Autumn pumpkin patches and corn mazes gear up for fall season

Sep. 6—EMERADO, N.D. — It has been an intense two weeks for Carrie Nelson, preparing for the opening weekend of Nelson's Pumpkin Patch.

She's lost sleep, she said, but she's excited for the start of the patch's 28th year.

"We're super excited for the season. Every year it's just a lot of fun," she said. "A labor of love for sure."

Nelson's Pumpkin Patch opened Saturday, Sept. 7, and will have a plethora of activities and events until its last day on Sunday, Oct. 27. With corn mazes, hay rides, bounce houses, haunted house, petting zoo and other opportunities for fall fun, there are familiar and new features for people to enjoy. There will be free admission on opening weekend for veterans and active-duty military members who bring identification.

Valley Corn Maize in East Grand Forks is also opening the same weekend with Grandparent Dayz.

At Nelson's Pumpkin Patch, there will also be a Sunflower Shindig to kick off the season where people can get their own flowers, pony rides, food trucks, face painting, Pooches in the Patch, hide and seek, pumpkin seed spitting contest, Boo Bash, Spookley the Square Pumpkin meet and greet, Boo-tique and Brews and more.

"We have quite a bit," she said.

The patch will partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation this year. People can "adopt" a sunflower for $4 in the memory of a loved one. All proceeds will go to the foundation.

Nelson said she tries to add something new each year to avoid stagnation, and because people ask her what's new. Planning for the next season begins as the previous is still ongoing. Nelson plans the events and handles social media, hiring and human resources. She recently hired 40 people for the season in late August, and is working until opening day. While attendance is largely weather driven, she said she shoots for a crowd of 20,000 people each year. While there are plenty of activities for children, adults are just as welcome to join in the fun.

She said she aims to always improve the patch as each year goes by.

"I feel like people think that pumpkin patches are only for kids," she said. "But as the years have gone on ... it's kind of expanded."

Something that brings Nelson excitement is the kind words she gets from those who enjoy visiting the pumpkin patch, quoting someone who called recently to set up a field trip.

"She said, 'I don't know what we'd do if you ever quit doing this,' because people love coming out here and it makes you feel so good," she said. "It's like, that's why we do this. It kind of made my day yesterday, actually."

Valley Corn Maize will also have special events through the season, including Touch a Tractor, where people can come out and see farm equipment; Hometown Heroes, where law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, doctors, nurses, military personnel and veterans with service IDs will receive free admission and family discounts; Canines in the Corn, where leashed dogs are welcomed and provided water; and Flashlight Dash Night, where people can go through the maze in the dark.