Lillian Barocio
Staff Writer
The Huntley College of Agriculture at Cal Poly Pomona is hosting its annual pumpkin festival this month, from noon to 7 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27.
The festival this year boasts 40,000 pumpkins, a sunflower field, corn mazes, and a farm-animal petting zoo.
The attractions also include hay and train rides, duck races and a kid’s corn maze.
The petting zoo has sheep, cows, a calf and more than 20 goats.
AgDiscovery Lane near the petting farm features agricultural themed demonstrations and displays, including beekeeping, weaving and a worm farm.
Vendors on hand last weekend offered handmade, artisan crafts – including crystal bracelets, aprons, handbags and more – for sale, as well as a variety of paint-your-own booths.
The marketplace offered a variety of desserts and snacks including funnel cake, ice cream shaved ice and kettle corn.
Additional food vendors included Robin’s Woodfire BBQ, a variety of Mexican food vendors and more, alongside hay bales and shaded picnic tables where guests could relax and enjoy the yummy fare.
“My grandparents have never been to a pumpkin festival, so it’s a great experience for them to have before returning to their home in Mexico,” said Saraih Alvarez, a high school student from Moreno Valley, who attended the fest last weekend with her grandparents and other family members.
“I love working for the festival,” said Annie Cirino, whose Pomona-based Rag Dolls with Love table was there last weekend for the ninth year. “We look forward to being here and meeting different people, especially the kids.”
“This is my second year at the Pumpkin Festival so it’s been a great way to promote my small business,” said Daniela Vergara, owner of Shop Thoughtful Threads, which sells customized apparel, glassware, accessories and pet portraits for people and pets via pop-ups across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
“I usually come every year with my family, but this year I decided to bring my boyfriend to experience the event,” said Aaliyah Felix, a business major at Cal Poly Pomona. “I like taking pictures, and the food is always good.”
In addition to the Pumpkin Fest activities, the Cal Poly Pomona Farm Store, which sells produce grown on the University farm and various of gourmet food and snacks, is open this month Friday through Sunday exclusively for Pumpkin Fest guests.
Admission to the fest is $10 on weekends and $5 on Fridays.
For more information, visit cpp.edu/pumpkinfestival.
Lillian Barocio can be reached at lillian.barocio@laverne.edu.
Lillian Barocio is a sophomore journalism major and a staff writer for the Campus Times.
Mia Byington is a senior photography major with a minor in marketing. She is a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine.
