there to do at Papa’s today? Well, it’s a Saturday which means the “extras” are open. That includes concessions from Ehrmantraut’s Academy, the zip lines, the sling shots, the monster train ride and Sebastian’s train ride, the pony rides and the horse-drawn hayrides. Each of these activities has a small fee ranging from $1/ride to $4/ride.

The extras are in addition to all of the free activities, including Papa’sville, Touchstone Nature Trail, Log Jam, big bale obstacles, Special Olympics Trebuchet, Pumpkin Cannon, five Bale Mazes, Slide Mountain, the Corn Cribs, the Wee Zip Lines, the Corn Maze, and probably a couple of others we can’t remember right now.

There’s also the great photo opportunities, including the Great Pumpkin’s Chair, Mr. Antique, How Tall This Fall, Billy Bob the Corn Stalk Horse, two barn scenes, Pumpkin and Patch, Papa’s Pumpkin Patch bench and the giant sunflower.

Yep, it might be Papa’s last day but there’s still lots of fun waiting for you and your family. And remember, if you wear your costume to Papa’s today, you’ll get a free pumpkin cookie! We hope you’ll join us!

Thursday, Oct. 18 — Papa’s Is Closed

Holy Buckets! Wild doesn’t begin to describe the wind and rain outside. Papa just took the dogs for a walk and even they were in a hurry to get back indoors. Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is closed today, Thursday, Oct. 18.

Please check back as we will post our plans for our final two days of the season by noon on Friday, Oct. 19.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct. 17 — Papa’s Is Closed

Between the wild winds and the rain, Papa’s Pumpkin Patch will be closed Wednesday, Oct. 17. All field trips have cancelled, and Papa is keeping an eye that nothing blows away.

Stay warm and safe; we’ll let you know our intentions for Thursday, Oct. 18 by noon on Thursday.

It’s Coming Back! Papa’s Costume Parade!!

Folks seem to like it so much, Papa’s holding his second annual Costume Parade on Saturday, Oct. 20! If you wear your costume to Papa’s Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Oct. 20, you get a FREE pumpkin cookie, and you can walk in Papa’s Costume Parade at 3 p.m.

There’s no age limit however you need to wear a full-fledged costume. In fact, we think some of our volunteers and helpers at Papa’s will be in costume, too! (Maybe even Papa will dress up!)

Papa’s plans to be open through Saturday, Oct. 20 from 12-7 pm daily. We’ll be hauling in more pumpkins this weekend. The long-range forecast looks like promising fall weather. We hope you’ll come and play with us!