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!

Happy Halloween from Papa’s!

The official end to fall — Halloween — is here, and Papa is prepared. This happy jack-o-lantern was carved for Papa in a past season and we still like it best.

In the days since we closed, much of the pumpkin patch activity has revolved around clean up and putting away before the snow flies.

Last Saturday, Papa hosted his annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. We are so grateful to the (literally) hundreds of volunteers that make Papa’s a reality. Keep your eyes open around Thanksgiving: we intend to publish a list of all the 2012 volunteers and the charities that benefited from this season!

Remember Papa will announce the winner of the cookie contest at 8 pm on Halloween. If you’d still like to take a guess at how many pumpkin cookies Papa shared during the 2012 season, post your guess on Papa’s Facebook page. The winner gets a FREE dozen pumpkin cookies!

Enjoy Halloween and stay safe!

In Honor of Two Great Friends

On Friday, Oct. 12, Papa’s Pumpkin Patch provided 200 Wee Bee Little pumpkins and two Porcelain Dolls (pink pumpkins) for the Women’s Health Center Breast Cancer Run/Walk in Bismarck, ND.

The Wee Bee Littles were for the first 200 participants, and the two pink pumpkins were in honor of two very special people. You see, two of our “star” volunteers at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch are also breast cancer survivors. We are very proud of them and a local artist painted a scene of each of the Porcelain Dolls in their honor.

One of the pumpkins has an African Grey Parrot on it — complete with grey feathers — to recognize Jane Greer. Jane has helped us at Papa’s for years, and you know her best as the voice of all activities on the weekends. Jane and her husband, Jim, work to support Special Olympics.

 

Another one of our stars is Pat Saltsman. She is an avid bicyclist and so the other pink pumpkin has a woman with her bike — complete with gravel — to recognize Pat. Pat gives of her time to support the annual Great American Bike Race.

Papa’s is pleased to support the breast cancer run/walk, and we are especially proud of these two women!

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!

KXMB Helps Papa Tell the Pumpkin Story

Monday, Sept. 10 was opening day for Papa’s Pumpkin Patch, and Jon Berg from KXMB TV reported live from the pumpkin patch, giving Papa an opportunity to share some of the “magic” behind this year’s season. Thanks KXMB for joining us at Papa’s! We’re open 12-7 pm daily.